(TLDR. The Headlines: on Tuesday our club run takes us round Valley Gardens and the Pine Woods, while on Thursday we will head down the Gorge. Both runs leave the club at 7pm. On Sunday, we have the Thornton in Craven Fell Race in the Fell Championships. Read on for other information about events over the summer, about our fortieth birthday, and some more wise words from one of the regular sage correspondents…).
Well, that didn’t quite go to plan did it? I’m afraid that we have lost the Mob Matchy Trophy to Knaresborough Striders this year. It’s hard to put a positive spin on it, to be honest, and we’re scratching around for the crumbs of comfort like Rishi Sunak in a convention centre in the West Midlands. Still, we can all take pride in the fact that we got out there, gave it our best shot and were willing to stand up and be counted. We haven’t really lost the Mob Match Trophy, rather it’s only gone away on holiday for a year, because next year – mark my words – we will be ready and we shall bring that Mob Match Trophy home!
Results from the Week That Was…
Let’s get the results off to the best possible start and celebrate the achievements of Vicky Thomas who headed over to Lancashire (always a high risk strategy, if you ask me) to take part in the Morecambe Bay Half Marathon this weekend. Despite the race being slightly hillier than she was expecting, she was delighted to finish the race in a great time of 2:00.18! That’s a brilliant effort, Vicky. Well done.
Talking of hilly, it’s high time we give mention to the three intrepid Nidds who took part in the the Dick Hudsons Fell Race on Thursday Night. It’s a beauty of a fell race, that’s for sure, and a challenging out and back course from Ikley to Airedale and back to Wharfedale again. Andy Iddon (1:08.58) was the first to finish, Theresa Oldroyd finished in 1:06.53, and were soon joined by the inexhaustible but always marvellous Russell Geraghty (1:13.08). Well done to you all.
Despite not bringing the Mob Match Trophy back to Nidd valley House, it would be remiss of me not to celebrate the excellent times that we managed to put down yesterday. So, without further ado, let’s have three cheers for Craig Mills (35.59), Jack Brierley (37.14), Josh Bryer (37.58) and Dazzler (38.54). Ian Hesford (40.33) snuck in just over the 40 minute barrier, and we enjoyed some great times from James Coulthard (40.40), Luke Scorer (40.58), Marcus Shaw (41.36) and Andrew Davis (42.19).
We had some worries about Kev Clark, who has been battling illness, but he turned out for the team and nailed a brilliant time of 42.32, while Chris Carvey (43.05), Theresa Oldroyd (43.47), Nigel Scaife (45.56), and that little monkey Fingers Harris (46.14) were never too far behind. Fiona Deacon (46.14) was just ahead of Nick Crebbin (46.31), while Kirsty Walter (46.34), Jeremy Scott (46.54), Nick Andralojc (46.52) and James Braddon (47.15) were all on top form.
Philly Thompson (47.37) managed to sneak ahead of Richard Evans (47.52), while Carl Read (48.15) Sam Fugill (48.59), Ian Wighton (49.33), Mike Deacon (50.00), Christine Holleran (50.36), Jo Brierley (51.43) had their work cut out to keep ahead of Christine Jones (52.44), Martin Luxton (53.21), Katharine Dolam (53.27), Roger Duckwroth (53.38), John Mallertt (53.34), Sarah Fabron (54.06) and Katharine Woodhead (54.24).
Huge congratulations are surely due to Nadene Wilkinson (54.28), Jenny Manning (54.37), Nick Smith (55.10), Jeff Walker (55.09), Helen Cook (55.42) and Rachael Prince (56.57), and it’ll be Debbie Gibson (57.19) who features in this week’s word to the wise, and not for the first time.
Rachel Capstick was the next to show in 57.59, with Susy Rhodes (58.35), SArah Bracher (58.53) and Dave Prince (59.49). Jo Lane (1:00.09) finished just ahead of Karen McCartney (1:01.47) and Dave Seaman (1:02.28), and I couldn’t be more grateful to Moira McTague for turning out and racing despite coming back from injury and illness. She finished in 1:05.07, just behind husband Guy Parker (1:05.06). So chivalry is actually dead, then. Carolyn Jones (1:08.07) has one impressive sprint on her, that’s for sure, and enough to power her into a final finishing position between Michelle Smith (1:07.08) and Graham Hyde (1:10.03). Well done to all who took part.
Ah, now this is very interesting. You might have seen that a Harrogate man James Badger attempted the Everesting Challenge on the Birstwith Brute at the weekend (you might not have seen, but now you have no excuse: https://tinyurl.com/mr2kkdbs) for Blood Cancer UK in memory of his wife. Anyway, it was great to see some Nidds get out there to support him in his 22 hour challenge. So, it’s a quick mention and a hearty well done to Fingers, Mrs Harris, Steve Newbould, Karen Mills, Nigel Scaife and Sarah Bracher who got in on the act, with some high altitude walking, running and cycling. Excellent work!
I think that’s it for races and other such events this past week, so that leaves us with only the parkrun results to look at. Adam Kirk was seventh overall at York Parkrun, while Kate Morton was keeping a welcome in the valleys when she did her parkrun thing at Newport. Llongyfarchiadau, Kate. Lizzie Hughill was north of the border when she ran at St Andrew’s, whereas Michael Shaw decided to play it safe and stay in Yorkshire with a trip to Sewerby Park. Sue Ball – formally of this parish but we just can’t say goodbye – did her usual thing at Ferry Meadows, FRP was at Dewsbury (although heaven only knows why), and Annabelle Tiffin was at Penrith.
Ian and Emily Wighton took a trip to run at Horton Park in Bradford, whereas Iain Scott and Sylvia Morten got two more notches on the bedpost that is the MallettMap (Iain ran at Gelding near Nottingham, and Sylvia ran at Dean Castle country Park near Kilmarnock).
Louise and Rob Kingston have returned from their jollies and marked their return to Yorkshire with a turn round Chevin Country Park, Colleen Gruenwald ran at Jubilee Park, and Pauline Hogg headed down to the ‘undulating’ hell that is Potternewton.
In addition to the usual larger crowds at Harrogate, Fountains and Conyngham Hall, Laura Francis did her 5km thing at Kingsbury Water. No, I’d not heard of Kingsbury either, but some quick reading allows me to tell you that it is a small village near Tamworth on the Warwickshire and Staffordshire border. With a population of 7,652, it’s noted for its two public houses (The Swan and The Royal Oak), and for its 12th century Church of St Peter and St Paul. So there you are.
Laura finished in 37th position and, if you want to know how all the other Nidds did in this week’s campaign, then this is where you need to be: https://tinyurl.com/47nsmxd6.
Well, I know what I’ve been told / You gotta work to feed the soul / But I can’t do this all on my own / No, I know I’m no Superman / I’m no Superman: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
The Fixtures for the Week Ahead
Right, what’s going on this week? On Tuesday, our club run takes in the delight of the Valley Gardens and the Pinewoods. We’ll leave the Hockey Club at 7pm, head through town and into the Valley Gardens. Once you’re on Harlow Moor Drive, you can swing back to the club via Otley Road and York Place. Alternatively, run up through the Pine Woods to Harlow Carr. The easiest way back from there is onto Otley Road, but there will be some off-road fun for you if you want to return via Birk Crag and the Duchy Estate.
Our Thursday run takes us back into the Nidd Gorge. Again, leave the club at 7pm and head over the iron bridge to Bilton Crossing. Head into the gorge from the right hand side of the path, and away you go. You can either come up near the Gardener’s Arms, which is the shorter of the two routes, or you can continue further until you come up Heartbreak Hill and return along Bilton Lane. The choice is yours, so feel free to take your pick or perhaps organise something different if the mood takes you.
On Thursday, there will be pints and bantz in the Hockey Club bar after the run. They don’t call Dave Seaman the Archbishop of Banterbury for nothing, you know. Robert Hill is, as you would expect, known as the Bantersaurus Rex.
We have the next counter in the fell championships on Sunday, when we head over the hill to compete in the Thornton in Craven Fell Race. It’s a 15km race, and it’s only £5 entry on the day. So that’s certainly a bargain to make the Yorkshire lads and lasses among you happy. There’s a cheeky 1,800ft of climb to be enjoyed, but the views will be cracking if the weather is good. Go on, why not give it a go? All the details here: https://tinyurl.com/ypbxf78e.
I know we couldn’t let this one pass without note but, if you’re doing the Leeds Marathon on Sunday, then the best of luck! You’ve trained for this. Keep your head up, and drink it all in. Enjoy every moment! Go go go!
Further Ahead & Booking Now Open
Dave Seaman has asked me to give the Evening League another push, and I am more than happy to do so. The Evening League is a brilliant series of five races hosted by the local running clubs in the area, and a great chance to compete against yourself and against your peers in a friendly environment. There are buffets after the race, too. Those who don’t see themselves as competitive come and have a go – and rightly so, too! Nidd Valley is all of us, and if you think that you’re only welcome if you’re speedy or a “proper” runner then you need to have a word with yourself. Come and have a go. It just wouldn’t be the same without you: https://tinyurl.com/y7a2rab9.
As Nidd Valley is hosting a race this year, we’re offering a discount on your booking. Use NIDD24 and you’ll find that your entry fee is reduced from £20 to £16. Can’t say fairer than that, hey?
Summer Pub Runs
Those veterans of the Nidd Valley campaign will have long known that we organise a series of away-from-club runs throughout the summer to enjoy the best of our local area and region. You might want to put these dates in your diary:
- Tuesday 23rd July 2024 – TBC (Emma K).
- Thursday 1st August 2024 – Pub Run at Pateley Bridge (Sarah C).
- Tuesday 13th August 2024 – TBC (Sam F).
- Tuesday 20th August 2024 – Weeton Relays (Sylvia M).
- Thursday 29th August 2024 – Pub Run at Harewood (Nick C).
- Thursday 12th September 2024 – Fish & Chip Run at Knaresborough.
Nidd at Forty
As you’ll know, 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of Nidd Valley Road Runners. Quite an achievement, I’m sure you’ll agree. We’ll be doing two things to celebrate this milestone.
- On Saturday 31st August 2024, we’ll be running the route of our namesake River Nidd from source in the hills above Kettlewell all the way to Knaresborough. We’ll do this as a snowball, so a few runners will start at the beginning, and we’ll collect more runners as we continue our 40 mile journey (40 mile journey, see what we did there?) to Knaresborough, so everyone is at least able to join us for the last mile or two.
- On Sunday 1st September 2024, we’ll be having a bit of a ‘do’ in the afternoon, most likely in one of the breweries. More details to follow.
We’ll also be introducing a Strava Art challenge for August, too. Watch this space!
Word to the Wise
Picture the scene on the start line of the Mob Match. The tension, as you might imagine, is palpable. People check that their shoe laces are double-knotted. They stretch. They take some deep breaths. Destiny awaits.
Then there’s Debbie Gibson, otherwise known affectionately to many of us as Chatty McChatface. She’s with someone she met at a previous race.
“She’s my friend!”, says Chatty.
Her friend looks nervous and offers a weak smile. Seldom has a friendship appeared as much like a trauma bond.
We move to later in the race. Having turned round the loop at Sutton Howgrave, I passed Debbie on the out and back. She had stopped and had paused to take in the view and chat to runners passing by.
“What the hell are you doing, Chatty? This is the Mob Match. We ain’t got time for any chat! Get running!”, I suggest.
“I’m waiting.”, she said, “I’m waiting for my friend…”
It could only be Chatty. You can’t beat her. Shame, really.
Have a good week folks.
Chairman Sam x