(TLDR. The Headlines: on Tuesday we have a run down to Knaresborough to see the bed racers in training, leaving the Hockey Club at 7pm. On Thursday, we have a reccie of our Evening League race, meeting at Ripley at 7pm. On Saturday, we have the Pen y Ghent Fell Race, although this is a ‘just for fun’ non-championship race. Read on for other information regarding the Evening League and up and coming events, finishing with some wise words which beggar all belief).
Well, he’s done it. Yes, indeed, the PM has finally called an election and we’re heading to the polls in July. Party leaders are anxious to paint the electoral map in their particular shades of red, blue, yellow and green but, here at Nidd Valley House, the only map that matters is the MallettMap and the only colours that matter are the glorious Black and Gold. So if you’re already sick of politicians telling you how you should vote or putting words in your mouth (and I’ll slap silly the next party leader who says that “what the British people want is…”), then come for a run with your friends at Nidd Valley. It’s the perfect antidote to a complex world and politicians selling their overly simple solutions.
Results from the Week That Was…
Before we get cracking with the main results from this past week, I’ve got a bit of mopping up from the back catalogue to do.
Alastair McQueen took part in the Burton Leonard 10km last weekend, and he finished with a smashing time of 59.48. Well done to him.
Now, you’ll have to forgive me if I miss your results from the Grassington 10km Trail Race last weekend, as I can’t find any proper results listings on the internet and have resorted to trying to spot the names of the Nidds on the photos of the results. Apologies to those I have missed out, and well done to those who I’ve found, who are: Fiona Deacon (50.03), Roger Duckworth (53.35), Jenny Manning (57.54). Well done to you all.
The hugest of congratulations to Theresa Oldroyd who went home with the prize for the first FV55 (and fourth overall female, if you’re taking notes) at the Cookridge 10km last weekend. She finished in 46.26. That’s a brilliant effort, Theresa. Well done.
You might also be interested to know that Cal Mills took part in the Bristol 10km last weekend. Now I know that he’s not strictly a member of Leeds City AC, but he is the son of her very own Craig and Karen Mills. Given that we are firm believers in guilt by association here at Nidd Valley, it would be remiss of me not to give him a shout out for claiming first place in a cracking time of 30.45.
I know we prefer our athletes in running shoes, but I’m happy to give a shout out to Kirsty Walter who took part in The Struggle bike ride round the Yorkshire Dales last weekend. Covering the 108 miles and 9,300ft of climb, Kirsty must have been exhausted when she got back to Harrogate in 9:02.52, which is a phenomenal achievement – certainly not one we could let pass without mention.
Right. Those are the results that needed to be duly logged and added to the archives. Let’s turn our attention to the results from the past week.
Johnny Johnson took fourth place overall in the first of the evening league fixtures on Thursday, finishing in 29.02. Craig Mills (31.14), Rob Kingston (33.03) and Steve Newbould (33.12) all gave him a run for his money, while we also enjoyed brilliant runs from Dazzler (34.12), Andy Todd (34.53) and Kev Clark (35.03). Ian Hesford (35.12) was the next to finish the Skipton course, with Martin Lofthouse (35.28), Marcus Shaw (35.53) just ahead of the first Nidd Valley Louise Kingston (36.35). Connor Featherstone finished in 36.43, while we also had great results from Laura Francis (36.46), Alex Crowton (37.13), Chris Carvey (also 37.13), Theresa Oldroyd (38.02) and Nick Crebbin (38.12).
Jon Easton (39.08) was just ahead of Sarah Staiano (39.33), while Carl Read (40.02), Jon Jackson (40.30) and Tom Broadley (40.33) were on top form for what is (I think) their first year competing in the league. It’s always a total pleasure to see Andrew Croft (40.36), but none more so than when with Russel Geraghty (40.38), Nick Andralojc (40.50), Jeremy Scott (41.12) and Kate Morton (41.52).
Alister King (42.16) soon had it all done and dusted, and did so in the remarkable company of Ian Wighton (42.35), Rachel Mills (44.10), Kev Nicholas (44.12), John Mallett (45.05) and Paul Manning (45.22). Michael Shaw (45.37), Emily Wighton (47.12) and Jenny Manning (47.40) were ahead of Lizzie Hugill (49.16), Moira McTague (55.12) and Guy Parker (55.13). Jemma King (52.24) led home our trio of finishers: Jill Hornsby (57.16), Dave Seaman (59.21) and Lianne Coiley (59.46). Very well done to you all!
I’m pleased to share two brilliant results from the Northallerton 10km today: none other than our very own Philly Thompson (47.11) and the inexhaustible Chandra Shekar (48.16). Well done to you both.
Just before we jump to the parkrun results, It’s great to be able to share another cycling result with you. Chris Carvey took part in the RideLondon 104 mile ride from Central London to Essex and back. I can’t find the official results anywhere, but Strava tells me that he completed the endurance event in 6:31.ish, which is a profound achievement. He has made a comment about needing a cushion, so I hope he’s sitting a little more comfortably now.
There haven’t been any new additions on the MallettMap this week. I know. Wounded. Still, we battle on amidst the grief of life. Rob and Louise Kingston were doing the Geordie thing with a spin round Newcastle Town Moor parkrun, so it’s a hearty well done and a fishie on a little dishie to them (other regional stereotypes are available, as we shall soon see). And so to Roundhay – a place edgy enough to call itself Leeds but still guaranteed to provide you with a vegan brownie and an organic oat milk skinny latte – where Adam Kirk took second place and was joined by juniors Owen & Freya Dart out on the same course.
Then we’ve got Dewsbury. The less the better, I imagine, but we’ll give Pauline Hogg a quick well done for competing her athletic ablutions down there.
North of the border, it’s been lovely to see FRP and PRF (that’s Park Running Fiona) up and tossing their cabers in Glasgow’s Victoria Park. Also keeping it a Scottish affair, Sue Ball (formerly of this parish) and Angela Parkinson completed their McParkruns in Scotland, with Angela running at Erskine Waterfront near Clydebank and Sue running at Auldcathie near Edinburgh.
Ian Hesford was down south to complete his morning 5km at Holkham Parkrun in Norfolk. It must have been lovely to see all of the volunteers giving the runners hi-sixes as they passed. Lovely place, Holkham. Apparently it’s really coming into its own.
Andy Todd and Sylvia Morten were at Mirfield and Chevin Forest respectively, as by the usual arrangements for these two creatures of athletic habit. It was also lovely to read that Sue and Chris Rogers headed to North Yorkshire Water Park to enjoy their morning parkrun,
As you’ve come to expect by now, we had plenty of Nidds running at Conyngham Hall, Fountains Abbey (amen to that) and at Harrogate, and you can peruse those and all of the other results in detail right here: https://tinyurl.com/47nsmxd6.
It’s coming through a hole in the air / From those nights in Tiananmen Square / It’s coming from the feel / That it ain’t exactly real / Or it’s real, but it ain’t exactly there: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
The Fixtures for the Week Ahead
With bed race training going on a-pace, it would be good to get down to Knaresborough on Tuesday to see some pillocks lug a glorified shopping trolley and a screaming child round some cobbled streets. We’ll meet at the Hockey Club and be good to run for 7pm. We’ll head over the railway iron bridge, up to Bilton Crossing and then follow along towards Conyngham Hall. From there, we can loop back and return the same way that we came. It’s about seven miles all in, so feel free to shorten and amend a route as suits you. No one is ever made to do any running that they don’t want to do (unless you’re approached by FRP and invited to do a fell race. #justsayno).
On Thursday, we have our reccie run of our Evening League race (more on that below). There won’t be a run from the Hockey Club on Thursday, but we’ll instead meet in Ripley and do a reccie of our five mile route. The pace will be really steady and social, and will be a chance to make sure that everybody knows their marshal point and can ask any questions that they have. Be in Ripley near the car park and be good to run for 7pm. For those who have come to expect their post-run pint on a Thursday, we can regroup in the Boars Head in Ripley for refreshments.
There’s nothing in the club calendar for this weekend, although if you fancy something a bit different on Saturday then there is always the Pen y Ghent Fell Race. It’s not cheap by off-road standards at £15, but it’s a great race with some challenging climbs and rewarding views, all packed into little over 10km. Further details here: https://tinyurl.com/2fbm5ast.
Further Ahead & Booking Now Open
If you haven’t yet got yourself a number for the Evening League, it isn’t too late to do so. There will be three other races after the Nidd Valley one, and so still plenty of mileage for your money. Why not get involved? It’s only £16 with the discount code NIDD24. All the deets: https://tinyurl.com/y7a2rab9.
The fell championships continue next week with the Kettlewell Anniversary Fell Race (Thursday 6th June 2024). Seriously, this has to be one of my favourite races. The climb out of Kettlewell might be described as a b*stard (to use the correct fell terminology), but the views from top are beautiful as you get to enjoy both Wharfedale and Littondale, and the descent back to the start is as terrifying as it is exhilarating. Certainly one of my top five fell races, that’s for sure. Entry is only £7 and is EOTD, so all you need to do for now is get the date in your diary and get your grippiest running shoes ready: https://tinyurl.com/bddumfyj.
Evening League: Tuesday 4th June 2024
Thanks to Karen who has worked really hard to get the marshalling arrangements for the race pulled together and good to go. It’s shaping up to be a great race. She has sent out the marshalling instructions today via email. If – for whatever reason – you’re not able to marshal, then please do let her know as soon as possible, so we can make alternative arrangements. Thanks for stepping up to volunteer at this race. We always get great feedback on the quality of our races and the friendliness of our marshals, so let’s aim for a repeat performance this year.
Word to the Wise
This week’s wise word comes from Karen Mills. It might be her debut wise word, I’m not sure. In any event, it’s a cracker. So we’re at Ripley Town Hall yesterday preparing for the Evening League, prompting this brief exchange.
Karen: “This is a nice place. Does it have an upstairs?”
Me: “Yes. it does.”
Karen: “Oh nice, where is it?”
Me: “Erm, it’s upstairs, Karen.”
Karen: “Oh okay. How do you get to it?”
Me: “You go up the stairs, Karen.”
Never mind the fact that she’s on the committee, I’m not sure she should be allowed out without a support worker.
Have a grand week, whatever you do.
Chairman Sam x