(TLDR. The Headlines: we’ve got a really long results write-up this week, as we’re doing two weeks on the bounce. Our Tuesday Run takes in the tracks around Bilton, Oak Beck and Coppice, and on Thursday we have our second away-from-club run with a trip to Pateley Bridge courtesy of Sarah Chalmers. Read on for up and coming events and an Olympian Word to the Wise, courtesy of an ex-captain…)
Hello,
Well, the Olympics is off to a flying start, if not a bit wet. Did you watch the open ceremony? Whoever thought that sailing all the teams down the Seine while the orchestra played on in the pouring rain must have been mad (or in-seine? See what I did there? Oh never mind). The church got very upset by some pagan-laden reenactment of the Last Supper and the trains were disrupted when protestors started fires on the railway lines (although I wouldn’t be surprised if that were less of a protest and perhaps a planned part of the opening ceremony, celebrating the rich tradition of the unions kicking off when the coffee is cold). It would never happen with the Knaresborough Bed Race, that’s for sure. Whether you’re taking part in the Paris marathon in a couple of weeks, watching the athletics on the TV, or whether you’re not overly bothered either way, I hope you enjoy it and still manage to find time to come and run with us at Nidd Valley. There’s plenty going on, you know.
Results from the Week That Was…
But before we get to that, we need to have a look at the results from the past two weeks (yeah, sorry about the lack of a write up last week, I’ve been changing jobs at work and I’m afraid the realities of being an adult with responsibilities briefly caught up with me). The first dogs from the traps were three juniors who took part in the Golden Acre Junior Relays a couple of weeks ago. The team of Eva Anwyl (09.06), Tobi Dolman (10.05) and Alice Health (09.59) put their fastest feet forward, finishing in 55th out of 64 teams. Truly the stuff that dreams are made of. If I had my way, those three would be carrying the flag for Team GB in Paris. Still, as often happens in such a short-sighted world as this we live in, no one asked me for my advice.
Then the day after that, we had the seniors taking part in the Evening League Handicap Race at Otley. Not only was Kev Nicholas (36.58) the first Nidd to finish, but was the first finisher overall. Bring the trophy down to the club next time you’re down will you Kev, so we can stick it in the trophy cabinet? Jon Easton (38.48), Kev Clark (35.10) were the next to finish, leaving Ian Hesford (35.20), Steve Newbould (33.54), Chandra Shekar (42.24) and Dave Seaman (56.40) to battle it out to the line. Lizzie Hugill (46.24) put in a sterling performance as she joined us for her first evening league handicap, showing Hannah Kempson (47.00), Jeremy Scott (41.37), Michael Shaw (45.39) and Rob Kingston (34.44) how it was done.
Christine Holleran (44.15), Jo Brierley (45.19), Laura Francis (38.49) and Martin Lofthouse (36.23) soon finished, and it was nothing but a delight to celebrate the brilliant performances from Carl Read (41.28), Rachel Mills (44.27), Craig Mills (32.32), Nick Crebbin (40.36), Jack Brierley (33.10) – and yes, I’m sure you’re thinking it, too: it’s been a long time since Jack finished behind his mum in a race. Fiona Deacon (42.31) was just ahead of Andy Todd (37.02), while Tom Broadley (41.40) managed to hold his advantage over Connor Featherstone (38.44), Paul Manning (47.49), John Mallett (47.20), Sarah Staiano (41.22) and Captain Dazzler (42.58).
FRP (47.39) finished just ahead of Jenny Manning (48.42), while Sarah Bracher (52.54) held Matt Rickard (38.32), Russell Geraghty (44.34) at bay. Emily Wightion (50.40) was only three seconds faster than her dad Ian (50.43), and our final three finishers were the wonderful Michelle Smith (1:03.15) and Debbie Gibson (also 1:03.15), joined by Chris Rogers (1:19.39).
For the data lovers among you, it’s great to be able to tell you that Craig Mills took the MV45 prize for the league. Close runners-up were Steve Newbold (3rd MV45), Dazzler (2nd MV50), Martin Lofthouse (3rd MV55), Sarah Staiano (3rd FV45), and Martin Luxton (2nd MV70). Nidd Valley came third in the main team competition, fourth in the ladies league, and second male vets. Well done to you all.
I can’t find any official results for the Old Crown Fell Race from last weekend, but Strava tells me that Brian negotiated his way round some 23 miles of the northern fells (Blencathra, Skiddaw, High Pike and – if you know, you know – Great Calva) in remarkable time of 5:39.38. Well done, Bri!
Sarah Chalmers took part in the Swinner Swagger last Sunday. Despite the only Nidd in the race, and despite describing her time (2:29.40) as “shite” (language, Timothy!), Sarah was delighted to pick up the price for first FV60, so it’s a big well done to Sarah for getting round the challenging ten mile course in the Yorkshire Dales.
It looked like a bit of a Nidd take over at the Hampsthwaite Feast Run last weekend. Thanks and well done to all who supported it. So, to the results: Dazzler (19.23), Martin Lofthouse (19.30), Kev Clark (19.43), Fingers Harris (20.39), Nigel Scaife (22.05), Theresa Oldroyd (23.05), Jeremy Scott (24.26), Guy Parker (24.42) and Fiona Deacon (25.08).
Rachel Mills (25.21) won an extra prize as the first female Hampsthwaitatarian to finish (no, I don’t know what the demonym for Hampsthwaite is, either. Hampsthwaitatarian? Hampsthwaiter? Hampsthwaitese?), soon joined by another Rachel (this one being a Capstick, finishing in 27.52), and then by Sarah Bracher (28.36), Moira McTague (29.13), Dave Seaman (32.21), Jilly Hornsby (33.45) and Leanne Coiley (34.13). Marcos Montana (34.29) teamed up with Martin Weeks and Yvonne Skelton (both 37.50) to bring the race to a close. Well done to you all.
On Wednesday, Craig Mills (17.15) held Jack Brierley (17.23) at bay by a thin eight second margin at the Leeds 5km. That’s some speedy running! Well done, guys.
Now I’ve had a look for the results from the James Herriot race, as we had a few Nidds up running round the hilly trails above Castle Bolton this morning. I cannot find the results for love nor money, so I will concede defeat today and include them next week if I can lay my hands on them. If you were one of those Nidders out running, then well done for getting round on what must have been a warm morning. I do have a photo for you, though…
Ian and Emily Wighton headed away together to do the Pontefract Parkrun yesterday and Adam Kirk made a return trip to Roundhay Parkrun (dear reader, he came fourth). FRP and Fiona Robinson did their parkrun thing at Sandall Park in Doncaster (heaven knows why), James Braddon went to Selby (again, heaven knows wh
y), and Amjid Khan was at the University of Galway. Chris and Sue Rogers were back at North Yorkshire Water Park, as we have come to expect, while Sylvia Morten also remained a creature of habit with a return to the Chevin. We had only one Nidd at Fountains Abbey, three at Conyngham Hall, and more than you could shake an athletic stick at on the Stray. Read all about it: https://tinyurl.com/47nsmxd6.
Games you thought you’d learned / you neither lost nor won / the dreams have crashed and burned / you still keep on, keepin’ on: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
The Fixtures for the Week Ahead
I suggest doing a route which we don’t often do on Tuesday, using the trails behind Bilton and Oak Beck. We’ll leave the Hockey Club at 7pm, and head up the usual way to Bilton Crossing. From there, it’s a left turn down the steps a short way along the Greenway, following the path behind Bilton, eventually coming out down near Knox Mill. From there, you can head back to the club, or instead head over the fields and to Ripon Road. There is a nice path that takes you through the woods so that you emerge near ALDI, and then the run follows back up through Chatsworth Grove Park, past the Civic Centre, and then you can head back to the club. About 5-6 miles all in, with plenty of scope to mix it up and make your own variations as the mood takes you.
On Thursday, we have the second of our away-from-club runs, and this one is hosted by Sarah Chalmers. Meet at the showground car park at Pateley Bridge for 6.45, ready to run at 7pm. Sarah has found a brilliant five mile route full of woodland trails. We’ll divide into groups if we need to, and no one will be left behind. Route map below.
As per the precedent set last week, we’ll be gathering for a picnic and drinks afterwards, so please bring something to eat and come and join us. Last week, we enjoyed Italian charcuterie, Somerset Brie, and wine. Seriously the most middle class running club.
If you want to be anti-social and avoid others in the club, then I can recommend the Eshton Moor Fell Race on Thursday evening. At only 5.2 miles, this doesn’t have too much ascent, and is great for beginners. It’s not far from Gargrave, and entry will cost you only a fiver. Worth a look: https://tinyurl.com/eup3a7ck.
Nothing in the club champs this weekend. A week off. Winning.
If you do fancy some racing, though, then there is the Lotherton Hall Race on Friday night (https://tinyurl.com/5e4z99jw) or the Judy Jaunt Trail Race in Bradford on Sunday (https://tinyurl.com/35s8tbe8). If you fancy something with a bit more altitude, then you’ve got the Osmotherley Fell Race on Saturday (https://tinyurl.com/25tumdb6) and the ever popular Round Hill Fell Race on Sunday (https://tinyurl.com/4p5jpbcd).
Further Ahead & Booking Now Open
So next week, we have the Kings Challenge Fell Race on Thursday 8th August 2024. This was a random discovery a few years ago when some of us headed over to see what it was like, but we fell in love with it and it has been a regular fixture in the fell championships ever since. It’s only 10km and with 1,200ft of climb, but you get some brilliant views for your money. I took a wrong turn on the run back through the park one year, chased by these two chaps from Keighley. We ended up running across a bowling green while a game was in full session, doing a Riverdance tribute act to avoid tripping over the balls and apolosing as we went. It’s £5 and is EOTD, so you don’t need to do anything other than put it in your diary for now: https://tinyurl.com/492xat34.
Word to the Wise
The wisdom this week comes from Martin Lofthouse (and, yes, I quite agree. He has been very quiet of late), sharing some reflections on the banning of Charlotte Dujardin for a somewhat over-enthusiastic use of the whip.
“Is it just me, or is there a certain irony in stopping someone going to France because of their cruelty to horses…?” – Martin Lofthouse, horsing around.
And on that note, we best leave it there. Have a wonderful week, and I’ll hopefully see you soon.
Chairman Sam x