(TLDR. The Headlines: we’ve got an away from club run at Kirk Deighton, and on Thursday we are doing a normal club run round the Hookstone Woods. There’s also the Sessay Swift on Wednesday night. A few races this weekend, but nothing in the championships. Read on for other bits and bobs, but do pay specific attention to stuff relating to the vegetable relays and the fortieth anniversary celebrations….)
Evening,
It;s gone 10pm by the time I get to the computer tonight, so apologies if we cut through the rubbish and crack on with the email proper. But in case you were wondering, everything is going just fine here in Nidd Valley House and everyone is very well indeed. No need for worry, that’s for sure. Anyway, to the results…
Results from the Week That Was…
On Thursday, Martin Lofthouse (53.29) was the first Nidd to finish in the King’s Challenge Fell Race, with the marvellously athletic Andy Iddon (56.58), Brian Hainsworth (57.33) and Phil Ventress (1:00.37) just behind. Laura Francis finished in 1:09.32, claiming the first prize for LU21 as she went on her way. FRP (1:15.34) finished just ahead of Russel Geraghty (1:27.01) who seems to have got himself spectacularly lost and, in the words of fell runners, having done a Jeff. Both finished ahead of Chatty McChatface (1:32.55), who herself took the prize for first FV60. Well done to you all!
Down near Selby on Friday night (and, yes, we can all question the wisdom of what), Adam Kirk and Martin Luxton took part in the Wistow 10km. Adam Kirk – and I know that keen Facebook watchers will have been mortified to see him not wearing his club colours – had it all done and dusted in 35.06, and we couldn’t be happier than to celebrate with Martin (53.47) as he took first place in his age category (MV70 although, yes, he doesn’t look anything like it).
Steve Newbould has been in the City of Luuuurv to take part in the Paris Marathon that was part of the final day celebrations of the Paris 2024 Olympics. Although not representing Team GB per se, his crowd were out with the flags and banners to cheer Steve round the hilly course in some gruelling heat. He finished in 3:04.47, so a massive congratulations to him.
We had a few Nidds head over to Lowther Castle to complete the 13 mile trail/fell race this afternoon. You want to know who they were? And their times, too? Go on then, I’ll tell you that Amy Sheppard (2:07.ish) was the 2nd V40, and so left with a bag full of beers. Winner, On the alcohol-free side of the athletic tale, Emma David (2:24.ish) and Sarah Chalmers (3:25.ish) had it nailed on, and so we can celebrate three brilliant results. Well done there, I say.
The last race in the write-up before we get to parkrun focuses upon the remarkable Lizzie Hugill. Liuzzie took part in the Hardmoors Farndale “Half Marathon” (for which you can read 16 miles), finishing in a great time of 3:49.15. That’s a great achievement – especially in this heat. Well done, Lizzie!
We’ve got three more additions for the MallettMap: Billy Fox in Tauranga (New Zealand, in case you were wondering), Jack and Jo Brierley in Lynn Llech Owain parkrun in Wales, and Sam Fugill in Denton Dene in bonny Newcastle. Adam Kirk did his thing once again at Rothwell near Leeds, Loran Eley ran at Linford Wood, and Philly Thompson returned to her usual haunt of Darlington South Park.
In preparation for her Hardmoors, Lizzie Hugill headed to Heslington, Rob and Louise Kingston were over in Lancaster (hilly, isn’t it?), and Pauline Hogg went to Dalby Forest. As Jeremy Scott showed us on Facebook, C is for Clitheroe Castle, and I assume that James Braddon took the pram with him when he went to Meadowmill. The Deacons (both Mike and Fiona) returned to Fiona’ university days for a trip to Leazes parkrun in Newcastle, while Andy Todd kept it predictable with a return visit to Millfield parkrun (dear reader, he finished in seventh place).
Caleb Aylesbury did his parkrun at Rothay, Chris and Sue Rogers were at North Yorkshire Water Park, and our Sylv was back up the Chevin. As ever, all the usual performances graced Fountains Abbey, Conyngham Hall, and Harrogate. If you’ve got a spare hour or so, then why not have a look at the results: https://tinyurl.com/47nsmxd6.
I know it was all a big joke / Whatever it was about / Someday maybe / I’ll remember to forget: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
The Fixtures for the Week Ahead
On Tuesday, we have the next in our away from club runs, and this time with are off to do a little run around Kirk Deighton and Spofforth. Meet outside the Bay Horse Pub in Kirk Deighton and be good to run for 7pm. I’ll share maps prior tot he run. There will be a 5km and a 10km option, and groups moving at all paces to suit all tastes and abilities. The course is nearly all off-road, but road shoes should be fine. We’ll regroup afterwards for drinks in the Bay Horse afterwards, for those that wish to join. It would be, as it always is, lovely to have you join us.
There will not be an organised club run from the Hockey Club on Tuesday evening.
Although this race sold long ago, the Sessay Swift is finally with us for Wednesday evening. Cometh the hour, cometh the athlete and all of that. Good luck to all of you who are tackling the 6km vomit-fest. I’m sure you’ll all have a lovely time.
We’ll be back in the Hockey Club as per usual arrangements on Thursday evening. This time I’m fancying a bit of Hookstone Woods, and so the plan looks like this. Leave the Hockey Club at 7pm, and head out over the Stray, towards the Saints, and through Hookstone Woods. Pick up the path that takes you round the back of the Showground so you come out by the Hospice. Continue through over the railway bridge, down Fulwith Mill Lane and onto Leeds Road. The route choices open out here, and you can head back to the club up Leeds Road, or you can head out over Stone Rings and take the paths to Leadhall Lane or Church Lane, and return to the club via the Cricket Club and St George’s. As we normally do on a Thursday evening, we’ll grab a pint in the Hockey Club bar afterwards, so please join us if you can.
It’s another quiet weekend in the club championships, but if you are looking for a race, then there is the Ken Bingley Memorial 10km (https://tinyurl.com/whbfxzav) in South Elmsall on Sunday if you feel the need for a little competition. For those who enjoy some fell running, then there are two local-ish fell races on Sunday: the Sedbergh Hills 14 mile (https://tinyurl.com/8z999vmp) and – and yes, I appreciate that for some of us the memory is too raw – the Crowden Horseshoe in the Peak District (https://tinyurl.com/58hctwe8). In the words of Sir Tom Jones, just help yourself.
Further Ahead & Booking Now Open
We have the hotly-anticipated Vegetable Relays courtesy of Sylvia Morten on Tuesday 20th August 2024. Yes, indeed, you too could be running round the otherwise tranquil streets of Weeton while clutching a vegetable fashioned into a relay baton. We need you into teams of four and ready to tackle the 1.5 mile loop. There’ll be prizes for athletic prowess, the fastest teams, that kind of thing, but also prizes for the teams with the funniest name and the best vegetable baton. Please get your teams entered here: https://tinyurl.com/2hp98726.
A quick reminder for you that the next of the away from club runs will be on Thursday 29th August 2024, when Nick Crebbin will be leading a route around the glorious surroundings of Harewood. Worth keeping an eye out for more details when they come, that’s for sure.
Nidd Valley at 40: August Bank Holiday Weekend
So we have the forty mile snowball run on Saturday 31st August 2024, and please see details in the attached (2024-08-11 snowball update) document. Further specific timings to follow in the next week or so. Please come and join us, if only for the last mile or so. It will be great to have you with us as we run down our namesake valley and celebrate forty years of our club.
On Sunday 1st September 2024, we have booked the Empress Pub in Harrogate for the afternoon, and hope you’ll be able to join us for a drink.
Word to the Wise
Well, this is awkward. Imagine the committee’s WhatsApp chat. Sylvia asks if anyone has the key for the lock up so she can grab some kit for the vegetable relays. Then this…
“Hi Sylvia. Happy to meet you at lick up on Weds…” – Captain Dazzler.
As Sarah C said, it’s like Carry On up the Committee. Certainly best left there.
Have a wonderful week.
Chairman Sam x