(TLDR. The Headlines: on Tuesday and Thursday we have club runs round Bilton and Duchy, respectively. Both leave the Hockey Club at 7pm. There’s the British Fell Relays on Saturday up in Wharfedale, and on Sunday we have the penultimate fell championships race with a trip to do the Charlesworth Chase in Appletreewick. Read on for other things about up and coming events, the club championships, the PECOs, and the Awards Night…).
There are some moments that you remember for the rest of your life: your first kiss, getting the keys to your first house, the birth of your first child. However, Jo Lane adds another moment to her list: her first sub-30 parkrun. Yes, indeed, Jo transformed Redcar into a theatre of dreams (and for Debbie Dilasser, it was forever thus) when she brought her parkrun home in 28.31. Only a few weeks ago, Jo was wondering whether she’d be ever able to break the 30 minute barrier. Well, didn’t she just? What an achievement and a masterclass in what can be achieved when persistence and training team up with a dogged determination. We’ve decided that we will bring her appraisal forward by a few months, and the normally fiscally-restrained Board for the Implementation of Grants, Budgets & Athletic Pay Structures (BIGBAPS) has recommended a pay rise for her. And I’m not to argue with them, that’s for sure.
And it isn’t Jo who has cause for celebration. When you see the results from this past week, you’ll soon understand why everybody here at Nidd Valley House has been very excited indeed! Read on!
Results from the Week That Was
The first taxis off the rank this week are the five Nidds who were over at York University to do the Even Splits 5km thing. So, when you see them, be sure to congratulate Connor Featherstone (19.40), Hannah Kempson (22.54), Chris Morris (24.46), Lizzie Hugill (2554) and Sylvia Morten (31.05). Brilliant running all round, as I’m sure you’ll agree.
Brian Hainsworth (and he didn’t tell me about this, keeping his light under his bearded bushel. Modesty! Thy name is Brian!) took part in the Langdale Horseshoe on Saturday, completing the high level half marathon distance in 3:51.48. Good job his fell running friends dobbed him in, then. Excellent effort, that. Well done, Brian.
We’ve got plenty of exciting race results from Sunday, and we start with one from our very own racing snake, Martin Luxton. Martin headed up to Richmond to run the Richmond Castle 10km. Despite a hilly start, Martin enjoyed the downhill spring to the finish, clocking an overall time of 56.26. Well done, Martin!
Newbie Girish Patel has had a busy weekend racing (well, I say newbie, he’s been with the club a couple of months now so he’s basically part of the furniture here at Nidd Valley House). On Saturday, he took part in the Rivington Trail Half Marathon near Chorley. He had it all done in 2:07.51, which is a great achievement given the challenging and rocky terrain.
But is where it gets awkward. Girish did the Leeds Abbey Dash yesterday, but for some horrific reason is listed on the results as running for his old club, Salford Met Runners. Now, I’m sure they’re all lovely people and all of that, but muggles are muggles. Consider yourself warned, young Girish, and don’t make that mistake again. Otherwise, we’ll send Sylvia and the heavies round for a chat. Nobody wants that, believe me.
Girish finished the Abbey Dash in 43.14, and was joined by the festival of athletic excellence that is Jack Brierley (34.45), Josh Bryer (36.35), Andrew Davis (44.05), Henry Waddington (45.50) and Jack’s mum Jo (49.53). Incidentally, you might like to know that his dad Jim also took part, finishing in 52.19. Well, yes, I know he’s not a Nidd but Girish ran for Muggles AC and we still included him. What are you going to do?
You’d think that would be enough naming and shaming for now, but Sarah Staiano doesn’t appear as a Nidder on the results for the Manchester Half Marathon? Unbelievable. It’s almost like she doesn’t want to be associated with us. Still, to err is human and to forgive is divine, so we shall still put her name up in lights and celebrate her personal best time of 1:39.30. Congratulations, Sarah! Other Nidds in attendance were none other than Rob (1:24.24) and Louse Kingston (1:33.04), Philly Thompson (1:50.22), and Victoria Thomas (1:54.44). Very well done to you all!
Obviously, we cannot start the parkrun round up anywhere else but in Redcar, where Jo Lane blew the 30 minute barrier out of the water and clocked a time of 28.31. Incredible, right? Richard Abbott was down at Woodhouse Moor (nice enough parkrun, if memory serves, but a sod of a climb up to the finish line), Ian Wighton was over in Skipton (and heaven only knows why, ’tis a strange place), and Kev Nicholas did his thing at Oakwell Hall.
I have no idea why five Nidds went to Roundhay Park, but I can think of no finer an athletic delegation to send than Adam Kirk, Anna Bulcock, Louise Kingston, Katie Coppack and Hannah Kempson. Pauline Hogg was down at London’s Victoria Dock, Andy Todd was over at Millfield, and Emily Wighton was at Penistone (grow up.).
Oh, a couple of new ones here. FRP and Fiona Robinson were at Oriam Parkrun near Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University and Will Bailey decided to go Dutch with a trip to Máxima Parkrun near Utrecht. As ever, all the usual suspects in all of the usual places (Fountains, Conyngham and Harrogate), and all of the results ready for your perusal and consideration: https://tinyurl.com/47nsmxd6.
Well, God bless your crooked little heart / St. Louis got the best of me / I miss your broken China voice / How I wish you were still here with me: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
The Fixtures for the Week Ahead
Our club run on Tuesday takes us back around the mean streets of Bilton. As per usual arrangements, we’ll leave the Hockey Club at 7pm, and head out over the iron bridge onto Woodfield Road. Pick your way to Tennyson Avenue, Hall Lane and Bachelor Gardens. You can return to the club via Crab Lane, or run up Knox Avenue to Skipton Road. From the Little Wonder Roundabout, it’s up Ripon Road, down Ripon Road, up Ripon Road and past West Park. Turn left at the Prince of Wales Roundabout and return to the club for tea and medals.
On Thursday, I suggest a run round the Duchy Estate. Leaving the Hockey Club at 7pm, we’ll head up Claro Road and Skipton Road, turning left onto Kings Road. Cut through past the council building and onto Ripon Road, before crossing over onto Duchy Road. You can then head all the way up onto Harlow Moor Road. Return to the club from there, either down Otley Road and York Place, or feel free to extend via Beckwith Road, Green Lane, and Leadhall Lane. We’ll be having a pint in the Hockey Club bar afterwards, and it would be lovely if you were to join us.
Good luck to the Nidd Valley Ladies who are representing the club at the British Fell Relays in Appletreewick on Saturday. The climbs will be tough and the descents exhilarating, the mud will be plentiful and the competition will be fierce. If you want to head up to cheer them on, then they’d love to have your support. This really is fell racing at the highest possible level and promises to be a spectacle not to be missed.
If you do fancy some racing, though, then it’s back to Appletreewick on Sunday for the Charlesworth Chase Fell Race, which is the penultimate counter in the club fell championships. There’s some good woodland running before a tough climb up onto the ridge, leading to a runnable section onto Simon’s Seat before a brilliant descent back to the village at breakneck speed. Runners are expected to finish a pint of bitter outside the pub before they clock a finish time, and experience tells me that this is harder than it might seem. Still, plenty of muddy fun to be had, and all the details are here: https://tinyurl.com/2dc4ydwj.
Further Ahead & Booking Now Open
On Sunday 27th October 2024, the curtain finally falls on the fell championships with the Lockton Limping Fell Race. This is actually a really runnable and accessible fell race and, although it has enough to challenge seasoned runners if they push themselves, it is a great opener for newbies and fell running virgins. It comes highly recommended by FRP (and he has exacting standards when it comes to mud, as I’m sure you will appreciate). Do think of getting involved: https://tinyurl.com/38p6avuu.
PECO XC
Talking of mud, the entries for the PECO XC series are now open. It’s only £17 for the five races in the season, and all of them are included in our cross-country championships. I cannot pretend that it is undiluted fun and enjoyment, unless slogging through the mud and in driving rain is your idea of a pleasant and enjoyable Sunday morning. We’re just hoping that we can get Jonathan Kay through the season without ripping his leg open again. That reminds me, actually, I must buy some bubble wrap. You, however, can buy yourself a place: https://tinyurl.com/ymeaudam.
Awards Night: Saturday 25th January 2025
I really dislike wearing a suit. Other people look really good and stylish and suave. I, however, just look like I’ve had a head transplant. I also have to give a speech, which is awkward given that I’m a mumbler with a lisp and a stammer. It’s a bit like putting the Elephant Man on the cover of Vogue. Still, needs must, and this is the one time in the club year when we all scrub up and get together for a night of dinner and dancing and celebrating this most marvellous of running clubs. It’s always a great night and, whether you get an award or not, you are certainly most welcome. Booking is open here: https://tinyurl.com/4ztnctpw.
Word to the Wise
Well, Moira McTague shared some thoughts about a range of topics on yesterday’s Guy Fawkes 10 reccie run, including but by no means limited to cyclists, motorists, and people who build properties that aren’t in keeping with the local area. To be honest with you, I’ve never had language like it before, and certainly not something that I will repeat here. Suffice to say, it was like being in a dockyard. It’s Guy that I feel sorry for, the poor thing.
On that note, I’ll leave it there. From potty mouth, from me, and everybody else here at Nidd Valley House, have a wonderful week.
Chairman Sam x