(TLDR. The Headlines: on Tuesday we have our final (I know – final!) interval sessions at Derwent Road, meeting at both 6pm and 7pm. Thursday’s club run takes us round the Duchy Estate. Read on for other news about membership, up and coming races, and some wisdom from a blast from the past…).
Hi all,
It’s all go in the Results & Statistics Department here at Nidd Valley House, and results are pouring in from road races, cross country races, fell runs, and ultra endeavours. We’ve got the staff working overtime (and we have to pay time and a half on a Sunday, too), but no expense is too much for the chance to see your name in lights. Fills me heart with pride, it does. So, without further ado…
Results from the Week That Was…
As is becoming alarmingly common, we start this week’s results round up with yet another apology. This week, the object of our abject and grovelling apology is our very own Jim Cook. It was two weeks ago when Jim took part in the Haworth Hobble, a 32 mile off-road challenge in the hills of Bronte Country. He did this on the 9th of March, dear reader, so to miss him two weeks on the bounce really is unforgivable. I shall have to flagellate myself later. But before I do, I need to tell you that Jim finished in a spectacular 6:50.54. Well done, Jim.
Now, where did I put those birch twigs?
Joining Jim in the habit of running silly distances for no good reason whatsoever, we need to say a well done to Kev Clark who took part in the Hardmoors 55 yesterday. Running 55 miles from Guisborough to Helmsley, Kev finished in a remarkable time of 11:50.something. So it’s well done to him, too.
Ah, now this is very interesting indeed. I got an email from young Jack Brierley (you know, the fast one who disappears off ahead in a race, never to be seen again until we mere mortals finish to find that he has got changed, got fed and got home). Anyway, went and took part in the English Schools Athletics Association Cross Country Championships in Pontefract last week. Jack was there to represent North Yorkshire, which is a huge honour. Unfortunately, this meant that he was unable to wear his Nidd Valley colours, but we can’t win them all. Still, we’ll celebrate him finishing the 6km course in a great time of 22.50. Congratulations, Jack, it’s great to have the Nidders out there competing at such a high level.
And so we come to the navigational embarrassment that is the We Need to Talk About Chevin Fell Race. I’m not sure there is much point in even writing the results, given that it seems that nearly every Nidder took a wrong turn at some point, either adding miles to their journey, or cutting it suspiciously short. So, fully aware that they’re essentially meaningless, let’s have a look at the timings. Captain Dazzler (1:20.42) was the first to finish (he did 8.6 miles), ahead of Martin Loftrhouse (1:23.18) and Nick Andralojc (1:29.09). Amy Sheppard finished in 1:39.01 (she ran 9.1 miles). Emma Kicks did 8.56 miles in 1:42.14, with Carl Read (1.42.22) and Chris Carvey (1:42.57) in hot pursuit. Fingers Harris (1:51.56) would have finished much sooner had he not stopped to stroke every dog passing, and Phil Robinson finished his race in 1:55.51. Kate Morton was done and dusted in 1:58.04, whereas Jose Jimenez stretched his race out to 8.7 miles and finished in 2:00.26. Sarah Chalmers finished in 2:24.35, and Nigel Scaife clocked a time of 1:22.00 on the short course (I didn’t know there was a short course, and had just assumed he had cheated but we are where we are). Sarah Bracher managed to get herself phenomenally lost, decided to call it a day, called the race director to retire, and then decided to run all the way back to Harrogate. Still, we won’t say any more of it. It doesn’t do to mock the afflicted. Hannah Kempson is down as a DNF, so I hope you’re okay, Hannah. It was a tough course out there, so well done to you and to all of the others for giving it a go. Special well done, though, to Nick Andralojc who claimed the prize for the 1st MV60. Congratulations!
Andrew Davis was all on his lonesome – I know, the poor thing – down in Wakefield today. He was running in the Wakefield Hospice 10km, and zipped round in a speedy time of 43.24. Well done, Andrew, that’s a great time.
Oh, now get this. Martin Luxton is out living his best life in Portugal, but clearly wasn’t going to let a holiday get in the way of his running. And quite rightly so, too. When he took part in the Bombeiros de Tavira Night Urban Trail 10km (no, me neither). I cannot find any official results, but am delighted to tell you that Martin went and got 3rd MV70. Fantastic, and especially to bring some international silverware back to Nidd Valley House. I do like the photo of the race official looking like she struggling to know what to do with the medal (“Right, the runners are on the podium and I’ve got the medals. Now what…?”)
What with fell running being fell running, there aren’t any official results out yet for the Blubberhouses 25. Still, it won’t stop us from celebrating the hardy souls who got themselves out on the moor for some athletic action this morning. So it is a well done to Phil and Rebecca Ventress, to Nicki Smith, and to the blast from Nidd Valley past that is Terry Massey. More on him later, and the results will be with you when we have them.
And so to parkrun. Let’s start with the MallettMap, where we’ve got two contrasting parkruns for you. Rob and Louise Kingston were running at O’Connors Beach Parkrun in Tasmania, where they doubtlessly enjoyed balmy sunny weather, and Billy Fox was at Frédéric Back Parkrun in Montreal, where he looks like he almost froze to death. Pauline Hogg also ran at Wantagi Parkrun in New Zealand, but I think she’s not the first Nidder to do her parkrun thing there.
In the mundane world of parkruns back at home, we had no new additions to the MalletMap and decided to keep it very vanilla and stick to what we knew. Sylvia Morten was treading well trodden trails around Otley Chevin (and presumably didn’t get lost, which is more than can be said for the fell runners who have probably been on a navigation course), Ian and Emily Wighton were on the Isabel Trail, and Debbie Dilasser did her athletic ablutions at Marshall Drive Parkrun near Redcar. It’s nice that she was with her people. That’ll have made her very happy. Susie and John Mallett were at Nostell Priory, Sam Heathcoate was at Roundhay, and Philly Thompson was back at Darlington South (she’s making a bit of a habit of this, if you ask me). Adam Kirk was on York Knavesmire, Vicky Thomas was at Barnsley (can’t be helped), Iain Scott was in Pontefract (again, can’t be helped), and Helen Cook was having a capital time in Gunnersbury. As ever, plenty of Nidds at Harrogate, Conyngham Hall and Fountains Abbey, and all their results and all of the other results, are right here for you to peruse at your leisure: https://tinyurl.com/47nsmxd6.
Now the darkness only stays the night-time / in the morning it will fade away / daylight is good at arriving at the right time / it’s not always gonna be this grey: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
The Fixtures for the Week Ahead
As they say in a particular film industry (or so I’m told), it’s once more with feeling. Yes, indeed, Tuesday brings with it our final interval session of the season. Can you believe it? No, I can’t either. It will be #totesemosh, that’s for sure. We’re back at Derwent Road, meeting at the junction with Malden Road. Emma K and Chris O will put you through your paces at the 6pm session, and it falls to Jane E and Sarah S to bring the curtain down with the 7pm session. See you there!
On Thursday, our club run takes us onto the Duchy. Meet at the Hockey Club for 7pm, and we will head out towards Kings Road and Coppice Drive. Crossing over Ripon Road, we’ll head along the Duchy Road and onto Harlow Moor Drive. From there, turn a left and head over the top of Valley Gardens to Otley Road. You can turn left again, and head back towards the club, or you can extend along Beckwith Road, Green Lane and Leadhall Lane. The choice is yours. As we’ve got the day off on Friday, why not join us for a beverage and bag of crisps in the bar afterwards? It’ll be lovely to see you.
There’s nothing in the club championships over the bank holiday weekend, but if you fancy a run out, the Helmsley 10km on Easter Sunday is a bargain at £20 (https://tinyurl.com/2nzk94bv), whereas a tenner will get you a number to take part in the Rivington Pike Fell Race on Saturday (https://tinyurl.com/ybevdebb).
Further Ahead & Booking Now Open
On 6th April 2024, we have the unimaginable misery that is the Pendle Fell Race. Seriously, that climb to the summit with your head perilously close to being wedged between someone’s buttocks is enough to make anyone think twice. Plenty of Nidds will still do it, no doubt. It’s a great little race, with a brilliant run in the possibility of a trip to the pub afterwards. Only £7 to get some points in the fell championships, too. What’s not to love? Crack on: https://tinyurl.com/4rbakhnd.
Membership
If you haven’t paid up yet, we’ll be sending Robert Hill round to sort you out. You don’t want to find out how persuasive him and his boys can be given half an hour and a baseball bat. Instructions for renewal have been sent out by our membership secretary Nick Crebbin, and it’s easier than ever to pay your £40 and get signed up (I know, it is a total bargain).
Word to the Wise
This week, we stand to benefit from the wisdom of Terry Massey as he reflects upon many years as part of Nidd Valley.
“I tried multiple times to leave Nidd Valley but they wouldn’t let me. In the end they gave me honorary membership so I can never leave…” – Terry Massey, learning his place.
And quite right, too.
Have a wonderful week. I don’t doubt that you will.
Chairman Sam x