(TLDR. The Headlines: on Tuesday, our club run will be from Ripley as we’re trialling out a new Evening League race route. Our Thursday club run will be from the Hockey Club and we’ll be heading out over the Stray and round Valley Gardens to enjoy the best of the spring blossom. Read on for other info regarding the Mob Match, the Evening League, and an update on our good friend Terry Massey.).
Hi all,
The marathoners are back here at Nidd Valley House. They got back late last night (apparently, some of them had insisted in going to the pub), and we’re not sure whether it was the 26 miles or that last pint that had rendered them so comprehensively legless, but that hardly matters. You should have seen the smiles of satisfaction as they returned with their medals round their necks (and you should have seen the grimaces and heard the groaning as they tried to climb the steps back into the house). We’re letting them have a lie in this morning and, let’s be honest, they deserve it. But not only London! So many other races, so many other results, and not to mention a bit of silverware. Best make a start, then…
Results from the Week That Was…
And I imagine that I’d probably be lynched if I were not to start the results round up this week with a trip down to the capital to celebrate the results from the London Marathon. I know that the usual manner of things is to do the results in finishing order but, when it comes to this bad boy, I know how hard you guys trained to get yourself to the start line and round that most iconic of courses. So we’ll congratulate you all here, both sincerely and alphabetically.
Sarah Bracher laced up her running shoes for an incredible cause, raising money for Children with Cancer UK. Sarah finished her first (but surely not your last, Sarah?) marathon in 5:07.33. I’m not sure that Andrew Davis (3:34.24) was raising money for a charity, but we can still congratulate him heartily for his finishing time of 3:34.24. Katherine Dolman (4:32.23) also smashed a brilliant time out there, and I’m nothing if not impressed for all of the hours of training she put down there.
It was unbelievably emotional to see Sarah Fabron finish in 4:27.15, raising money for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Those that know Sarah (or look at Facebook…) will know that this is a cause very close to her heart, so well done indeed Sarah. I didn’t actually know that Pauline Hogg was running the London Marathon until I downloaded the tracker yesterday (she certainly kept her light under that athletic bushell), but I’m more than happy to celebrate her marvellous time of 4:41.59.
Craig Mills knocked it out of the park in a remarkable time of 2:48.07, so that will have given his otherwise shy and retiring other half Karen something to shout about as she cheered him home along Embankment. The lesser spotted Marcos Montana (6:36.50) dug deep and refused to give up, and so had plenty to celebrate when he got himself down the Mall to the finish line. Well done, Marcos!
Steve Newbould wrapped it up in a brilliant time of 2:45.58, and if you want to see what he has been up to then you only need to look at his social media. He doesn’t post much on there, you know. ;-). Well done, though, Steve. That’s a fair old effort!
Marcus Shaw had his eyes on the prize with a sub-3:30 finish, getting over the line for his finishers medal in a remarkable time of 3:27.13, and Ruth Sinclair (who, for some reason, does not appear as a Nidd Valley Road Runner on the results list, shocking!!) also came under the three hour barrier in 2:57.52.
Well done to you all. Whatever your time, however your training went, and whatever got you to the start line and whatever got you over the finish line, you did it. No one can take that away from you. You did Nidd Valley proud.
Last Monday, as had Theresa Oldroyd over in Massachusetts to take part in the Boston Marathon. Despite being dogged with setbacks in her training and despite suffering in the heat, Theresa resisted the temptation to throw in the towel, instead clocking a remarkable time of 3:47.22. Well done, Theresa, and it’s great to see the Nidd Valley colours on the other side of the world!
In the Burnsall Trail Half Marathon on Saturday, Debbie Gibson (yeah, also known as Chattty McChatface. Never shuts up. You hear her before you see her, that’s for sure.) was the sole Nidd in action, but more than earned her stripes with a finish time of 2:44.00. We had a few more Nidds take part in the 12km event, with Jenny Manning leading the way in 1:23.45 and Sarah Chalmers finishing in 1:38.47. Sarah got the 2nd FV60 and she would also like you to know that there were more than two FV60 runners… Janet Carling (don’t see a right lot of her, but it’s lovely to see her when we do) finished in 1:41.17 and Michelle Smith had it all wrapped up in 1:42.29. Congratulations to you all.
Martin Luxton was all on his lonesome at Carsington Water 10km in Derbyshire, and we were delighted to see him finish in 1:00.34 seconds. Martin also managed to snaffle the prize for the first MV70. Well done, Martin!
It’s lovely to be able to report that Suzy Rhodes and Jo Lane were putting in some serious distance up at Roche Abbey ‘It’s Grim Up North’ 20m race yesterday. Suzy finished in 4:31.22 and Jo finished alongside her in a cracking time of 4:31.51.
I’m doing this from Strava, as I cannot find any official results, but it looks like Phil Ventress and Brian Hainsworth took part in the Haweswater 15. It looks like this run actually was closer to 16 miles (so can we assume that Brian got lost again? Who knows?), and it also included nearly 5000 ft of climb. They both finished in 4:14. Well done, chaps.
I don’t make a habit of including all the parkrun results, as we’d be here and at it for far longer than any of us would like to be, but when it appears in the road championships then I am happy to make an exception or two. And so to Fountains, where Jonny Johnson (17.07) denied Adam Kirk (17.14) top points as the road championships got off to a blistering start. Darren Townend (18.39), Andy Todd (19.14) and Martin Lofthouise (19.48) joined them to make our first five finishers, with Ian Hesford (19.53) taking a break from his usual haunt at Harrogate to sneak in under the 20 minute barrier. Connor Featherstone (20.14) was chased by Andy Iddon (20.45), while Chris Cravey (20.47), Sam Wheeler (20.56), Theresa Oldroyd (22.15) and Nick Crebbin (22.28) all nailed cracking performances round the two lap course.
Jeremy Scott (22.31) was just ahead of James Braddon (22.40), Jim Cook (23.14) was just ahead of Ian Wighton (23.22), and Christine Holleran (23.53) was just ahead of Mike Deacon (24.19). Michael Shaw (25.09), Fingers Harris (25.37), and Hannah Percy (25.51) were ahead of MapMan (27.17). Rachael Prince is indignant with rage that her time has been omitted from the results, but she’d like you to know that she was the next to finish, just ahead of those who have official results: Rob Northfield (27.37), Dave Prince (28.02), Lizzie Hughill (28.08), Suzy Rhodes (29.50) and Kris Northfield (30.09).
Jo Lane, Jo Lane, Jo Lane, Jo Laaaaaane…. Your beauty is beyond compare, with flaming locks of auburn hair, with ivory skin and eyes of emerald green, your smile is like a breath of spring…. And you also finished parkrun in 30.14. Yvonne Skelton (30.29) managed to keep the ever-speedy Carolyn Jones (32.09) at bay, while Liz Ahmad (33.02), Graham Hyde (33.03), Jill Hornsby (33.08) were the next to finish. Our final four finishers are the remarkable and inexhaustible Susie Mallet (33.10), Sylvia Morten (33.22), Martin Weeks (34.50) and Sarah Crawshaw (39.09). Well done to you.
In other parkrun news, Sue and Chris Rogers were at North Yorkshire Water Park, Iain Scott was at Jesmond Dene in Newcastle, and Rob and Louise Kingston continued their New Zealand campaign with a trip to Blenheim Parkrun. Richard Evans and Karen McCartney raced at Mensola in Florence (I did it last year, and can’t pretend it was my finest ever effort, having been out until the early hours with my brother in some den of Florentine iniquity known as Cafe Notte). Junior Isaac Moorland ran at Heslington, Karen Mills was at Barking, Nigel Scaife was at Gunnersbury, and Emily Wighton joined Fell Running Phil at Endcliffe near Sheffield (does Mrs FRP know about this, Phil?).
Despite the call to arms at Fountains, we had a few Nidds who couldn’t get out of bed early enough, and so completed their parkrun ablutions on the Stray and at Conyngham Hall. You can read their results, and all of the other results, here: https://tinyurl.com/47nsmxd6.
Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup / they slither wildly as they slip away across the universe / pools of sorrow, waves of joy are drifting through my opened mind / possessing and caressing me: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
The Fixtures for the Week Ahead
Things are a bit different this week, as on Tuesday we will be having our club run from Ripley. We’re doing this as we will be doing a recce for a possible new evening league route, as our usual race route from the Hockey Club is looking increasingly unlikely for numerous reasons. Anyway, meet at the main car park in Ripley and be good to run for 7pm. The route is about five miles long, and will take us down Holly Bank Lane, take in some off-road trails round Hampsthwaite and then back up the hills. If you have off-road or trail shoes, then you might want to think about wearing them.
There will not be an organised club run from the Hockey Club on Tuesday, although if you wish to organise your own thing then please feel free to do so.
On Thursday, Captain Dazzler would like to enjoy the blossoms on the Stray. He loves nothing more than to tiptoe through the tulips, that man. Meet at the Hockey Club and be good to go for 7pm. We’ll head out from the club, round the side of the Stray, admiring the blossoms as we go, before we get the blossom central round Tewitt Well. We’ll probably hang around while someone takes a photograph, before a range of choices open up for you. I’d suggest heading up Otley Road as far as Harlow Moor Drive or (if ambitious) Haarlow Carr, before heading back to the club through the Pine Woods and Valley Gardens. The choice is, as it always is, yours, and feel free to make amendments and alternative plans as the mood takes you. Come and have a pint with the boring old farts in the bar afterwards, if you’ve nothing better to do.
There isn’t anything in the club calendar this weekend, so feel free to get yourself out and do a parkrun. If you are heading out for a run and fancy a bit of company, then a quick message on the emails and social media will help you to easily identify someone who’d be up for joining you. Alternatively, if you want to be a right old billy no mates and run on your own, then I’m not going to stop you…
Further Ahead & Booking Now Open
If you haven’t yet entered the Evening League, then this really is your time to do so. We need as many people as possible to get themselves signed up. Not only is it a case of all hands on deck, but it’s a great opportunity to enjoy some competitive racing in a really friendly and social setting. More details about the league can be found here (https://tinyurl.com/4vs9d8zy) and you can get entered here (https://tinyurl.com/y7a2rab9). Remember that, as Nidd Valley are hosting a race, that the club will give you a discount to reflect that you’ll be marshalling and not racing that one race. Use the code NIDD24 at the checkout. Don’t share it with people in other clubs, though. Someone did it once, which was a shame as he really liked his kneecaps. Ah well.
On 5th May 2024, we have our Mob Match with Knaresborough Striders. This year we meet at the Melmerby 10km near Ripon. We need as many Nidds to get themselves a number and race as fast as they can to ensure that we can bring the Mob Match Trophy home. This means everyone has a part to play – including you! Please think about getting involved. You can start this by clicking here: https://tinyurl.com/pcea9enw.
Terry Massey
Following on from Nick’s email on Friday, I’m glad to let you know that Terry is now breathing unaided and responding with smiles and one word answers. He remains in intensive care at the LGI and he’s by no means out of the woods yet, but this is a positive step for sure. I know the whole club has Terry and his family in their thoughts at the moment. Whatever your custom is – prayers, thoughts, good wishes – please continue to hold Terry in them.
You’ve got this, Terry.
Word to the Wise
One from Sarah Fabron for you this week.
“So happy it’s done. Never again…” – Sarah Fabron, 26 miles and 385 yards later.
Do you believe her?
See you in the week.
Chairman Sam x