(TLDR. The Headlines: on Tuesday, we have the Almscliffe Crag Run, and on Thursday there is the Evening League at Ilkley. Wednesday offers the Hyde Park One Mile if you’re interested, and on Sunday we have the Harrogate 10km in the championships. Read on for other up and coming races, news of the committee, and the usual word to the wise).
About to shoot out the door, so let’s get straight on with it…
Results from the Week That Was…
There’s only one place we can start this week, and that’s with Brian Hainsworth who has a crack at the Bob Graham Round this weekend. Despite a strong start on Leg 1, a downpour and poor visibility on the Helvellyn Ridge made for slower going and a navigation error that put Brian an hour behind schedule. It’s to his credit that he dug deep and went to tackle legs 3 and 4 – easily the most challenging of the entire run – before teaming up with Emma and Phil at Honister Pass to tackle the last three peaks before the final 10km run back into Keswick. He finished in 24:20.02. Sure, he might have missed his 24 hour target, but still he’s achieved something that most fell runners could only dream of. I can only hope he’s as proud of himself as the club is of him. Well done, Bri.
Right, now I hope that you’re sitting comfortably, as we’ve got a hell of write up on our hands with the results from the Evening League race as Thirsk on Wednesday. Craig Mills (28.16), Jack Brierley (28.27) and Josh Bryer (29.58) were the first three to finish, with Josh relegating Captain Dazzler (30.11) to fourth Nidd finisher with an overtake in the last half mile. Steve Newbould (30.40) was just ahead of the ever lovely Andy Todd (31.50), while Martin Lofthouse (32.21) had Kev Nicholas (32.35) bearing down on him.
Marcus Shaw (33.15) was hunted down at every turn by Alex Crowton (34.25), himself chased by Chris Carvery (34.27), Laura Francis (34.44), Jon Easton (35.48) and Nigel Scaife (35.51). Lulu Tucker (35.58), Nick Crebbin (36.00) and Richard Evans (36.21) kept the good times rolling as they made their way beyond England’s Finest View, soon to be joined by Simon Cocker (36.23), Nick Andralojc (36.43), Carl Read (36.53) and Andrew Croft (36.54).
Sarah Staiano (37.00) led Jeremy Scott (38.08), Theresa Oldroyd (38.11), Chandra Shekar (39.02), Kate Morton (39.18), Christine Holleran (39.49) to the line, and we didn’t have long to wait until they were joined in their celebrations by Russell Geraghty (39.56), Alistair King (40.05), Katherine Dolman (40.06), Rachel Mills (40.34) and Michael Shaw (41.05).
Hannah Percy (41.10) was locked in a tussle to the finish with Jo Brierley (41.15), and we can only assume that FRP (42.28) was delighted to be back out on the Cleveland Way for the second time in a week. While we’re at it, we’ll throw some kudos to Map Man, John Mallett, for this excellent finish of 42.30, in the brilliant company of Lizzie Hugill (42.47), Roger Duckworth (43.18), Paul Manning (43.27) and Emily Wighton (43.43).
Jenny Manning (44.06) was at the front of an impressive pack of runners, made of no ones other than Rachael Prince (44.21), Jon n Jackson (45.00), Jeff Walker (45.29) and Martin Luxton (46.08). I know that Guy Parker (46.10) and Moira McTague (46.31) normally run together – I know, cute as – but this time Guy steamed on ahead, leaving space for Jemma King (46.15) to sneak in between them. Rachel Capstick (46.36), Sarah Bracher (47.59) and Jo Lane (49.01) put their best feet forward, blazing a trail for Angela Pattinson (50.49), Dave Seaman (50.53), Sylvia Morten (55.04), Jill Hornsby (55.30) and Lianne Coiley (56.05). Our trio of finishers were the ever wonderful Liz Ahmed (57.08), Nick Smith (57.52) and Chris Rogers (1:03.54). Very well done to you all.
Now this one nearly escaped my notice, but I was delighted to see that we had some Nidds at the Crackpots Trail Race in Kirkby Malzeard this morning. But there’s nothing cracked in the athletic pots that are our very own Carl Read (58.19), Katherine Woodhead (1:06.16), Vicky Thomas (1:07.46) and Roger Duckworth (1:09.34). Chatty McChatface (1:31.51) teamed up with Michelle Smith (also 1:31.51) to give us an inspirational finish on the 11km route. Very well done to you all.
I can see that Jo Lane did the Wythall and Hollywood 10k this weekend, but I can’t find any results for that…. Watch this space next week and hopefully I shall have filled it.
I can’t resist a smirk when I see the name Penistone, so reading that Adam Kirk came fourth at the Penistone 10km this morning has certainly put a smile on my face. He finished in an incredible time of 36.48, just 45s behind the lead runner. Well done, Adam!
Talking of Adam, he was the one and only Nidder at Pontefract parkrun this weekend, while Tony LC did his athletic ablutions at Eastville, and Martin Luxton and Philly Thompson were doing their usual thing a Sedgefield and Darlington respectively. Mike and Fiona Deacon were enjoying the beautiful Northumberland coastline with their run at Druridge Bay Country Park, while John and Susie Mallett enjoyed the three lap inland delights of Wetherby.
Jane Evans and yours truly were down at Belton House in Lincolnshire, having broken the journey down to see friends in Suffolk. We’ve clearly hit that stage in life where we book hotels based on proximity to the local parkrun. I also learned a lesson about not running downwind of someone carrying a bag of warm dog poo, but it’s probably best that we say no more of that. Chris Carvery was enjoying the beauty of the North York Moors with Dalby Forest Parkrun, while Steve Newbould and Sarah Staiano headed to London to run at Victoria Dock in Canary Wharf.
Janet Carling did the Riverside Walk Parkrun at Hay-on-Wye, Sylvia Morten headed back up the Otley Chevin, and it looks like Emily Wighton was over in the Netherlands to take a turn around Zuiderpark. Doing the alphabet challenge, Em?… ;-). As ever, we had plenty of Nidds out sprinkling the Black and Gold magic at Conyngham Hall, Fountains Abbey and Harrogate, and all the results are ready for your perusal. Enjoy: https://tinyurl.com/47nsmxd6.
Better stop dreaming of the quiet life / ‘Cause it’s the one we’ll never know / And quit running for that runaway bus / ‘Cause those rosy days are few : chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
The Fixtures for the Week Ahead
Tuesday is our annual summer run up Almscliffe Crag. If you’re running, we’ll be leaving Weeton Station at when the train gets in at 7pm, and a walking group (led by Karen and Sylvia) will be leaving Weeton Station at 6.30pm. I know others are making arrangements to run in from Harrogate. Either way, we’ll regroup on the top of the crag for the annual class photograph, and then either had back down to Weeton or run back towards Harrogate. There are always lots of groups and breakaway groups, so you’ll be sure to find someone running a similar pace and distance to you.
If you’re getting the train to Weeton, there is a Northern Rail service which (with a lot of luck and by the grace of the great Lord God almighty) gets into Weeton at 7pm. It leaves Knaresborough at 18:38, Starbeck at 18.41, Harrogate at 18.47, Hornbeam Park at 18:50, and Pannal at 18:55.
On Wednesday, there is the Hyde Park Harriers Summer Mile race in, as you’d expect, Hyde Park. It’s flat, short, sharp and very fast, and your chance to get yourself a PB over the one mile distance. It’s not in any championships or anything like that, but is “just for fun”, inasmuch as busting your balls for a mile can be considered fun. All the deets: https://tinyurl.com/w8ubh92j. By the way, there are only 80 places left and entries close tonight, so you’ll need to get a shifty on if you’re interested.
Thursday brings with it the fourth race in the Evening League, and this time we are heading to Ilkley to enjoy the hill. Seriously, I swear there is more climb than descent in that run. It’s like an athletic Escher drawing. Kick off is at 7.45pm, and all the relevant info can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/yb89ujvd.
There will not be an organised club run from the Hockey Club on Thursday.
We’ve got the next counter in the road championships on Sunday with the Harrogate 10km. There are still places available, and it is a great chance to support our friends at Harrogate Harriers. Get involved: https://tinyurl.com/5n7834kk.
Further Ahead & Booking Now Open
Although not in the championships, we have the ever popular Danefield Fell Relays on Otley Chevin on Tuesday evening. It’s always a popular event with Nidds, and we always put a few teams out there. Get involved: https://tinyurl.com/54emn9na.
On Sunday 7th July 2024, we’ve got the Eccup 10 Mile in the road championships. As the name might suggest, it is ten miles long and is in Eccup. If you want a piece of the action then you’re going to need to get yourself a place, which you can do here: https://tinyurl.com/5t4k43uj. Crack on.
Committee Meeting: 26th June 2024
We’re meeting again on Wednesday, so if there is anything that you’d like to bring to our collective attention, then please do let me know: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
Word to the Wise
I leave you with a recollection from Jill Hornsby, sharing her memories of being picked up by Liz Ahmad for the Evening League on Wednesday. Well, I say recollection. Jill couldn’t wait to find me after the race so she could drop Liz in it.
“Liz had come to Hampsthwaite but had come in her crocs and had forgotten her running shoes. She drove back to Darley at five thousand miles an hour. I screamed. I had put two seatbelts on and everything…” – Jill Hornsby, traumatised.
I don’t what is more remarkable: that Liz offered Jill a lift home, or that Jill accepted it.
Have a grand week. See you soon.
Chairman Sam x