(TLDR. The Headlines: on… Thursday brings a choice – you can either take part in the Beamsley Beacon Fell Race, which is part of the fell championships, or you are invited to join Rob Northfield for a recce run of the Hampsthwaite Feast Run. Always nice to have a choice, I suppose. On Friday, there are road championship points available at the York 5km time trial at Heslington, and you’ve got a weekend off for good behaviour and for time already served. Read on for up and coming events and for other bits about our fortieth birthday. We end by submitting ourselves to the wisdom of Chatty…).
Hello,
Sorry we’re a bit late this week; I’ve been up seeing the folks in Northumberland which was, of course, very lovely, but it’s always nice to be back. As they say, there’s no place like home, especially when home is Nidd Valley House. How have you all been getting on? Well, pour yourself a brew, pull up a pew, and let’s have a look at what’s been going on this past week.
Results from the Week That Was…
And all I can say is thank heaven that this week’s write up is much shorter than last week with, as far as I can see, only the results from the Danefield Relay and the Eccup 10 for inclusion.
So we’ll crack on with the results from the Danefield relays. We had four teams out to play on Otley Chevin on Tuesday night, and the first team off the blocks was Three’s A Crowd, made up of everybody’s favourite athletic threesome of Phil and Reb Ventress and Brian Hainsworth. They completed the off-road hill-fest in a cracking time of 1:18.36, while Team Amemfi (Amy Sheppard, Emma David and Fiona Deacon) were done and dusted in 1:22.53. The Nidd Valley Relay-Ables (Katharine Dolman, Katherine Woodhead and Jo Brierley) finished the challenge in 1:26.11, and it fell to the originally named Nidd Valley FV Team (Jenny Manning, Janet Carling and Sarah Chalmers) to finish up for the team with a great time of 1:43.45. Well done to you all.
In the exciting world of Nidd Valley Juniors, I’m delighted to share with you the results from yesterday’s Eccup Junior Race. So clap your hands, stamp your feet, and make a right lot of noise for the utter legends that are Leo El-Etriby (6.21), Annabelle Lodh (7.24), Hugo El-Etriby (7.33), Tobi Dolman (8.09), Darcy Nurcombe (8.26), Laurie Facey (8.29), Lily Aspin (14.33) and Hannah Lowe (15.28). Congratulations to all eight of you!
In the boring world of the grown ups, we had 25 Nidds line up to tackle the full ten miles of the Eccup 10. If you don’t want to know their results, then please look away now, otherwise read on to celebrate the achievements of Steve Newbould (1:03.38), Captain Dazzler (1:05.22), Martin Loftrhjouse (1:08.33), Ian Hesford (1:09.31) and Connor FEatherstone (1:13.50). Keep the cheers coming for Sarah Staiano (1:17.11), who slipped in just ahead of Fingers Harris (1:19.16), Richard Evans (1:19.38), Fiona Deacon (1:20.20) and Nigel Scaife (1:24.09).
We couldn’t be happier than to celebrate with Rachel Mills (1:23.52), Kate Morton (1:25.28), Jeremy Scott (1:26.47), and I can’t think of any race that has not been immeasurably improved by contributions from Christine Holleran (1:28.36), Kev Nicholas (1:28.24), Katharine Dolman (1:30.11) and Martin Luxton (1:31.16).
The pleasure is all ours, Katharine Woodhead (1:33.02) and Lizzie Hugill (1:35.25), and it was just marvellous to see Hannah Hempson (1:38.48), Sarah Bracher (1:45.00) and Karen McCartney (1:45.02) powering towards the finish line. Well done to all of you and to our final three finishers: Susy Rhodes (1:47.32), Chatty (2:00.13), and Michelle Smith (2:00.15).
In parkrun, all the usual things were happening at Fountains Abbey, Conyngham Hall and Harrogate, although we had a few Nidds head over on an early flight to run at Dublin’s Malahide Parkrun: Sarah Staiano, Steve Newbould, Katharine Dolman, Kevin Dalton, Pauline Hogg, Dawn Robinson, Emily Wighton and Katherine Woodhead. They then went out on the lash in Temple Bar. Well, frankly. I’m disgusted. This is a running club. Some people, I tell you.
Juniors Owen and Freya Dart did their thing at Delamere near Chester, Lizzie Hugill went to Temple Newsam, Phil and Reb Ventress went up to Flatts Lane near Middlesbrough (don’t ask me why), Adam Kirk took a spin round Wetherby, and Andy Todd was down in the Channel Islands to run at Guernsey. Kev Nicholas did his parkrun thing at Myrtle Parkrun (I know know where it is, either), Yvonne Skelton and Martin Weeks headed over to Millfield near Easingwold, your truly was in Gateshead (can’t be helped), and Mr and Mrs Robinson headed down to Pavillion GArdens in Buxton. Read their results, and all the others, right here: https://tinyurl.com/47nsmxd6.
And now I know / Spanish Harlem are not just pretty words to say / I thought I knew / But now I know that rose trees never grow / In New York City : chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
The Fixtures for the Week Ahead
Exciting news, indeed! The club run for this Tuesday has been picked by none other than the loveable top lad that is Connor Featherstone. He’s chosen Harlow Carr. As per his instructions, we’ll convene at the Hockey Club and be good to run for 7pm. Head through town and up through the Valley Gardens. Continue up through the Pine Woods to Harlow Carr. Connor will be hanging a right and going round the Birk Crag trail, coming back behind Harlow Carr onto Otley Road. From there, it’s back along Otley Road and over the Stray to the club. You can, of course, cut shorter by heading back to Otley Road from the top of Valley Gardens, so there’ll be something for all paces and inclinations. Hope to see you there!
You’ve got yourself a choice on Thursday. The first of these is the Beamsley Beacon Fell Race, which is the next counter in the fell championships. This is at the more accessible end of the fell running range, and is only 5.5 miles long. Packing in just other 1,000ft of climb, the views from the top are particularly good on a fine evening, and you have the choice of thrilling descents back to the start. Entry is only a fiver and is EOTD, so it would be great to see as many of you there as possible. All the details here: https://tinyurl.com/mpcuz9e6.
If a fell race really isn’t your bag, then Rob Northfield will be leading a recce of the Hampsthwaite Feast Run. The actual race is on 20th July 2024 (entry here, if you’re interested: https://tinyurl.com/2248h4a8), but Rob will be hosting a recce from his home on Thursday night at 7pm. Rob’s address is Stoney Banks, Clint Bank Lane, Hampsthwaite, HG3 3AB. Rob has kindly agreed to put on drinks and food afterwards, and would appreciate you letting him know if you intend to come (either via rob@2inspire.co.uk or 07768 005776). I’m assured there is plenty of parking space at Rob’s.
With all the above going on, there will not be an alternative club run organised from the Hockey Club on Thursday evening. However, if you do want to organise something else, then feel free to put a shout out on social media or via the email group and pull a squad together.
On Friday evening, there is the next instalment of the York 5km series at Heslington. This is the chance to get some more points in the road championship, although it does unfortunately mean running round in circles for 5km. Still, horses for courses and all of that: https://tinyurl.com/mr33d89j.
Oh, now this is a blessed relief. We’ve got the weekend off as there are no races in the championships. If, however, you want to get out and do something, then there are a couple of fell races at Baildon (https://tinyurl.com/5n7vecj9) and Embsay (https://tinyurl.com/2vwsdv3s), both of which look reasonably accessible if – like FRP – you are unable tolerate a weekend without getting sheep shite half way up your legs.
Further Ahead & Booking Now Open
Next Wednesday 17th July 2024, we have the finale of the Evening League with the handicap race at Otley. It’s always great fun and a total farce as all the runners clammer for the finish line within minutes of one another. Anything could happen, it really could, and the winner could be you. As ever, all the details are via the Evening League website: https://tinyurl.com/4vs9d8zy.
As detailed above, the Hampsthwaite Feast Run is on Saturday 20th July 2024 (https://tinyurl.com/2248h4a8). It isn’t in the club championships, but if you can take part then it would be great to show some support to a local initiative that raises much needed local funds. I think our very own Rob Northfield is involved in the organisation, so what more persuasion do you need!?
Nidd Valley at 40
Remember that we are having a couple of days of running celebrations to mark our fortieth year. On Saturday 31st August 2024, we’ll be running a snowball run from the source of the Nidd by Great Whernside, tracing the forty miles down our namesake valley all the way to Knaresborough. The long distance mountain goats will start us off, and people are encouraged to join in at a point that suits them and, picking up Nidders as we go, we’ll aim to finish in Knaresborough together. Whether you run one or forty miles, it’ll be great to have you with us. On the Sunday, we’ll be decamping to one of the breweries in town (most likely to Roosters) for some celebratory drinks, and again I hope that you can join us.
Word to the Wise
This week’s wise word comes from Chatty (also known as Debbie Gibson), who entered a recent race at Kirkby Malzeard only to find out that they had some canine competitions going on. Fastest dog, best in show, that kind of nonsense. Debbie was incredibly excited, as she had her dog with her for the day out.
“We won the second prize for prettiest bitch” – Debbie Gibson, and then she explained she was talking about the dog.
Have a wonderful week, and hope to see you soon.
Chairman Sam x