(TLDR. The Headlines: on Tuesday, we’ll be doing some intervals down in Derwent Road, meeting at the Hockey Club for 7pm. On Thursday, we have the Harrogate Homeless Project virtual 5km event, meeting at the Hockey Club for 6.30pm. Although there’s nothing in the championships this week, there are some races to have a look at and plenty of other up and coming events – read on! And word to the wise is back, and not by half).
So this weekend, I ran at North Yorkshire Water Park parkrun near Scarborough and I caught up with Sue and Chris Rogers (always a pleasure, as I am sure you will agree). Sue was marking her 65th birthday and was celebrating with a cake and that essential of all parkrun milestones: a helium balloon. Happy birthday, Sue! If you would like the chairman or indeed any other senior member of the committee to attend any milestone event or family celebration, then you only have to let us know.
Actually, I was in Scarborough for a catch-up with friends, but please don’t tell Sue that. She’d be devastated. Let’s head straight to the results before she finds out…
Results from the Week That Was…
Well, I say results. The results for Saturday’s Great Whernside Fell Race (remember that one, Jeff Walker?) aren’t out yet, but I am happy to tell you that Andy Iddon took part. Just imagine a perfectly honed athlete in his prime running up and down a bloody big hill, and you’ll get the gist. I’ll get the result for you as soon as I have it.
Kevin Clark (that’s our Kevlar, to those of you who use Facebook) has been in touch to tell me that he took part in the Maverick Lakes Osprey Ultra last weekend. That was 50 km of distance with a cheeky 9,000ft of elevation thrown in for good measure. He finished in 9:14.11. I mean, he’d have finished a bit faster if he hadn’t stopped to take this photo, but there we are.
Well done, Kev.
Ah, Martin Luxton! I can’t think of a weekend when he hasn’t been out there running and racing. He’s like the Duracell Bunny of Nidd Valley House. Yesterday, he was up in Richmondshire competing in the Sutton Park 10km. He finished in 58.33, which is a marvellous achievement. Well done, Martin!
We had more Nidds than I can count taking part in a little light crag-rattery yesterday morning. Talk about making a rod for my own back what with trying to include everyone’s results and all of that. Still, without further ado, I’m happy to tell you that Jack Brierley (27.58) got himself a podium finish with third place at the Knaresborough Crag Rat run this morning. Josh Bryer (29.27) and Caleb Aylesbury (30.56) were the next to finishers for the squad, while Captain Dazzler (31.01) was the first MV50 to finish. Well done, Captain.
Steve Newbould (31.41) was never too far behind Daz, and they were soon joined by Kev Clark (31.48), Martin Lofthouse (33.00) and Connor Featherstone (33.40). It’s always an absolute pleasure to see Matt Rickard (34.12), Andy Iddon (34.47), and that latest recruit to the ranks at Nidd Valley House, Girish Patel (35.53). Well done, also, to Nigel Scaife (37.23), Richar Evans (37.29), Nick Crebbin (37.43), and to the first Nidd lady, Anna Jackson (37.47). Jeremy Scott (38.10), Fiona Deacon (38.16), Amelie Aylesbury (38.40), Sarah Staiano (38.55), Chandra Shekhar (38.55) and Mark Tyrrell (39.22) were the next to finish, and I couldn’t be happier than to share the results of Kate Morton (39.46), Mike Deacon (40.21) and Jo Brierley (40.36) with you.
We move on to the ever wonderful Hammah Kempson, who had it nailed down in 40.55, while Christine Holleran (41.03), Jim Cook (41.13), Rachel Mills (41.09) and Michael Shaw (41.52) all put in brilliant performances. No race would, of course, be complete without Guy Parker (42.09), Nick Smith (42.24), Kat Koodhead (43.00) and Paul Manning (43.18), not to mention the athletic prowess of the Katharine Dolam (43.48), Jane Evans (44.34), Fingers Harris (45.13) and Dawn Robinson (45.41).
Let’s hear it for Jenny Manning (45.44), but also for Alex Leslie (45.43), the ChatBot (46.17), Moira McTague (49.04), Jonathan Kay (49.16), Dave Seaman (51.00), Karen McCartney (51.12) and Sarah Bracher (51.49). Yvonne Skelton (52.37) was the next to finish the race, while Jo Lane (53.02), Susy Rhodes (54.05) and Michelle Smith (54.21) all made easy work of the gruelling climb back up the crag. Jilly Hornsby (55.28), Liz Ahmad (55.31), Lianne Coiley (1:00.07) and Martin Weeks (1:00.58) make up our finishers. A massive congratulations to you all!
God only knows why the Robinsons were in Suffolk, but we are where we are. I’m told that Ipswich is really coming into its own (thank you, and gimme six), so the citizens there would have been doubtlessly delighted to have Phil and Fiona join them for their parkrun. Liz Ahmad was our #niddnorthoftheborder with a trip to Perth, and Hannah Kempson played it safe and stuck to Yorkshire when she did her run at Roundhay. Andy Todd was up near Fugill Towers to run at Druridge Bay on the Northumberland Coast, and Phil and Rebecca Ventress were not too far away with a trip to Pastures Parkrun near Alnwick. Ian and Emily Wighton did their thing at Bowling parkrun, and Sylvia Morten found her usual Nidd-free run on the Chevin was interrupted as Jenny Manning celebrated her birthday with the Deacons, Dawn Robinson, Jane Evans, Sarah Chalmers, the ChatBot, and Kate Morton. Kat Woodhead was up at Thorp Perrow, Steve Newbould and Sarah Staiano were at Epworth Equestrian, and yours truly met up with the Rogers at North Yorkshire Water Park. As ever, you had the always predictable routine at Harrogate, Fountains and Conyngham, and have the ever predictable results here: https://tinyurl.com/47nsmxd6.
The ghost of a steam train / echoes down my track / it’s at the moment bound for nowhere / just going round and round: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
The Fixtures for the Week Ahead
Right, then. So another week and, this being a running club and all of that, you won’t be surprised to hear that we’ll be going for a run.
On Tuesday, Sarah Staiano will be organising an interval session down on Derwent Road. As per usual arrangements, though, we’ll meet at the Hockey Club for 7pm and then people can run down round the school to the start. Sarah will meet people there. Obviously, no-one is under any obligation to do intervals (although all are welcome and taking part will do you no end of good), so feel free to do an alternative run from the Hockey Club if you’d prefer.
On Thursday, we will be supporting Harrogate Homeless as we have done in previous years with their fundraising virtual 5km. If you want to take part in this, then you need to make a donation of at least £10 via this link: https://tinyurl.com/pe8sbzju. We’ll be leaving the Hockey Club at 6.30pm so we can get our 5km done in the daylight, and Daz will lead a jog up to the start point near Bilton Crossing. There are cash prizes available for both individuals and teams, so do think about getting involved. You don’t have to take part in the official challenge itself, of course, and are welcome to just join us for a steady club run, but just remember the earlier start time of 6.30pm.
The running might be different on Thursday, but all other arrangements remain tediously the same. The old farts having a pint in the bar afterwards being the first that springs to mind.
There aren’t any races in the championships this weekend. You could take it as an opportunity to take the weekend off, obviously, but why would you want to do it when there are two utterly marvellous races to enjoy? The first is the Meanwood Valley Trail Race on Saturday. It’s a seven-mile multi-terrain beauty, and you get to explore some really nice parkland that you might otherwise not know. Got to be worth a few quid, right? Details here: https://tinyurl.com/54m7873w.
The second racing option this weekend is the Beck Busters 10km, which is on Sunday from Bishop Monkton. We’ve had this in the club championships before, it’s featured in our annual Mob Match with Knaresborough Striders, and it also has the added delight of being able to run through the beck on your way to the finish line. The more benevolently minded among you might like to know that all proceeds go towards Bishop Monkton School, so you can get your exercise and a shot of moral superiority at the same time. Although, we’re clearly in a parlous state when schools need to do their own fundraising. How about we fund our schools and get the arms dealers to do charity fundraising and runs and cake sales and that kind of thing. Anyway, I’ve been told I shouldn’t rant politically, so just ignore me and have a think about getting yourself a number: https://tinyurl.com/yrpnzd6r.
Further Ahead & Booking Now Open
On Sunday 6th October 2024, we’ve got the Viking Chase in the Fell Championships. It’s got some great views (weather dependent), some thrilling descents (also weather dependent), and some good old-fashioned muddy fun. No EOTD, here, so just turn up on the day with the cash and lace up your shoes. It’s guaranteed to be a cracker. All the details here: https://tinyurl.com/34xnakvf
Wedding Bells
In other news, it’s a massive congratulations to Adam Kirk and Lisa Gibson who tied the knot this weekend. Here’s a photo for the schmaltzy and hopeless romantics among you.
Best wishes to you both.
Fell Championships: Change of Plan
Unfortunately, we’ve been informed that the Burley Moor Fell Race on Saturday 9th November 2024 has been cancelled. I mean, this would be gutting enough as it is, but to think that it was going to be spectacular grand finale to the fell championships just adds muddy insult to off-road injury. Fell Running Phil has properly thrown his toys out of the pram on this one and is currently having a tantrum on the floor in a fit of histrionics, but as soon as Captains Emma and Dazzler have calmed him down then they’ll get on with sourcing an alternative race to bring the championships up to the mark. Watch this space, and apologies for the inconvenience.
XC Championships
Perhaps you find the idea of running around a muddy field in driving freezing rain to be as appealing as, well, running around a muddy field in driving freezing rain. If, however, it’s your kind of bag, then you will be delighted to know that we have the provisional list of the races for the 2024-25 cross country championships. As follows:
- Sunday 17th November 2024 – PECO #1 (Temple Newsam)
- Sunday 1st December 2024 – PECO #2 (Pontefract Park)
- Sunday 15th December 2024 – PECO #3 (Middleton Park)
- Sunday 29th December 2024 – Jolly Holly Jog
- Sunday 5th January 2025 – PECO #4 (Stockeld Park or West Park)
- Saturday 18th January 2025 – Thorp Perrow Parkrun
- Saturday 25th January 2025 – Conyngham Hall Parkrun
- Sunday 9th February 2025 – PECO #5 (Roundhay)
- Saturday 22nd February 2025 – Otley Chevin Parkrun
- Saturday 8th Mark 2025 – Wetherby Parkrun
You don’t need to do anything just yet, but you might want to get the dates in the diary. Lots to look forward to. Mainly trench foot, to be honest.
Guy Fawkes 10: Sunday 3rd November 2024
If you haven’t yet responded to Sarah C regarding your availability to marshal and support the Guy Fawkes 10, then please do reply to her email (although, in the interests of the sanity of the whole club, why not try using ‘reply’ rather than ‘reply all’? I tell you, it’s a game changer. Let me know how it works out for you). Sarah needs people to confirm that they can do their bit, rather than just letting her know if they’re not available. We’re nearing the sell-out point, now, but we could use a last push on social media if you wouldn’t mind sharing the link (https://tinyurl.com/ycky26tn) among your running friends.
Word to the Wise
I’d like to thank my anonymous informant for this one. Picture the scene at the Crag Rat Run. Dave Seaman is admiring Martin Lofthouse’s efforts in helping to put up the gazebo (and Dave knows a thing or two about erections, as frequent fliers with Nidd Valley may remember). Martin wonders if there are any more tent pegs, leading to the following observation:
“Martin is something of an expert when it comes to pegging…” – Dave Seaman, and I’m not sure that he realised quite what he said.
I best leave it there. So from Dave, Martin and me, have a wonderful week.
Chairman Sam x