(TLDR. The Headlines: on Tuesday and Thursday, we have club runs round Bilton and the Supermarkets, respectively. Both leave from the Hockey Club at 7pm. On Sunday we have the Viking Chase in the Fell Championships. Read on for usual bumph of up and coming events and other tenuously-relevant news).
I’m writing this one on the train having been down in that there London for the weekend. All very cultural and all very lovely, as I’m sure you might expect, but now find myself on the train back north and at the tender mercies of the complimentary WiFi from LNER. Still, heading back to Nidd Valley House and should be back by about 9pn. Tell someone to get the kettle on, will you? But while that boils, let’s have a look at the results.
Sorry, by the way, for the lack of photos. I know my limits with train WiFi.
Results from the Week That Was…
Still no results for the Great Whernside Fell Race, so we’ll have to wait for another week (Maybe more? We’ll never know?) to see what minutes and seconds will appear in brackets after Andy Iddon’s name. Watch this space. I’ll have them with you in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.
Now this dedication for you: to turn up to a race and nail a fantastic performance, even when it isn’t in the club championships. Still, this was the Meanwood Valley Trail Race, and you won’t find Nidders more dedicated than Martin Lofthouse (57.13), Captain Dazzler (1:02.19), Russell Geraghty (1:07.41), Theresa Oldroyd (1:09.49) and the inexhaustible Fell Running Phil (1:17.20). The hugest of enthusiastic congratulations to you both.
This, my friends, is the real deal. Just look at what our junior division delivered at the Beck Busters 2km run today. Oh yes, these bad boys sure know how to put the fun into run. Eleanor Easton smashed it in 7.55, with Hannah Lowe (8.11) and Fraser Dobinson (8.50) just behind her. As if it couldn’t get any better, I’m going to tell you that Eva Anwyl (9.27) and Darcy Nurcombe (10.27) joined Alice Heath (10.35) to finish just ahead of the ever-brilliant Lawrence Facey (10.48) and Lily Aspoin (11.16). Very well done to you all! #makesyouproud
In the boring world of the grown-ups, we had nine Nidds taking part in the Beck Busters 10km this morning. And, well, they certainly smashed that beck. Kev Clark (39.56) slipped in just beneath the 40 minute barrier, with Matt Wilkinson (45.42), Fiona Deacon (47.56), and Jeremy Scott (49.53) all lining up to follow suit. It was lovely to see Mike Deacon (51.24), although John Mallett (54.45) gave him a run for his money. Alistair McQueen (56.06) and Roger Duckworth (56.27) finished off for us.
Now, up in Scotland, we’ve had Rachael Prince who’s donned her best tartan running leggings and headed north of the border to toss a caber or two. And once she had done that, she did the Loch Ness Marathon. Having followed one of Emma’s training plans rigorously and to the letter, and doubtlessly inspired by the bagpipers at the start line (just imagine a man having a vasectomy without anaesthetic while trying to sing Scotland the Brave and you get a pretty reasonable idea of how it might sound), Rachael was doubtlessly thrilled with her finish time of 5 hours, 12 minutes and something or other. The official results don’t seem to have landed yet. Anyway, don’t let that stop you from congratulating Rachael when you see her. She’s a marvel, she really is, although there are photos on Facebook of her drinking beer afterwards. Well, frankly, I am disgusted. This is a running club with a commitment to the highest possible athletic standards. Just who does she think she is? Honestly, whatever is the world coming to?
Talking of marathons (and when aren’t we, I hear you cry), let’s have a massive congratulations for Craig Mills who had a crack at the Berlin Marathon earlier today. He finished – and get this – in an incredible time of 2:39.17, which is a mindblowing achievement all round. Well done, Craig, and we hope that, like that reprobate Rachael, you’ve managed to find yourself a cold beer.
Before we get to parkrun, the final race results come from the Track Restoration 10km at Temple Newsam earlier today. So, let’s have three cheers for the athletic and charitably-minded Katharine Dolman (55.03), Kat Woodhead (55.46) and Dawn Richardson (57.21). Congratulations to the three of you!
And so, as expected, to parkrun. Ian Wighton ran at Wakefield Thornes, while daughter Emily was over in Northern Island doing her thing at Hillsborough. Jo Lane was down in Worcester, Hannah Kempson did her laps at Roundhay, and Pauline Hogg, for reasons best known to herself and to herself only, did her parkrun at Sandall Park in Doncaster. James Braddon was the only Nidd at Fountains Abbey, and so gets himself a mention on account of solitary nature, while Steve Newebould and Sarah Staiano were all too pleased to show off their new Nidd training tee-shirts at Northallerton.
Lizzie Hughill was up at Fort William and completed the eponymous parkrun, Katharine Morton was at Blaise Castle, and Billy Fox continued his tour down under with a visit to Mildura Weir. Jane Evans joined Sam Fugill at Victoria Dock in London, although his had absolutely nothing to do with getting the ‘V’ on the parkrun alphabet challenge, while Alfie Willis was on the Cinder Track near Whitby, Andy Todd was joined by Matt Wilkinson at Millfield, and Sylvia Morten had her peace on Otley Chevin broken by Fiona Robinson. Not that she would have minded, of course. Sylvia takes the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune without complaint, as anyone on the committee will tell you.
Although James was on his lomeson at Fountains, there was still plenty of runners at Harrogate and Conyngham Hall and you can read all of their, and everybody else’s, results here: https://tinyurl.com/47nsmxd6.
When we walked along the shore / my darkness shaded all we saw / I was unkind, I was unkind: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
The Fixtures for the Week Ahead
In the words of Leonard Cohen, the summer’s gone and the winter’s tuning up. Oh, for sure, the Met Office may be dangling the carrot of an Indian Summer in front of you, but that won’t stop the dark nights from, well, being dark and getting darker. Please think carefully about what you wear (both when running with the club and alone), and think about putting on something hi-viz.
And if you want an event to model your new hi-viz kit, then I can think of nothing better than a trip round Bilton on Tuesday night. We’ll leave from the Hockey Club at 7pm, as per usual. If there is enough light, we can head along the greenway to Bilton Crossing, or otherwise use Woodfield Road. From there, it’s round Tennyson and Batchelor Gardens, onto Knox Drive and to Ripon Road. You can head back to the club from there, or you can run down to the Little Wonder roundabout, up (and down) Ripon Road, and back to the club along York Place. The longer route will be about 10km all in. All welcome, and there’ll be people of all paces so you won’t be left out.
Thursday is a chance for a little bit of supermarket sweeping. So, for us, that means been art the Hockey Club and good to go for 7pm. We’ll run down the path by the railway towards ASDA, and head up Station Parade towards Waitrose. From there, it’s a short run back to the club, or you can alternatively head over the Stray towards Hookstone Drive, either going past Tweitt Well to M&S or to turn left to pass St Aidan’s School. Whichever you do, turn right to go via the Squash Club and past the Showground and Sainsbury’s, before cutting through to Morrisons and back up through Starbeck to the club. You’ll have worked out that there are plenty of options to cut short, extend, or make of it what you will, so please feel free to suit yourself.
On Sunday, the good times keep on a rollin’ with the next instalment in the fell championships: the Viking Chase. It’s up on the Cleveland Way above Stokesley and so familiar to some of you who did the Cleveland relays. Despite a few steep climbs, this is actually quite an accessible race and I’d wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who fancies having a go and doing something a bit different. Mud will be, as you’d expect, guaranteed. Give it a go, why don’t you: https://tinyurl.com/34xnakvf.
Fell Championships: Change of Plan
Having found out that the Burley Moor Fell Race on Saturday 9th November 2024 has been cancelled, we dispatched FRP and Captains Emma and Dazzler back to the drawing board to rethink the fell championships. After hours of agonising debate (that’s FRP), tears (that’ll be Emma) and temper tantrums (Dazzler), I’m happy to announce that the new race in the the fell championships will be the Lockton Limping on Sunday 27th October 2024. Having done this race before, I am more than happy to vouch that it more than easily classifies as a cracker, and you can find out all the relevant details here: https://tinyurl.com/3eyactd3.
Guy Fawkes 10: Sunday 3rd November 2024
Ah, come on. Surely you don’t need to be reminded again?! Ah, only jesting, but if 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. Sarah needs people to confirm that they can get involved, rather than just letting her know if they’re not available. We’ve less than 100 places left to sell now, but if you want to share the link (https://tinyurl.com/ycky26tn) on your socials then we’d be really grateful. Thanks, folks.
Word to the Wise
Another quiet week. Nothing from me, I’m afraid. Still, have the best of weeks. Just remember you’re a Nidd. Hold your head up high, as you can deal with whatever this week is going to throw at you.
Chairman Sam x