(TLDR. On Tuesday, we have intervals on Fieldway near Bilton Crossing at both 6pm and 7pm, and our Thursday 6.30pm club run takes us round the Duchy. We have Conyngham Hall Parkrun and the Awards Night on Saturday (major excitement!). Read on for details of up and coming events and the AGM….).
Awards Night is nearly upon us, and I must say that everybody is very excited indeed! The whole place is awash with activity. The tables have been set, the candle wicks trimmed, and the seating plans have been finalised without too much upset and difficulty. In the kitchens, you can’t move for saucepans as the chefs refine the menu, and this is very much a jus and reduction kind of evening as opposed to a gravy night. All very classy. The list of prize winners has been securely delivered (and it makes very interesting reading, I’ll say that much) and Dave has been polishing the recently-engraved trophies so that they glisten in candlelight. Sylvia can’t decide which ballgown she’d like to wear, we’ve had to tell Fingers that he’s not wearing the dress that he wore in the fell race, and Jonathan has said he might get his kilt out. So while you contemplate what he might keep in his sporran, let’s have a look at the results from this past week.
Results from the Week That Was
Well, this is unimaginably awkward. I have only gone and omitted Debbie Gibson’s result from the Jolly Holly Jog write-up. Accidentally, of course. I suppose someone like Debbie is very much a shrinking violet, very quiet, and just keeps herself to herself, so it is kind of inevitable that she would be accidentally overlooked. Anyway, she emailed in to point out this particular shortcoming of mine (one of many) and let me know that she finished in 1:04.57, so that’s that wrong righted and hopefully we can move on from this deeply unpleasant and traumatic experience. Well done, Chatty.
Given that the weather has been cold enough recently to send most brass monkeys looking for a welder, it’s all rather appropriate that the Brass Monkey Half Marathon was held in York yesterday, and equally exciting that we sent a delegation of seven Nidders out to compete. Steve Newbould (1:21.09) was the first to draw blood for the squad, with Kev Clark (1:22.25) and Andy Todd (1:24.58) taking close orders. Steve sent me a message yesterday afternoon to let me know that Sarah Hughan (1:39.27) had secured herself a PB, so he’s totes proud and we’re also totes proud. I don’t know if Mark Tyrell (1:42.56), Martin Luxton (1:58.10) and Kat Woodhead (1:59.00) secured PBs or not but – no matter – they were out smashing out sterling performances in the mighty colours of the black and gold. There can surely be no higher calling.
I know we don’t normally repeat parkrun results in full but when one of them is a championship race then it feels kind of churlish not to include them. The bind being that it makes for a long write up but you’re completely worth it. I hope you feel the love. And so to Thorp Perrow parkrun in the cross-country championship, and to Josh Bryer (19.29) and Captain Dazzler (20.16) who kick started proceedings for us. Kev Clark (20.24), Steve Newbould (20.38), Martin Lofthouse (21.08), Ian Hesford (21.52), and Jonathan Easton (22.42) were the next to finish, and were soon joined by the ever-remarkable Nigel Scaife (23.23), Richard Evans (23.51), Richard Abbott (23.55) and Laura Francis (24.06).
It’s always a pleasure to see Carl Read (24.08), Michael Shaw (24.27), Jeremy Scott (24.47), Theresa Oldroyd (24.48), and Matt Wilkinson (24.53), and this weekend was no different. Similarly, it was a delight to read of the great performances from Eleanor Easton (25.24), Jo Brierley (25.59), Craig Mills (26.59) and Emma David (27.01). Christine Holleran (27.10) was the next to finish the one lap of muddy delights, with Guy Parker (27.29) giving chase as he led Rob and Louise Kingston (both 28.04) and the lesser-spotted Roger Duckworth (28.53) to the finish.
Most recent recruit to the Nidd Valley Campaign (and there’s no blood like fresh blood here at Nidd Valley House), Andy Bryer (29.45) was the next to finish, sneaking in ahead of Emily Wighton (30.07), Sarah Bracher (30.36), Moira McTague (31.15), Karen Mills (31.16) and Sarah Staiano (31.16). Jim Cook (31.17), Rachel Capstick (31.47) and Jo Lane (32.21) put in the kind of marvellous performance that we have come to expect by now, and Michelle Smith (35.53) and the ChatBot (35.53) also decided to finish together like the bessies that they are. Liz Ahmad (38.03) and Dave Seaman (44.43) finished ahead of Fiona Robinson (51.47) as she joined Sylvia Morten (51.49) on her first race back since she injured herself by falling into a manhole in Australia. It’s a wonder we let her out without carers, really.
In other parkrun news, there were plenty of Nidders who did the anti-social thing and spurned the company of their fellow club mates and went off to their own thing. I know. I can’t believe it, and frankly I would have expected better of Kevin Nicholas (he went to Tamworth Castle Grounds), of Pauline Hogg (University of Stirling for her) and Anna Bulcock (Morecambe Prom), but we are where we are. Obviously, I would have been at Thorp Perrow but had a long standing arrangement with university friends involving cocktails, cheese and gambling, and that’s not the kind of thing you scratch out of a diary on a whim, so I did Fulham Palace Parkrun instead.
Adam Kirk was at Woodhouse Moor, Lynsey and James Barraclough were at Brierley Forest, and FRP was at Scunthorpe Parkrun (heaven knows why). Hannah Percy decided on a trip to Selby for reasons best known to herself, but I suppose it’s a case of each to their own. Junior Owen Dart was at Armley (the parkrun, not the prison), and our two oversees parkruns come from Susie and John Mallett, who were having a lovely time down under at Wanaka in New Zealand, and from Billy Fox who has been enjoying the Florentine delights of Mensola.
As you’d expect, we had quite a few Nidds at Fountains Abbey, Conyngham Hall and Harrogate, and you can see all of the results here: https://tinyurl.com/47nsmxd6.
All inside / Our Amsterdam she flies / Hoarding the kites / That howling wind, she’ll take everything / But she’s easy on the eyes: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
The Fixtures for the Week Ahead
We have some more intervals for you on Tuesday, provided that the trauma of last week’s herculean exertions hasn’t put you off for good. This week, we’re doing our intervals round Fieldway in Bilton. Meet at the Bilton Road Crossing on the Greenway (///excavate.blindfold.emulating), and remember that there are sessions at both 6pm and 7pm so feel free to come to whichever one works best for you. It’s going to be epic.
Well, I just know that you’re bursting to do the Duchy Estate on Thursday and who am I to turn you down, especially when you’ve been ever so good and asked ever so nicely. We’ll meet at the Hockey Club and be good to run for 6.30pm. Head out along Claro Road and up Skipton Road as far as Kings Road. Take Kings Road down to Coppice Drive and onto Ripon Road. You can head back to the club from there if you want the shorter option, or you can head up Duchy Road and onto Harlow Moor Drive. Otley Road and York Place are your quickest route back to the club, although some people will likely extend via Beckwith Road and Green Lane and back via Leeds Road. Do whatever works for you. We’re not precious. Do come and join us in the bar afterwards, though. The banter is banging.
The cross-country championships draws closer towards its conclusion with a trip to Conyngham Hall Parkrun on Saturday. You know the deal with parkrun by now. Get yourself there for 9am and don’t forget your barcode. I imagine you are likely familiar with the arrangements for Conyngham Hall, but if you need further information then this is where you need to be: https://tinyurl.com/5dny2m47.
Then, of course, on Saturday night we have the much-anticipated Awards Night. That reminds me, I must get a speech written.
If you’re interested in some racing on Sunday, then we’ve got the St Aidan’s Winter Beast (https://tinyurl.com/2p44azs7). It’s not in the championships, but we’ve raced it a few times before and it’s always had good feedback. No pressure either way, but it’s there if you want it.
Further Ahead & Booking Now Open
On Sunday 2nd February 2025, we’ve got the Cod Beck Canter in the fell championships. It’s tucked in between Osmotherly and the Stokesley Road, and is 10 miles of varied terrain. It’s at the trail-end of the fell running spectrum, and is a great opportunity to dip your toes in the muddy joys of fell running. It’s entry on the day and isn’t to be missed, especially when it’s only £7 in. All the deets: https://tinyurl.com/mzzw5tvd.
AGM: Thursday 20th February 2025
Jonathan will be sending out all of the information this week, but please do get this date in your diary and prioritise attending. This is really important. Not only do you get to ask questions and help set the direction of the club, but we need you to vote in the committee and help us pass any business that we need to get through. Some of the current members of the committee are standing down and others are prepared to re-stand, but please do think about whether you would like to stand for any role on the committee. If you’d like an informal chat about any of the roles, then do speak to the incumbent or with whichever committee member you’d like.
Oh, and we’ll probably be providing pizza as a thanks for attending. Don’t think of it as a bribe, think of it more as a little gentle encouragement.
Word to the Wise
Nothing for you this week, I’m afraid. Well nothing that I can repeat, anyway.
Have a great week, and hope to see you soon.
Chairman Sam x