Climb Every Mountain

It’s been a week of mountains, uphills and downhills, trails and running festivals with a sprinkle of road running to make it a perfect mix! There’s a report from the Dolomite Skyrace, results from the Snowden Mountain race and fell running galore at Worston, Bull Hill, Cracoe and the Lakeland classic, the Kentmere Horseshoe. You’ve been on the trails around Barley, Castle Howard and thumping the, sometimes rather steep, tarmac at the Pendle Running Festival and the somewhat flatter roads of Cheshire and Lytham.

Late Results

Bollington Nostalgia Hill Race – 10 July

The 12th Bollington Nostalgia Hill Race, organised by the Bridgend Centre took place on Sunday 10th July 2016. One hundred and twenty four runners enthusiastically took on the challenge of the 11.4km multi terrain route over road, pasture, high moorland and canal towpath in the beautiful countryside around Bollington. David Rutley, MP for Macclesfield, was on hand to start the race and send the runners on their way with much encouragement.

The weather was kind and it remained dry until just after the start of the race at 11am, there were small showers but this helped to keep competitors cool.

Ivan Whigham was our sole representative in this race, he reports;

Conditions were good and the pace was fast on trails, paths and canal. I was outclassed by mainly road runners but gained on the uphill and downhill parts of the course. This race would suit a novice for a first fell race as it was a marked course. This is the 2^nd time I’ve done the race and will do it again as Bollington is a pretty place.

Full Results

And onto this week’s action!

TUESDAY 12 JULY

Worston Summer Series Races

Great value for club members this summer series race is really two races for the price of one! There is an uphill race and then a separate downhill race.

Pete Browning, Chris Funnell and Carl Helliwell at the Worston Races. Photo by Adrienne Olszewska

A great way to make the most of your strengths if you are a great downhill runner but not so good at the uphill and vice versa. 24 runners took part in this year’s event.

Beth Quinn, Briony Holt, Ellie Root and Sarah Helliwell at the Worston Races. Photo by Adrienne Olszewska

Dave Motley ran strongly and finished first in both races.

Dave Motley leading the downhill race. Photo by Alan Dorrington

Briony Holt was the first female in both races. Other than that people took different positions in each race.

Richard Brisco and Briony Holt racing to the finish at the Worston Downhill Race. Photo by Adrienne Olszewska

On top of the actual racing, is the estimating of race times. The uphill was won by Richard Brisco whose estimated time was only out by 7 seconds. The downhill was won by Ivan Whigham who was 29 seconds out.

Ivan Whigham and Chris Funnell battling to the finish at the Worston Downhill Race. Photo by Adrienne Olszewska

Uphill Race Results

Heading up hill at Worston. Photo by David Belshaw

Downhill Race Results

At Pendle Trig Point waiting for the start of the Downhill Race. Photo by Andy Holt

Junior Races

Flying downhill. Photo by Alan Dorrington

A few of the older junior runners took part in the senior races but there was still a turnout of 16 juniors. Just 2 runners in the U8/U10 race. Rachel Stevenson finished first with Ellisia Smedley chasing her for second place.

In the U12/U14 race Christopher Brown had a great run to finish in first place. Helana White was our first girl to finish.

Just like the senior runners the juniors also had the extra challenge of estimating their times.

U8/U10 Race.

Rachel Stevenson chased by Ellisia Smedley at the U8/U10 Race. Photo by Alan Dorrington

U12/U14 Race

Harry Mason followed by Natasha Olszewska and Keira Stevenson. Photo by Adrienne Olszewska

Full Results

WEDNESDAY 13 JULY

Ian Terry Memorial 5K Road Race

Three club members took part in this 5K race organised by Andems Runners/Rochdale Harriers in memory of Ian Terry, a police officer who was tragically killed during a training accident. Paul Brannon finished in 4^th place overall with a time of 18:25. Robert Morrison was 14^th with a time of 21:39 and Jack McGuire was 36^th with 30:05. 53 runners took part.

Full Results

THURSDAY 14 JULY

Bull Hill Fell Race

Ryan Wilkinson was our sole representative in this fell race. He finished in 15^th place with a time of 41:37 in afield of 201 runners.

Full Results

SATURDAY 16 JULY

Pendle Running Festival – Day 1

In its second year, the Pendle Running Festival offers a small but challenging set of events for runners. Taking place over the weekend you can choose from a trail race, a 10K, a Half Marathon and orienteering events. More than one if you are up for the challenge! Using Whitehough Outdoor Centre as a base there are lots of other activities to choose from making this a great weekend for the whole family.

Ian Hargreaves and Mick Hughes at the Pendle Running Festival

Pendle Running Festival – Half Marathon

Five Clayton Harriers took on this tough half marathon. Andrew Stubbs finished in 2^nd place with Andy Armstrong in 8^th place. Stuart Proctor made up the men’s team in 20^th place. Angela Shian and Vicky Heys finished in 34^th and 36^th positions and 1^st F35 and 1^st F45 respectively. A total of 56 runners took part in the race.

Clayton Runners in the Pendle Running Festival Half Marathon. Photo by Harry Devonport

 Pendle Running Festival – 10K Race

Five Club Members took part in the 10K race. Tracy Mitchell was both the first Clayton finisher as well as first lady finisher in the race overall. Donna Airey was our second lady in the race and 2^nd F35. Mich Hughes was our first Clayton man and Martin Bradt and Ian Hargreaves completed the team. A Total of 56 runners took part in the race.

New club member Mick Hughes at the Pendle Running Festival.

Full Results

Snowden Mountain Race

Five club members took part in the Snowden Mountain Race. The race starts and finishes at Padarn Park LLanberis. The runners follow and out and back route to the summit of Snowden. The race is 10 miles with 3300ft of climbing. Wendy Dodds was our first finisher in 302^nd place and 1^st FV60.

Wendy Dodds at the Snowden Mountain Race. Photo by Sue-Nigel Jeff

Mark Taylor was our first male finisher in 403^rd in a field of 603 finishers.

Mark Taylor at the Snowden Mountain Race. Photo by Stuart Russell

Snowden Mountain Race – Nicola Dugdale. Photo by Su-Nigel Jeff

Full Results 

SUNDAY 17 JULY

Castle Howard 10K Trail Race

The Castle Howard Trail Races offer fantastic routes around the grounds of one of Yorkshire’s finest historic homes. Castle Howard historic house and estate is home to the event, located just off the A64 between York and Malton. The route enjoys breathtaking views of the Castle Howard estate, taking in glorious scenery and a variety of architectural gems along the way. With the superb Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as a backdrop to the races, it’s hard to find a more attractive route.

Breton Holdsworth took part in this race. He finished in 5^th place in a time of 43:11

Full Results

Cheshire Half Marathon

Report from Jonathan Cleaver

There were just two Clayton runners registered, myself and Dan Plant, both keen to post good times on what’s supposed to be a flat fast course at Arley Hall in Knutsford.

John Cleaver at the Cheshire half marathon

It’s a closed road course (which had cars on it), 2 laps through some beautiful countryside. The weather for once was on our side with dry sunny conditions with a light breeze.

Jon Cleaver’s shirt that acurately predicted his time.

The course lived up to expectations with speed and set off pretty well averaging 06:20 miles for the first 10km and then the efforts from the week before started to catch up with me. I ended up with a PB of 01:24:19 and Dan came in just over the 01:30 mark. It’s a course I could definitely do better on next year with opportunities to keep the faster pace going for longer.

It’s a highly recommended course for PB and half marathon first timers!

Full Results

Cracoe (BOFRA) Fell Races

Senior Race

Richard Briscoe and Stephen Fish ran in the senior race at Cracoe which forms part of the BOFRA championship series. Richard finished in 39^th place and Stephen was 67^th.

Stephen Fish at the Cracoe race. Photo by Woodentops

U17 Race

Briony Holt continues her great form and finished in 11^th place overall and 1^st girl in this BOFRA race.

Briony Holt in the U16 Race. Photo by David Belshaw

U12 Race

Another great result for Dexta Thompson who finished in 2^nd place.

Dexta Thompson at the Cracoe race. Photo by David Belshaw

Chris Brown was 12^th and Jenson Bentham completed our trio of boys in 21^st place.

Jenson Bentham at the Cracoe race. Photo by David Belshaw

Kady Thompson was our only girl runner and she was 43^rd overall.

Kady Thompson at the Cracoe races. Photo by David Belshaw

U9 Race

Felix Thompson was our sole U9 runner and finished in 21^st place

Felix Thompson at the Cracoe Races. Photo by Woodentop

Full Results

Dolomites Skyrace

Andrew Firth took part in this tough, Italian mountain race finishing in 594^th place overall with atime of 3:42:25. There were 786 finishers.

Report from Andrew Firth

The Dolomites Skyrace held its 19th edition this weekend in Canazei, Val di Fassi. The event comprises a vertical kilometre race, i.e. a height gain of 1km which took place in sunny conditions on Friday. I was just a spectator for this and caught the cable car to the mid station and then marched Dinah upwards for approx. half an hour to the finish line at the top of Crepa Niegra, which overlooks the town. Whilst it was sunny there was a freezing cold wind on top which made spectating a bit uncomfortable. Anyway we enjoyed watching the elite competitors who made the impossibly steep climb look easy with most of the continentals using walking poles.

A line of runners zigzag up at the Dolomites Skyrace. Photo by Andrew Firth

The main event started bright and early at 8.30 on Sunday and when we parked up at about 7.30 it was very chilly since the sun was hidden by the mountain. It was clearly going to be very sunny and warm once we got into the sun, but it did feel weird putting sun cream on when it was so cold – I wore my down Pertex to the start!

This was my fourth attendance at this event, having completed in 2008, 2009 and 2011, but I have only done the full route to the top of Piz Boe once in 2008, the subsequent events were shortened due to snow on the route, and so I had done 3 different routes previously.

We were told that there were 1200 entrants this year, although I never managed to get a list prior to the race. I started right at the back, and it felt like a London Marathon type start where you can’t run properly for quite a while. Eventually breaking into a jog as we left the town streets and started on the way up the ski run I found I was passing a few and felt quite good. The cool mountain air felt good in the lungs and I was surprised at how I felt, my reccy of the lower slopes the Sunday before had felt very laboured in the heat of mid-morning and I had been quite apprehensive about the race as a result. It took quite a while to gain height and come out of the mountain shadow on the approach to Pordoi Pass when the heat started to make itself felt.

Looking back at the Dolomites Skyrace. Photo by Andrew Firth

Pordoi Pass is around 7500 ft above sea level, and there is a road that snakes its way to the summit. I had cycled up the road the previous week which took me an hour to the top. The road does zigzag quite a bit, and even though the run goes straight up I was pleased to match that on foot, particularly because I then still had a further hour to make the only cut-off of 2 hours to the top of Forcella Pordoi. The next bit is an impossibly steep zigzag up a scree slope which brings you to the plateau below Piz Boe. A gel and just concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other finally got me to the cut-off with just over 10 mins to spare. I looked down at those behind and thought there are going to be a substantial number of disappointed people.

At last I could get running again, passing people regularly across the plateau (including quite a few patches of dodgy compacted snow). The climb up to Piz Boe becomes a bit of a scramble with fixed wires to hold onto for safety. I had set off with just Clayton vest, but at this point I started to get quite cold with the biting cold wind at altitude. Hands in particular were suffering but because of the precarious climb I didn’t want to start messing with my bumbag so just put up with it. Soon we were at the top, over 10000ft and 2 hrs 15mins of continuous climbing, but at least it was downhill all the way back, or so I told myself.

The downhill starts with a very technical descent, followed by a steep loose scree to the plateau. Normally I love this type of terrain, but in trying too hard to pass I came a cropper early on the scree – no serious damage except to my pride, but psychologically it certainly had the effect of slowing me down to make certain of foot placements.

The memory is a strange thing when it comes to mountain running, after traversing the plateau for a short time we started to climb again, surely that can’t be right. Well I don’t remember it from 2008, but we were all following the markers.

Eventually we came to the next steep scree descent where I continued to make measured progress, passing quite a few, but being circumspect with foot placement. The descent does take a lot out of you, being 12km as opposed to 10km uphill. Eventually we reached Val Lasties where the gradient eases off a bit, and whilst still quite stony there is a bit more route choice if you fancy going off piste. There was a group on the path in front holding me up, so I veered off to the left on uneven grass/rock. Just as I had overtaken the group I noticed that the path had improved significantly so made a move back to the right to regain it, as I did so I tripped over a rock and fell full length at the feet of the group I had just over taken. Again no serious damage, just a skinned knee, but it again hit my descending confidence probably slowing me up a bit for the remaining descent which seemed to be going on a bit.

On the lower part of the descent they had definitely made a change in the route, what felt like an unnecessary diversion and horror of horrors including some more climbing at this late stage. This brought me (and the runners around me) to a walk until we started going downhill again. The last 2/3k I felt quite strong, still passing people. The only problem was a little stone probably picked in the screes had lodged inside my left shoe and had made its way to lodge itself against my big toenail. I wasn’t prepared to stop at this point but each foot plant on my left foot was agony as it was downhill all the way down the ski run to the finish. I finished in 3 hrs 42 mins, about 20 mins down on my 2008 time, but hey I’m 8 years older and nearer to 60 than I would like. I’ll probably have “Ben legs” tomorrow, but overall I’m pleased with the performance.

By the way this is a great place to enjoy the mountains in summer, and is particularly geared up for kids with adventure parks all over. The cable car and public transport system is great. Next year’s race is the 20th edition and they are planning a weekend of races 19th to 22nd July followed by a party on the Saturday night. Check it out at www.dolomiteskyrace.com, or ask me about it if you are interested.

Full Results

Kentmere Horseshoe

Ivan Whigham and Wendy Dodds ran in this classic Lakeland fell race around the Kentmere Horseshoe.

Full Results

Pendle Running Festival – Trail Race

85 runners from a range of local clubs took part in the Pendle Festival Trail Race. 12 Clayton-le-Moors Harriers lined up at the start. There was a clean sweep for our men as Danny Collinge took first place with Richard Stevenson in second and Matthew Duckworth in 3^rd. Donna Airey was our first lady finisher.

Pendle Running Festival – Orienteering

Ralph Baines and Colin Woolford took part in the Long Score orienteering event. Ralph Baines was in first place with a total score of 181 points and a time of 1:31:36. Colin Woolford was 7^th with 95 points and a time of 1:37:28

Windmill Half Marathon

A duo of Clayton men took part in this fast and flat half marathon around Lytham St Annes and Fairhaven Lake. Colin White was our first finisher in 139^th place overall and with a time of 1:46:01 and Geoff Smith was not far behind in 143^rd and 1:46:44.

Full Results

Parkrun roundup

Plenty of parkrun action this weekend with a sizeable portion of the top ten at Burnley parkrun and a fair few new PBs. Junior runner Aaron Lundie hit a major milestone by completing his 100^th parkrun with a PB this week at Towneley Park. Since his first run in November 2013, Aaron has taken over 12 minutes off his time – well done!

Aaron Lundie celebrating 100 parkruns

Great runs were seen at Pendle with Chris Holdsworth visiting for the first time and flying round to take first place. Nerine Gill celebrated her 50^th parkrun by being the first woman finisher at Witton parkrun and grabbing a new PB as well.

Nerina Gill at Witton parkrun

Burnley parkrun – A total of 327 runners took part.

Lancaster parkrun – A total of 149 runners took part

Oakwell Hall parkrun – A total of 324 runners took part.

Pendle parkrun – A total of 94 runners took part.

Witton parkrun – A total of 43 runners took part.