Long ones, fast ones and hilly ones

Even a quiet week still has plenty enough to report on.  The Hebden kick starts the year for our longer distance and ultra runners and this year a couple of juniors joined in as well. There was also half marathon and fell racing action this weekend as well as recognition for our talented juniors in the North West triathlon awards.

SATURDAY 21 JANUARY

THE HEBDEN

The LDWA (Long Distance Walkers Association) put on challenge events all around the country following routes that are mostly on footpaths and other rights of way, across open fields and moors, avoiding tarmac as much as possible. The main challenge is usually 20 miles or over. These events are increasingly popular with runners looking for challenging training events and they are pretty cheap to do as well.

The Hebden is one of the most popular local LDWA events and is usually fully booked by Christmas. It is a great start to the New Year with its undulating tour of the valleys around Hebden Bridge taking in Hardcastle Crags, Colden Clough and Crag Vale with well over 4000 ft of ascent.

Ten Clayton-le-Moors Harriers tucked into the tea and toast before the start of the LDWA Hebden challenge event. 246 runners and walkers completed the long route.

First Clayton was Martin Terry who zoomed round in a mere 3:34:49. Paul Hesketh and Neil Hardiman followed in 24^th and 26^th place with times of 3:43:47 and 3:44:14. Andrew Armstrong and Alan Dorrington were 75^th and 76^th in 4:23:47 and 4:24:02. Barbara Savage was the first Clayton lady in 129^th place and just over the 5 hour mark with 5:04:19.

Andy Armstrong and Alan Dorrington having way too much fun on the start of the climb up to Stoodley Pike. Photo by Sportsunday

Joggling along at the back was Team Olszewski consisting of Nick, Adrienne and junior members Natasha and Bronia. The girls are possibly the youngest people to complete the full route on this event and did so in just over 8 hours.

Full Results

SUNDAY 22 JANUARY

INSKIP HALF MARATHON

There were four club members in this half marathon. Alex Cran was our first finisher in 75th place with a time of 1:26:57 and Nerina Gill was our first lady finisher in 268th and with a time of 1:50:18

Top L-R Alex Cran, Michael Hogan  Bottom L-R Nerina Gill, Julia Rushton. Photos by Susan Wolstenholme

Full Results

KENDLE WINTER LEAGUE – GIGGLESWICK SCHOOL FELL RACE

Report from Andrew Holt

Andrew Holt in the Giggleswick Race

As we had no runs planned for this weekend the choice, if we fancied a run was either a park run or perhaps a little fell race not far from us in Giggleswick. The fell race makes up part of the Kendal winter league which is a series of low level fell races most Sundays organised by Helm Hill. These races are highly rated by the fell running community, well attended and, having watched Briony run one or two over the last few years, seem good fun.

Plug over, the weather was great (sun, warm, hard underfoot, and not a breath of wind) loads of people running and watching and a location worthy of a Harry Potter movie.

Briony’s race was one big lap and the adults’ race consisted of two laps. The race involved river crossings, steep inclines, 6ft cliff drop offs and even a 3 points of contact scramble which was immense fun and gave us a welcome breather. I’m told I ran well finishing a respectable 30^th or so. Briony won her race despite focusing on cross country for the last few months, and was her usual humble self, breaking the course record in the process.

Briony Holt racing at Giggleswick

We weren’t alone of course, other runners we saw in the orange vest were Wendy Dodds, Peter Browning and Katy Thompson.  All of whom were friendly and welcoming and all finished with a smile on their face.

Peter Browning in the Giggleswick race

Easily one of my favourite races and highly recommended

TRIATHLON ENGLAND (NORTH WEST) AWARDS

Congratulations to Ellie Root and Helana White for winning 4^th place in their respective age categories, Youth and T1. Excellent results for both of them as they were up against strong competition from Tri Clubs from Lancaster to Merseyside.

World champion para-triathlete Lizzie Tench presents awards to Helana White and Ellie Root at the North West Triathlon Awards

The girls were presented their awards by Lizzie Tench, the world no.1 para-triathlete.

PARKRUN ROUNDUP

Bolton parkrun – A total of 285 runners took part.

Burnley parkrun – A total of 377 runners took part.

Burnley junior parkrun – A total of 52 runners took part.

Bushy parkrun – A total of 1291 runners took part.

Dewsbury parkrun – A total of 131 runners took part.

Fell Foot parkrun, Newby Bridge – A total of 225 runners took part.

Lytham Hall parkrun – A total of 296 runners took part.

Pendle parkrun – A total of 98 runners took part.

Skipton parkrun – A total of 237 runners took part.

Southport parkrun – A total of 311 runners took part.

Witton parkrun – A total of 105 runners took part.