Seasons in the sun

We had joy we had fun… as many of the summer race series come to a close, it’s been another successful season for the club. Congratulations to Danny Collinge on his overall win at the Pendle and Burnley Grand Prix. Lots of age category wins to go with this. As the season comes to a close, it’s time to reflect and also time to look ahead to cross country and winter racing.

Club President, David Scott, with some reflections of 50 years of the 3 Peaks.

It’s been 3 months since 3 Peaks day and time to put some reflections on paper. It was the first time for 50 years that I hadn’t stood on the start line feeling nervous and apprehensive. However, it was really interesting to watch the race for a change, especially the section from the bottom of Pen-y-Gent to Ribblehead AND I actually saw the winner finish!  A first!!

When I first joined Clayton as a teenager, I looked in some awe at Alan Heaton, George Brass, Stan Bradshaw and Alistair Patten who had run the ‘Three Peaks’ and George had actually won it twice.  I thought when I was old enough (you had to be 21 then) that I’d like to have a go at the race.  I was away at college when I was 21 so had to wait until 1965 when I was 22.  What a baptism of fire that proved to be! No advice, no long training runs, no support, no food, no drink; it is little wonder that I lay down on Whernside for more than half an hour before I managed to continue to the top, with some nuts and raisins from the Mountain Rescue guys who had approached, asking if I had seen a body lying down nearby which they had been watching through their binoculars!  The following year I went on a Mountaineering Course in North Wales, little knowing what a huge influence the race would have on my life over the next 50 years, so it was 1967 before my next race; newly married to Jill (celebrated our Golden Wedding in April this year); and not surprisingly I knocked 58 mins off my time!!

The weather has varied from blizzards, hailstones, torrential rain, thick mist to blazing sun.  In 1978 in really bad weather, Ted Pepper died on Ingleborough getting lost in the mist and leaving the summit in the wrong direction.  This resulted in the tapes that now lie along the plateau to the checkpoint. In the bad weather I always used to run down the line of upcoming runners.  In 1981 the race was postponed as snow was up to the top of the dry stone walls and it was held in October.  In 1993 Carole Greenwood was swept off her feet just in front of me as we crossed the river at the foot of Whernside and was taken probably 30 yards or more downstream before she managed to reach the bank.  Then in 2001, Foot and Mouth caused the race to be cancelled altogether.

Over the years 4 Clayton men have won the race; George Brass 1955, 58; Peter Dugdale 1957; Dennis Hopkinson 1963 and David Walker 2003.  Two other men who had been in Clayton, won when representing Blackburn and then came back to Clayton, were John Calvert 1976, 77, and Harry Walker 1978, 79 and 81.  Four ladies have also won the race; the phenomenal Vanessa Peacock 1985, 87, 88, and 89, Ruth Pickvance 1990, Jean Rawlinson 1995 and Beverley Whitfield 2003.

Because of the weather, the underfoot conditions, changes to the course, new paths, boards and paving stones, it is difficult to compare times. There have been at least 7 course changes whilst I’ve been taking part. The route from Pen-y-Gent to Ribblehead is now defined, but originally there were numerous options (some better than others……..going for a recce was key!!!)  Men who have finished in under 3 hours are:   Andy Churchill 2hrs.50.02, Clifford Waddington 2hrs.56.02, Keith Windle 2hrs.59.14, David Scott 2hrs.59.48…and now after a gap of over 30 years, Chris Holdsworth  2hrs.54.49

We have won team prizes on many occasions but one of the best years was 1998 when we won the Mens, Ladies and Vets. There have also been lots of individual awards and record holders in the various age categories

Last winter was strange for me not doing over 20 training runs of 3 hours plus in preparation for the race. Increasing age made it necessary to do so much and although I missed the long runs on Pendle, looking back it was a relief not having the pressure of having to do them and it was lovely to be able to go on a lengthy holiday to South Africa! Finally I do have 1 Elite, 14 First Class certificates and 29 runs under 4 hours.

Hope this article may have been of some interest to our younger members and huge congratulations to Chris for a super run and all that it’s lead to.

David Scott.

And now onto this week’s action…

THE TONY ASPIN MEMORIAL COPPICE TRAIL RACE

This was the fifth and final race in the Club’s Summer Series. 23 club members turned out.  The race was won by Luke Turner. Claire Vincent was the first lady. As with all the summer series races, runners had to estimate their race time. Andrew Howarth  was the most accurate estimator being only 5 seconds out.

Full Results

WEDNESDAY 9 AUGUST

PILGRIMS CROSS

Three Clayton Harriers took part in the Pilgrims Cross Fell Race, a 6 mile race with 1102ft of ascent, organised by Rossendale Harriers. Alan Life was our first finisher in 28^th. Andrew Firth was 99^th and Stephen Fish was 110^th.

Full Results

SUNDAY 13 AUGUST

BLACKPOOL AIR SHOW 10K

Stephen Biscomb was our sole representative in the Blackpool Air Show 10K. He finished in 67^th place with a time of 44:16.

Full Results

BOULSWORTH FELL RACE

Another big turnout for the club despite the clash with many summer holidays. There was a win for Danny Collinge with Luke Turner joining him in the top ten. Claire Vincent was our first lady runner in 72^nd place overall and 5^th lady in the race.

Happy Clayton Runners at the end of the Boulsworth Fell Race

There were age category wins for Jeff Pickup (1^st M65), Angela Shian (1^st W40), and Anita Jones (1^st W60).

Full Results

BOULSWORTH JUNIOR RACES

U7/U9 RACE

Ruby Cleaver and Emily Johnson ran in the U7/U9 race.

Emily Johnson in the U9 Race – Photo by David Belshaw

Full Results

U11 / U13 RACE

Matthew Jackson and Helana White were our first finishers in the U13 category and Joshua McKay and Emily Nicholls were our first finisher in the U11s.

Guy Whittle in the U11/U13 Race. Photo by David Belshaw

Full Results

U15/U17 RACE

There was a strong turnout for this race with Josh Hall taking the overall win, Jackson McKay 2^nd and 1^st in his age group. Ella Dorrington was 7^th overall and 1^st U15 girl.  There were no U17 girls in the race.

Ella Dorrington in the U15/U17 race. Photo by David Belshaw

Full Results

CITY OF PRESTON 10 MILE

A small group of strong runners gave the Grand Prix race a miss to head over to Preston and tackle the City of Preston 10 Mile race.

Report From Jon Cleaver

Setting off from the village hall in Walmer Bridge it was a 2 x 5 mile loop course on pretty flat terrain. Setting off with the front pack I went off a bit too hot and was clocking a good 5km pace at mile 2 – not a good strategy! Had to get things under control and slow down a touch to ensure a blow out didn’t happen. I ran under 30 minutes for my first five putting me within reach of my sub 60 goal but I started to fade a bit towards the end (unbeknownst to me the pack I was chasing was predominantly 5 mile runners!) Overall happy with 9th place and securing second place in the road championships. Good fast course which I would highly recommend for a 10 mile PB. In addition both men and women picked up best team prizes which was the cherry on the cake. Well done all that competed.

https://comteq.niftyentries.com/Results/City-Of-Preston-10-mile-road-race?club=Swac

LOWTHER LAKELAND TRAIL

Martin Brady was our sole representative in this 13 mile trail race with 1411ft of ascent. The race is part of the Lowther Show and the scenic route takes runners across Askham Fell and the Lowther Valley.

http://www.fellrunner.org.uk/results.php?id=4382

PARKRUN ROUNDUP

Bedfont Lakes parkrun – A total of 201 runners took part.

Burnham and Highbridge parkrun – A total of 315 runners took part.

Burnley parkrun – A total of 374 runners took part.

Dewsbury parkrun – A total of 100 runners took part.

Edinburgh parkrun – A total of 480 runners took part.

Hull parkrun – A total of 446 runners took part.

Lytham Hall parkrun – A total of 161 runners took part.

Pendle parkrun – A total of 63 runners took part.

Skipton parkrun – A total of 150 runners took part.