Mountains, Milestones and Man Flu!

What a week it’s been! At first glance it seemed like it was going to be a quiet one but nothing could be further from the truth. There have been effortless wins for Chris Holdsworth and Briony Holt on the fells, 600 races under the belt for Stephen Fish, UTMB success for Jean Brown and triumph over man flu for Mick Hughes. Read on to find out more.

TUESDAY 23 AUGUST

Shipman Knotts Fell Race

Congratulations to Stephen Fish who hit an impressive personal milestone this week by competing in his 600th race! Here is his report from race number 600.

SHIPMAN KNOTTS – 4 miles/1312’ – 23/08/16

Andy Firth, Mark Nutter and myself travelled the short distance to the South Lakes to take in one of the last evening events of the summer, the excellent Shipman Knotts race. Starting from Maggs Howe, Kentmere, on perfect warm evening, the challenging out and back route took us across muddy and boggy grassland before the tough, slippery and rocky climb to the summit. Strictly speaking it is just the southern shoulder of Kentmere Pike, however quoting Alfred Wainwright’s ‘Far Eastern Fells’ book: ‘earned for itself a separate chapter by reason of the characteristic roughness of its surface…rocky outcrops are everywhere on the steep slopes’.

Stephen Fish actually running his 601st race at Pendleton. Photo by David Belshaw

From the off Mark slowly disappeared into the distance, while Andy and I were in close contact, swapping places on the rocky ascent to turn at the summit within 5 seconds of each other. On the slightly longer, but faster, alternative descent, as usual, Andy pulled away to beat me by just under 3 minutes, with Mark just over 8 minutes in front.  This is one of the best category AS races I’ve done, out of the many over the years and would recommend to anyone who fancies a ‘proper’, low key, midweek fell race, well worth the short trip up the M6. It’ll be on my list for next year for sure.

Clayton Results:

Mark Nutter – MV50 – 48.12 (Mark’s P.B. is an impressive 41.39 in 2011)

Andy Firth – MV50 – 53.25

Stephen Fish – MV60 – 56.17

WEDNESDAY 24 AUGUST

Harrock Hill 4

Ivan Whigham and John Francis took part in this 5.2 mile race with 902ft of ascent. It is the 4^th race in the Harrock Hill Series.

Full Results

FRIDAY 26 AUGUST

UTMB – Ultra Tour de Mont Blanc

Jean Brown took part in this world famous ultra mountain race. She had an outstanding run finishing in 177th place overall and 16th woman in a time of 33:57:59. This year 1468 runners completed the course which is 170km with over 10,000m of ascent. The course starts and finishes in Chamonix and must be completed within 47 hours.

Full Results

SATURDAY 27 AUGUST

Blackpool Illuminations 5K

Mick Hughes battled through a nasty bout of man flu to run in the Blackpool Illuminations 5k finishing in 44^th place with a time of 28:10.

Mick Hughes at the Blackpool Illuminations 5K

 Full Results

Pendleton Fell Race

119 runners took part in this 5-mile race with 1499ft of ascent.

The race climbs gently through fields before reaching a scramble in and out of Swardean Clough. The climb continues through the tussocks before crossing the road and onto the moor proper. Runners then climb to Apronful Hill before some respite on the descent to Ashendean Clough before crossing Howcroft Brook climbing steeply up through the ferns to the wall corner.  The route turns at the “Memorial” cairn descends, gently at first but then steeply down to cross Howcroft brook again. More tussocks before and after the road crossing before reversing the outward route down through the fields and village to finish at the village hall.

Dave Walker and Peter Coates heading up to the road crossing at Pendleton Fell Race. Photo by Nick Olszewski

31 Clayton-le-Moors Harriers took part in this race with Christopher Holdsworth leading throughout and winning the race with a comfortable lead. Top 20 finishes followed for Peter Coates, Kirt Livesey, Andrew McFarlance and Dave Motley. Katy Thompson was our first lady finisher in 99^th place overall with Sarah Helliwell hot on her heels in 101^st place.

Sarah Helliwell chasing Katy Thompson at the Pendleton Fell Race. Photo by Nick Olszewski

Report from Christopher Holdsworth

“I’d run at Pendleton a couple of years ago, managing 2nd place in a strong field of runners. I was hoping for an easier time of it but the in-form Tom Corrigan and Mark McGoldrick, a previous Pendleton winner, both turned up to race.

Christopher Holdsworth in the lead on the climb to the road crossing at the Pendleton Fell Race. Photo by Nick Olszewski

Two years away had definitely wiped my memory of how tough the race was; the grass, ferns and tussocks were relentless and had my heart rate and lungs working overtime and had me wanting to give up every second of the way to the summit. I held on, managed to gain a bit of a gap which I could extend on the more runnable descents and finished in 36:29.

The Road Crossing “dream team”

The race was really well supported by a lot of Clayton Harriers and some good performances throughout.”

Full Results

SUNDAY 28 AUGUST

Great Eccleston Scouts Flat 4 Miler

73 runners took part in this 4 mile race that takes in the beautiful lanes of Great Eccleston and Elswick. Super vet couple Richard and Val Lawson finished in 53^rd and 69^th place respectively. Richard was 2^nd V75 male and Val was 1^st V70 lady.

Results from UK Road Race Facebook page

Grasmere Sports

Briony Holt continues to enjoy a fabulous racing season by taking the U17 trophy at the Classic Lakeland fell race at Grasmere Sports. She was first girl and 11^th overall in the U17 race.

Race Report from Briony Holt

After traveling up to Keswick on the Saturday to watch the home internationals trials, me and my dad drove up to Grasmere the next day for the sports event they hold every year. At the end of a gruelling 2 hours of driving, we were greeted with the sight of a yellow foam hand directing us to the car park – I say car park but what I really mean is a bogged in field. It wasn’t the clearest of days but soon enough the sun did make an appearance.

The Grasmere Sports Fell Race route

The course was one of the steepest I’ve ever run and was quite challenging. On the way to the top it was mainly narrow grassy paths with little places to overtake. Once we got to the top, there was a scramble (more like rock climbing) to reach a pole which you had to touch to be allowed back down. This was my favourite part of the race because it makes the course more interesting rather than just turning around and returning the same way down. The descent followed a similar route up but just with a small loop at the top.

Briony Holt on the ascent at Grasmere Sports

Overall, I came 11th and 1st under 17 girl and received the most ridiculously huge trophy I’ve ever seen, but sadly I didn’t get to keep it ? One of the photographers there, Dave Woodhead jokingly made me put it on my head for a photo at the end. Anything for a laugh right? ? I would recommend this race because the atmosphere is great and really encouraging when running. It is steep however you wouldn’t get anything like it elsewhere!

Full Results

Halton Gill Fell Races

Helana White was first U12 girl at the Halton Gill fell race. She was also first girl in welly throwing and bale rolling so a girl of many talents!

Helana White at the Halton Gill fell race. Photo by Geoff Thompson

Awaiting official results

Not a parkrun – Yorkshire Dales

Every Saturday you can go for a run in the hills. It’s ‘Not a Park Run’ but it is timed and is a beautiful 7km route suitable for all abilities. It’s not marked but it’s easy to follow, maps are provided until you get to know the route or print  you can print them off and bring them with you.

‘Not a parkrun’ Report from Carl Helliwell.

We had spent a few days in the Yorkshire Dales hostelling when we came across “not a park run”, which is a Saturday run in the area around Reeth. I ran into Reeth from Grinton Youth Hostel and met the other runners (there were 4 of us who did the run this week), which is a 7km trail route suitable for all abilities. It starts at ‘Swaledale Outdoors’ in the village and follows the river Swale westwards with a climb onto the lower section of Reeth Moor before the final blast back into Reeth.

It was a lovely sunny day and the scenery was stunning as I took in the Dales, thinking there is nowhere as nice as Northern England on a summers day. Everyone then meets back at the shop where you are offered a brew and biscuits. I then met up with Sarah and the kids on the local park before heading back to Lancashire so Sarah could do the Pendleton Fell Race. The route isn’t marked but it’s easy to follow and the shop will provide a map if needed. If any of you are in the area on holiday it is good excuse to meet new runners and see a new area. Details can be found on the shops webpage. The current record is held by Adam Perry (any relation of Matt?)

Parkrun roundup

Lots of parkrun action this weekend with a bit of parkrun tourism as well. Great placings and plenty of PBs as well.

Burnley parkrun – A total of 334 runners took part.

Burnley Junior parkrun – A total of 75 runners took part.

 Dewsbury parkrun – A total of 94 runners took part.

Fell Foot parkrun, Newby Bridge – A total of 249 runners took part

Fountains Abbey parkrun – A total of 345 runners took part.

Lincoln parkrun – A total of 351 runners took part.

Rosie with Breton Holdsworth at Licoln parkrun (sadly not a PB)

Marple parkrun – A total of 179 runners took part.

Pendle parkrun – A total of 79 runners took part.

Witton parkrun – A total of 122 runners took part.

York parkrun – A total of 451 runners took part

Helen Harrison at the flat York parkrun