ILKLEY HARRIERS Athletic Club

Latest News and Results ...

Please send any Harriers news or results to news@ilkleyharriers.org.uk for this web site and for the Ilkley Gazette.

Club Night, Tuesday 9th February

There is quite a bit on this week, so here are some reminders ...

• We're helping Elizabeth raise money for Haiti. There will be a form to 'pledge your miles' for the night and a bucket to throw some coins in (see Vic's emails)
• Richard Gray will be down to talk about the Handicap next Tuesday, 16th.
• The BUFFS will be for sale for the first time. Bring £10 (no money, no Buff). See Forums.
• Paul will be looking for volunteers to help with the Ilkley Moor fell race on 21 Feb. Another list!
• After the run, Ewan's 'wee gathering' will be talking about the Marathon. Free sandwiches etc. in the back room.
• Probably, Jacqui will be collecting £4 from those who wish to eat on the last Tuesday of the month, 23rd

Dewsbury 10k, Sun 7 Feb

Henry Heavisides reports ... Conditions were near perfect for this morning's Dewsbury 10k and there were some fast times recorded, with the winner running under 30 minutes. Dave Wilby running his first ever road 10k led home the Ilkley Harriers, I think that he was surprised that there weren't any mountains, streams, mud or rocks on the route. Justin Phillips did another fine run only a fraction slower than his recent time at Ribble Valley. Jane Bryant won the prize for 2nd F40, with Alison Bennett 4th F45, Nick Pearce 3rd M55 & I managed to get 1st M55. Comparing pre race preparation was quite interesting, Vic doing a variety of swimming & cycling activities, Justin's preparation was at the Ilkley Beer Festival, and I managed to survive on a combination of Lemsips, Lockets & Sinex (not sure if these are illegal substances dope testing purposes). It should be interesting when the Power of Ten UK rankings are updated, as Jane, Alison, Nick & myself should all have qualifying times.

Henry's time beat Dave Matthews 2005 V55 Club Record

Vic's report here ... No doubt others will have a story to tell... After running today's Dewsbury 10K I think I'll write a book about non standard ways of preparing for a race... No I am not giving any excuses about my time today but I thought I'd share an anecdote of what not to do before race day... It all started Friday night... A gentle 1 km swim in the pool... Very nice and relaxing... That's not so bad one would think I'm using my arms/shoulders here mainly.. The legs are quite rested here... Shouldn't be a problem... Saturday morning arrives... I thought I'd join in with the Junior Harriers on Ilkley Moor... My son Luca runs with them... Now that wasn't too bad either... Just trotting around with the kids and having a chat for an hour or so... Not a strain at all... Legs still rested... At this point one would think that that is enough... Race day tomorrow... Time to rest up.... Of course not, your antipodean running friend thinks... The time hits 2.30pm, no rain in sight, a nice cold day... Better make the most of this I thought.....Time to get outdoors... So guess what??? Out comes the road bike for a good steady 20 mile hilly cycle... (Jann get designing those cycling shirts and shorts)... It was great...Brilliant in fact... A real buzz to be cycling about in the Dales enjoying the scenery and the peaceful atmosphere..... As a result and not surprisingly my legs were sore immediately after the cycle and still sore Sunday morning... Yes I did suffer during the 10K race Sunday morning but what the heck I made the most of quite a nice weekend and the countryside where I live... Sometimes worrying about times/PBs is not the ultimate thing...

1   29.55  Mark Buckingham. Holmfirth
38  35.06  Dave Wilby
58  36.08  Justin Phillips
76  37.04  Henry Heavisides   1st M55
97  38.13  Nick Pearce
126 39.12  Richard Hinsley
196 41.04  Adrian Bastow
207 41.30  Jane Bryant        2nd F40
214 41.34  Alison Bennett
335 45.23  Vic Verecondi
501 49.44  Martin Wright
515 50.46  Paul Sugden
529 51.07  Fiona Schneider
801 finished

Results are chip times from www.dewsburyroadrunners.co.uk - have we missed anyone? League results soon ...

Central Lancashire New Year ½ Marathon, Sun 7 Feb

Dougie Scarfe reports ... the rearranged race took place along the country roads around Catforth on Sunday. Although it was certainly chilly, the small field (235 runners, almost all from local clubs) enjoyed perfect running conditions and the course is virtually flat except for small undulations as you cross over the M55 four times! Delighted to do a PB, helped no doubt by our few weeks as members of the Harriers!

107 Dougie Scarfe 1:44:07 (PB by almost 6 minutes)
196 Judith Scarfe 2:02:46

Rombalds Stride, Sat 6 Feb

Preliminary results ...

1 2h38 Graham Pearce (P&B)
3h9.40 Jim Ryder
12  3h10  Mark Mon-Williams
13  3h16  Ralph Tench 
3h26 Neil Smith
3h34 Alison Eagle 2nd lady
3h40 Kay Pearce  3rd lady
3h54 John Hayes 
3h57 Paul Stephens 
4h01 Jez Hellewell 
4h01 Tony Melechi 
4h07 Joyce Marshall
4h14 Dave Taylor
4h24 Ian Marshall
4h35 Sharon Meadows
4h35 Keith Wood
4h58 Nick Mellor
5h07 Bob Payne  PB 29 mins 
5h39 Andrew Bennett
7h44 Colin & Sue Lugton
Also ...
Emma Payne
Val Kerr
Neil Chapman
Pete Shields
Amanda Parnaby

Lots more I'm sure - will do the League calcs when I get hold of the official results

From Jez ... Thoroughly enjoyed this race, despite the fog hiding all visible landmarks. Still, myself and fellow Harrier Toni Melechi, only slipped up the once, on Ilkley Moor of all places. Had we negotiated this better then we would have surely been sub 4 hour, as hoped.

YVAA XC Championships, Sat 6 Feb

Geoff Howard reports ... it was a good job that the Start was next to the changing pavilion in fog-bound Graves Park, Sheffield, otherwise we might not have able to find it. However the performances of the five Ilkley Harriers were far from gloomy. All our runners ran the same course even though the event was split into under 50 and 50+ races for logistical reasons. The fastest Harrier was Ian Rowbotham then Paul O'Looney. Our vet60 team (135 points) kept ahead of Leeds City (144) to take bronze medals and were close to second placed Bingley (130).

50+ Race
7 Ian Rowbotham (6th v50) 40.03
35 Geoff Howard (2nd v65) 44.02
42 Norman Bush (4th v65) 44.56
58 Graham Arthur (13th v60) 47.52
 
Under 50 Race
31 Paul O'Looney (9th v40) 41.24

www.yvaa.org

Wadsworth Trog, Sat 6 Feb

Steve Turland reports on the Half Trog ... Richard Joel and I tackled the Half Trog yesterday. With practically zero visibility and featureless terrain it made for an interesting race with plenty of runners (including myself) going well astray. At times there were runners approaching checkpoints from all directions. I finished 10th in 1hr 38 with Richard close behind in 13th place. One thing's for sure, at over double the distance, they would have had twice as much fun.

See Steve Turland and Bob Wightman amongst Eileen's pictures.

Results from www.cvfr.co.uk

Full Trog, 20m/4000'
1  180.24  Tom Brunt Holmfirth
46 247.39  Alistair Barlow
62 265.12  Nicky Jacquiery
73 267.45  Bob Wightman
118 finished

Half Trog
1   86.13  Lee Athersmith, Holmfirth
10  98.54  Steve Turland
13 100.02  Richard Joel
46 finished

Alistair Barlow reports on the Full Trog ... Nicky Jacquiery, Bob Wightman and I took on the Full Trog on Saturday. The route takes on the full spectrum of terrain from terrible tarmac to really terrible tussock. In between there’s tracks, decent trails, greasy paved paths, heather, mud and bogs. Capping it all was a thick layer of mist.
After a disorientating start (how many fell races have a downhill start and then return to the start area 10 minutes later?) the internal compass was rendered useless by the trackless and fog bound crossing of Oxenhope Moor. No problem ... I reverted to my tried and tested navigation skills – follow the more experienced runner in front. Twenty minutes later I emerged on the Oxenhope – Hebden Bridge road without a checkpoint in sight. Not quite sure which way to turn the fell runner's instinct kicked in ... up hill! Half a mile later I was back on track.
After an enjoyable, easy angled descent into Crimsworth Dean, road then track gives way to bog and heather all the way to a paved section of the Pennine Way and the half way point at Withins. Treacherous flagged paths lead down to Walshaw reservoir before the route cuts against the grain of the land and heads back to the Oxenhope – Hebden Bridge road ... and the last section back across the featureless moor. Given my previous ineptitude in the clag I was worried about this last bit. However, using map and compass I managed to find my way home without mishap only to be faced with a cruel uphill finish and unexpected loop of Old Town cricket pitch. I managed 4:07, Nicky 4:25, Bob 4:27

PECO XC, Sun 31 Jan

Malcolm Pickering reports ... a grand total of 21 Ilkley Harriers made it to the startline of the 4th PECO cross country race at John Smeaton Sports Centre. Tom Adams, the newly crowned best male Harrier of 2009, showed his form by leading the race from the start to win by a record margin. He was well supported over a dry and frosty course by;

8   Dave Wilby
19  Ian Rowbotham
26  Malcolm Pickering
31  Dave Cummings
36  Henry Heaviside
62  Ed Brougham
63  Paul Stephens
103 Andy Jackson
111 Eric Morley
115 Graham Stead
117 Jim Towers
130 Don McRae
136 Paul Sugden

2nd team

In the women's race Emma O'Looney led the charge home by finishing 55th and was well supported in

56 Louise Jackson
62 Alison Ricci
70 Ann Stead
82 Sally Pickering
92 Lyn Eden
102 Amanda Parnaby

5th team

There was a great turnout of 15 junior Harriers.

Henry H reports ... It was a bright & sunny day for today's Peco cross country organised by STAC. Conditions were very firm as a result of the severe overnight frost, it was a nice change from the mud at Nell Bank. Tom Adams had a fine win in the race, finishing well clear of the rest of the runners, despite wearing spikes, which were not recommended for the concrete bridges.

Pennine Bridleway Relay, Sun 31 Jan

WELL DONE to all our runners at this event today. It was tough fielding a team with the popular PECO XC on that day (sorry, Malcolm!) and some Rombalds reccies going on too, but we put out a great team. In this very competitive relay we finished 66th overall. Results from www.penninebridlewayrelay.co.uk

Kate and Martin Archer             1:11:24 
Heather Dawe and Brian Melia       1:56:31
Natalie Curtis and Sharon Meadows  1:26:36
Jo Foster and Kelly Harrison         50:29
Sue Bickerdike and Keith Wood      1:46:41

Thanks to Kelly for taking on the final organisation of the team.

More info on relays on our Relay Page

Ferriby 10, Sun 31 Jan

This is a favorite with Pete & Neil ...

93  68.53  Neil Chapman
207 76.28  Peter Shields

Leeds Hyde Park 5k, Sat 30 Jan

Rob Cunningham was 10th in 19.16 ... www.parkrun.org.uk/leeds

Ilkley Harriers Awards for 2009, Fri 29 Jan

The Presentation Evening was great fun, with 116 tickets sold and most of those people there it was a great social event. Thanks to Neil and Chris the organisers; to Complete Runner, Dobson & Robinson, Facewest, Cherie's Cakes, and Up & Running for the prizes for the Grand Raffle; and to the ILT&SC café-bar staff for all their hard work.

See Brian's photos.

Award	Winner	Other nominees
Best Runner, Male	Tom Adams	Geoff Howard, Jeff Paget, Ian Rowbotham, Steve Turland, Dave Wilby
Best Runner, Female	Sally Morley	Jane Bryant, Jenny Dybeck, Sally Malir
Most Improved Runner, Male	Richard Reeve	Bob Payne, Justin Phillips, Henry Heavisides, Andy Wiggans
Most Improved Runner, Female	Jane Bryant	Jenny Dybeck, Kelly Harrison, Sue Morley, Jann Smith
Best Endurance Runner, Male	Graham Arthur	Geoff Howard, Brian Melia, Jeff Paget
Best Endurance Runner, Female	Sally Malir, Helene Whitaker	Lyn Eden, Nicky Jaquiery, Amanda Parnaby
Best Runner, Under 20, Male	Adam Bennett	Simon Chapman
Best Runner, Under 20, Female	Jenny Dybeck	Catherine Gibbons, Brit Tate
Contribution to the club, Male	Neil Chapman	Vince Gibbons, Pete Shields, Brian Sweet, Nigel Tapper, Andy Wolfenden, Paul Wood
Contribution to the club, Female	Shirley Wood	Sue Bickerdike, Ros Blackburn, Jane Bryant, Alison Eagle, Jacqui Weston, Emily Wood
Captains' Award, Male	Vic Verecondi	Paul Stephens
Captains' Award, Female	Christine Matthews	Jann Smith, Amanda Parnaby, Jackie Weston

Ilkley Harriers Running League 2009

Overall:	Kevin Gooch
Road:	Richard Reeve
Fell:	Ian Rowbotham
Trail/XC:	Kevin Gooch
U20:	Adam Bennett, Catherine Gibbons

The full and final results of the 2009 League are on the League Page. Congratulations to League Champion, Kevin Gooch, on retaining his crown from 2008!

Harrier of the Month, December

Nominations were:
Jann Smith - sorting the Club kit
Jeff Paget - Luton Marathon: 1st V55, Club Record, and fastest male Harrier time in 2009
Richard Hinsley, Langdale 10k time and improvement
Henry Heavisides, Ribble Valley 10k time
Justin Phillips, Ribble Valley 10k 1st Harriers and PECO XC performance

The HoM awards went to Jann Smith, and Jeff Paget. Congratulations to them, they will receive technical running shirts from HoM sponsor UP & RUNNING.

A special award for Outstanding Performance was agreed for Lyn Eden on completion of her '65@65'.

Stanbury Splash fell race, Sun 24 Jan

Ilkley ladies got the team prize, and Ilkley's men were 2nd team by just 1 point to Bingley

1   43.17  Ian Holmes, Bingley
3   45.54  Tom Adams
25  51.00  Jamie Hutchinson
26  51.04  Jim Ryder
54  54.01  Nick Pearce
86  56.24  Duncan Cooper
102 58.36  Neil Smith
109 59.23  Norman Bush
110 59.28  Paul Stephens
115 59.50  Kay Pearce 5th lady
126 60.37  Alison Eagle
138 61.45  Ed Brougham
147 62.48  Graham Breeze
167 64.02  Kate Archer
172 64.12  Ian Marshall
176 64.41  Chris Oxlade
179 65.13  Alison Weston
185 65.44  Joyce Marshall
199 66.59  Jann Smith  (in her 1st fell race!)
218 68.40  Jo Foster
219 68.41  Val Kerr
221 68.55  Jim Towers
236 70.36  John Pickering
249 72.21  Eric Morley
258 72.48  Sophie Brown
266 76.01  Bob Payne
297 94.44  Lyn Eden

Congratulations to Lyn Eden for whom this was the final race in her '65@65' Challenge.

We had 11 juniors racing too.

Lots more photos on woodentops.org.uk

This was the first fell counter in the 2010 Running League. Norman Bush and Nick Pearce scored top points on the fell, with Tom Adams just behind. Full results on the League Page

Brass Monkey Half Marathon, Sun 24 Jan

48   1:19:21  Justin Phillips
58   1:20:17  Jonathan Sinclair
76   1:21:17  Stephen Coy    PB
79   1:21:22  Paul O'Looney  PB
81   1:21:31  Henry Heavisides     1st M55
83   1:21:34  Andy Wiggans   PB
131  1:24:27  David Brown    PB
173  1:26:44  Neil Chapman
207  1:28:06  Sally Malir          3rd F45?
283  1:30:34  Jane Bryant    PB
288  1:30:39  Sean Murphy
462  1:36:45  Keith Wood
575  1:39:32  Helen Horton   PB
577  1:39:32? Nigel Tapper
688  1:43:02  Nick Mellor
737  1:43:56  Peter Shields
757  1:45:32  Catherine Gibbons
819  1:47:20  Simon Chapman
927  1:49:53  Christopher Brown
1002 1:51:57  Paul Sugden    PB
1146 1:57:33  Sheena Pickersgill
1147 1:57:33  James Pickersgill
1168 1:58:12  Bernadette Gibbons
1246 2:00:30  Ashleigh Brownhill
1283 2:02:00  Michael Picken
1284 2:02:10  Jacqui Weston

Full results at www.ukresults.net/2010/brass.html

Some snapshots Adrienne Heavisides here here.

From Henry Heavisides ... there was a really good turnout of Ilkley Harriers at the Brass Monkey. It is one of the fastest half marathons around, with near perfect conditions today. We had 6 runners quicker than 82 minutes, led home by Justin Phillips who beat 80 minutes for the first time. Several of us were running close together which helped all of us to achive faster times than we might have expected. Many Harriers ran PBs, including Stephen Coy, Paul O'Looney, Andy Wiggans & Jane Bryant. I was pleased to finish first M55 and Sally Malir was 2nd F45.

Andy Wiggans adds ... What a race! Absolutely one of my races of the year, I was lucky enough to get a place alongside a number of red and green vests, many of whom were starting frighteningly close to the front. (more ... ) I was struck by a large number of very thin, very intense looking people in general, but when you have Justin P, Paul O, Steve C and Henry H all looking lean and mean you know you're in trouble. Sally M and Jane B were also looking grim and determined, so I did my best to join in by talking about "pace" and "splits". Sean Murphy, undertrained but keen, decided to move away from all the thin people and start a bit further back. Also spotted by the start was Mr Verecondi, suffering from a poorly back so not running, but resplendent in something waxy and vaguely equestrian looking, and hanging around by the back of an estate car - all very "Twickenham west stand car park", or whatever the Antipodean equivalent is.
Paul set off with his carefully calculated race strategy of "run as fast as you can til your legs fall off", and did the first mile in about 5:50. I with my more measured approach to things cunningly got myself boxed in at the start (to avoid being dragged into going too fast, you understand) and saw all my clubmates vanish down the road at a rate of knots.
"They'll be back" I said to myself, trying to sound all wise and calculating. I had set myself a number of objectives for the day, the first of which was not to damage myself, particularly as I've had a bit of a niggle in my calf that led to me sleeping with Ibuprofen gel smeared liberally underneath a very tight tubular bandage. Secondly it was to run a reasonably even paced race, and thirdly, if all went well, to get under 82 minutes for the first time.
I hit 5 miles in 30:40, so on track for objective 3, and 10k went by in 38:24, and all mile splits were in the 6:10 region. About 8m in I was expecting to see the distant flashes of red and green getting closer - but clearly my hare and tortoise strategy had a fatal flaw - the buggers had to slow down a bit, and they weren't. At all.
By 10m (which I hit in under 62mins, which would be a PB if they'd been decent enough to put the finish line there, so goodness knows what time the lads did) they were starting to at least look like they were in same county, and it looked like a battle royal was developing - with Steve C catching both Henry and Paul, and the latter two swapping places a couple of times. I closed the gap slightly, but couldn't make any real impression, and was slightly disappointed to see my pace dropped by maybe 10s a mile in the last 5k - I'm not sure whether I sat back as I was on my own by this time, or (more likely) I was knackered.
I managed to drag some speed out for the last 300m and crossed the line just behind Henry with 81:34 on my watch, which if confirmed, will be a 30s or so PB. We'll have to wait for the official results, but Henry must've broken both the V50 and V55 club records (confimed), Steve and Paul were close to cracking 81mins and Justin got under 80mins. There were lots of other great performances, which will no doubt be reported on by the people concerned, but in general this is an amazingly good race, with outstandingly good organisation and the best and most enthusiastic marshalls anywhere outside Ilkley.
Oh - and my calf's fine, thank you for asking.

Steve Coy adds ... First time at this fast and flat event and 4th half marathon. Henry and PaulO set off like whippets into the distance after the first few miles but kept them in sight and managed to reel them in by 11 mile mark pushed on by a couple of tri club mates and keep going to the end as I was expecting Andy W to appear on my shoulder. Crossed with a 7 min PB and Henry must have got a club record with him storming run and very good times by quite a few others on a cold and damp day but loads of support. PS tri club mate Tom split Paul and Henry at the end (of www.marathontalk.com fame)

Northern XC, Sat 23 Jan

A few hardy souls have kept their cross-country racing going long enough to run in the Northern Championships at Witton Park in Blackburn.
Diane Haggar reports ... I have certainly "kept cross country running going long enough" in the sense that it is now 27 years since i started taking part in XC. The trip to Blackburn was a nostalgic one as i had last ran there in the Women's (yep, no men's races in those days) National in 1994. Arriving a little late I decided to forgo walking the course and rely on a 15 year memory!! A pity 15 years had erased the memory of the huge and multiple hills to be tackled on each of the 3 laps. However my attempts at fell running in the intervening years stood me in good stead and I came away very pleased with 84th. Interestingly close to the 86th I got on the same course 15 years ago, albeit in a larger National field. Showing how the sport has moved on for women I took 39.03 over a tough 8K course this time, but previously only 24.44 over what must have been a far shorter course in 1994.
Kelly and Dave ran superbly, again showing how fell running makes you stronger on the country and, as Dave said, Cross Country makes you faster on the fells. A truth demonstated by Andi Jones (Salford, 2nd man) who regularly performs to a high level on Fell, Country and Road.
Results from Northern Athletics ...

Senior Women
74  38.25  Kelly Harrison
84  39.03  Diane Haggar

Senior Men
196 50.30  Dave Wilby

We had 7 junior runners - more on the Junior Pages

PECO XC, Nell Bank, Sun 17 Jan

A fab turnout of 75 Harriers (37 senior, 38 junior) in today's very tough XC. We had 2nd men's team (to Abbey) and 1st Ladies team. The course was tough going and the stream crossing may be talked about for some time to come... Thanks to Neil and Shirley for organising, to the famous Ilkley Ladies Catering Team who fed the 300, to the many, many marshals and helpers on the day. And a big thank you to the Nell Bank Centre whose fantastic facilities we enjoyed and to Mr Boothman whose fields we enjoyed.

1	27.59	Graham Pearce
2	28.33	Tom Adams
11	31.03	Dave Wilby
18	31.46	Dave Westhead
19	31.54	Ian Rowbotham
21	32.07	Paul O'Looney
22	32.12	Malcolm Pickering
29	32.50	Justin Phillips
32	33.07	Mark Mon-Williams
33	33.12	Richard Joel
34	33.14	Mark Iley
40	33.33	Nick Pearce
42	33.45	Henry Heavisides
49	34.16	Arthur Reilly
56	34.56	Duncan Cooper
68	35.59	Paddy Hagan
67	36.00	Kevin Gooch
3	36.04	Sally Malir
76	36.32	Ed Brougham
77	36.35	Paul Stephens
5	36.47	Kelly Harrison
7	37.43	Alison Bennett
10	38.18	Diana Haggar
103	38.51	Ian Marshall
17	39.41	Jann Smith
19	40.13	Rebecca Mon-Williams
117	40.59	Eric Morley
118	41.06	Andrew Jackson
121	41.45	Nick Mellor
37	43.09	Sophie Brown
39	43.29	Di Kitchen
151	46.09	Don MacRae
156	46.58	Andy Kitchen
160	47.39	Paul Sugden
55	48.01	Alison Ricci
72	51.03	Louise Jackson
77	52.32	Sally Pickering

This was the first counter in the 2010 Running League. XC Hero Malcolm scored a Herculean 103 points! Full results on the League Page

Lots of photos on our PECO race page.

Lost property: Small IH jacket (see Neil), STAC vest (club advised), 1 Specialized cycling glove

Firbank Fell Race, Sun 17 Jan

Lyn Eden reports ... After so many fell runs being cancelled since New Year’s Day because of weather I have been stuck on 63 fell runs in my attempt to complete 65 fell races in my 65th year. I must admit I was beginning to panic bcause I was so near yet so far and my birthday fast approaching on 7 Feb. The last straw was Ashurst Becon and White Holme Circular both being cancelled yesterday. But a window of opportunity arose today with the running of Firbank Fell Race, part of the Kendal Winter League series. It's approx 4 miles, 300ft climb. This has put me back on track to complete my 65th fell race next Sunday at the Stanbury Splash, which has always been my goal. Unfortunately it meant missing the Ilkley PECO, and apologies, but you seem to have had a superb turnout, and congratulations.
Firbank Fell Race, like PECO had a bit of everything, boggy, icy, snowy and a stream crossing. It was just great to be out running again, as most of the other runners agreed.

Jim Towers 32.09
Lyn Eden   42.15

Trig Points Race, Sun 10 Jan

Tracey Greenway reports ... whilst most of the x country and fell races were cancelled this weekend Mercia Fell Runners decided to go forward with The Trig Point Race which is normally a 15 mile CL category fell race with around 1500ft of accent. This year due to the adverse weather they did shorten the course to around 12 miles, however thanks have to go out for deciding to go ahead when the pressure was on to cancel.
144 runners lined up for the snowy, icy start and each and all were counted though a start up funnel before the race proper got off to its official start!
The Trig Point race covers an optimal route of around 15 miles from trig point to trig point around Cannock Chase and there is no marked route, however there are lots of people to follow who choose to just stick on the main gravel paths, a good look at the map is advised if you are looking for a fast time! I think I ended up taking a couple of poor options but some good ones too so I don't feel hard done by.
It is at a great time in the year to get some undulating miles in and I will definitely do it next year and recommend it for anyone to get back into racing for the New Year especially if you are looking for something a little longer. On a personal note I was pleased with my run finishing 21st overall and 2nd lady in a time of 1hour 36 mins narrowly missing out on 1st lady on the run in, more speed work needed! The Race was won by Pete Vale of Mercia in a time of 1 hour and 19 mins.
It's really well organised, well marshalled, with drink stations, and soup, tea and cakes at the finish that never run out.
Conclusion - Highly recommended.

23  96.01  Tracey Greenway, 1st L40, 2nd lady
  

Giant's Tooth fell race, Fri 1 Jan

Lyn Eden reports on the Giant’s Tooth Fell Race, Ogden Reservoir, 3miles, 400ft of climb. Lovely day, very cold, overnight snow meant we had a bit of grip most of the way round except for one exposed icy climb. More a question of getting round in one piece rather than racing. Jim kindly ran with me.

Eric Morley 27.38
Lyn Eden    35.17
Jim Towers  35.17

Silsden 26th New Years Resolution Run, Fri 1 Jan

Andrew Bennett reports ... About 90 runners of all ages took part in this friendly 3 mile road race/ fun run and with nobody called Brownlee in the entries I thought I was in with a chance. Bob Payne had let me know about this antidote to over indulgence and I wrongly assumed he had run it before so what seemed like 4000ft of climbing came as a surprise to him too. Needless to say my earlier optimism was misplaced and I was the last of a select bunch of Harriers home. The after race presentations were very democratic based on the 'bring a prize get a prize' model.

9   20.37  Mike Baldwin
14  21.11  Alison Bennett
19  21.31  Adam Bennett
42  24.59  Bob Payne
45  25.33  Tom Bennett
54  28.02  Andrew Bennett

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Older News, Dec 2009