Addingham Gala fell race
Ilkley Harriers and the Addingham Gala Committee reintroduced a fell race at the Addingham Gala in 2010. Before the opening of the bypass in 1989 there was a fell race at the Gala, with a route up on to Addingham Moorside. Now there is a new race!
Results
Photos
David Hird's photos, wharfedaleharriers.org.uk
Details
- Saturday 10th July 2010, Gala Day
- 3.10pm start (subject to other Gala activities)
- Parking: in St Peter's Church fields, off Church Street, Addingham (see our Google Map). 10 minutes walk to the Gala Field. NB the rest of Addingham will be very busy so this parking is recommended.
- Travel: Addingham Main St. will be closed West of the Start/Finish field from 1-2pm for the Gala Parade, it's best to approach from the East or North by car. Public transport: 762/765/X84 bus services
- Registration: in the Ilkley Harriers tent in the Gala field from 2pm (Gala field opens) to 2.55pm. Cost £2 for race entry (in addition to Gala entry fees, which are £3 on the gate, or £2.50 if programs bought in advance, U16 free)
- The race is run under FRA Rules. It is a category BS fell race, 5.8 miles long with 1000' (300m) of climb. The minimum age for entry is 16 on 1 January 2010. You will need a reasonable level of fitness as the climb and descent are significant!
- Start: callup into the Gala field arena 10 minutes before race start, race started by Kris Hopkins MP
- Estimated winning time: 40 minutes
- The race is fully flagged and marshalled
- Free refreshments after the race (show your race number)
- Prizes: Male and female prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd runner, 1st vet, 1st U18. Prizes donated by running retailer Up & Running. Prizes presented by Kris Hopkins MP
- Race numbers and other race support provided by running retailer Up & Running
- Questions? Email paul@ilkleyharriers.org.uk.
The Course
- See our Google Map. The map is for information only: on the day you must always follow marshals' directions and race flags.
- You will start with a quick circuit of the Gala field arena in front of the cheering crowds!
- Hay bales/wall crossing onto Main St, then cross the street to the pavement opposite (marshalled)
- Keep to left and on pavements on Church St and Bark Lane. Cross Bark Lane as directed by marshals
- Down the zig-zag path and across the suspension bridge: caution there are steep metal steps at the far end of the bridge.
- North along West Hall Lane (1 mile done) then right through a stile into the field
- Follow flags on public footpath to woods, and along edge of woods up, up, up to Hardings Lane and turn left
- Shortly after, turn right onto small lane (2 miles done)
- Follow path to edge of moor
- Follow paths across the moor to summit cairn of Beamsley Beacon (aka Howber Hill). Your race number will be recorded here. Just under 3 miles
- Descend main footpath towards Langbar, then right onto Currer Lane. Take care on the road and keep to the right. Turn right then left
- Leave Currer Lane at the Public Bridleway back down to Addinghgam. The 4 mile point is shortly after
- Follow Bridleway down to West Hall Lane, from where retrace your outbound route, back to the Gala field.
- Finish along the edge of the Gala field to cheering crowds!
All details subject to review.
Some History
Before the opening of the bypass in 1989 there was a fell race at the Gala, with a route up on to Addingham Moorside. We understand this was continued for a year after the bypass was opened (!), then moved to a route up Beamsley for a short period, then fizzled out.
Veteran members of Ilkley Harriers who won medals in the 1986 race remember that the route climbed to the Moor, ran along to the Noon Stone, then plunged straight back down. There were about 22 runners, from the photo below, including just one lady. Ilkley Harrier Alison Eagle, Runner B in the photo remembers that the other runners were very serious, she just ran on the Moor for fitness back then so was surprised to finish about half way up the field, as were the other runners who were a bitt friendlier after that. Ilkley Harrier Malcolm Pickering, Runner A in the photo, won a fine medal for 3rd place and remembers that there was also a track sprint event after the fell race. Some other runners in the photo .... Jeff Emmett (blue vest, fair hair, to left of runner A); Graham Hawkins (white vest, black stripe, to left of runner A); Kevin Wright (whiote vest, blue shorts. to right of runner A); Paul Buckley (behind runner B); Paul Judge (2 runners to roght of runner B)
We have had some more information from Mick Hawkins ...
"Roger Ingham was involved in helping organise the first few and thinks it started in 1981.
In '81 and '82 the race was held in the middle of September then I think '83 and definitely '84 the race was in July (same weekend as Alva).
The results I have are as follows:
1981 1st Tommy Sedgwick, 2nd Mick Hawkins, 3rd Steve Carr
1982 1st Tommy Sedgwick, 2nd Steve Carr, 3rd Mick Hawkins
1984 1st Mick Hawkins"
Mick's press cuttings below ...
Have you got any memories/photos/results of earlier races? We'd like to include them here. Contact paul@ilkleyharriers.org.uk
