Sent: 05 October 2010 00:31
Subject: V S Update - Harewood THANK YOU, October calendar, Northern 6-stage report

 

Harewood Trail Race – Rain, Mud and Rain

 

A HUGE THANK YOU to every one of you that marshalled and officiated on Sunday.  Paul White texted me in the evening to say that Calendar News had reported 29mm of rain at Eccup on Sunday including 16mm in one hour.  I think that hour was just after the race finished, but I’m pretty sure we got the other 13mm.

 

And what I find AMAZING (but knowing Valley Striders, not surprising) is that every one of our 67 (yes, sixty-seven) marshals turned up, no excuses, every one.  Thank you!!

 

The official statistics are

  • in the 2 mile, there were 108 pre-entries and 21 who entered on the day, there were 18 no-shows and 111 finished.  Winners were Dominic Owens (Carnegie) 12:41 and Charmaine Porter (Jarrow & Hebburn) 13:14.
  • in the 10 mile, there were 325 pre-entries and 110 who entered on the day (yes, really!), there were 69 no-shows (a little higher percentage than usual), 2 non-finishers and 364 finished.  Winners were Tim Midgley (Bingley) 58:10 and Pauline Munro (Bingley) 67:37.

 

Valley Striders members and friends included

2 mile                                                    Position in Cat

   15 Callum      Parton        Valley S      B11-12  14.57     5

   18 Ronan       Loftus        Valley S      B13-14  15.12     4

   21 Jodie       Mather-Hunter Wetherby R    G13-14  15.17     2

   47 Dominic     Mather-Hunter Valley S      B7-8    17.55     3

   50 Katherine   Redshaw       Bramhope P S  G9-10   18.14     5

   57 Ben         Redshaw       Bramhope P S  B5-6    18.43     1  Ben won a trophy!

10 mile

   37 Cameron     Whyte         Valley S      M       69.25    19

  103 Howard      Jeffrey       Otley A C     M50     79.10    14

  167 Ged         Coll          Valley S      M40     86.18    50

NB there were a few V S running no-shows!

 

I usually get a few emails about the race, half of which are thank-yous and half are “by-the-way’s” such as “Thank you for a great race, by the way you got my time wrong” or “thank you for a great race, by the way, have you found a pair of running shoes”

 

This year I have already had 4 emails and no by-the-way’s:

 

From Ken Evitt

 

Just a line to thank every body for a well organised race in really bad conditions I really enjoyed the race and like to say a big thank you to all the marshals who had to stand out in the rain.

 

Thanks

yours in running

Ken Evitt

 

From John Robson

 

Hi Bob,

 

I just wanted to drop you a line to say a big wet, muddy thank you for today’s race. It was the wettest, muddiest, hilliest 10 miler I’ve done and I loved every second of it!

 

In particular please pass on my thanks to all of the brilliant marshals who probably had a harder time of it than the runners today. They were all encouraging and cheerful despite the conditions and certainly helped to make the event a fantastic one.

 

I hope to see you again next year.

 

Cheers

John Robson

 

From Anthony Corbett (message titled “Harewood Duathlon”)

 

Hi Bob

 

Just wanted to send you a mail to say how much myself and club colleagues enjoyed yesterday's event.

 

We particularly wanted to say what a real pleasure it was to have such great marshals out there - they must have been soaked and cold but without exception they were so encouraging to us all and really lifted you as you sploshed around the course !  I can't praise them enough.

 

Event went very smoothly from the running side of things - hope it went well from your side too !

 

Amazingly, from the provisional results I actually equalled my previous best time - to the second !

 

The change of date unfortunately meant it clashed with our cross country league fixture - which reduced the number of Quakers Running Club attending - but I will ensure it is back in our championship calendar again in 2011 !

 

Many thanks again,

Anthony Corbett

Quakers Running Club

Darlington

 

From Paul Jefferies

 

Hi

 

I ran my first Harewood 10m Trail Race yesterday and despite the awful conditions, thoroughly enjoyed myself. Must be something about getting wet and muddy!

 

Throughout the route the marshals were fantastic with loads of enthusiasm and encouragement. They really made a big difference on a grotty day, something which my Quaker clubmates all mentioned at the end of the race.

 

Could you please pass on my thanks to all the marshals and officials who had to stand out in the elements to ensure that us competitors had a safe run.

 

See you next year.

 

Paul Jefferies

Quaker Running Club

 

On Runners World

 

Read 3 great reviews http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/events/ratingsall.asp?sp=&v=2&ugn=606&en=58325

 

And from our Marshals

 

From Steve Dixon

 

Great day on Sunday all the runners appeared to be enjoying themselves as they passed by Emmerdale. 

 

Are you able to include a small notice in the next update?   I picked up a blue ABC drinks bottle on Sunday left in the shed at Emmerdale that some of us used to shelter from the rain.   I'll possibly attend training tomorrow so may be able to reunite the bottle with the owner - but if not I can be reached on 0113 2931699.

 

From Mat Taylor

 

Today's marshalling gave me a creative urge to write a poem. I've titled it "Rain". I hope you like it.

 

Rain

 

I hate rain

I hate rain

I hate rain

I HATE rain!!!

 

More feedback required please

 

Complete Runner West Yorkshire Cross Country next Sunday (10 October) at Guiseley

 

41 Striders entered, please could as many as possible run – I know there are a few of the 41 not running because they are making final preparations for Amsterdam.

 

NB if you’re not entered, don’t turn up expecting to run.

 

Race is at Nunroyd Park, on the right hand side of the A65 about ½ mile before you get to Morrison’s at Guiseley.

 

Women’s race starts at 1:45pm, men’s race at 2:15pm.

 

More information at http://www.westyorkshireathletics.org.uk/

 

Look out for the Valley Striders banner and possibly the Valley Striders tent – I say possibly because I’m not sure where it is – it didn’t turn up at Harewood on Sunday.  First Strider to arrive please pick up the race numbers for the entire team.

 

Good luck everyone!

 

Other races coming up soon

 

NB unless otherwise mentioned, you can find details at www.ukresults.net

 

10 October – Shaun Lee Johnstone multi-terrain 10 near Boroughbridge

10 October – Bramham Park 5k and 10k runs for Cancer Research

10 October – Yorkshire Vets race at Skipton www.yvaa.org

17 October – Striders Autumn Tour – Amsterdam marathon

17 October – Bradford half marathon www.bradfordcitymarathon.com  

17 October – Bridlington half marathon

24 October – Wistow 10 (near Selby)

30 October (Saturday) – West Yorks XC race 2 at Huddersfield  (if you want to run but have not yet entered, email [email protected] )

31 October – Guy Fawkes 10 from Ripley (between Harrogate & Ripon)

31 October – Holmfirth 15

 

31 October – Cancer Research 10k at Harewood House

 

12 marshals needed, we have 3 so far – please email me if you can help – free bacon sandwich & coffee

 

Northern 6 stage relays at Wythenshawe Park, Manchester – race report from Dan Fisher

 

Results are in and we came a very respectable 56/95, beating teams from Altrincham, Salford, Gateshead and Otley A. 

 

56  Valley Striders AC  1:59:26
       

    Gwil Thomas      (55) 19:11

    Roy Huggins      (72) 20:27

    Daniel Fitzhugh  (64) 20:14

    Jeremy Ladyman   (70) 21:27

    Dan Fisher       (58) 18:33

    Steve Webb       (56) 19:34

 

It was an excellent standard with many GB internationals present (marathon, track and cross country), and we competed well. 

 

Dan Fitz and Roy made excellent debuts and I think that's reflected in their times - both would have been low 18mins for a 5k.  A good performance on a muddy, twisty course.  (Official distance 5.6k per lap).

 

Jeremy’s run was all the more impressive considering he is still recovering from a broken ankle and now has a weak achilles as a result of months in a pot.  This should be a confidence boost on his way back to full fitness.

 

Steve wins the prize for best dressed male and I would like to propose that his shorts become an integral part of the Valley Striders kit (bright purple and yellow goes well with the white vest).  If I can find a pair I will wear them at the Amsterdam marathon.  Solid run as well, making up two places on the last leg when the race is particularly strung out.

 

Special mention for Gwil who took on the responsibility of running the first leg despite having no warm up.  We were a little bit late getting organised and it was a case of get changed and get running for him.  I think his time shows that he is coming in to form in time for Amsterdam.

 

It's a great event and hopefully we can go back next year even further up the field.

 

Steve replied

 

Yep, definitely an enjoyable event.  Thanks for organising Dan, and very well done for slicing through the field on leg 5.  I was just glad to survive the post-race shower without a bit of masonry falling off on me. 

 

Suggest a specialist 1980's revival sports outfitter if you want to match my shorts!