Race Reports 04th August 2008

Roseberry Topping was the latest challenge for fell racers in Race 8 of the summer series, and the fastest runner, Jim Bulman of NYM took only 11.47 minutes to achieve the up and down course! Thirsk and Sowerby's Pete Wilkin was not far behind, in 4th place in 13.05, with Noel Clough 7th in 13.38 and Stewart Mechie 9th in 14.16. The ever-improving Gavin Coventry finished 14th in 15.49, Mark Ludiman 19th in 16.43, 15 year old Keziah Paxton, a young woman with lots of potential, 30th in an incredible 17.14, Neil Mechie 35th in 17.39 and Alan Wikeley 41st in 18.39. The men's team finished in 2nd place.
Ian and Marian Codling joined 300 plus runners in the Idle 10k Trail Race - actually slightly longer than 10k - at the weekend over an interesting rural course on a perfect morning for running. The winner, Paul Stevenson of Pudsey and Bramley, took 37.31 minutes. Ian came home in 200th place in 58.55 and Marian 287th in 70.50. The reward at the end was a t-shirt and an excellent canvas shopping bag!
It was good to hear from John Yates, who is spending some of his summer in England. He competed in the recent Meldon Reservoir fell race at Okehampton, Devon, over a 5 mile course with a 1350 ft climb and plenty of mud, finishing a very creditable 18th in 49.21.
Members will be competing in the Darlington 10k next weekend as it is a club championship race. The flat fast course has the potential for a PB!

At Meldon Reservoir, Okehampton, Devon, on 2/8/08, 5 miles, quite a bit of boggy verticality, about 1350' ascent.

An impressive and scary array of fell shoes, running vests and calf muscles ambled up to the start line; I realised then that a top 10 finish, despite a couple of months of strong running, was going to be challenging. It was ok until the first hill which lasted until the top of Yes Tor, half way round the course. At the end of the track, the fell runners moved into their stride and yours truly, having started off comfortably at a fair canter in the first half dozen, found out what it was all about and started moving inevitably it felt to the back. Once the top was reached I got my breadth back and moved into my more usual stride, managing to recover some of those lost positions on the way up. In fact, it was a fast ride back over boggy ground and great views and then a fast foot path back to the reservoir with some good duals fought out in the process.
A good work out and excellent test after a five year absence from UK fell runs. Lots of up hill work needed (so more Tasek Lamas in Brunei which is pretty near the mark) but as good as over the flattish and down hill stuff. The atmosphere of a UK fell run and the finish area has to beat the road race concept hands down. Nice to finish in the top half with the complete absence of fun runners (I forgot this aspect of UK fell running). The T & SH club vest is still in good nick, having now been dusted off twice since May. Maiden Newton Madness 10k, nr Dorchester next week with Sonia then back to the road for the Kota Kinabalu 10k, Saba, in October.
On on
John Yates