After a week of no races to
report, there are three this week, the first being the Muddy Boots 10k race
at Ripon, not quite living up to its title! Following several days of
strong, drying winds, conditions underfoot were quite good, and it was a
pleasant morning for running this friendly and well marshalled race. The
multi-terrain course was interesting and undulating, and Stephen O'Neil of
Darlington HAC was the winner of the race in 36.47. Walter Busutill
finished a very satisfactory 10th in 41.12. Gavin Coventry continues to
impress, coming 40th in 46.02, Les Sutton-Haigh 47th in 46.46, fractionally
ahead of Hester Cox, 48th in 46.47, Ken Evitt 55th in 47.37, Pat Kirby
143rd in 55.09, Nik Sutton-Haigh 180th in 59.39 and Phillip Craig 227th in
67.20. There were 242 finishers.
On the same day, Ian and Marian Codling travelled to
Pocklington to do the popular Snake Lane 10 mile race. Conditions for this
race were also good, and the scenic course went through the lanes of East
Yorkshire. Stephen Hepples, running for Loftus and Whitby this week,
finished 1st in 50.37 and Ian Codling came 495th in 1.27.31, Marian Codling
629th in 1.51.29. For this race there were 641 finishers.
The previous week, 116 runners completed the
Castleton/Danby Fell Race over about 8 miles, the latest event in the NYSD
winter series. It was a fine frosty morning, and Charles Stead of NFR won
the race in 55.09, with Rob Burn again performing well to finish 12th in
62.13, Peter Wilkin 19th in 63.48, Stewart Mechie 26th in 65.16, Cameron
Choules 47th in 68.29, Gavin Coventry 53rd in 70.17, Alasdair Thorpe 63rd
in 73.03, Alan Wikeley 84th in 80.26, Steve Harrison 100th in 85.49, just
ahead of Ernie Huck, 101st in 85.56, Nicola Thorpe 103rd in 86.36, Pat
Kirby 110th in 89.20 and Cath Lumb 114th in 99.00. There were enough
runners for both a men's and a women's team, and both teams finished in 3rd
place.