Race Reports 28th April 2008

Gary Dunn is well back in form, winning two races in six days, both very comfortably. The first was the Carlton Challenge in the NYSD Summer Fell Race series on a lovely spring evening. Gary simply floated up the long pull which is Jacob's Ladder finishing almost 4 minutes ahead of the 2nd runner. A good turnout from Thirsk and Sowerby saw Richard Hall finishing 8th in 37.55 ahead of Pete Wilkin, 10th in 38.50, Walter Busuttil 12th in 38.56 and Rob Burn 13th in 38.58. Stewart Mechie was 18th in 40.37, Angela Hall 44th, and 1st lady, in 45.15, Alasdair Thorpe 47th in 45.22, Gavin Coventry 48th in 45.28, Mark Ludiman 51st in 46.03, Hywel Smith 63rd in 49.20, Nicola Thorpe 64th in 49.24, Alan Wikeley 67th in 49.42, Pat Kirby 81st in 57.00, Pam Sherlock 83rd in 73.39 and Marian Codling 84th in 75.04. The men's team were worthy winners of the event, and the women's finished 2nd. Several runners on the night picked up penalties through following the wrong course - which had an unmarked, none too obvious detour at one point! There were 84 entrants in the race, which was also the latest Club Championship event.
The hilly Fountains 10k, the first race in the Black Sheep Series, took place on a very wet Sunday - this race often attracts rain - and the mud over the moorland stretch of the course was ankle deep in places! Gary again was in winning form finishing in 33.49, alost two minutes ahead of 2nd placed Stephen O'Neill of Darlington. Richard Harry came 125th in 50.16, Jonathan Severs 165th in 54.44, Angela Eilbeck 166th in 54.52, Phillip Craig 255th in 69.29, Marian Codling 259th in 70.53 and Lydia Evitt 267th in 78.22. Mud covered runners still managed to enjoy this scenic, testing race!