Sweet smell of success

Burton Leonard was on a knife edge as to whether it took place or not but everyone rallied round and it went ahead. A number of Nidd Valley Road Runners braced themselves for the heat and exposed route to compete over the 10km and came away smelling of success with a number of category winners. Four seems to be the magic number for Lee Dalton at the moment looking at his recent results as he crossed the line in fourth with a time of 36.28, Andy Todd was next back in 42.09 and 1st M50 followed closely by Alan Davidson 2nd M50 in 42.28. Next across the line was Paul Stalker 43.54, Andy Harris 47.22, Phil Fernyhough 47.59, first lady for Nidd and 2nd F45 Fiona Deacon 48.11, Carol Morgan 1st F35 48.51, Rob Snow 49.52, Dave Seaman 54.22, Tony Ledwaba-Chapman 1st M70 54.37, Debbie Gibson 54.22, Jenny Manning 56.54,  Helen Gregory 57.07, Michelle Smith 64.04, Ellie Deacon 64.12 running with her Dad Mike 64.14 and Judy Greenwood 69.36.

 

Across in Leeds the Jane Tomlinson 10km had already finished by the time Burton Leonard got under way and avoided the worst of the heat. Paul Manning was first home for Nidd in 49.47, Laura Nixon next in 52.52 and Noel Butler 1:03.33. Over on the west coast the Windmill Half saw Jillie Townend pounding the roads and recorded a time of 2:10.20.

Hot but definately not bothered.

Nidd Valley Road Runners got back to the business of running this week, a common distance but a different venue greeted those doing the club championships. Eccup 10 mile is a popular race over in Leeds and takes in Eccup Reservoir. a large field in extreme conditions took to the course. First back for Nidd was  Lee  Dalton in a superb 58.37 and finished fourth overall . Next up was   Andy  Todd 1:07:52,  Simon  Smith 1:13:32,   Phil  Fernyhough 1:16:41 , first lady for the club was  Fiona  Deacon 1:17:24,  next was Sheena  Jackson 1:21:25,  Rick  Dallaston 1:25:21,   Carol  Morgan 1:26:03,  Tony  Ledwaba-Chapman collected the 2nd V70 prize 1:28:19,  Jenny  Manning  1:28:36,  Sarah  Donaldson 1:34:13,  Emma  Edgar 1:34:21, a welcome return to racing for  Alison  Little  1:40:17,  Michelle  Smith 1:41:26,   Judy  Greenwood  1:50:04 and   Sarah  Chalmers 1:53:33.

The fell championships also had a fixture at Stirton, a pleasant evening drive over towards Skipton. Mark David had a speedy run in 47-42 and was first back for the club to collect his well deserved bottle of beer. Hot on his tail was Carol Morgan 50-30, Brian Sherwood 53-47, Chris Buck 55-00, Phil Robinson 55-35, Emma David 55-55 and Sarah Chalmers 72-18.

A couple of late results from around the area come from Jillie Townsend who ran the BUPA 10km in a time of 55.54 and Mark David who competed  at Eldwick Gala, completing the 3 mile route in 23.57.

Racing takes a back seat at Nidd Valley.

Nidd Valley Road Runners kept the competitive streak alive last weekend even though races were thin on the ground, a growing Harrogate parkrun always has a Nidd Valley runner to be found on the start line. Andy Todd moved up an age group but still crossed the line first for Nidd with 19.46, followed by Maurice Kelly 21.20, a tie for Chris Buck and Paul Geary in 22.42, Tony Ledwaba- Chapman 27.20, Nick Iles, running with  his daughter in 30.53, Katie Edgar 32.07 and Clairwyn Richardson 32.40.

 

Mark David headed to Addingham for the mid week Beamsley Beacon Fell race, a great 5.5 mile route, Mark finished in 48.46. The final Harrogate Summer Race League race took place at Wetherby and Nidd Valley ladies secured their best placing with third team in the ladies and vet ladies sections overall.

Seasoned runners tackle new horizons.

New races and seasoned runners go hand in hand. The Three Lakes Classic at Rother Country Park tempted four Nidd Valley Ladies to give it a go with its country location and superb vistas. Philippa Moorse has been racing the longer race and this 15 miler suited her finishing in 2:32.05, Debbie Gibson was back next in 2:36.47 followed closely by Annie Sweeting 2:37.06 and Judy Greenwood 2:50.44.

 

A fell race not commonly heard of locally is Model Hebog and Mark and Emma David showed their expertise over the 4.2 mile route, climbing 2461 feet along the way. Mark crossed the line in 86.22 and Emma in 94.20. Mark also ran at Buckden Fell Race, a slightly less arduous route in 55.31.

More locally Staveley Stampede had a good turn out, Jillie Townend was first back for the club in 56.35, Aimi Blueman next in 60.46(pb) and Pam Bagot 61.09.

Harrogate parkrun had its largest turnout so far with over 300 finishers. Nidd Valley’s first back was Andy Todd 19.31, Paul Stalker 19.47, Paul Geary 20.29, Rachel Eastaff 24.29, Sarah Donaldson 25.26, Jillie Townend 27.21, Tony Ledwaba Chapman 30.06, Katie Edgar 31.00 and Clairwyn Richardson 35.22.

Bed Race Bonanza

With one of the largest crowds and no repeat of last year’s wet weather three Nidd Valley teams joined the other 87 for a record Great Knaresborough Bed Race.

 

Nidd Valley’s Men’s A team of Paul Stalker, Andy Todd, Alan Davidson, Lee Welsby, Lee Dalton and Nat Welsby ran their fastest time of 14.13 to finish 4th, the Men’s B team of Steve Newton, Dan eagling, Phil Fernyhough, Chris Buck, Paul Geary and Andy Robinson recorded their highest placing of 14th in 15.54 and the Ladies team of Amanda Metcalfe, Fiona Deacon, Christine Holleran, Sheena Jackson, Helen Gregory and Alison Iles finished 4th in 19.09.

Not so fortunate was the Otley 10 mile, hosted by Otley A.C, where the rain made an appearance. Nidd Valley Road Runners was represented by Lee Dalton (5th) 59.14, Andy Todd 1:07.11. Alan Davidson 1:09.42, Carol Morgan (3rd Lady) 1:10.03, Fiona Deacon 1:18.17, Sheena Jackson 1:19.54, Steve Newton 1:21.04, Christine Holleran 1:22.08, Jenny Manning 1:28.58, Debbie Gibson 1:31.26, Sarah Donaldson 1:32.46, Michelle Smith 1:38.36 and Judy Greenwood 1:41.07.

Keep on running.

Race distance and race terrain are no object for runners at Nidd Valley Road Runners, weather it is a marathon or a quick burst around the Stray there is always a streak of black and gold to follow. On the fells at the Charlesworth Chase over at Appletreewick there were some great results, Carol Morgan was first lady overall, Sarah Chalmers took a well deserved 3^rd FV40, Alan Davidson was first MV50 and Tony Chapman, was first MV70. They were joined by Tim Harvey 12^th 46.35,Carol Morgan 49.48, Alan Davidson 50.10, Brian Sherwood 54.35,Phil Robinson 56.52, Chris Buck 57.12, Tony Chapman 70.25 and Sarah Chalmers 80.08.

A few miles away the Ripon 10 was underway and a battle for top spot saw Lee Dalton 58.58 pipped at the post into 2nd followed by Andy Todd 1:08.16, Mike Deacon 1:09.06, Fiona Deacon 1:18.35, Maurice Kelly 1:19.15, Emma David 1:20.12, Christine Holleran 1:21.40, Dave Seaman 1:23.32, Helen Gregory 1:28.19, Debbie Gibson 1:31.10, Annie Burns 1:36.41, Phillipa Moorse 1:37.59, Michelle Smith 1:41.13, Judy Greenwood 1;42.36, Rebecca Ventress 1:43.33 and Aimi Blueman 1:50.33.

The Jack Bloor Fell Race gave Mark David a midweek outing, he finished in 58.40 over the 8.4km course. Another midweek fixture Badgerstone Relays at White Wells in Ilkley had Brian Sherwood, Sarah Chalmers and Mark David competing over 3 legs of 2 mile and managed 26th team in 70.25.

Saturday morning saw Harrogate parkrun at it’s usual venue, Paul Stalker led Nidd Valley home in a pb of 19.58, next in was Dan Eagling 21.36, Sarah Gordon 24.39(pb), Jillie Townend 27.46, Sue Reast 30.48 and Katie Edgar 31.17

Compasses at the ready

North, South, East or West, what ever direction the compass points there seems to be a Nidd Valley Road Runner at the end of it. A target race for a few was the Leeds Half Marathon, not the easiest of races for first timers. Dan Eagling, Paul Eagling, Julie Mooney and Jillie Townend made their debut at the distance with some great times. Dan 1:39.01, Paul 1:41.21, Julie 2:06.08 and Jillie 2:11.30 were joined by Lizzie Medwell who ran 1:54.45.

The latest Claro orienteering event headed to Knaresborough where Mark David finished second in 25.25 followed by Maurice Kelly in 32.15. Further South Emma David continued her running exploits with an outing to the Brecon 40 ultra, 40 miles and 9000 feet of climb into the wind and hail and finished in 9 hrs 30.

Taking the opportunity of a race on their doorstep, Knaresborough 10km at King James’s School had five Nidd Valley runners don their club colours. Lee Dalton was 3rd overall in 39.28, next up was Nat Welsby 43.20 (7th) followed by Nick Iles 53.48, Rob Snow 55.32 and Alison Iles 56.47.

Harrogate Evening League got under way midweek and Nidd Valley ladies had a good result with first in the vets and second in the ladies team results. nat Welsby also made his debut for the club placing 21st overall.