GB selection and last points opportunity

Bill Hitchcock is a relatively new member of Nidd Valley Road Runners but has been enjoying great success recently. He secured the fourth and final qualification slot for the GB team for next years European triathlon championships which will be held in June in Kitzbuhlen. The qualifying race was at Grafham water in Cambridgeshire and whilst he was only second in his  group out of the water he managed the fastest bike split to then loose ground on the run to drift back a couple of places.

Fell expert Carol Morgan took to her favourite area and completed the Langdale Horseshoe in 3 hours and 1 minute on what was a beautiful day. In the opposite direction fellow fell comrade Emma David was tackling the Wye Valley Ultra 50, a great triumph ensued as Emma took 3rd lady in 9 hours 30 minutes.

Andrea Bowen and Sarah Chalmers decided Withens Skyline fell race was their weekend outing and headed to Haworth for a mudtastic event. Andrea came home in 77.56 and Sarah in 87.18.

Two people who like a continental feel to their racing are Simon and Michelle Smith, this time heading to the amazing city of Munich for their annual marathon. Simon made his way round comfortably in 3:55.31 followed by Michelle in 4:32.31.
The last of the club championship races took place at Richmond and those needing to add their final points grasped the opportunity. Mike Deacon was first across the line for the club in 43.28, Christine Holleran had a tremendous run and took 2nd FV45 in 49.15, Dave Seaman crossed the line in 51.31 followed by Helen Gregory in 53.20, still recovering from Chester the week before, Rachael Prince finished in 59.31 and Judy Greenwood took 1st FV55 in 64.56.

October pb marathon, part one.

A procession of Nidd Valley Road Runners headed to Chester for the first of two pb potential marathons this  October. Chester greeted everyone with unseasonably warm weather but it still did not hold Nidd Valley back in their pursuit of a best time.

Carol Morgan swapped her fell shoes for her roadies and had an amazing run finishing sixth in her age group and eleventh lady overall in 3:10.11. Next up were the sub 4 hour group, a target much revered, this included Alan Davidson 3:39.44, Paul Geary crossing the line in 3:45.46, Phil Fernyhough 3:47.12 and a magnificent sprint finish from Brian Sherwood for 3:59.59. Not far behind came Paul Manning with a great pb 0f 4:02.34 followed by a string ladies, Debbie Gibson 4:11.10, Helen Gregory smashing her pb for 4:12.47, Jenny Manning, trimming her time to 4:17.53, Janet Carling 4:32.27, Rachel Eastaff 4:42.49 Anne Marie McPherson 4:49.52 and Brenda Loades 4:53.11.

 

Not to be out done Tony Ledwaba Chapman headed to the seaside at Mablethorpe for the East Coast Marathon, although disappointed with his time of 4 hours and 3 minutes he was running at 3 hour 30 pace for much of it.

 

Keeping the Nidd Valley flag flying on the fells Mark David has visited some local races. At the Orton Autumn Fair their 10km race gave his legs a good stretch and finished bang on the hour. The following week he headed over to Saddleworth for  a slightly longer race of 13km, finishing with 1 hour 30 minutes.

Leading ladies, leading the way

Nidd Valley Road Runners have had a string of leading ladies recently, across all terrains and a variety of distances. The Hardmoors 60 attracts a dedicated crowd and friends are made along the way, Carol Morgan needed just such camaraderie, as with 10 miles to go found the company of another lady runner a great help, both crossing the line in 11 hours 31 minutes for joint first lady and 7th overall.

Further north Jillie Townend completed the Redcar Half Marathon for Nidd Valley, an easy option on paper but with a coastal finish the wind had other ideas. However it was no match for Jillie as she recorded a new pb for a half in 2:03.21.

 

Another Nidd Valley lady giving it her best was Kathy Coates taking part in the Major Series North 10km, she had the bit between her teeth and the scars to prove the obstacle course was no walk in the park, finishing as 3rd lady overall.

 

A more traditional race over at York was the destination for Mike and Fiona Deacon, the Sutton on the Forest 10km is a low key event over mixed terrain. Mike Deacon was first back in 42.53 and Fiona secured 2nd F45 with 46.09

Swim, cycle, run, rest!!

 

You could feel the anticipation around Fountains Abbey at the weekend as the biggest event in the area slowly took shape. National interest surrounding the Brownlee Triathlon had attracted a wide variety of people to both enter, marshal and spectate, in what was to be their first triathlon experience.

 

Four runners from Nidd Valley went up, the atmosphere was amazing and the Brownlee brothers were in attendance for most of the event, Christine Holleran had an amazing day, drawing on her previous experience she came in 3rd lady in her age group with a time of 50.03. First timer Phil Fernyhough admits he is not the strongest swimmer but made up tremendous ground on the bike and run leg, finishing with 51.50. Another first timer, Helen Moorse, may have found her calling, with an outstanding swim  and bike section she hung on in the run, crossing the line in 53.36. Jenny Manning celebrated her birthday with her entry and did herself proud with a solid time of 1:00.50.

 

Not too far away the rescheduled Yorkshire 10km was being run at Newby Hall. One Nidd Valley runner flashed the black and gold, Jillie Townend finished in 55.39. Meanwhile the fell runners at Nidd Valley were on the move for the Viking Chase 4 Peaks on the North York Moors, organised by Cleveland Fell rescue, this is a tough race over 13km of tricky terrain. First back for Nidd was Simon Harris in 1-22-36, followed by Mark David 1-25-26, Brian Sherwood 1-28-38, Sam Fugill 1-29-55, Phil Robinson 1-31-55 and Sarah Chalmers 2-05-05

Solid performances on solid ground

There’s nothing like a tough sounding race to get the juices flowing and The Yorkshireman Full and Half Marathon do not disappoint. Taking in Upper Wharfedale it certainly is a value for money event and refreshments at the end make the finish all the more welcome.

Tackling the Full Marathon was a ladies only affair for Nidd Valley Road Runners but they didn’t disappoint. Carol Morgan had a fantastic run, securing 3rd lady overall and 1st FV40 in 3:58.18, next in was Emma David in 4:33.51 followed by Sheena Jackson in 5:23.31. Seven Nidd Runners took on the Half Marathon distance which was not half the effort by any means. Tim Harvey had one of his best runs of the year, finishing 9th overall in 1:51.07, Alan Davidson followed him in with 2:13.01,then  Mark David 2:17.32, Brian Sherwood 2:23.14, first lady for Nidd was Christine Holleran 2:39.55, Andrea Bowen 3:04.08 and Sarah Chalmers 5:04.32.

 

Over at Wetherby the slick organisation of the Wetherby 10km suited four Nidd Valley Road Runners. Andy Todd found the cooler conditions this year to his liking and finished in 38.41, Lizzie Medwell was next home in 51.58. Two ladies making great improvements over the year are Emma and Kate Edgar, Emma timing at 52.05 and Kate breaking the hour in 59.56.

 

Tucked away in Leicestershire Emma Dooley set about her first Half Ironman, a 1.9km swim, 85km cycle and 21km run. After an eventful start in the swim Emma clawed her way up the rankings in the cycle and run elements, crossing the line in 6 hours 10 minutes in the top half of the field.

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Bank Holiday Bonanza

With any Bank Holiday it brings the opportunity to race an extra day and Nidd Valley Road Runners sought out two popular events. Kilnsey Crag Fell Race is one of the shortest but toughest around and not many come away unscathed, thankfully  Tim Harvey and Mark David  were part of the few and recorded great times of 10.30 and 15.52 respectively. On more even terrain Spofforth Gala 10km will be remembered for quite different reasons as many of the runners were attacked by a swarm of hornets at the 4km mark and the medical services had to intervene, Rib Snow made it back safety in 49.05 followed by Andrea Bowen in 68.39.

The following weekend nothing quite as dramatic at the Tholthorpe 10km where the ladies at Nidd Valley were in charge. Carol Morgan finished 4th overall and 1st FV35 by some margin in 41.52 while Fiona Deacon was 2nd FV45 in 44.43. Other results were Mike Deacon 42.02, Dave Seaman 49.23, Sarah Donaldson 50.33, Dave Rushton 51.53, Ellie Deacon 53.49(pb), Jillie Townend 54.30, Phillipa Moorse 55.34 and Judy Greenwood 62.16. Up in the Dales the fell runners were having their own race at Bradley Show, Mark David had a strong run with 32.42, Andrea Bowen in her first fell race finished with 42.29 followed by Sarah Chalmers with 44.55. 

The fell runners also managed to slip a few smaller races in too. Tim Harvey tackled the Burnsall Classic in 19.00 while Mark David continued his involvement in Esk Valley’s Summer Fell Series with the Inclined to Madness race running well for 57.33 and then the unusual Ilkley Incline of 1 mile straight up in a time of 10.40.

A thorn amongst so many roses.

With many runners away for their summer holidays it was a chance for some to bag a good crop of points in the latest Club Championship race. Mike Deacon secured the biggest haul by being the first Nidd Valley runner across the line in 44.17, not far behind and keeping it in the family Fiona Deacon was first Nidd lady home in 44.38, taking 3rd LV45 to boot. Next came a parade of Nidd Valley ladies all eager for points, Debbie Gibson was next to arrive in 49.39, Sarah Donaldson 50.40, Jenny Manning 51.03, Jillie Townend 54.59, Phillippa Moorse 55.38, Rachel Prince 56.41 and then Aimi Blueman, breaking the one hour for the first time and taking a massive 9 minutes off last years time, recorded 59.54.

Doing the rounds of the local fell races, Mark David has been a familiar face in the past weeks. Starting at Arncliffe Gala Mark had a storming run and finished in 17.35 for the 3.3 mile route. Four days later at the Guisborough Grunt Mark took 2nd MV50 in an equally tremendous 55.17. With the bit between his teeth he made the short journey to Gargrave Show with Emma David and cruised round in 32.45 followed shortly by Emma in 34.34. Twenty four hours later Mark was back in action at Cray up in Wharefdale for their low key fell race, he had a good run recording 36.50.