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Notices and Forthcoming Events

Posted by admin in Diary & Events on January 14, 2015

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Got some news, photos, information or just need an OAC question answering? Email run@otleyac.org.uk

Please check the club notice board in the Cricket Club for forthcoming races and car sharing options.

Our Absolute Beginners group is for anyone wanting to have a go at running, regardless of ability. Find them on their Facebook page or email start@otleyac.org.uk.

Here are the final club rankings and runner of the year tables for 2014.  Congratulations to Mark Hall the 2014 Runner of the Year,  where are you?

2015 TRAINING WEEKEND will be Friday 20th – 23rd March at the same venue as this year; Limefitt Park, Troutbeck. The weekend is open to all fully paid-up members on a first come, first served basis. £57 for three nights self-catering in 5*log cabins holding six people. Please pay Tom Hannah at training; cash or cheque asap.

A reminder of other forthcoming events in the near future:

Saturday 31st January – Night of the Wolf, Otley Chevin 7pm, 5k or 10k , Dalby Forest Head Torch Race, 5 miles.

Sunday 1st February – Dewsbury 10k.

Saturday 7th February – If you’ve got a place, Rombalds Stride, 23mile, a local winter favourite LDWA challenge for walkers & runners.

Sunday 8th February – Muddy Boots 10k, Ripon.

Tuesday 17th February - Club Social Night a Tom Hannah Quiz with Fish & Chip supper after training, 8:45pm ish.  Fish & Chips will be ordered, so let Kath or Jack Robertshaw have £5 at a training night by the Thurs. 12th Feb. at the latest.

Sunday 22th February – Ilkley Moor Fell Race, 8k/501m pre-entry only see details on Ilkley’s www here, or if you’ve got a place the Snake Lane 10, Pocklington.

Saturday 28th February – Race 2 of the 2015 Eric Smith Handicap Trophy, meet 10:45 for 11:00 start at Esholt,  To get to the start, take the road left to Esholt village just before the lights near Hollins Hall Hotel, take the left after railway bridge just before you get to the village.

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Sunday 25th January – Meltham (Tough) 10k

Posted by admin in News & Results on January 25, 2015

Report from Howard Jeffrey:

I have done Meltham 10K before and don’t remember it being ‘Tough’ as described this year; especially when compared to some of the brutal, alpine and ‘toughest’ races undertaken by fellow Otley AC ians. It is par for the course for the Pennines in winter….i.e. Tough! I had just forgotten. They had added the title following the bad, wet weather last year. This year it was cool and dry although the wind whipped up a bit on the top for a while but generally conditions were OK for January. Even without poor weather the route is a challenge of some seriously long, relatively steep ups and downs. I think the winning time of 37.28 by David Thompson of Barnsley AC reflects the difficulty. 1st Lady Amy Karen Green of Keighley and Craven was 31st in 41.57. 305 finishers: Ego solus iterum Otleymus (or something/nothing like that).

I expected my age group to be won in around 43 minutes, so was a bit surprised to come second (by 11 seconds, 6 gifted at the start!) in 78th place in 45.06. I had raced hard a couple of guys in my category and got the better of them but ran out of track to get first. Pleased enough with weekend workouts and on to Dewsbury next week with a target of sub 40 weather permitting.

Full results here

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In memory of John Cowan

Posted by admin in News & Results on January 20, 2015

Otley AC is profoundly sad for the loss of our true friend and fellow runner John Cowan, following his short illness. We are all devastated by his loss and offer our condolences and dedicate our support to his family, friends and colleagues and especially to his partner and our friend Laura Hind. He was a true gentle-man in every way and he will always be missed.

His loss will be initially commemorated with a minute’s silence at the beginning of our first race of 2015, on Saturday the 17th January  at the club handicap run at Harewood. Please meet at the usual place near the village hall on or before 10.45 for a moment’s silence at 11 and please wear your club vests. Guests are welcome. His partner Laura has asked that after the race we celebrate his life with a pint at the pub

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Sunday 18th January: Stanbury Splash

Posted by admin in News & Results on January 20, 2015

Soreen Stanbery Splash Photo

My first race of the year was this weekends The Soreen Stanbury Splash fell race over at Haworth. With freezing temperatures and snow over the weekend the course was changed from the usual Stanbury Splash route to the Stoop Fell race. Racers were warned via social media about the conditions in are around the Penistone Hill Country Park and non 4×4 drivers were advised to park in Haworth.

I had convince Sara Richard in running the race and with the kind offer of a lift from Neil Reed the three of us were greeted with 4 inches of snow upon arrival in Haworth. We parked up and hiked over the hill to the cricket pavilion to register for the race.

With our £4 paid and pockets filled with Soreen lunch box bars we chatted and drank free coffee while waiting to see if there was any other brave/stupid OACers would turn up. While waiting for the start of the race the skies became dark and the snow began to fall. We had the usual start in the quarry pit and I was surprised to see a large turnout of like-minded nutters taking part in this race.

The Stoop fell race course is only 5 miles and has 800 feet of climbing; the conditions underfoot were a mixture of mud, deep icy bogs and inches of snow. Being towards the back (but not as far back as before) I looked ahead and saw a great sight of over 200 brightly coloured vests/jackets snaking up the coming hill and against the pure white snow backdrop it was a picture perfect moment, if only I had a camera.

During the assent I was unfortunately overtaken by a few runners highlighting an area I need to improve upon this year, but once we hit the flat section on the top the gap between those in front and me remained constant. However, this gap was reduced and I eventually I overtook people on the boggy decent. I had read a blog the day before on how to run downhill in fell races. So, with brain disengaged and with large bounding strides I went for it and attacked the hill, god it was so much fun and to my surprise I remained upright. With the final drag up the hill from the road and down to the cricket pavilion the race was done.

The last time I did the Stoop Fell Race route was in December 2013, and I was really pleased to learn the on Sunday I managed to get a 7 min course PB in a time of 64:09. In December of this year I shall aim for sub 60 mins.

The winner was Tom Adams (Ilkley) in 36:06 and the first lady was Linsey Brindle (Horwich) in 39:32.

First home for OAC was Chris Stacey in 166th in a time of 45:37 followed by Jim Sneath in 48:29, Neil Reed in 49:06, Dale Fox 53:41, Colin Best 54:52, Sara Richard 57:02, Sean O’Halloran 64:09 and Gloria Jackson in 70:51.

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Sunday 18th January: Brass monkey half marathon

Posted by admin in News & Results on January 19, 2015

You knew it was coming so, by popular demand, here is this week’s race report.
I had been looking forward to the aptly named Brass Monkey half marathon today and the met office issued a very helpful weather warning ( storms, gales, tidal waves?):… It is going to be…. Cold! Great, it’s like, January! To be fair it was well accurate and I did check the website for potential cancellation before I left as that has happened before.
There were patches of pretty treacherous black ice over maybe up to three miles of the route in total. My target of 1.30 ish missed by a couple of minutes and more like Antonio’s prediction of 1.32 ish (next week’s lottery numbers please Antonio). I had ‘qualified’ my target with ‘weather permitting’, so was pleased enough with the performance with most miles being at the right rate and as there was no wind, bright sunshine and untesting course profile, it is as good as it gets. Also best time for a while and felt good all the way and 4th in the category so another few steps forward (literally and metaphorically).
Only saw the other Otley AC members at the end but there was a liberal dose of PB’s for Scott, Frank, Tom and Sara, I believe, in a race won by Daniel Jenkin of Durham City Harriers in 1.08.57. First lady, Shona Mcintosh of Hunters Bog Trotters (it’s a Scottish thing) in 1.16.13. The Otley boys done good to get the team prize with Scott Harrington 7th in 1.10.50, Frank Beresford 8th in 1.12.07, Tom Midgley 22nd in 1.14.53. Liam Dunne 73rd in 1.20.32, Tom Potter (2nd claim) in 227th in 1.28.22, Howard Jeffrey 338th in 1.32.57, Andy Webster 677th in 1.44.08, Sara Elliott 683rd in 1.44.20 and Charlotte Dunne 1005th in 1.55.59. All gun times, chip times slightly quicker.
There were 1420 finishers plus one DNF and 8 queries, one of them being a FV50 with a time of 1.12.01! Possible but not likely and as for the seven others, we may never know….or care? The choice is yours!

Full Results here
http://www.resultsbase.net/ViewEvent.aspx?Id=2488

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Saturday 17th January: Park Runs

Posted by admin in News & Results on January 19, 2015

Leeds Park Run

Position Gender Position parkrunner Club Run Time
1 1 Michael VARGAS Unattached 00:19:22
38 1 Isla TWEED Unattached 00:23:14
77 5 Nicola Lee Otley AC 00:24:57

 

Brueton parkrun

Position Gender Position parkrunner Club Run Time
1 1 James PARROTT Coventry Godiva Harriers 00:17:11
15 1 Amanda O’LEARY Knowle and Dorridge Running Club 00:21:12
138 129 Richard A CLARKE Otley AC 00:28:07

 

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Saturday 17th January – The ‘Nick Hogkinson’ Harewood Handicap

Posted by admin in News & Results on January 17, 2015

After the recent passing of John Cowan it was decided to run this first handicap of the year in his memory, followed by drink in the Harewood Arms.  After a minutes silence Antonio, Debra, young Nelson Charlton father Neil and Tamara set off on the just over 4 mile route on the tracks around Harewood House.    Hugh was the first to be spotted through the snow showers and came home for his first ever handicap win ahead of Chris and Gavin.  Rogan recorded the fastest time of the day a few seconds quicker than Jeremy.

Thanks to Caron, Tom and Scott for helping out with the course marking, not a day for the flour!  and for Jack on the stop watch  Also the supporters who turned out but didn’t race on a day where our thoughts were with Laura and John’s family.

Pos. Time H’Cap Net. Time Pts.
1 Hugh Pearson 42:45 09:00 33:45 34
2 Chris Tomlinson 42:59 06:00 36:59 33
3 Gavin Lupton 43:01 11:00 32:01 guest
4 Neil Jones 43:15 14:00 29:15 guest
5 Tony Walker 43:44 13:00 30:44 32
6 John Armitstead 43:58 13:00 30:58 31
7 Billy Rayner 44:03 08:00 36:03 30
8 Dominic Egan 44:39 10:00 34:39 29
9 Debra Brown 45:05 00:00 45:05 28
10 Stephen Boddy 45:07 12:00 33:07 27
11 Jeremy Stewart 45:25 17:00 28:25 26
12 Steve Robinson 45:26 15:30 29:56 25
13 Tom Lynch 45:27 15:30 29:57 24
14 Ian Broadbent 45:32 12:00 33:32 23
15 Lucy Mowat 45:35 02:00 43:35 22
16 Gemma Harrington 45:40 05:00 40:40 21
17 Rogan Ashton 45:47 17:30 28:17 20
18 Tom Hannah 45:49 07:00 38:49 19
19 John Davis 45:51 06:00 39:51 18
20 Matt Podd 45:57 12:00 33:57 17
21 Christian Hosker 46:00 13:00 33:00 16
22 Andy Webster 46:17 12:00 34:17 15
23 Kath Robertshaw 46:25 01:00 45:25 14
24 Phil Robinson 46:28 09:00 37:28 13
25 Hannah Mallinson 46:36 04:00 42:36 12
26 Joanna Hobson 46:50 04:00 42:50 11
27 Eriks Zvaigzne 46:53 11:00 35:53 10
28 Toni Midgley 47:03 02:00 45:03 9
29 Antonio Cardinale 47:20 00:00 47:20 8
30 Ursula McGouran 47:28 10:00 37:28 7
31 Emma Jones 47:58 02:00 45:58 6
32 Nelson Charlton 48:52 00:00 48:52 5
33 Ann Yeadon 50:23 07:00 43:23 4
33 Lisa Maughan 50:23 07:00 43:23 4
33 Carl Maughan 50:23 07:00 43:23 guest
36 Scott Harrington 2
36 Tom Midgley 2

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Saturday 10th January – The Pont D’Espagne snow race

Posted by admin in News & Results on January 11, 2015

DSCN0467 DSCN0470
Report by Graham Stead: Following our first attempt at a snow race last year we decided to go for something a little more taxing this year, especially as Ann’s friend and fellow Otley AC member Gloria Jackson was over on holiday and keen to sample some snow running. The Pont D’Espagne snow race takes place at Cauterets cross county skiing resort on the France / Spain border so you are already starting at an altitude of 1500 metres without allowing for the 400m of climbing during the race. With race numbers restricted to 200 max for the two distances available 10k or 20k we entered early for the 10k, fearing a similar scramble for places as Chevin Chase, Brass Monkey etc. We ended up with race numbers one two and three !! The races were however full up by the entry closing date.
Joined by our ex-pat friend Rachael (Mercia Fell Runners) we arrived at the start to find a very young fit looking bunch of competitors and slightly worryingly discovered from the entry list that  Ann, Gloria and Rachael were the oldest 3 ladies in the race (by a fair few years).  Obviously snowy mountain running has not yet been discovered by fun runners over here and possibly deemed not suitable for us old folk. 
 
Not to worry though, conditions were fabulous for the race with a clear blue sky and temperatures forecast at 18 degrees. Unfortunately the recent warm spell had meant that the snow on parts of the course had crystalised so it was like running in soft deep sand in many places.  Having checked out the course last month our team aim had been to start quickly  and get ourselves in a good position by the time we reached the first single track climb up through the woods, 400m from the start. Unfortunately everyone else in the race had the same idea so after a mad dash up the starting hill we had to join an orderly queue for the next half mile or so until the course opened out. No PB’s today then. 
 
The first 6k or so were mainly climbing and the combination of altitude, soft snow and steep hills sapped every ounce of energy. It came as a great relief to us all when we reached the high point of the course and a sharp right saw us hurtling down a fast ski run. Every so often however you hit a soft patch of snow where your leg disappeared down a hole, bringing your body to a jarring halt.  
By this point in the race a small group of runners that Gloria was following had missed a directional arrow sending them higher into the mountains. Luckily they managed to correct themeselves before reaching the “Welcome to Spain” signs but it did add about 10 minutes to their times. Ann also lost a bit of time at the turning point as she got hungry and basically stopped for a picnic.
After one final sting in the tail, up and down another hill and ski run there was a good solid run into the finish where onlookers were sat out sunbathing. Lots of free wine and food followed along with a chance to enjoy the amazing scenery and fantastic atmosphere but unfortunately no Vets prizes as they probably didn’t expect any to enter. Rachael made the best start up the first hill and was rewarded with a finishing time well ahead of the rest of us, 59th in 1.11.27.
I finished 80th in 1.18.09  just 40 minutes+ outside my PB.  Ann was 93rd in 1.25.26 (1st and only vet 3) and Gloria 103rd in 1.41.46 (first and only Vet 2). Winner finished in 47.51
A quote from Gloria at the Finish – “Wow, that was tough. Can we do it again next year”.
We will definitely be returning but with no plans to try the 20k

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Saturday January 10th – Fan Dance Race, winter edition

Posted by admin in News & Results on January 11, 2015

Report from Richard Clarke: Last Saturday I competed in the Fan Dance Race Winter Edition organised by Avalanche Endurance Events. I ran as a ‘load-bearing’ competitor, carrying a 25lb+ bergen over the 24 K course. The event is organised by former Special Forces personnel and closely follows an element of the SAS selection process. It is held at the same time of year, over the same course and with similar rules.
The course is an ‘out and back’ over Pen Y Fan (886m) in the Brecon Beacons. It starts with a fairly steep climb to the summit, followed by a longer, gentler run down the other side to the turn point.
Weather conditions were generally good, although it was very wet and extremely windy at points – blowing some competitors off their feet. Conditions got better during the day; the grey, wet and windy weather clearing to be replaced by some sunshine.
I completed the course in just under 5 hours without really pushing it and now fancy doing the summer event in July to get a better time.

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January 10th/11th/12th – The Spine

Posted by admin in News & Results on January 11, 2015

Sarah with fellow Spine Challengers, Clare Holdcroft and Peter Hutchinson

Sarah with fellow Spine Challengers, Clare Holdcroft and Peter Hutchinson

image image

 

Photos courtesy of  Racing Snakes and Sean O’.

 

The Spine is billed as Britain’s most brutal race and they aren’t kidding or exaggerating!  The ‘challenger’ at 112 miles is the ‘sprint’ distance version taking in the pennine way from Edale to Hawes which competitors have 60 hours to complete. This may sound generous but don’t be fooled, take into account 15 hours of darkness a day, the weather, underfoot conditions and the compulsory kit list then it starts to make sense! This race was to be my 3rd attempt at the 100 mile plus distance (after 2* DNF on the lakeland 100) was it to be my 3rd DNF ? Well I’m happy to say no, I finally did it!  So if you have an aversion to pain, suffering and nasty feet then you can stop reading now, you know how it ends!

The challenger race set off at 6:30am on Saturday straight into the teeth of a ferocious storm which started at 6.29 and was to be the theme for the weekend. Before we even left the Edale valley we were getting blown off our feet and everyone stopped to put on ski goggles to cope with getting hail blasted into our faces at 70mph. I  tried to block out the conditions and not let it stress me out, if I had thought about the race as a whole and what it would be like if the weather continued like that I would have retired there and then! So on up onto Kinder and thankfully the rain and hail eased off but the strong wind remained and would be our tormentor for the rest of the race. Sometimes hitting us right in the face (particularly lovely when accompanied by hail or rain!), sometimes slamming us to the ground but mostly hitting us from the left so much so I now have aches in my left leg and right shoulders from constantly steadying myself and fighting against it! Kinder downfall became Kinder upfall in spectacular style and provided a lovely cooling shower as we passed (because it was so hot and dusty this was so welcome – not!!).
On Kinder I found myself going at the same pace as a guy called Pete and we got chatting and decided the thing would be more enjoyable / safer if we teamed up and ‘ran’ together. This was the first of many pieces of good luck and we would remain together to the bitter end each pulling the other along during the many low points.  Once it was fully light we started to make good progress particularly on the slabbed sections where we could get a decent run going! On over Bleaklow and then the long muddy decent to Torside reservoir where we stopped in the shelter of some woods to sort some kit and get some food in. We got stuck in and tried to push the pace to make the most of the short hours of daylight. Dusk was coming as we crossed the road at Standedge and I got a lovely surprise as Derek and the kids were waiting to give us a cheer as we came through, I even stole a cream egg off the kids, yum! After that boost we crossed standedge in a blizzard and it was now dark as we plodded on and crossed the M62 which was a bit odd seeing all those cars going their merry way. Our merry way was over black stone edge a confusing hotch potch of boulders and mud with a death defying drop somewhere off to the left in the darkness (no chance of falling off accidentally as the wind was blowing from that direction!) and on to the White House pub where the race safety team were checking numbers and our condition (yes wet wind blown but happy thanks v much). We resisted going in and pressed on towards CP1 at Hebden bridge but first some boring reservoirs and Stoodly Pike to negotiate, it was here we met Claire who would become the third member of our little team.
Checkpoint 1 is at mile 46 and not remotely in Hebden bridge, being about a mile off the pennine way down an enormous steep muddy hill through some woods (which of course we would need to go back up!), after falling over 358 times we finally reached CP 1 at about 11pm (about 16 1/2hours since leaving Edale)- happy with that given the conditions. At the checkpoint we set about demolishing large plates of chilli and sorting kit for the next leg. All thoughts of going for a particular time were thrown out of the window, I needed to plan to complete safely and that meant trying to get a bit of sleep whilst there was a bed on offer. So alarms were set for 2.30 although they weren’t needed as it was impossible to sleep: it was noisy and I was just too buzzed from the last 16 hours and thoughts of what was to come. Still it was good to get a rest and we left just after 3am back up the mud hill as the main flow of the long race runners were coming down (yes, there are some lunatics who are doing the whole pennine way 268 miles!) who started about 4 hours after us.
Still windy out and a bit of snow going over Withens where we were looking forward to having a breather in the little hut at top withins but some kind soul had locked it – bugger! Huddling outside wasn’t quite the same. It finally got light again as we climbed out from Ponder reservoir over some other interminable bogfest moorland into a hurricane, so I was pretty pleased and a little emotional to see my friend Kate jogging up the moor towards us offering soup and tea. We all piled into her van and got warm and drank loads of hot tea. This also gave me the chance to sort my feet out which had been giving me quite a bit of pain for a while. I had a few nasty toe blisters and on the balls of both feet so taped them up and hoped for the best. Unfortunately we had to leave the van and get on with the long and extremely muddy ups and downs from Cowling and through eventually to Gargrave. We got another surprise visit from my husband at East Marton which was well timed as it had been tipping it down for hours and we were getting pretty wet and cold. A quick hot chocolate and we pushed on to Gargrave and the hot pie counter at the coop. Sean had been tracking us and came out to give us a cheer into Gargrave and it was a lovely boost to see another friendly face before tackling the 6 mile bog snorkle into Malham in the fading light.
The ‘track’ into Malham was 6 miles of atrociously wet and muddy fields which was utterly grim and hard going, every step you ran the risk of dissapearing forever into the mire! We swam slowly northwards and close to Malham crossed a field that turned out to have some horses in which took exception to us being there. We were quickly surrounded and they tried to push us and eat our rucksacks (funny now not so much at the time) I’m sorry to say I had a bit of a sense of humour failure at this point and got a bit cross with the whole thing. Claire was mega calm as she was the whole time and Pete took charge and tried to get rid of them while we turned our torches off and made a run for it! By the time we got to the village we were very cold again so went in the pub for a cup of tea (oh the shame!) before pushing on up to Malham tarn and the small run through checkpoint at the field centre.
 All went well until we got to the tarn it was just so windy and cold up there and Claire and I were freezing when we got to the checkpoint. CP1.5 is at about 85 miles ish and not a ‘full checkpoint’ like at Hebden but they had a warm room, a chair and hot tea which was all we needed. The weather was again deteriorating and so was I, we decided it wasn’t safe to push on through the night without a decent stop as the next part of the route would take us over Fountains Fell and Penyghent, which is very exposed. So we put my tent up and Claire and I squeezed in and tried to get 2.5 hours kip (hardcore Pete bivvied outside!) which wasn’t too successful as the noise of the wind and rain and the tent side being blown into my face wasn’t exactly relaxing!
We set off again about 3am, 4 hours after arriving. The weather was now truly shocking mixed in with the hurricane we had driving rain, the kind that feels like someone is hosing you down. Hitting the top of Fountains Fell we could barely stand and had to push and pull each other along, our little team truly worked together and I will be eternally grateful for their company (these two totally embodied the true spirit of the ultra running community). Dropping down again I had a complete paddy at my hood as the wind kept whipping it off my head as one of the toggles had come loose, I completely lost it (foot stamping and everything!) and Pete tried to fix it for me (bless!). We eventually hit the road and dived into a barn that Claire knew about, to sort ourselves out. Pete was very cold so we had to get some warm dry base layers on him before continuing, the barn was a godsend! Before heading up Penyghent we were met by mountain rescue guys and were told not to go over the summit as it was too dangerous, they were diverting racers down the brackenbottom track from the hole in the wall.
 We reached Horton just as it was getting light and found the Penyghent cafe open (the guy had been open all night sheltering racers and providing food and hot drinks – what a hero), one of the race organisers was there and we were told we couldn’t leave until 8am as the race had been suspended temporarily due to the conditions (apparently this happened just after we left Malham tarn so had been out in it whilst others were held at checkpoints!)-  people would be credited with the time back but all I cared about at that point was ordering a pint of tea and some chips for breakfast !! We spent an hour and half there gradually covering the cafe in mud and water and wet gear but the chance to dry some critical bits of kit was crucial before we tackled the final 13 miles over the exposed Cam road to Hawes.
We made good progress up to the high point and were positively motoring along at a blistering 3mph uphill – keen to get done now! But The Spine wasn’t finished with us yet, it was if the race was doing everything and throwing everything at you to break you. I wouldnt have been suprised if we had a plague of locusts next! The Cam road was freezing and the wind relentless, we were blown over several times and practically staggered and half crawled at some points it seemed like hours but finally we began to lose height and could see Hawes far below. I started to well up but held it together as we entered the town and went into the finish all together. Massive relief and an overwhelming feeling of contentment at a job done. Claire and I finished joint second lady which was a nice surprise  but we didn’t really care, we had finished and thats what mattered. We were about 24th and 32 finished out of 67 starters (unofficial). My time was something over 55 hours (the times on the website don’t seem to reflect all the time credits yet not that I’m bothered!!). I’m overwhelmed by all the messages of support and that people were watching the trackers, this was a great motivator so thank you so much (come on move your butt people are watching!). The Spine race has a unique atmosphere and I feel priviledged to have been part of the family for a short time. They really look after you and the racers are definately a unique bunch too!  So is The Spine Britain’s most brutal race? Hell yes! Will I be back? TBC.

 

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