Report from Liam Dunne on today’s inaugural Kinnity Castle Half Marathon:

It was run in bitter cold conditions with a light snow fall. There were approx 400 on the start line including Ireland’s female marathon representative from the Beijing Olympics, Pauline Curley.

The course (quick youtube video here!) consisted of quiet back roads, mainly flat with a little undulation so I was hoping to beat my PB of 1hr 19mins and approx 30secs.

With the help of my Garmin I managed to maintain an even pace throughout and finish in fourth position with a new PB of 75.25. I was absolutely delighted with my time and have to put my improved time down to Mark Hall’s regular club ‘Tempo’ runs!

However postscript per comments below, due to an organisational error, the race was only 12.6 miles.

The race was won by Paul Buckley (Ferbane A.C.) in 69.44 with results from precisiontiming.

Martin Butterworth emails in these recently taken photographs to brighten up our Wintery evenings (click on each to enlarge)….

Thank you to members who have paid their Club Subscriptions as set at the AGM in September.

For those members who have not yet paid and who joined OAC before Spring 2010, please can they arrange appropriate payment (£25 first claim or £15 second claim / student) made payable to Otley A.C. or contact Julian with any questions / payment method options.

Thank you again.

The Leeds Abbey Dash – a Club Runner of the Year event.

Results from raceahead. Photos from sportscam and video from theguardian.

The race was won by Neilson Hall (Bedford & County) in 29.17.

For OAC (all gun positions & chip times), Racheal Bamford finished 226th (37.28 – a pb by over a minute), Lloyd Best 246th (37.18 – a pb), Mick Jeffrey 515th (41.15), Karen Best 524th (40.50 – eighth FV40), second claim member Richard Clarke 786th (43.01) and Tom Potter 1,309th (45.03 – a pb).

Richard Cross 1,517th (48.12 – a pb), Billy Rayner 1,243rd (46.12 – a pb by 1.24), Dominic Egan 1,858th (47.27), Sue Tupling 2,635th (48.50 – a pb), Nina Kenworthy 3,500th (51.02 – a pb), Justina Stringer 4,396th (56.20 – a pb) and Hannah Mallinson 4,468th (56.44 – a pb).

There were 6,125 finishers and thanks to Billy for sourcing the above OAC results.

The Rivock Edge Fell Race (6.3 miles / 835′) with results from fellrunner.

the race was won by Ted Mason (Wharfedale) in 49.52 and for OAC, Don Buffham finished 135th (75.59)

More details from West Yorkshire Athletics Cross Country League and results from completerunner.

In the men’s race won by Andrew Pearson (Longwood) in 30.47, for OAC, Simon Anderson finished 77th (39.24), David Cattanach 137th (54.22) and Antonio Cardinale 139th (64.00).

Harriers v Cyclists Fell Race (6 miles / 650′) organised by Bingley Harriers.

The race was won by Rob Jebb (Wheel Base) on his cycle in 32.19.

For OAC, Bob Addey was also on his cycle finishing 27th (40.11) and then on shanks’s pony, Ed Davies finished 29th (40.28), Renee Saxton 58th (and second lady by a few seconds) in 45.58 and Hugh Pearson 65th (47.14).

OAC’s Mark Hall reports on the Barnsley 10km:

Finished eighth (and first MV50) out of nearly 700 finishers. The race was won by Andy Ward (Clowne Road Runners) in 31.34.

Tough last two miles – still on for 33 minutes at five miles but the hill at the end made it 34.21. I’m still pleased though as beat some good runners and it’s a new MV50 Club Record.

Second claim member Beth Massey finished 166th overall as sixteenth lady (and third FV40) in 43.38 (chip time) and also pleased as she is not getting any quality training at present.

Phil Robinson finished 186th overall (and first MV65) in 44.35 (chip time) and Simon Anderson 224th in 46.07 (gun time). Results from ukresults.

A Club Runner of the Year event.

OAC’s Matt Podd reports:

The many of us, all back safely from this venture over t’border to play in the Tour of Pendle – AL fell race (16.8 miles / 4,830′) organised by Clayton Le Moors Harriers.

All weather fell racing – we had it all. Sun, rain, hail, sleet and it changed every five minutes. The over-riding impression though was cold, wet and slippery underfoot. The racw was won by James Logue (Calder Valley) 2:27:34 and Lynne Clough (Chorley) 3:07:56.

Results from above:

Ben Cousen 113th 3:23:54, Renee Saxton 114th 3:24:17, Laura Martin 122nd 3:25:29, Sharron Smith 172nd 3:39:21, James Sneath 182nd 3:41:25, Martin Smillie 213th 3:49:16, Colin Best 237th 3:55:45, Matt Podd 238th 3:58:40 and Hugh Pearson…

Photos from Clayton-le-Moors Harriers.

This is not your average fell race – some say the most contrived in the FRA calendar.

You cross back and forth over Pendle Hill visiting the top twice and all the satellite summits and after each top you go back down to ground level – this makes for some very steep ascents x5 which are only matched by some of the descents.

To have completed this is a minor achievement.

Still I’ve now done it!

Formerly the Black Sheep Race Series, note now the new Series website at Yorkshire Dales Race Series 2011.