Report from Tom Lynch:

Goats, sheep, llamas, prosecco, pizza, pints, cake, pies, silent auction, strongman contest, egg and spoon race, village green, classic cars, road race, fell race, Tommy Sedgwick, sunshine, rain, steep hills, few miles. Winner Ted Mason (Wharfedale) 1st 10:46, Tom Lynch – 15th 13:00 (5th BOFRA champs), Antonio Cardinale 89th 30:16 (fell) & 53rd 44:44 (road), special mention to juniors Charlotte and Jessica Rawstron 1st and 11th BOFRA U9s.

Hats off to Antonio on the road……

….and the fell!

Mark Hall, 11th, 59.45, 1st V55

Position   Gender Pos parkrunner   Club   Run Time
Woodhouse Moor
1 1 Steven MAYERS Unattached 0:17:07
32 1 Hayley LLOYD-HENRY Prestwich AC 0:20:18
56 55 James Rawstron Otley AC 0:21:44
331 99 Elly WARDLE STEAD Otley AC 0:30:52
Bradford
1 1 Alexander FLAHERTY Bingley Harriers and AC 0:18:07
8 1 Lesley WATSON Bingley Harriers and AC 0:20:07
60 6 Sara Elliott Otley AC 0:23:39
93 80 Michael HASTINGS Otley AC 0:25:25
305 116 Claire HASTINGS Otley AC 0:35:00
Harrogate
1 1 Unknown ATHLETE Unattached 0:17:40
20 1 Shamiso SISIMAYI Harrogate Harriers & AC 0:20:15
30 28 Jenson Brogden Otley AC 0:20:46
110 12 Elizabeth YATES Otley AC 0:24:21
119 14 Ann YEADON Otley AC 0:24:45
137 121 Rob Fearnley Otley AC 0:25:12
277 208 Charlie TOMLINSON Otley AC 0:30:23
279 71 Charlotte Tomlinson Otley AC 0:30:25
Roundhay
1 1 Ross ARMSTRONG Abbey Runners Leeds 0:19:24
3 1 Susan LEWIS Roundhay Runners 0:19:44
102 80 Philip Robinson Otley AC 0:26:17
195 60 Sarah JONES Otley AC 0:30:40
Sewerby Park
1 1 Shaun HOBSON Driffield Striders 0:17:33
21 1 Emma SIMMONS Pocklington Runners 0:21:15
56 50 Stephen SMALL Otley AC 0:24:27
Fountains Abbey
1 1 Reece DALTON Ripon Runners 0:16:18
21 1 Robyn WYNN Claremont Road Runners 0:20:52
131 102 Peter CROWDER Otley AC 0:26:39
Wetherby
1 1 Richard Thomas HERRINGTON St Theresa’s AC 0:18:07
10 10 Martin STRINGER Otley AC 0:21:41
27 1 Helen TATE Unattached 0:26:23
Blackpool
1 1 Unknown ATHLETE Unattached 0:18:29
14 1 Nicola UNSWORTH Wesham Road Runners AC 0:21:45
59 45 Andrew Rayner Otley AC 0:25:27

See results here, lots more photos from Hugh Pearson here and Jack Robertshaw here.

Chris Miller

First of all a big thanks to everyone who made for a successful morning at Timble.  After several days of heavy showers the weather gods finally relented on Friday afternoon and Saturday to allow the farm fields to dry up enough to allow us to use one for parking which was a big relief.

140 hardy fell runners set off on a perfect morning for running.  Chris Miller established an early lead on the climb to Round Hill and finished a couple of minutes clear, with a time of 55:55, of Otley’s Liam Dunne, 1st V40 and Richard Pattinson, Calder Valley,  despite a minor navigational mistake on the descent off Round Hill.  Finishing third Richard took the V50 record down to

Nik Tarrega

58:43, he now holds the fast ever time for the race and the V40 & V50 records.

Knavesmire’s Nik Tarrega repeated last year’s win, having a great race running a couple of minutes quicker than 2016.  She was pushed all the way by Monica Padilla, Wharfedale who finished just 17 seconds behind.  Both notable times, being the fourth & fifth fastest ladies times since the first race in 2003.  Alice Leake from Leeds City finished 3rd just less than 2 minutes later.

Nick Pearce, Ilkley H. was the first V60 in 1:10:02 and Otley local Dave Tait, Dark Peak was 1st V70 1:20:29.  Harrogate’s Sarah Gill was 1st V50 finishing 4th lady, Michaela Clark, Abbey Runners 1st V40 and Sue Morley took the V60 prize.

Liam in 2nd

Otley finishers were 2nd Liam Dunne, 58:27, 11th Edward

The bogs have a victim..

Davies 1:03:32, soon to be new member Lizzie Irvine 5th Lady, 1:09:09, John Armitstead 1:09:53, Matt Podd 1:20:03, Mary Hampshire 1:30:07, Serena Blackburn 1:32:19, Nick Hodgkinson 1:40:19, Antonio Cardinale 2:14:50.

Apologies for the late recognition of June’s runners of the month which were awarded to Antonio Cardinale and Jackie Ackroyd for their efforts throughout the Harrogate league.

July’s runners of the month are Tony Walker for his sub 20 5k efforts and Debra Brown for her handicap win at Leathley which followed a good run at the Otley Harrogate League handicap.

Report from Sarah F:

The Lakeland 100 weekend is the highlight of the year for many ultra runners, its grown to be a hugely popular event and has a real family / festival type vibe about it with people returning year after year (usually after swearing ‘never again’ multiple times whilst actually on the course!). This was my fourth start at the 100 mile event (actually 105 miles – those last 5 really do make a difference!) and I hoped against all odds it would be my second finish.

As many of you know the preparation for this year (as quite often happens with me I know!) has been less than ideal – I was definitely a few pounds overweight and had done hardly any long runs in the lead up to the event. The spine race had left me pretty empty and I have struggled for a while with fatigue and general fitness but was back running semi regularly at least in the lead up. I knew this meant I had a battle on my hands both physically (could I really get round such a touch race on poor training?) and mentally (did I really have it in me to dig deep enough for that finish when I’d already finished before?) but hey I do like a challenge!

Read the rest of this entry »

Report from Tom Lynch:

Another shorty, this time with a mid-week afternoon start time, I thought I’d take the chance to race a classic Lakeland guide race while I have the chance. It also counts in the BOFRA championship, and I’ve only got a few chances left to make up my 8 races. This one is 2.7 km with 270 m ascent ( under 2 miles/800 feet) straight up from the showground at Rydal Park towards (but short of) Sweden Crag. There is plenty going on at the show, with track events (running and cycling), Cumbrian wrestling and hound races to watch while you wait for the race. There is a also a longer race in the morning the Rydal Round which starts and ends at the showground, and many competitors did the double (obviously including D. Fishwick) although I was too lazy to do that this time! I’m not sure why, but didn’t feel like I had a good performance in me that day, and there is no hiding from it on the climb, I did OK once I’d warmed up for the descent, but then it’s pretty much all over! The race was won by Rob Hope (P+B) in a time of 14:15, first lady was Hannah Horsburgh (Keswick) in 17:57, I came in 25th in 18:25, counting 11th in the championship positions. Full results are here, and Woodentops photos here.

I also bumped into the Rawstrons in between the juniors and senior races, with Charlotte and Jessica running in the U12 race (and also some track events I think), Charlotte came 2nd and Jessica 25th, with Charlotte getting the accolade of appearing in a Woodentops top 3 photo, an ambition for any fell runner!

Report from Tony Walker

More Sobriety Ramblings…

So the no beer saga carries on in my quest to recapture former glories. This time the excellent 5k at the newly created brownlee centre at the far end of Adel. As a side track, pints/wine and running have always been part of the same routine so it seems almost unfair on my fellow competitors not to drink! I was musing the other day about drug testing at local races…’sorry mr walker you are banned due to no alcohol in your system’

For those that did not see the news. British Cycling and Leeds University invested £5 million into providing meeting facilities and a 1 mile cycling track and it opened earlier this year. As an aside I did think Sport Chevin could have revolutionised sport in Otley with 5 million and done a lot more than build a cycling track but I digress.

Nevertheless its a great facility with a one mile fully enclosed loop with no dramatic turns to slow you down although I did detect a slight rise at one end of the loop!

So to the race organised by the RaceBest team (who did the Harrogate League). Simply 3 laps of the circuit with a little bit extra at the beginning to make it 5k. 2 races either over or under 22.30.

Warming up I saw Mark Hall and reflected that even with a super run I would still be 2nd v55…for Otley ac!! I know how Jonathan must feel sometimes!

The start was more even than my previous ‘mad’ fast 5k but the pace seemed even more manic and furious than ever.

I was taken off my feet a little bit early on despite staying towards the back. After 1k I settled down a little and slowly picked a few off. Sadly Mark pulled out early on. I spoke to him briefly afterwards and it seemed it was more general fatigue – he has been racing regularly and winning loads recently – rather than injury so I hope all is ok in the next few days Mark.

I continued to pull a few places back but it was hard. there was a clock at the finish and as I entered the final mile lap it showed 13min 33secs. So less than 6 1/2 mins to get under 20mins!! How exciting…! Somehow I managed to maintain the pace and as we swung into the last 200m straight I could see the clock still showing 19min…something. Head down 50m to go 19.45 on the clock. Final sprint. Yes under 20mins again. this time 19.56 but boy was it hard.

Great fun though and recommended for all abilities. They plan to have 1 a month but are strictly limited on numbers so you need to pre-enter early.

Go get some short distance pain!

Results here

and results from the 15th July here and 8th July here