Report from Howard Jeffreys Remember ‘I’ll be back’! Well that’s me that is. For one race only this year. I did no training all year until they announced Park runs would start at the end of October ( yeh right). So at the beginning of September I climbed off the couch and shuffled through a few weeks of training. Out of the blue came an email to say Clumber Park duathlon was ON…Albeit in the adjacent Thoresby Park. I had…
Report from Joanna Hobson On Sunday I was very fortunate to take part in the 34th running of this event named in honour of its founder Dave MacDonald of Haltemprice RRC. Due to Covid19 this was my first (and probably last) race of the year so it felt really special to be racing again. The organisation of this race was absolutely superb. Race entries all had to be complete one week prior to the event and you had to give…
Report from Phil Robinson The Langdale half used to be billed as “the toughest road half marathon in the country”. With over 1700 feet of climbing it would be graded BL if it were a fell race. My first visit was in 2003 when a certain Ian Fisher came second to 5-times winner Paul Muller. I came 70th out of 301 finishers, and 1st MV60. The other Otley runners were Mick Jeffrey (1st MV50), Dave Hainsworth and Nick Hodgkinson. The…
Tales from an Airfield – Tony Walker So a few of us finally got chance to put a number on and race against people we didn’t know for the first time this year. A big thumbs up to the Even Splits team for getting it on…but it was a bit strange. In the current circumstances superbly organised. Specific arrival times, clear holding pen, plenty of toilets hilariously positioned well away from each other. Plenty of hand sanitiser. They even supplied…
Another race report, this one being my first and perhaps only report on a ‘virtual’ race. I’m not normally a big fan of these ‘virtual’ races but this was a bit different. There was a proper marked course, numbers, start/finish line, a medal etc – it was just like a proper race but with no marshals, no mass start (in fact a start of one – you had a set period in which to turn up, run, and send your…
Probably until at least the end of the year, the last 2 weeks of the month now means it’s Eric Smith Handicap Trophy fortnight. September’s race round Thruscross was won by David Mullen 25 seconds ahead of Nick Hodgkinson. Nick now leads the handicap table, but it’s still very tight at the top with Nick on 71 points, James Dobson on 70.5 and Antonio of 69. Catherine Dobson, Bob Payne, David Fox and Don Buffham also all in the 60’s….
Report from Rob Grant Hello everyone. It’s been a while since I’ve written one of these…. 13th September 2020 saw the post-COVID return for some of us to something like proper racing. After a LOT of organisation, reorganisation, public image management, numerous recces both official and unofficial and pre-race briefs (and pre-pre-race briefs) like you have never seen before Keighley and Craven AC managed to get the Yorkshireman off-road marathon and half-marathon up and away. Despite the staggered start (which actually…
Report from Phil Robinson: Great results from OAC runners in the yorkshireman in spite of brisk winds! in the full marathon rob grant starred in 8th place, lee gumbrell and matt clegg together in 47th and 48th – well done guys! in the half, a brilliant 4th place by richard smith, terrific runs from graham lake and sara elliot 17th and 36th, Andy webster 66th and i was 68th out of 160 finishers. A relief to get back to our…
Tash Whitaker came out on top of the virtual Danefield Handicap a good lead over joint second Antonio and Nick, Graham recorded the fastest time of 18:38. James Dobson moved to the top of the handicap table, 6 and a half point ahead of Antonio, with Bob moving up to third. See the full handicap table here. If I’ve missed you from the results please email me at androbertshaw@gmail.com. September’s race is the Thruscross Handicap, see details here H’Cap Pos…
The second race in the virtual championship needed a distance of 8 miles with 1800ft ascent. 8 Otley runners completed the challenge in various locations such as Ilkley Moor, Simon’s Seat, Ingleborough and Great Whernside. The route had to include one ‘summit’ and limit the amount of road or good vehicle track so it felt like a proper fell race. Winner: James Appleton of Keswick AC in 52.26 1st Lady: Nichola Jackson Keswick in 1.01.05 For Otley: 69th Andrew Robertshaw…