Cader Idris
The latest round of Calder Valley Fell Runner’s Club Championship took place last weekend. The Y Gader (Cader Idris) Mountain Race from Dollgellau is a straight-forward race, up the mountain and back again. However this does involve 10 miles of runnable paths and over 3000ft of climbing. The mountain was covered in mist so the views were limited.
Part time road runner Jason Williams lead the race along the road section out of town but had to relinquish his lead once the going got rough.
Despite this he came home with maximum championship points as the first Calder runner in 1 hour 36 minutes and 9th place (second vet 40).
The race was won by John Bowie of Mercia in 1 hour 26 mins and Nina Skilton of Cannock Stafford won the women’s race in 1 hour 59.
At the head of the overall championships the battle is as close as ever between Mark O’Connor and Jon Smith, having run together at Calderdale Way the week before, they were back to fighting for the odd point to determine the club ranking. Mark was the victor in this battle, beating Jon by just 38 seconds and three places.
In the ladies competition Nicki Latham had an excellent race as second place vet 50 in a time of 2:23:37. She has clocked up her second counter of the season and is sitting in joint second place in the women’s championship.
Richard Ingram, Paul Haigh, Gavin Roper and Nathan Kennaugh all had good races and scored well in the championship race.
9 | Jason | Williams | 01:36:23 | 101 | Gavin | Roper | 02:05:07 |
15 | Mark | O’Connor | 01:39:28 | 107 | Toby | Sydes | 02:06:17 |
18 | Jon | Smith | 01:40:06 | 127 | Nathan | Kennaugh | 02:10:04 |
30 | Iain | Powell | 01:46:25 | 157 | Graham | Lloyd | 02:17:09 |
34 | Lee | Shimwell | 01:47:13 | 159 | Jake | Ackroyd | 02:17:29 |
49 | Stephen | Smithies | 01:52:26 | 168 | Dan | Biggs | 02:19:51 |
65 | Ben | Frechette | 01:55:36 | 182 | Nicki | Latham | 02:23:37 |
73 | Richard | Ingram | 01:57:24 | 183 | David | Culpan | 02:24:04 |
76 | Paul | Haigh | 01:57:51 | 192 | Rod | Sutcliffe | 02:28:26 |
78 | Iain | Glendinning | 01:58:12 | 198 | Charlotte | Wetton | 02:30:15 |
79 | Jim | Mosley | 01:58:14 | 207 | Gillian | Wisbey | 02:34:27 |
Slateman
Also in Wales Anne Johnson (racing for Calderdale Tri Club) was second woman vet 50 in the prestigious Slateman Triathalon run from Llanberis. Over 800 competitors took part.
Old Counties Tops
In terrible weather requiring full waterproofs to be worn, Jackie Scarf and Linda Murgatroyd were 1st lady vets and 2nd ladies overall at the Old County Tops race in the Lake District. A brute of a race the route takes in the historic county tops of Helvellyn (Westmoreland), Scafell Pike (Cumberland) Coniston Old Man (Lancashire). The shortest route is some 37 miles with over 10,000ft of climbing. Ian Symington and his partner also has a good run for a great 4th place overall.