Flower Scar
Globe trotting Calder Valley Fell Runner Holly Page had a triumphant weekend on home territory. Winning the Flower Scar fell race in Todmorden on Saturday and coming second at Ilkley Moor to reigning English Fell Running Champion, Vic Wilkinson on Sunday.
The first race in this year’s Calder Valley Club Championship, Flower Scar is an eight mile long, 2000ft up, test of endurance through bogs, tussocks and woodland. 19 Calder runners raced hoping to score some good early season points.
Not to be put off by the misty conditions, local legend, Karl Gray was first back for Calder in second place, only two seconds behind winner Will Neill of Mercia. Mark Burton was 2nd Calder in 6th place. Holly Page was first woman home, 12th overall, scoring maximum points in the women’s competition.
Steve Smithies is hitting a consistent streak of quality running this year, in 10th place and 1st vet 50 on Saturday.
In the junior race James Duffy won the u15 boys and Emilia Wright was first u15 girl, holding off the second placed girl by 4 seconds. Sam Annison was 4th u11 boy.
Calder Valley Senior Results
2 01:11:21 KARL GRAY
6 01:17:45 MARK BURTON
10 01:18:42 STEPHEN SMITHIES
12 01:18:50 HOLLY PAGE
20 01:19:18 LEE SHIMWELL
26 01:21:45 JOHN LLOYD
28 01:21:53 PAUL HAIGH
33 01:22:20 LUKE MELESCHKO
43 01:23:56 GAYLE SUGDEN
48 01:25:10 PHIL WELLS
52 01:27:17 IAIN POWELL
85 01:34:59 DARREN EARNSHAW
96 1.36.37 ANTHONY COSTELLO
113 1.39.37 BARBARA LONSDALE
122 1.42.08 MICHAEL WARDLE
128 1.42.58 DARREN SARGENT
148 1.48.15 AMANDA FARRELL
149 1.49.17 STELLA CHRISANTHOU
173 2.05.01 DIANE WRIGHT
Ilkley Moor
The five mile Ilkley Moor Fell Race was also the venue for this year’s Yorkshire Senior and Under 23s Championship. The Competition was fierce and the moor was muddy. Calder Runners, Darren Kay came in 12th place followed a minute and a half later by U23 Martin Howard in 28th place. Local Tom Adams won in 37:24 with Simon Bailey of Mercia 2nd.
Martin Howard raising his game at Ilkley Moor 2018
Victoria Wilkinson of Bingley won the women’s race (26th overall) followed by CVFR’s Holly Page (40th) in silver position, an impressive performance the day after winning Flower Scar.
Holly Page at Ilkley Moor after racing the day before at Flower Scar.
Calder Juniors also had put in some great performances in their first Club Championship race of the year.
The muddy conditions did not deter Clara Mckee who easily won the U9s race, beating all the boys, with Harry Cliff claiming 3rd boy. Read all the latest Juniors news here!
– Calder Valley News Reporter: Tim Brooks
