Stile photo - Tom Rattray, Wadsworth Local Photography Group

Last week’s frozen rain threatened Saturday’s 20 mile Wadsworth Trog fell race with cancellation, but a slight rerouting of the start to avoid a farm track better suited to luging than running allowed the race to go ahead. Competitors were warned that conditions were treacherous, with every rock, stile and blade of grass on the moor coated in a thick layer of ice, however 135 starters saw the conditions as nothing more than an additional challenge on an already challenging race.

Most runners leaving Old Town proceeded to slip, slide and shuffle their way round the course, however in an incredible show of grit Calder Valley’s James Logue once again romped home in first place, seemingly unaffected by the icy conditions and a full ten minutes ahead of the second place finisher, Todmorden Harriers’ Jon Wright. Wright seemed similarly unphased by his arctic challenge, and rushed off home to start work, unlike Logue who made himself comfortable with a pint of ale while the rest of the competitors completed the race, the final finisher crossing the line more than two and a half hours after Logue.

Among the women there was hot competition, with some star runners on the starting line. Calder Valley’s Anne Johnson was beaten into third place by Bingley’s Aly Raw in second and Dark Peak’s Nicky Spinks in first. In the women’s team competition, retirements left only two teams in the race. In the event Abbey Runners were especially deserving of their first place prize with one of their runners finishing the race despite a fall which left her leggings in tatters. Unperturbed, and with a coat round her waist for modesty, Leanne Hague completed the race and helped her team to victory over local Todmorden Harriers by just one point.

In the men’s team event, Dark Peak narrowly beat Todmorden Harriers into second place, while Calder Valley’s James Logue, Steve Smithies and Simon Bourne took the Vet’s Team prize.

Sunday brought the aptly named Winter Hill fell race, the second club championship race for Calder Valley. Perhaps put off having seen conditions on the Trog the day before, only nine Calder Valley runners turned up for the race, where the course proved to be almost as icy, but with the additional discomforts of low cloud and melt water. Calder Valley’s Karl Gray came in third place overall to secure maximum points in the championship., with Bill Johnson and Graham Hill claiming second and third place championship points. Helen Fines finished only hundredths of a second behind Hill, taking the prize for first woman, with team mate Jo Buckley finishing second woman.

Night Score – 31^st  January

The Northern Lights didn’t appear but 46 runners did!  Wow, this is a fantastic turnout for what could be quite a niche event. The furthest control was only 2km from the community centre. But, enough climb ( this is the ‘international capital of gravity’ after all) and a complex path network on a clear map meant plenty of choice for all exploring the nooks and crannies of the Cragg valley.

Thanks to you all for a really upbeat evening.

Keep navigating everyone. Jon Emberton

Night Score Results 2012

In glorious sunny conditions and snow covered moors Calder Valley held their annual winter handicap. The handicap gives any member the opportunity to win this trophy. 32 club members braved the 5 and half mile run up to and around Stoodley Pike via Errindgen Moor. Given the conditions the moor was in slightly better condition underfoot than the usual mud bath. Catherine Plane, a fairly new member to the club, led the handicap from start to finish but had to dig in deep not to be caught by some of her club mates. A stunning run from Karl Gray saw him break the current handicap record to record the fastest time on the day of 36 mins & 52 seconds … a time most of us can only dream of!!! Sharon Godsman had one of her best runs on the handicap to take the fastest ladies prize in a time of 53 mins & 42 seconds. Abit of socialising with a beer and some butties in the Shoulder ended a very good club event indeed. Well done all.

For more photos click here!

In form Captain Ben

Saturday saw the smooth delivery of yet another event arranged by LDWA organiser Alan Greenwood, however as a Long Distance Walkers Association event, the Hebden Challenge is not strictly a race, but instead more of a social event combined with a personal challenge. Those undertaking the 22 mile route, or the shorter 15 mile option, round the moors above Mytholmroyd and Hebden Bridge, were rewarded with a fine array of refreshments around the route and at the finish. Comments from many participants suggest it’s the prospect of pie, peas and mulled wine that gets them round the course and back on the entry list the following year.

Not all participants found time to enjoy this fine fayre, with fell runners aiming to run the route as quickly as possible. By the first check point, Calder’s on form Ben Mounsey and last year’s first man home Gavin Mulholland had established a strong lead of 10 minutes. The pair continued to run together until mile 20 ‘to make it more social’ explained Ben. Mortals among us may wonder how anyone finds the energy to talk at such a speed, but in a role reversal to last year, it was Ben who had saved enough breath to push on ahead for the finish, with Gavin urging him on to break the 3 hour mark.

Finishing well within 3 hours in a new record time of 2 hours 53 minutes, Ben looks to have already completed his new year’s resolution to do better over long distances. With high winds and mud underfoot to contend with this is a fantastic achievement and bodes well for the fell running season ahead of him at home and internationally.

Gavin finished 2 minutes behind Ben, still a 9 minute improvement on last year’s finishing time, and Adam Breaks came in third in 3hours 11minutes, making it a Calder Valley 1, 2, 3 in the long route finishers. First woman home on the long route was Calder’s Jo Waites, continuing her return to form finishing in twelfth place overall in 3 hours 31 minutes.

On the shorter route, relative newcomers Vicky Butcher and Melanie Nicholson had a great run, finishing substantially closer to the front than the back of the field – an impressive achievement which shows that they have definitely graduated from the beginners’ group they started with just a year ago.

If you think this sounds like fun, why not do as Vicky and Melanie did and come along to Calder Valley’s next ‘have a go day’ this Saturday, 28th January. See ‘New Years Resolution’ on this home page for details.

NUMBER 1 – Have a go at Fell Running with CVFR
28th January 2012

Meet Mytholmroyd Community Centre (see map at the bottom of this page) between 10.00 and 10.15 am

Come along and dip your toe in the mud and see if this is the sport for you. We’re holding a have a go day at the same time as our club winter handicap race (where the slowest runners set off first and the fastest runners have to try and catch up with them!), so you’ll get to see club members of all abilities chase each other to Stoodley Pike and back. We will lead you on a run along the same route, but will pace it so that everyone runs at their own speed and no one gets left behind. We’ll tailor the distance on the day, so you won’t have to run all the way to Stoodley (5.5 miles there and back) if it’s too far for you, but we will push you to do the best you can!

You should have a reasonable level of fitness – we will be walking briskly up hill (we might try an run a little bit!) and then running along the flatter sections – but you don’t need to be a runner to come along. Lots of our members started out as mountain bikers, cyclists, or just keen long distance walkers.

You don’t need any fancy kit, but do come dressed for the weather. It will be colder and windier on top of the moor than it is in the valley, so please bring a windproof (and ideally waterproof) top, hat, gloves, and trainers that you are prepared to get muddy. It is also a good idea to wear leggings rather than tracksuit bottoms, as tracksuits can get very heavy when wet. Fell or trail shoes will give you more grip than road shoes, but are not essential.

You might also want to bring some warm dry clothes to put on afterwards so you can join us in the pub to celebrate your efforts.

Any questions, please call Hannah on 07531 240 966.

Fell running: Possibly the cheapest sport there is.
Definitely the most fun you can have in a bog.