Calder Valley’s women salvaged local pride at Sunday’s Heptonstall Fell Race, which attracted a record field of 227.
Local village runner Kate Mansell, Jackie Scarf, and Helen Buchan won the ladies’ team prize in the third running of the 15 mile event.
The race’s growing reputation meant a major influx of classy runners from regional clubs and Valley’s Tim Black was the only local club runner to make the top 10. He finished seventh behind runaway winner Adam Osborne from Leeds City AC with four Wharfedale Harriers entrants packed in the top six.
Osborne led all the way to win in 1:58:20 and he was exactly five minutes in front of Wharfedale’s Spencer Riley. Calder Valley had three more in the top 20 – Kevin Hoult (11th in 2:13:20 ), Ian Symington (14th, 2:15:24 and Steve Smithies (20th, 2:19:510).
The event was organised by the Heptonstall Hurriers, a group of Tod Harriers and Calder Valley Fell Runners based in and around the village; the Hurriers have inspired many of the local community to get involved in Fell Running, and the race received tremendous support from from village residents. In a fantastic display of community spirit seventy volunteers marshalled, directed traffic, and dished out free soup and cakes, while the White Lion pub provided changing and registration facilities, as well as the proceeds of a keg, plus cases of real ales as prizes.
The runners received their traditional blessing from the Rev Howard Pask, who has run a London Marathon himself, before setting out in conditions which contrasted to the warmth of 12 months earlier. While it was again bright overhead, this time it was cold and boggy underfoot after snow earlier in the weekend. The adverse conditions meant organisers were unable to use their usual field for parking. However, highways officials allowed them to use the closed-off Lee Mill Road and Draper Corner as an ironic, make-shift, car park for the 150 vehicles that flooded into the hill top village.
One new feature was a knee-deep crossing of Hebden Water after the wooden bridge at Hardcastle Crags had been swept away during the July floods.
The event raised more than £1000 for charity; Mytholmroyd Scouts and Calder Valley Search and Rescue, who helped out on Sunday, were among the beneficiaries.
Calder Valley finishers: 32, Ben Frechette 2:23:23; 38, Martin Huddlestone 2:24:45; 41, Robert Paradise 2:25:37; 52, Jonathan Emberton 2:31:44; 53, Lee Shimwell 2:31:53; 54 Toby Cotterill 2:32:18; 61, Chris Standish 2:34:00; 62, Mark Wharton 2:34:03; 63, Giles Simon 2:34:07; 73, Paul Biddulph 2:36:11; 74, Richard Sunderland 2:36:55; 85, Ashley Sharp 2:39:34; 89, Graham Hill 2:40:29; 104, Michael Fryer 2:45:28; 106, Martin Mason 2:45:40; 110, Jeff Winder 2:46:48; 112, Kate Mansell 2:47:35; 113, Nick Murphy 2:48:11; 114, Brian Horsley 2:48:22; 116, Andy B Thorpe 2:48:40; 117, Jackie Scarf 2:48:44; 118, Michael Dean 2:49:11; 144, Helen Buchan 2:55:56 ; 147, Simon Fisher 2:56:57; 148, Mike Wardle 2:57:19; 154, Nathan Kennaugh 2:59:08; 160, Jimmy Oldfield 3:01:51; 171, Tony Steward 3:06:50; 173, Louise Marix Evans 3:07:42; 180, Sharon Godsman 3:09:09; 182 John Nunn 3:09:34; 193, Gillian Wisbey 3:19:40; 200, Sally Chesworth 3:22:03; 209, Andrew Meek 3:26:17; 210, Dave Culpan 3:27:23 .