Hills, Trials and a Long Tour to top off a great week of racing.

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Joe Crossfield, Alex Whittem and Joe Washington took all three podium places at last week’s Crow Hill Reverse Fell Race as they swept to victory in this local race. The race is organised by local physio Ali Mills, with all proceeds going to ovarian cancer and since she has taken the helm the race’s original route has been run in reverse – from Mytholmroyd to Crow Hill’s understated summit marker high above Midgley Moor and then back to the start through Red Acre Woods. In beating Whittem, Crossfield was also able to take Whittem’s course record as well as club bragging rights, coming home in just under the half hour (29mins 53secs) – pretty swift running for five miles of off-road running with 1000 feet of climbing! Lindsay Oldfield continued with her winning streak on the moor where her dad, Steve has been such a prolific racing maestro. Joe and Lindsey were also “crowned” King and Queen at the summit of Crowhill for being the first to the top.

On Wednesday night ladies captain Helen Buchan took her first win at the tough short fell race of Whittle Pike over in Rossendale. The Borrowdale race at the weekend doesn’t seem to have taken too much out of her as she raced to victory in just over 55 minutes. Her team mate Jackie Scarf took 1st lady v50 and second spot only a minute or so behind.

Calder’s mountain running protege Max Wharton placed fourth in the World Mountain Running Trials at Sedbergh on Saturday and this will be enough for the Heptontstall based star to pit himself against the very best mountain runners in an uphill only race in Tuscany in September.
The "Wedding Crashers" on action .. photo courtesy of Trawden A.C.

The “Wedding Crashers” on action .. photo courtesy of Trawden A.C.

Holly and Mark do battle in the rain. Photo courtsey of Trawden A.C.

Holly and Mark do battle in the rain. Photo courtsey of Trawden A.C.

At Sunday’s Boulsworth Hill, two of Calder’s up and coming stars Joe Washingon and Johnny Helliwell, ran under the club name the “Wedding Crashers” to celebrate their pending nuptials. Both men finished with exactly the same finish time, although the results show them as finishing in third and fourth. The two men in front of them also repeated the same feat with Jacob Boyle of Clayton clocking the same time as his younger brother Joshua Boyle of Hyndburn.  John Lloyd and Mark O’Connor of CVFR both made it into the top ten, as did Holly Page who walked away with top spot for the Women.  This was another excellent run from Page, who beat Sarah Tipler of Barlick and Glossopdale’s Catlin Rice with some room to spare.

Ian warming up for the win at Bradwell. Photo courtesy of Sunday Sports Photography.

Ian warming up for the win at Bradwell. Photo courtesy of Sunday Sports Photography.

Finally, Calder Valley’s own version of the duracell rabbit, Ian Symington, took on the challenge of the Tour of Bradwell, a tricky navigational event set in the Peak District and taking in the Hope Valley and Kinder Moorland.  Symington only really gets into his running after he’s been out for four hours and he comfortably won the 51 km challenge in just over 5 hours, a full 15 minutes clear of second placed Ken Sutor.  John Minta, Rod Sutcliffe and Linda Murgatroyd were the other successful Calder contingent who completed this cracking challenge.

A special mention must go to Calder’s Steve Smithies who raced 3 nights on the trot (and he didn’t even get lost) doing Crow Hill followed by Whittle Pike and he then made up a 3 man team to do the local challenge of Scammonden Steps relay. Well done that man you are obviously over the knee injury.