Buckley’s Gold’en for Yorkshire

Great Whernside Uphill Juniors Championship

William Hall won the under 13s race in 8:37 nearly half a minute ahead of his nearest competitor. William is possibly the best fell runner of his age in the country at the moment. Good results also in the under 13s from Patrick Casey (6th) and James Duffy (9th).

In the seniors women’s race Calder’s Helen Buchan was 6th with Trudi Entwhistle 8th and Jez Wilkinson 60th in the men’s race.

UK InterCounties

The Broughton Heights Hill Race was the venue for the UK InterCounties Fell Running Championship this year. Run from near Biggar in the Southern Uplands, several members of Calder Valley Fell Runners represented their counties in the six mile race. Ben Mounsey, Andy Swift and Jo Buckley represented Yorkshire, Gavin Mulholland for Northern Ireland, Jason Williams for Leicestershire and Karon Foster represented Cheshire.

Ben Mounsey was the third Yorkshire counter helping them to silver medal place with Tom Addison (Helm Hill) and Jack Wood (Ilkley). Over the border rivals Lancashire won gold with local team Scotland East in bronze.  The Yorkshire women, Katie Walshaw (Holmfirth), Helen Glover (Ribble Valley AC) and Kirsty Hall (Wharfdale) went one better bringing home gold ahead of pre-race favourites Cumbria.

Gold for the Yorkshire Ladies (CVFR Jo Buckley on the right)

Silver for the Yorkshire Men (Jack Wood and CVFR Andy swift and Ben Mounsey)

Photos courtesy of Woodentops.

Fairfield Horseshoe

374 fell runners started from Rydal Hall in Ambleside in overcast conditions but on the tops the clag was down, very windy, but fortunately only a drop or two of rain fell. The overnight rain meant the rocks were very slippery, but fortunately given the recent dry weeks the bogs were dry.

Ben Abdelnoor of host club Ambleside was the winner in 1:22:33. For Calder Valley, Alex Whittem was 5th, just two minutes behind the winner, with Jon Smith 15th in 1:33:55 and Stephen Edwards 39th in 1:39:56.  Dave Hammond, Gavin Roper and Tony Steward also completed the tough 9 mile course which includes 3,000 feet of climbing.

Alex Whittem on the Fairfield horseshoe 2017

The Jack Bloor Fell Race

A nice midweek, 5 mile race on Ilkley Moor, this year held in glorious sunshine. A few Calder runners headed over to Wharfdale to take part last Tuesday.  Jon Smith had a good run to come in 11th place.  Dave Hammond and Jake Ackroyd battled each other with Jake winning by 20 seconds, and Jez Wilkinson came in 178th place.

All profits from the race goes to the Jack Bloor Memorial Fund, which awards grants to those who want to improve their physical and technical skills in outdoor sports.

On form Jon Smith closing the gap on his rivals.

Jon Smith at the Jack Bloor race, photo courtesy of Woodentops

– Calder Valley News Reporter: Tim Brooks –