Easter Heat

Beating the Easter Heat at the ‘new’ Newlands Memorial

Mark Wharton and Darren Earnshaw flew the flag for Calder Valley at the newly named Newlands Memorial Fell Race.

Formerly known as the anniversary waltz, this popular, but tough race was held each year to commemorate Wynn and Steve Cliffe’s wedding at the Newlands Valley church. Steve sadly passed away last year and Cumberland Fell Runners stepped in this year as race organiser to ensure this, and the seven other classic senior and junior fixtures, held on the same day, continue. By all accounts, CFR did a great job. In blistering, unseasonable Easter temperatures, 354 runners lined up to tackle this category AM race over 11.4 miles with 1,100 metres of climb.

Rob Jebb took first male spot in a time of 1 hour 40 minutes and Sharon Taylor first female (12th overall) in 1 hour 54 minutes. Darren Earnshaw was first back for Calder (92nd) closely followed by Mark Wharton (103rd).

– Calder Valley News Reporter: Eileen McDonach

BG, Skyline and Hikes

Some Calder Valley FR runners emerged from hibernation to take on a diverse selection of events at the weekend. 

Mike still smiling on his successful BG

Up in the Lake District Mike Clayton was out on the infamous Bob Graham Round to traverse 42 fells in a time of 24 hrs. Mike  had a crack team of supporters to see him complete with 39 minutes to spare, almost matching Killian Jornet’s record time. 

Catherine, Rach and Carole, the winning female team

Back in the South Pennines, Calder Valley’s gregarious ladies flocked to the “Michael” Wardle skyline over Rossendale way with a medium route covering over 11k and 400m of ascent. They had plenty of success, starting with first LV40 Catherine Holden. Other category winners included Gillian Wisbey, Rachel Johnson and Carole Fryer. The ladies also took the team prize. 

Jackie Scarf, Gill Dickson, Kate Pope, Gloria Ayuso, Carolyn Shimwell, Harley Beecroft, Sue Martin and the lads (Kev Hoult, Phil Scarf, Mike Hyde) took in the Calderdale Hike at a mere 37.5 miles, with extensions due to navigational nightmares. The club’s star display came from Kevin Hoult, who finished second in a time of 5 hours 22 minutes.

Martin Howard ran a hard and fast Bunny Run No. 2 finishing third and earning an Easter egg for his troubles. Not far behind was his good team mate Jack Denton in 16th place. Jack has recently made a come back to racing.

– Calder Valley News Reporter: Gav Mulholland

How… Gray smashes the Howgills

Bunny Run 1

The Bunny Runs are a series of four fell races held on consecutive Tuesday evenings after the clocks change in the spring.  The course is a sinuous but fast 3 mile route around Penistone Hill outside Haworth.  The first one this year was on the second of April and, as a counter in the Calder Valley Fell Runners Senior Championship, several runners headed over the moors to take part.

However the Juniors stole the show with Under 15s Elijah Peers Webb first back for CVFR in 22nd place in 19 minutes precisely shortly followed two places later by James Duffy in 19:14.  First Calder female back was U15 Emilia Wright in 23:01.  First Senior was Elina Eday in 24:31 shortly followed by first Calder man, Colin Duffield, in 25:31.

Michael Malyon of  Baildon Runners won in 16:16, with U15 Amelie Lane of Wharfedale Harriers first female in 17:48 and a superb 9th place.

English Champs – Howgill Fell Race

What a monster! With nearly 7000ft of climb in just over 14 miles this was never going to be an easy race as the first long counter in the 2019 English Fell Running Championships.  The finishing times give away the severity of the climbing, the winner Carl Bell completed the 14.3 miles a couple of minutes under 2 and a half hours.

The route takes in all the major hills in the southern half of the Howgill Fells.  Starting in Sedburgh runners ascend Crook followed by the flanks of Arant Haw, the col between the Calf and Calders, skirting the top of Cautley Spout, the highest waterfall in England at 650ft before ascending Yarlside.  A super steep 1300ft descent was taken by most runners sliding on their backsides before climbing Great Dummacks followed by Sickers Fell, a second visit to Arant Haw before the final climb of Winder.  Bear in mind that between each hill top the course dropped to a valley bottom.

Karl Grey was first back for CVFR in 8th place and 1st V45 in 2 hours 34 mins and 38 seconds.  Another top notch performance from Grey.  Darren Key was 29th and Adam Osbourne 40th.  New recruit Charlie Ing was 96th in 3 hours 16. 

Calder’s only woman to complete the course was Helen Buchan in 3 hours 50 minutes.  The womens race was won by 2017 English Champion, Victoria Wilkinson of Bingley, 21st place overall in 2 hours and 44 minutes

The relentless course took it toll with Jonny Croston swearing he would never do the race again.  Over 10% of the field did not finish.

Full CVRF Results

8th        Karl Gray            M45      02:34:38

29th      Darren Kay         M45      02:47:54

40th      Adam Osborne  M40      02:51:27

78th      Mark Taylor       M45      03:07:02

81st       Mark Burton      M45      03:08:02

96th      Charlie Ing          MSEN    03:16:34

129th    Paul Haigh          M40      03:28:00

155th    Jonny Croston   M40      03:35:54

196th    Helen Buchan    W40      03:50:05

213th    Mark Wharton  M50      03:54:39

278th    Toby Sydes         M50      04:28:16

304 finishers, 37 rtd

Harry wasn’t pottering around at Pendle!!!

On the lovely slopes of Pendle Hill and with great fell running routes CVFR juniors did battle for points in their next club championship race. There was some spell binding results for our racing snakes. First up was the under 9s and Harry Cliff yet again impressed with another win in a time of 3 minutes and 14 seconds. In the same age category his younger sister Lottie, who’s only recently started fell running, ran well to place 18th and 5th girls overall.

Hotly contested was the under 11s with Clara McKee taking 2nd overall and first girl in a time of 4 minutes and 29 seconds with Joseph Stone chasing hard only 5 seconds behind her to take 3rd overall and 2nd boy. Sam Annison is running well taking 11th in 4 minutes 55 seconds, 17th place and fine run from Leo Hackett in 5 minutes and 10 seconds with Ted Parker in 25th place a further 20 seconds behind.

In the U13s George McFie had an excellent run in 7th place in a time of 14 minutes 46 seconds to take full club championship points. 10th place for Charlie Pickens in a time of 14 minutes 54 seconds with Thomas McKee putting in a good time of 15 minutes 19 seconds to take 12th. Younger Pickens called Ollie was 23rd in 16 minutes 15 seconds and 40th place for Wynn Standish in 17 minutes 22 seconds. In 66th place and 24th girl but showing true fell running grit was Olivia Falkingbridge who struggled the end of the race in 24 minutes 26 seconds after twisting her ankle. This was all to get her club championship points.

The U15s saw Tom Owen having one of his best races to date placing 6th overall in a time of 19 minutes and 41 seconds. An ever improving Elijah Peer-Webb was 9th in 20 minutes and 6 seconds with Emilia Wright in 27th and 10th girl in 23minutes and 35 seconds.

In the senior’s race Trudi Entwhistle was first back for Calder in 88th place and 2nd v40. Chris Holdsworth and Catlin Rice, both of Ribble Valley Harriers took the honours overall.

Full Calder Senior Results

88          Trudi Entwistle  F40        00:43:35

129        Stuart Russell    M40      00:47:41

172        Gillian Wisbey   F40        00:52:36            

186        Vanora McCullagh          00:54:59

210        Steven Binks      00:59:57

232 finishers

– Calder Valley News Reporter: Tim Brooks

Kendal Winter League success for new recruit Charlie

Charlie Ings at Elterwater Common (photo credit: Stephen Wilson)

New recruit Charlie Ings won the Kendal Winter League Series clocking up 679 points from a series of 10 Lakeland races over the last 3 months. He ran the last race in the series on Sunday, Elterwater Common, finishing an impressive 3rd

Fell races don’t come much more picturesque than the Elterwater course.  Considering its 3 mile length it seems to contain all possible terrain with flat grassy tracks, steep rocky climbs, fast runnable descents, bogs, loose rock etc. Starting at Elterwater Common it is an out and back course to the summit of Silver Howe. And Charlie flew round in a mere 24.07 minutes! Certainly one to watch out for! 

– Calder Valley News Reporter: Gill Dickson