It ain’t half hot

Aldermans Ascent 

Andy in top form

Just two weeks after a misty Blencathra race, Alderman’s Ascent was the next English Fell Race Championship Counter, held in baking hot temperatures last Saturday.  Organised by Todmorden’s Darren Graham the race starts in Greenfield, Saddleworth, passing the intriguingly named Pots and Pans Stone, before a double climb of Alderman’s Hill and a final descent by Yarns Hill back to Greenfield. The 8.5km race with 400m ascent race should not have presented too many problems apart from the 2 killer climbs, and 1 crazy rocky descent. 

But it was the heat that took its toll with several participants requiring assistance for heat exhaustion.

The heat took is toll on many a runner

In the woman’s race first back for Calder Valley was Bethan Gay (18th woman), Cass Chisholm (49th woman ) and prize winning Jocasta Fletcher (3rd FV45).  Hannah Horsburgh of Keswick won in 39:12, followed by Sara Willhoit of Mercia and Sarah McCormack from Ambleside.

In the men’s race another great run by Andrew Worster saw him take 11th place. Joseph Dugdale (U23) of Cumberland Fell Runners took the win in 35:52 followed by Blencathra winner, Keswick’s Jacob Adkin 35:55 and Billy Cartwright from Matlock 37:06.

Special Kay in amazing form

The V50 team is looking unstoppable this year with prize winning performances by Darren Kay (1st MV50), Karl Gray (2nd MV50) and Gav Mulholland (3rd MV50).  Kay is on top form this year and looks well placed to take the V50 national gold, his result here putting him ahead of Karl Gray overall.  Math Roberts  (2nd MV40), Adam Osborne (3rd MV40) and Dick Spendlove (1st MV75) all had notable results with Jon Emberton vying for an individual medal in the V60s. 

Calder Men also took 3rd open team prize with counters Andrew Worster, Darren Kay, Math Roberts and Karl Gray.  The next English Championship race is the Pete Bland Kentmere Horseshoe on the 1st August.

CVFR Results (Men)
11. Andrew Worster 38:53 – 15. Darren Kay 39:29 – 21. Math Roberts 40:41
22. Karl Gray 40:48 – 25. Martin Howard 41:16 – 27. Adam Osbourne 41:43
30. Ed Hyland – 41:59 – 32. Gavin Mullholland 42:12 – 55. James Logue 44:50
65. Mark O’Conner 46:53 – 81. Alex Whittem 49:28 – 116. Jonathan Emberton 53:43
161. Stephen Moran 61:11 – 169. Anthony Costello 62:29 – 170. Harry Strutt 62:36
181. Dick Spendlove 64:06

CVFR Results (Women)
18. Bethan Gay 53:27 – 49 Cass Chisholm 62:37
59 Jocasta Fletcher 68:49

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