Easter Eggstravaganza

­­Calder Valley Fell Runners – 18 April 2022

A record-breaking mid-week for the red and white hoops

On Tuesday, 12th April, Calder Valley’s Karl Gray and Math Roberts took to the Welsh hills for Eryri Harriers’ Foel Lus fell race at ‘Fairy Glen’ in Dwygyfylchi, near Penmaenmawr. Part of the mid-week series, this A/S category race boasts a good mixture of terrain with some fast track/trail descents, including and some tricky technical sections. Starting in the picturesque village of Capelulo nestled in the hills, runners battle it out over the 3.2-mile (5.1km) course, with just shy of 900ft (273m) of ascent – most of which is concentrated in the lung-busting, incredibly steep first mile.

International and Eryi Harriers’ runner Tom Wood won the race comfortably in 22:05, an impressive feat given he was racing on tired legs. Calder Valley’s Math Roberts came in third and first MV40, finishing only 10 seconds behind second-placed runner, his cousin, Merionydd’s Rhodri Owen. Clocking up a finish time of only 22:52 – Roberts also established a new MV40 record time for the course. This impressive feat was subsequently repeated in the MV50 category, when CVFR team-mate Karl Gray crossed the line in fifth place overall, taking first place in the MV50 race and also setting a new record for this age category (23:25).

A day later, and in England this time, Darren Kay flew the flag for CVFR at the Loughrigg Fell Race in Ambleside. Being on home turf clearly gave the advantage, with Ambleside taking all three podium places. Kay ran a strong and consistent race over the four miles (6.4km) – complete with its 1080ft (330m) of climb – finishing an impressive 6th overall in 28:45. With this excellent result, Kay also took first MV50 (over 40 places ahead of the second placed MV50 runner). Only ten seconds separated 4th, 5th and 6th placed finishers, and Kay’s result saw him cross the line only two places behind 4th place (and first MV40) veteran fell-racing legend Rob Jebb.

Fell runner

Darren Kay at Loughrigg Fell Race

 

Easter weekend

Easter Saturday saw two CVFR runners – George Kettlewell and U17 racer Charlie Pickens – competing in the Horwich Harriers’ Rivington Pike fell race at Horwich near Bolton. This short 3.3-mile (5.2km) course, with its 8000ft of climb really packs a punch. Runners race up to the iconic pike and down again, over a real mix of terrain, including about half a mile of road.

George Kettlewell at Rivington Pike with his grandpa and girlfriend

Such were the weather conditions, that the route was unusually dry and infinitely runnable, causing some racers to even ditch traditional trail and fell shoes in favour of the more comfortable (but usually completely unsuitable) road shoes.

Pickens ran a storming race to finish an amazing 19th overall and 5th in the U17 race in just under 20 minutes and 30 seconds. Fellow red and white striped relatively new fell runner, Kettlewell, was ‘chuffed’ to see his racing tactics evolve and improve with experience. He finished the race in his desired sub-25-minute time, crossing the line in 23:46 – taking a respectable 62nd place overall, and seeing him finish in the first 20 senior runners.

Also on Saturday, 16th April, but much further from home, Valley runners from both CVFR Fell and Todmorden Harriers were among the 167 runners to take on 50km and 8000ft of climb that is the Manx mountain marathon. Calder Valley’s Jackie Scarf described the MMM event as ‘tough’ but ‘good fun’ and how, despite being in the clouds most of the day, it offered a real ‘chance to explore the island’. Scarf finished 104th overall and an amazing second in the FV50 age category, finishing the punishing route in just over eight hours. Teammate and MV50 runner, Jon Underwood, crossed the line 79th overall and in the top 20 MV50 runners, in only 7:39:09.

Jackie Scarf at the Manx Marathon

Fell racing doesn’t even stop for Easter Sunday … and red and white hooped runner, Mark Burton, took on the 9.6-mile (15.4-km) Kinder Downfall fell race with its 1969ft (600m) of climb. The day offered perfect conditions for this classic race – clear and sunny, with a nice cool breeze on the tops.

Mark Burton at Kindle Downfall. Photo courtesy of Steve Taylor

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