It’s a flyby from Page

Holly Page (credit: Catherine Jones)

Summer was in full swing for CV last weekend, with members spoilt with numerous race options to choose from.

First instalment was the Stoodley Pike Fell Race, a quick dash up and down Calderdale’s most famous landmark. The longest established fell race in the area (started in the 1970’s), it never fails to get a good crowd, perhaps drawn by the sunny conditions that the organisers, Todmorden Harriers, book for the event. 32 CV were amongst the 233 at the start line.  CV’s international athlete, Holly Page, secured 1st lady with CV’s Natasha Butterfield taking second place. Overall winner was Grant Cunliffe from Rossendale with CV taking the men’s team prize (Max Wharton, Alasdair Pedley and Alex Whittem). Max Wharton also scooped up the U23 prize.

Carol Fryer (credit: Mick Fryer)

Luke Meleschko Stoodley (Credit Mick Fryer)

Last Saturday, in the midst of a buzzing festival atmosphere, Heptonstall Hurriers put on their annual Heptonstall Festival fell race. Starting in Heptonstall, the route plunges deep into a neighbouring valley before finding its way to the top of a nearby peak. It then returns in similar fashion, finishing with an almighty uphill struggle. There’s a right mix of terrain across the 6 mile circuit. Cobbles to start with then some grassy fields, muddy slopes, rocky bridleway and open moorland, some of it pathless. 

Pudsey and Bramley’s Neal Crampton was the overall race winner in a sizzling 51.35  with Annabel Mason of Lancaster and Morecombe first lady in 1.00.20. First CV home was Phil Wells, just seconds ahead of Paul Haigh and between them and Mark Wharton, just missing out on 1st Mens Team prize which went to Wharfdale Harriers. Mark Wharton was pleased with his VM50 prize though.

Photos: Phil Wells disappears in the undergrowth at Heptonstall

Sunday saw 3 CV heading to the Lakes for the club champs Skiddaw race, a 9.5 mile straight up and back down the mountainside. CV’s Eileen McDonach, joined by club mates Carole Fryer and Rob Rawlinson, said:

‘I almost didn’t go but so glad I did! It wasn’t as bad as I thought but the terrain was hard on feet. Great views and perfect conditions. I even managed to stop to take some photos, which was a must on a day like that!’

Summer action is heating up

June-July is always a busy time of year in any runner’s diary – with summer series runs, local races as well as national & international meets all taking place in the past week.

For CVFR, the main event of the week was the mid-week local Cragg Vale race on 26th June. Expertly organised by residents of the village & based in Cragg Vale church, this event is as famous for its post-race beer & butties as for its midge-infested finish line. This year saw a bumper turnout, with 112 runners braving the rain to race.

Todmorden Harrier’s Andrew Worster had an easy overall win, completing the 4 miles & 800ft of ascent in 26.31 – only 4 seconds shy of the 2008 all-time record. In second place, Salford Harrier’s Gary Priestly & in third Calder Valley’s Martin Howard (first Under 23) all finished well ahead of the rest of the field.

Strong runs were also recorded by CVFR’s Alistair Pedley (4th overall, 2nd U23), Andy Davies (47th overall & 1st MV60) & three of the junior red & white hoops – Alex Duffield & Elijah Peers-Webb who finished within one second of each other to place an impressive 25th & 26th overall, & 1st & 2nd U16 respectively – & Emilia Wright who finished 59th overall & 1st U16 female.

For the ladies, it was another strong run by Calder Valley’s, Natasha Butterfield, who finished 33rd overall & first female in 33 :40. Todmorden Harrier’s Rebecca Patrick & Barlick Fell Runner’s Jacqueline Collins raced each other to the line to take 2nd & 3rd place respectively.

A big thank you also needs to go to the Calder Valley Search & Rescue Team who came to the aid of an injured runner administering emergency first aid. All proceeds from Todmorden Harriers’ newly reinstated Crow Hill Reverse Race on 6th August will be going to this fantastic organisation as part of local recognition of all they do to support local fell races.

Martin Howard (credit Mick Fryer)

Further afield, other notable races & results in the past week included CVFR’s Chrlie Ing who was delighted to get his first 1st place finish in a British Open Fell Running Association (BOFRA) race at Kirby-in-Furness’ Community Centre Derby on Saturday, 29th June. This tough four-mile race packs a punch, with 1300ft of ascent, including a long climb, a fast descent & a further climb up to the moors before turning back on itself for the second half of the race. Despite getting a little lost on the moors, Ing had the strength in his legs to hold onto his lead & retain the trophy for CVFR (won last year by fellow red & white hooped Ben Mounsey).

 

Saturday was also the date of the most recent Lakeland Ultra races. A trio of Calder Valley’s ladies took on this challenge. Stella Christanthou & Diane Wright ran the 55km route (plus an extra 3km that somehow snuck in – starting & finishing in Ambleside & taking in much of the central Lake District – finishing in an amazing c.10.5 hours (official results still pending). Fellow CVFR V40 runner, Gill Dickinson ran the 23km route. Ultra races are a serious test of stamina & willpower, without Saturday’s heat, which soared into the mid 20s, making any running that much harder & these longer distance all the more impressive.

Lakeland trio – Gill, Stella & Diane (no credit)

On Sunday, 30th June, Calder Valley’s Heather Pritchard took 5th place in the FSEN category (13th female overall) in the 10km Castle Howard Trail Race. Pritchard recounts how, despite ‘struggling with the heat’, she found ‘the going easy compared to the fells’ – but was very grateful for the post-race beer. Also on Sunday, CVFR’s, Carole Fryer competed in the Trawden 7 Trail Race, finishing the route a whole minute faster than her 2018 time & crossing the line as first female V50.

In addition, this weekend saw CVFR’s Holly Page back racing internationally at the Adidas’ Infinite Trails World Championships. In a truly epic event, runners raced in relay teams from 4am Saturday until 1am Sunday on the tracks of Gastein/Salzburger in Austria – making their way up and down some of the most beautiful routes in the world in their 60k/3,600vm loop. For Page, coming off the back of a broken foot, it was a little strange not to be chosen for one of the main teams, but undeterred, she was adopted by a duo from Western University & the three ran their hearts out.

Page not only finished fastest woman by an astounding 9 minutes, but also recorded the 9th fastest loop in the men’s times – & this despite suffering from a stitch during the first half of the race & feeling unwell during the second. She recalls having really enjoyed running high up on the ridge, & loving the steep descent sections with no paths, which ‘felt like a fell race’, even if the last 20km was more like a “road marathoner’s” route & seemed to go on forever … In typical style, Holly was quick to point out that this has all served as excellent training for the upcoming Sky race series, where she looks forward to racing & hopefully defending her title from last year.

Holly Page – no credit given

– Calder Valley News Reporter: Catherine Jones

Special-K Topping the charts.

Calder Valley take on Midsummer Lakeland ‘Monsters’

Described as a ‘monster’ by its organisers, the Great Lakes Fell race involves a big (7,000ft), 13 mile day out in the wild western Lakes. Part of the British and English Champs series, the Great Lakes has lots of varied terrain with ‘eye-popping’ ascents, steep descents and a high level summit-hopping circuit of upper Eskdale, taking in the two highest peaks in the Lakes: Scafell Pike and Scafell. Runners then face a crossing akin to Middle Earth from Slight Side to Blisco and fast running over the trackless route south of Great Moss. With more than 300 taking part, Karl Gray continues to show his class, taking 2nd MV45 and 33rd overall. Gav Mulholland was 6th V45 (50th overall). Calder Valley men’s team are currently 6th in the English Champs. Other notable results were Adam Osborne (52nd) Matthew Roberts (62nd), Mark Taylor (101st), Paul Haigh (204th).

CVFR’s Matthew Roberts in the Great Lakes Fell Race (Credit: TBC)

Phil and Jackie Scarfe showed their running experience in the Great Lakes finishing (183rd and 289th respectively). Carl Bell was first back in 2.37h and Kelli Roberts, first woman in 3.03h.

——
Elsewhere in the Lakes, one of Calder Valley’s top ultra runners Simon Bourne took on the Joss Naylor Lakeland Challenge last Saturday, a 42 mile route that crosses the Lake District from Pooley Bridge to Wasdale, taking in 30 peaks and 17,000 feet of climbing.

Calder’s Simon Bourne on his Joss Naylor Lakeland Challenge (Credit: Mark Chapman)

The route was devised by legendary Lake District fell runner Joss Naylor in 1990 as a charity fund-raising challenge for the over 50s, with target times for each age category. Simon completed the route in 10 hours 47 minutes, comfortably beating the 12-hour target for the men’s 50-54 category and setting the 4th fastest time ever on the route. He was well supported by five of his Calder Valley club mates along the route, and was lucky enough to enjoy completely dry weather conditions for once this summer. Simon commented that he was absolutely delighted with the run, with it being a perfect day in the hills that will stay long in the memory.
——-
Closer to home, eleven Calder Valley club champs’ contenders lined up in Whitworth for the latest club champs event, Brown Wardle (and a bit of Moor) Fell Race. This tough, midweek race is short (3 miles) with over 1100 ft of ‘thumbs on thigh’ climb. Alisdair Pedley (MU21) had a fantastic run to finish 3rd.

Alisdair Pedley at Brown Wardle (Credit: Mick Fryer)

Calder’s Natasha Butterfield (2nd woman, 29th overall) and Carole Fryer (1st W50 and 8th woman overall) continue their great running form.

CVFR’s Natasha Butterfield and Andrew Davies at Brown Wardle (Credit: Mick Fryer)

– Calder Valley News Reporter: Eileen McDonach

Summer Series Girl Power

Red and white hoops could be seen over Tomorden last Tuesday as a number of CV swapped their usual pack run for the Bridestones race to bag points for the club’s Summer series. The route goes past the famous Bridestone and takes in some of the lesser used paths in the upper Calder Valley. A short fast race with steep climbs, fast tracks and demon descents, there’s something for everyone. And again, prizes aplenty for CV.

Lee Shimwell, Philip Wells and Giles Simon scooped the men’s Team prize whist Natasha Butterfield and Jocasta Fletcher flew the ladies flag. Natasha was 2nd lady and Jocasta first FV40, despite still recovering from an epic charity bike ride of 135 miles a few days before. CV’s Mark Wharton took the MV50 prize.

Girl Power. Natasha Butterfield (left) and Jocasta Fletcher

A few CV crossed over the border the following night for the Holcombe fell race. It’s a steep route across and around Holcombe Moor with a bit of everything and numerous punishing climbs. After the downpour on Wednesday the course proved particularly challenging with mudslides, stream crossings and insane slippy slidey mud ascents with many runners just sliding back. But all that didn’t deter CV’s Darren Kay who came in first at 33:10.

Carl Bell of Keswick AC & Kelli Roberts of Helm Hill Runners were winners at Great Lakes British & English Championship Fell race. 11 CV raced in a field of 319 with CV’s Karl Gray taking second MV45.

One of the Lakeland classics, the 13 mile route is packed with variety and includes much ground new to fell racing in the wild western Lakes. After an eyeballs-out ascent of The Band to Bowfell, the route makes a high-level summit-hopping circuit of Upper Eskdale, including the two highest peaks in the Lakes: Scafell Pike and Scafell. There follows a crossing of what feels like Middle Earth, forging a path from Slight Side to Blisco fast running over the trackless reaches south of Great Moss. Definitely not one for the faint hearted!

Gavin Mulholland Great Lakes (photo credit: Graham Smith)

– Calder Valley News Reporter: Gill Dickson