Calder Valley Fell Runners – 30th August – 5th September
Well that was a busy week! A mix of local races, an two Championship events, a trail half marathon, the World Masters in Austria, a Bob Graham Round attempt plus lots of ad hoc running to keep the club’s virtual championship ticking over.
Hebden Sports
The week started well for Calder Valley Fell Runners and particularly for the evergreen Karl Gray at the BOFRA championship event in our sister village of Hebden near Grassington. Despite an British Championship race coming up at the weekend, Karl Gray, Shaun Godsman and James Logue took on and tamed the short, sharp 1.5 mile course with 400 feet of climbing. Karl powered up and down to take 3rd place overall and first MV50 in a time of 11.45 mins ahead of club captain Godsman in 5th place (12.15 mins) and James Logue, a respectable 8th position in 12.38 mins. As long as all three still had their legs working at the weekend Hebden Sports was a good sign for things to come at the British Athletics Hill & Fell Running Championship Race – the HB21 at Dufton.
Euan taking in the water in the U17s – photo courtesy of Woodentops
In the junior races, Euan Logue wasn’t going to be outdone by Logue senior coming in 5th in the U17s race in a brilliant time of 13.44.
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Gorple Rocks Trail Race
Fiona chuffed with her race result
There was time mid-week for some of the club runners to squeeze in the Gorple Rocks Trail Race at Worsthorne near Burnley. Around 5.5 miles with 800 feet of climbing, this is a fast up-and-down race with a famous descent. CVFR had three runners at the event and came away with some great honours. James Logue came in 3rd overall and 1st MV50 on 36 mins 11 seconds. Fiona Lynch smashed it for the women claiming a good 3rd position and 1st FV40 in 45 mins 56 seconds with the effervescent Andy Smith posting a respectable time of 57 mins and 47 seconds.
HB21
HB21 is an 11km race with 900m of ascent aver a range of terrain on the edge of the Eden Valley and the Pennines. The race starts next to the fountain in the centre of Dufton with a finish in the field behind the Stag Inn.
So, the race to the pub was on and CVFR were certainly up for it. MVU23 star Martin Howard went for an early finish so he could be first at the bar but was really disappointed not to be able to finish the race. The other CVFR runners certainly made up for it. Darren Kay was the first club member home in a shade over the hour mark in a strong 11th position closely followed by Andrew Worster in 13th and Karl Gray in 16th. Gav Mulholland’s 23rd position in 1 hour 6 minutes was not only a good time, it ensured that the team of Kay, Gray and Mulholland took the top three places in the MV50s category.
Cass Chisolm, the club’s only female representative, had a good race finishing 29th in the Women’s Senior category in a time of 1 hour 40 minutes.
Due North Trail Half Marathon
A very happy Luke after his run
Another trail and more honours for Calder Valley runners. By all accounts this is stunning route taking in rivers, reservoirs, moorland and fields. The race starts with a climb over Sharphaw before dropping down to the picturesque village of Hetton. There’s a tough mile of climbing on the return ascent to Sharphaw followed by a fast 1 mile downhill run to the finish line.
CVFR’s Chris Holdsworth won the race in an incredible time of 1 hour and 23 mins – a full 11 minutes ahead of the second-place competitor. The club’s Luke Meleschko finished in 19th position out of field of 200.
‘It was a cracking race with a tough mile climb at mile twelve’ – Luke Meleschko
Pendleton Fell Race
Organised by Clayton Le Moors Harriers in Pendleton, Clitheroe this is an AS race – relatively short for the level of ascent required and while it starts off gently on the village high street soon climbs steeply through some tough tussocks onto the moors above.
CVFR’s representative in this 5-mile race was George Kettlewell who kept a smile on throughout finishing in a time of 50 mins 59 secs.
20th World Masters Mountain Running Championships
The championships were held in Telfes, Austria this year and they certainly know how to do mountains in Telfes!
The Telfes course starts in the village square and is run over 11.5 km with plenty of ascent – 1,157 metres in fact finishing at 2,136 metres above sea level at the Kreuzjoch mountain station at the Schlick 2000 Hiking Centre.
Calder Valley legend Ben Mounsey was competing in his 5th year at the Masters which are open to runners over the age of 35. Having turned 40 last week, Ben was not only chasing a potential title but has moved up an age category.
Ben had a good race – but by his own admission, doesn’t have the form or fitness of previous years – and came in 10th overall. Despite not emulating his silver medal winning performance of the last championships in Italy he was part of the V40 gold medal team – a result worth celebrating. In Ben’s own words ‘Wow! That was tough’
– CALDER VALLEY NEWS REPORTER: marc collett
