Mounsey is a blue streak while Carole Fryer continues her’s

A handful of the club’s more serious runners were focused on Sunday’s Illam Park Fell Race – a challenging Category A fell race in beautiful White Peak countryside (with all profits going to local charities). This race was also the final counter for the English Championship and saw 150 of the country’s best fell runners taking on the 7.2-km route, with its 450m of ascent.

CVFR’s Daren Kay and Gavin Mullhound were the first red & white hoops home – crossing the line only three seconds apart (in 38:40 and 38:43 respectively) to finish 1st and 2nd M45 (23rd and 24th overall). Third M45 home was another red & white runner – Karl Grey – finishing just behind his team mates in 38:59 (26th overall). There were also strong runs from Alex Whittam (30th overall, 21st in the men’s senior age category), Martin Howard (35th overall and 3rd under 23) and Mark Burton (51st overall, 7th M45). With this result, Calder Valley’s Martin Howard crowned off a fantastic season by securing an impressive 3rd place in the men’s U23s in the English Championships.

Mark Burton at Illam – credit Stephen Wilson

This Sunday was also the date for the Utterly Butterly fell race at Marsden – an unusual fell race with a scenic route that takes in five reservoirs in five miles (with 850ft of ascent).

In the men’s race, Darren Earnshaw was the CVFR runner over the line, finishing 13th of 92 runners & 4th in the MV40 age category in 38.56. He was closely followed by Rob Rawlinson (15th overall & 5th MV40 in 38:57) with Jon Underwood also running well to finish 20th overall in 39:35.

In the ladies’ race, Carole Fryer ran a brilliant race to finish 8th overall & first in the FV50 category in 44:54. Fryer described as how this unusual fell race  – comprising of one third track, one third paved footpaths and one third grassy/gravelly footpaths  – is particularly ‘good for those new to fell running’, and typically quite ‘runable after the initial climb’. However, in the somewhat inclement conditions on Sunday, it was not as sstraight forward as in previous years – not least given the number of flagstones, which are notoriously slippery when wet. Nonetheless, Fryer reports that she is convinced it is all ‘well worth it for the tea & gorgeous cake at the presentation’.

This weekend also marked Stuart Russell’s Bob Graham Round attempt – a 66-mile, 27,000-ft circuit of 42 of the highest peaks in the English Lake District, which needs to be completed within 24 hours to qualify as a success. Russell finished his successful round in an impressive 23h13, commenting how he ‘got lucky’ with the weather – setting off on Friday night at 10pm in beautiful conditions, although winds did pick up later.

Stuart Russell’ss BGR

By mile 60 & the final summit, Russell was reduced, rather unsurprisingly, to observing to his support team (John Allan, Helen & Kirsty) that the challenge was “just really hard!” However, having been ‘force fed with the secret weapon of mango’ in leg 4, he could keep going – and so credits his success to his support team, who kept him going throughout to become the 4th CVFR club member to successful finish the incredibly tough BG challenge this year. 

Stuart Russell’ss BGR

 

Further afield Scotland hosted events which saw two of CVFR’s elite runners back running again. Ben Mounsey raced in Kinlochleven at the Salomon Skyline Scotland races, taking 1st place in the 3 Mealls Trail Race. Mounsey described how this ‘very tough’ technical 18-km trail race, with its over 700m of total ascent and a high point of 560m in an astounding 1:35:08 – was a real challenge.

Ben Mounsey – credit Pete Aylward

Nonetheless, it was one he more than rose to, finishing over ten minutes before the rest of field of the 150 athletes. Mounsey is now on his way to Italy to compete in the World Masters 2019 this coming week.

Ben Mouney finishing his race – credit Pete Aylward

 

For the elite ladies, this Saturday (21st September) saw Calder Valley’s Holly Page competing at the Ring of Steal Sky Race – the last round of the Golden Trail World Series – a race within the Mamores that takes in a series of majestic Munros (Scottish Mountains over 3,000ft / 914m) and four summits.

Page considered not taking part in this 29km (2,500m of ascent) race at one point, as having been plagued with injuries this season, she thought it would be ‘nigh impossible to qualify for the top 10 and a trip to Nepal’. However, the Scottish hills in the sunshine worked their charm, and Page felt good right at the start. She was in second from the get-go, although the previous week’s longer mountain runs began to take their toll and towards the end – out of gels and water, she was willing herself forward.

On the last downhill, Page was unfortunate to fall in a bog – smashing her leg on a rock so badly she needed several stiches. Nonetheless, she still placed second lady – in a respectable 3:54:18 – and in so doing, qualified for the Grand Final of the Golden Trail World Series. In typical Page style, having tied for 10th place with another runner – and won thanks to the ‘higher position’ rule – she has invited the latter to join her at her guest in the Himalayans.

Holly Page – official race photo

 

Closer to home, this Saturday, 21st September also saw club chairman, Bill Johnson, take on the Lantern Pike fell race from Hayfield  – the fell race with the oldest record in the country (Ricky Wilde set the record in 1977 and no-one has come close to it since.) Johnson ran exceptionally well in the unseasonal heat in what was his first fell race in 12 months – having recently focused on multi-day events and torn a tendon last January. Despite feeling he ‘probably set off a bit too fast’ & consequently was almost ‘sick with effort’ by the turnaround point, Johnson still finished an impressive 17th out of 107 runners. The race was won by former English champion Lloyd Taggart.

And finally – much close to home – a number of club members took part in the Cragg Vale 15 races on Sunday 22nd – up and down the B6138 – famous for being the longest continuous gradient in England. This year, the traditional races over 10 miles, 10km and 5km were complimented by the new 1-mile dash and whilst results are yet to be published, CVFR’s Elliot Corner ran well in the 10-mile Cragg Challenge to clock in an impressive average speed of 6 minutes 50 seconds over the course. For the juniors, the trio of Lennon Wilson, Fred Slater and Cory Stewart ran exceptionally strongly to all finish the 10km race in sub-27 minutes (considerably faster than the average time for the course in 2018).  

Lennon Wilson & Fred Slater

– Calder Valley News Reporter: Catherine Jones

Howard takes top spot

The week saw a packed and busy itinerary for both CVFR juniors and seniors, ranging from 3.3 miles to 62 miles. In the offing was a mid week run in Todmorden (the Orchan Rocks), the junior Lothersdale race, a Bob Graham round and the popular club race, the Coiners, hosted by the club itself. And, as ever, the red and white stripes scooped up a range of prizes along their way.

Orchan Rocks, a short 3.3 mile race, was first run in 2014. Starting a couple of miles outside Todmorden, it’s a short sharp blast of a race on some fast, grassy paths. Going up the Knotts Cliffs, the route does a quick loop around the Orchan Rocks before descending back the same way. Calder Valley’s Martin Howard was the overall winner with a time of 22:31 Said Martin: ‘This is a great little race and I’d love to come back next year to try and take the course record’ 

Martin Howard, Orchan Rocks winner (photo: Mick Fryer)

And another name is to be added to the club’s Bob Graham Round plaque. Dougie Zinis put in a sterling effort to complete the BG challenge in an incredible 20 hours 27 minutes. The BG is an infamous fell running challenge in the Lake District. This gruelling 66 miles route, involving 27,000ft of climbing over 42 Lakeland peaks requires a completion time within 24 hours to make it into the BG hall of fame. Supported by a number of CV team mates, Dougie appeared remarkably refreshed and at relaxed at the end of his incredible feat.

Dougie Zinis, with some of his CV support crew (L- R Andy Swift, Dougie Zinis, Ian Glendinning and Martin Howard)

Other achievements over the Bank Holiday weekend included Nicki Latham and Jocasta Fletcher securing 1st Ladies team prize on the bike/ run 2 day OMM lite on Cannock Chase. They biked 37kms and ran 24km, whilst navigating, over the 2 days.

Coiners Fell Race, organised for the first time by Stella Chrisanthou, also had a strong CVFR turn out both as participants and marshals. The scenic 6 mile loop with 967ft of climb takes in Coiner’s country on paths, tracks & moorland. It goes over Erringden Moor, Stoodley Pike and Bell House Moor, offering spectacular views of Cragg Vale and passing by the old coiners cottages of Bell House and Keelam. The overall winner was Simon Bailey from Mercia in 44:12. CV’s Natasha Butterfield (2nd lady), Trudi Entwistle and Rachel Johnstone took the Women’s Team prize. It’s clear where junior speedsters Clara and Thomas McKee get their running genes from as mum, Trudi Entwistle, flew round the course finishing 3rd lady. Mark O’Conner was first CV home.

Coiners Women’s Team winners: (L-R Trudi Entwistle, Natasha Butterfiels, Rachel Johnstone)

Last Tuesday saw the first of the club’s ‘Have a Go’ session. This is an opportunity for people to have a go at fell running and sample the delights of CVFR club. The club welcomed at least 15 new people, all keen and eager to experience the joys of fell running. The next Have a Go session is on Tues 14th May, 6.45pm at Mytholmroyd Community Centre. If you can run at least 3 miles, just turn up with grippy trainers and your biggest smile. For more info contact gillhdickson@gmail.com

– Calder Valley News Reporter: Gill Dickson

Ultra Fells

The Bob graham. The legendary 42 summit circuit of the Lake District to be completed in 24 hrs. Sir John Allan and his crack team of fell runners set off from Keswick to climb Skiddaw Gt Calva Blencathra before leg 2 up Clough head and many more mountains such as Dollywagon Bowfell Scafell Pike, Pike o stickle, kiirk fell and other pythonesque names before the final, Robinson. The training all paid off as John finished in around 22 hrs ? After the event, whilst in a state of delirium, John may have proposed to his fiancé which he will no doubt contemplate when he regains consciousness.

At the LAMM (Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon), a 2 day navigation and overnight camp on The Isle of Harris, veterans Jackie and Phil Scarf were first in their age group with Barbara Lonsdale and Jo Buckley First Ladies pair with the whole event, including the weather, in top form.

On to shorter stuff with the 50 mile Cannonball Calderdale way ultra. It’s starts off rough (Todmorden) and ends bad (Tordmorden) but the rest is beautiful taking in Blackshaw head, Heptonstall, Wainstalls, bits you would rather not run, and then onto North Dean Woods, Norland, Cragg Vale and Stoodley.

Carolyn n Harley CW ultra 2018

Calder Valley annihilated the rest by winning in several categories starting with Kevin the bolt Hoult who went under 8 hrs setting a new course record and winning. Kevin put his success down to choosing this over a day of diy at home.  The club also picked up team prizes in the paired categories with Carolyn Shimwell and Harley Beecroft the winning ladies and Dougie Ziggy Stardust Zinis pairing with Luke Meleschko and Ian illistone with Luke putting in a strong sole effort at the end. Lee Shimwell also completed the course, as the Joker from Batman (with that Jimmy Hill grin).

Lee Shimwell CWU 2018

The short stops: Gavin Mulholland took on the home internationals on the slopes of the Howgills finishing 21st and 2nd for Northern Ireland, missing out on a bronze by a single point to Wales

And in Europe in Slovenia, Ben Mounsey came 5th v35 in the World Masters Mountain race. Ben is delighted to be old enough now to battle with the best. He said “It’s the greenest place I’ve ever been and the cleanest place I’ve ever been,  It has HUGE impressive mountains and breathtaking scenery. Loved it. I’ll be back.’

At Pen-y-ghent, Darren Kay was third and first vet 40 in 51 minutes.

Martin Howard chased some of the top names in fell running at Coniston Gullies, coming fifth. Super vet Dave Hammond was 29th and second v50. Will Hall was second in the under 14s. 

Holly Page continues to excel in the World Skyrunning series and lies second overall.

– Calder Valley News Reporter: Gav Mulholland

More Bob Graham Success!

Congratulations to Jackie and Phil Scarf on completing the Bob Graham Round on 11th June, along with friend Doug Gurr.

Jackie came in before the boys, in 23:35; with Doug completing in 23:36 and Phil in 23:42.

And on the next weekend, Dave Almond romped round in a speedy 21:51. Well done Dave!

We are going to run out of room on our plaque of Bob Graham completers!!