Withins Skyline & Curly Wurly Rat Runs – Sunday 13 October (Senior and Junior Club Championships)

12 of our juniors took part in the Curly Wurly Rat Runs yesterday held in Penistone Hill Country Park near Haworth.  It was bleak and windy up on the moors but this didn’t deter our intrepid squad nor the 190 odd juniors in total that took part.

The junior races started in a disused quarry, offering some shelter from the elements.  First off were the Under 8s who had to sprint the length of the quarry bottom, scramble up the quarry face, do a half circuit around the top before a steep descent back down into it.  This was followed by another sprint, another scramble up then a “sprint like mad” to the finish line where they all received a generous goody bag including sweets, crisps and the legendary Curly Wurlies.  Our first finisher was Douglas with another fine run to finish 11th.  Not far behind was Ben, who had his best run so far in the championship to finish an excellent 14th.  Lily, in only her second race for us, was next home and 3rd girl overall, so our first prize winner of the day.  Well done Lily on a great run !  Well done also to Sam, Lauren and Connie who showed amazing determination around this very tough course.

Next off was a mass start for all the other junior age-groups (Under 10,12,14 & 16s).  They ran the same course with the addition of a flattish moorland circuit above the quarry. We had 6 in this race and after un-picking the results it emerged that Thomas was 4th boy in the Under 12s although as he beat all but one of the Under 14s, his prize was upgraded to 2nd Under 14 Boy !  Next home were our other Under 12s, Sebastian (6th U12 boy), Bob (11th) & Emily (7th girl) all running impressively. Next were our two Under 10 girls Erin (8th) and Edie (19th).  Edie lost time with a nasty fall but bravely carried on to the finish and a well-deserved Curly Wurly.

This was the last race in the 2013 Settle Harriers Junior Championhips.  Well done to the 30 juniors that have taken part in one or more races over the season and thanks to all the parents who have transported them to races and given them such great encouragement.  I won’t reveal the winners or the placings yet as we will be organising a prize presentation on a Tuesday after training in the near future.  More details soon.

The course for the senior race, the Withins Skyline, is one of my favourites. It’s moorland with only 1,000ft of climbing, so there are some fast stretches of running interspersed with plenty of mud, bogs, gorse, stream crossings and other hazards to negotiate.

There were only 5 Settle Harriers starters in the 260 strong field (the clash with Langdale the day before probably didn’t help).  Tony started well but unfortunately went over on his ankle badly after a mile or so and was unable to carry on.  Hope the ankle recovers soon Tony.  Anyway, this left me as the only male Harrier left in the race and a guaranteed 20 club championship points as long as I made it to the finish line.  I did and was pleased to find out later that my time was 10 minutes faster than in 2012 !

We had 3 ladies running – Carol (in her first outing since the epic Edale Skline), Jill and Helen.  They all enjoyed the course (I think) although sometimes the narrowness of the paths and the size of the field can make overtaking a little tricky.

At the front of the field, Tom Adams of Ilkley Harriers had an astonishing run, knocking 2 minutes off the course record previously held by Alistair Brownlee (Alistair had set that record when he was the reigning World Triathlon Champion and shortly after competing in the Beijing Olympics).

The next round of the senior club championships is Great Whernside on Saturday 26th October. This race has traditionally been well supported by Settle Harrers, so let’s have a good turnout for the last fell race of the senior club championship season.

Results (full ones at http://www.woodentops.org.uk/assets/results/13withins.pdf)

Under 8s

Under 10/12/14s

Senior (7 miles/1,000ft)

Andy Evans

Embsay Fell Race – Race Report

Sunday 22 September

We had an amazing 16 juniors out for the “BOFRA” races at Embsay yesterday which was the 15th (and last but one) event in our junior club championships this year.

It was particularly good to see a number of new members out competing. Hopefully they all enjoyed it and will also be out for the final club champs race in October.

In the Under 9s, Douglas and George went off fast and had a close race to finish only 2 seconds apart. Douglas’ run ensured that he stays at the top of our boys championships table.  Not far behind was Hamish who had another good run.  Edie and new member Lily both did really well to finish as 5th and 6th girls home with Edie moving to the top of our girls championship table.  Well done also to Billl, Lauren and Connie (in her first race) for showing great determination.

In the Under 12s,  Thomas Marshall and Seb set off near the front of the field.  Thomas unfortunately had a nasty fall before starting the descent and had to retire. He recovered later though and he remains 2nd overall in the BOFRA championship for Under 12 boys (with one event remaining) – a brilliant effort over the whole season.  Seb went on to finish 5th, an excellent result with Matthew and Bob battling it out with each other again, not too far behind.  They were followed by Emily and Erin, also running strongly and by Jack, who did really well in his first race in Settle Harriers colours.

The Under 17s ran the same course as the seniors (2.7 miles with 800ft of ascent & descent).  Well done to James on his 11th place.

4 of us ran the senior race.  Great news that Ruth was able to complete her first race for some time following her knee injury and subsequent operation.

Well done to everyone who took part.  The last race junior championship race is on Sunday 13th October and is the Withins Skyline / Curly Wurly Rat Runs near Haworth.  The Brownlee brothers used to compete in these and hold some course records for the junior and senior races !

Full Results

Under 9s

9       Douglas Segger-Staveley   4:12

10     George Pilkington              4:14

13     Hamish Griffiths                 4:30

18     Edie Eccleston                  4:42  (5th girl)

19     Lily Coward                       4:43  (6th girl)

23     Bill Peebles                       4:47

31     Lauren Evans                     5:35  (12th girl)

33     Connie Eccleston               5:41  (14th girl)

Under 12s

5     Sebastian Segger-Staveley      9:19

15    Matthew Holroyd                   10:34

18    Bob Evans                            10:45

28    Emily Carpenter                    11:37  (11th girl)

33    Erin Cummins                       11:54  (15th girl)

34    Jack Joyce                           11:56

Under 17s

11    James Maxwell                    30:08

Seniors

39 Andy Evans                   26:38

52 Judy Marshall                28:12 (7th lady)

74 Ruth Maxwell                 35:36

75 Richard Handford            36:44

Andy Evans

Last Saturday 17 Settle Harriers (10 juniors, 7 seniors) took part in the Pendle Fell Races, which was the first “Club Championship” event of the year for both seniors and juniors.

The race started in the village of Barley.  The weather was warm and sunny, the ground was mainly dry and there was a huge turnout in all the races, numbers probably boosted by the incorporation of the Lancashire County Fell Championships.

Juniors

The Under 8s raced around a lap of a very hilly field.  Douglas, Ben, Sam & Lauren all did really well, picked up club championship points and a generous goody bag at the finish.

The Under 10s race was a steep climb followed by a track to the wonderfully-named Buttock Farm (!) and back.  Erin ran well to finish as 13th girl and Edie battled her way bravely to the finish, despite feeling sick, to ensure a bonus championship point and a goody bag !

The Under 12s race went well beyond Buttock Farm and was much further than U12s usually run (the winning time was over 13 minutes).  Well done to Sebastian, new member Sean and Bob for showing great stamina.

Seniors

The senior race (a near record field of 340 runners) started with half a mile or so of road followed by a reasonably gradual climb up the shoulder of Pendle. The summit was in sight – easier than expected I thought.  Unfortunately the route then turned steeply downhill to the foot of the steepest route up the fell and it was time to haul your way up, grabbing on to tufts of grass or whatever you could on the way.  Around the cairn at the top, then a lovely runnable descent followed by the road section back to the village.  Carol had a good run to win the W50 category by some distance.  Tony was our first man home , so bagged 20 club championship points, closely followed by Brian with myself a couple of minutes behind.  Next were Sarah, Helen and Jess in her “comeback” race.  They all picked up useful championships points.

Results from Pendle (6th April)

U8

13 Douglas Segger-Staveley      2:17

15 Ben Greenep                       2:18

29 Sam Greenep                      2:49

32 Lauren Evans                      3:16

U10

35 Erin Cummins                     6:12 (13th girl)

56 Edie Eccleston                   7:24

U12

20 Sebastian Segger-Staveley   15:46

35 Sean Bargh                         16:34

37 Bob Evans                           16:52

Senior

(Winners were Rob Hope (32:13) & Vic Wilkinson (35:19)

83 Carol Evans                41:51 (1st W50)

96 Tony Thornton             43:09

(98 Claire Lilley                43:21 – Claire helps out with our junior coaching at Giggleswick)

108 Brian Kennedy          44:25 (12th M50)

136 Andy Evans              46:27

279 Sarah Cross             56:58

285 Helen Greenep       57:30

316 Jess Bagnall             62:45

Full results

Andy Evans