Calder find right path to earn Veterans title
Calder Valley’s men bagged another team prize in a barnstorming British championship fell race at Moelwyn in north Wales. Over a mountainous 10.5 mile course, with 2799 feet of ascent, Calder’s silver bullet Ben Mounsey had another superb showing in fifth place.
He looked likely to finish higher when leading after the first big climb. But some poor route choices coming down and a lack of local knowledge cost him dear. Scottish ace Findlay Wild took advantage to win.
Mounsey said: “I started to push on the first climb and couldn’t believe it when I’d opened up a huge gap on the rest of the field.
“Unfortunately I had no idea where the hell I was going off the top and I started to lose chunks of time faffing over route choice.”
With several other top runners also struggling for their bearings Ben and a few others clubbed together to get themselves down the mountain.
Then it was an every man for himself in a grandstand sprint with a mere 80 seconds separating second and 10th.
First Calder lady home was Gayle Sugden, with captain Helen Buchan and Karon Foster not far behind.
Completing the placings for the victorious Calder men were new signing and local Welsh maestro Math Roberts, who came third, and the di- minutive Tim Ellis in seventh.
Gav Mulholland was 10th and third veteran 40 while Darren Kay was the final counter for the seniors and with Mulholland, Shaun Godsman and Jason Williams, Calder were also top veterans team.
Todmorden Harriers were represented by Kath Brierley, who had a good run to finish fifth in the FV50 category in just over two hours.
Meanwhile, up in the Lake District, Harriers’ Paul Hobbs was taking on the legendary Anniversary Waltz race, which covers the ground of the Newlands Valley Horseshoe.
He maintained his good form in eighth position.
Closer to home, the route for the West Nab Fell Race near Marsden featured many twists and turns plus some steep climbs and demon descents.
Todmorden were represented by evergreen duo of Dave Collins and Martin Roberts but results are not out at the time of going to press.
Over at Whitworth there was the Mike McGee memorial 5K. Tod were led home by Michael Harper who dipped under the 19 minute mark for the first time in 12th.
Peter Erhardt continued his quest for 70 races in his 70th year with a time of 27.24.
Calder’s juniors raced closer to home at Howarth’s midweek Bunny Runs.
Max Wharton, Jack Denton and Edan Whitelaw won the team prize last week and were rewarded with a boat load of Easter chocolate each. Stainland Lion David Costello finished an excellent fourth in the mens race at the Huddersfield Marathon/Halfmarathon.
The event is listed as one of the toughest marathon’s in the country, and the route through the hills and valleys around Stainland and Golcar bear this out. A total of 224 runners took part across the two races.
Catherine O’Shaunessy was third in the Ladies race – coming home in 4hrs 14 :30 - her seventh marathon to date and in her view one of the toughest. She was supported by Stainland’s Sandy Gee ( 4: 16, 36).
Running the half marathon, Andrew Laird Boldy continued to go from strength to strength coming in well under two hours at 01:54.04. He was closely followed by Mark Speight ( 01: 58; 50), Paul Corns (2;01;35); Ranji Uppal (02:02.38) and Gail Schofield (02:10.32)