Valley reap rewards for a superb season
A gap in the racing calendar allowed fell running’s great and good to gather at the FRA annual presentation at The Daffodil Hotel, Grasmere, hosted by Ambleside AC. Calder Valley’s glitterati were out in force as the club’s men picked up trophies for a clean sweep of the national 2015 FRA team titles.
An amazing year has shown that the club’s strength in depth is second to none.
CVFR were recognised for their magnificent achievement of winning gold medals in both the English and British Championship, with further gold in the English Vets and British Vets Championship.
This was the result of around 10 runners each contributing in some way in a multitude of counting races across the UK’s hills and mountains.
The women won bronze team medals in the English vets championship.
There were also individual successes to celebrate. Karl Gray won joint- gold in the English V45 championship, Gavin Mulholland bronze in the British vets and Sally Newman gold in the English FV50. Calder Valley juniors wrapped up their 2015 championship year with a fine celebration evening at Heptonstall BC.
More than 70 enjoyed an evening of music, games, good food and of course trophies.
The club championship consists of 12 races with total points used to calculate the overall champion, who this year was James Duffy.
The top three overall - Duffy, Joseph Hobbs and William Hall - received vouchers from Active Human. Calder Valley’s A team were absent for the daunting Tour of Pendle race in Lancashire, which was reduced from 17 to 14 miles after bad weather.
That gave Kevin Hoult the honour of being the first Calder runner over the line in 2.05.24, in 36th place. Other leading local finishers: