Davis takes advantage of slip-up to win handicap with fast finish
CALDER VALLEY Fell Runners had a busy day last Saturday with athletes competing in the Winter Handicap race before attending the club’s annual presentation awards later in the evening.
Runners’ start times were based on how well they have raced over the previous year, with the aim that everyone crosses the finish line at the same time, and the out-andback
Dougie Zinnis, Spine Challenger Race winner, took the Runners’ Runner of the year award
route from Mytholmroyd to Stoodley Pike, comprised five miles and about 1,000ft of boggy climbing.
Lawrence Fennelly appeared to be on course for the win, descending from Broad Head but he took a longer route to the finish, allowing Jocasta Fletcher and Andrew Davis to reach Stubbs field first.
Fletcher remained in front until the closing stages but was overtaken by Davis yards from the finish line.
New Valley runner Chris Holdsworth was the fastest back in 34:28, beating Karl Gray’s previous record.
Also beating the previous best was U23s athlete Martin
Howard who crossed the finish line in 35:17.
Cass Chisholm was the first woman back in 50:11 and Tom Owen the first junior to finish in 46:48.
The annual presentation evening, at the Trades Club in Hebden Bridge, celebrated another great year.
Catherine Holden won the women’s title for the second straight year, with Charlotte Wetton second and Eileen MacDonach third. Holden also won the V40 title for the second successive year.
Carole Fryer won both the Short and Medium Race Queen crowns with Charlotte Wetton putting in the distance to win the Long Race Queen title.
Club champion, for the second year running, was Jonny Croston, who also bagged the V40 title for the second year. One point behind in second was Paul Haigh while Andy Wright was third.
Rob Rawlinson won
the
Handicap Championship with maximum points, Andy Wright won the Short Race King, Rob Rawlinson the Medium King and James Cooke the Long Race King.
Mark Wharton was crowned V50 champion and the Ultra titles were won by Jackie Scarf and Kevin Hoult.
In the Summer series, a series of short summer races, Jon Emberton and Natasha Butterfield took the crowns.
Dougie Zinnis, winner of the
Spine Challenger Race, won the Runners’ Runner of the year award, as voted for by club members.
The award was also in recognition of his Bob Graham and Paddy Buckley Rounds last summer.
The raffle, organised by Gill Dickson, with prizes donated from club members, raised £193 for Calder Valley Search and Rescue.
Calder’s expert navigator, James Louge was third back and first V40 in the Hoofstones race, clocking 1:04:48 to finish less than two minutes behind winner Peter Davis of Dark Peak. Valley teammates Anthony Costello was 34th in 1:25:47 and John Nunn was 65th.
Ben Mounsey’s winter training continued well in Spain when he celebrated victory at the 14k Castell D’Aixà Trail (627m climb).
ONLINE: Visit our website for more of the latest sports news.