Calder Valley club’s fell runners bring the year to an end in style
Amidst all the festive celebrations, Calder Valley Fell Runners found time to compete in many events over the Christmas period.
The Cragg Vale Christmas Score starts from the St John the Baptist-in-the-Wilderness church and competitors have 90 minutes to roam the wilds, collecting as many points as they can by visiting controls marked on their maps.
At the elite end of the contest, only two points separated the top three solo men and Valley’s James Williams outsprinted clubmate Mark O’Connor in a close finish to claim second place, behind the overall winner, Todmorden Harriers’ Duncan Cannon.
Tamsin Cooke put her navigational expertise to good use, taking the prize for second solo woman. Rachel Johnston missed the start of the event due to a timing mixup, but still managed to claim third place.
Several club juniors and parents also took part, including Trudi Entwistle with son Thomas and friend Isaac, who finished second of the nine family teams.
The Stoop event, held in Haworth’s Penistone Hill Country Park, attracted a healthy field of junior and senior runners.
The older juniors completed two laps of the moor, past the edge of the pond and back round by the trig, each time dropping back into the quarry.
Calder Valley celebrated success with Jayde McGregor winning the U17s girls’ race in 15:59.
Ishbel Symington completed the single-lap U11s course in 9:51.
In the five-mile senior race, George Kettlewell was first back for the club, crossing the line in 30th with a time of 41:27.
He was joined by fellow clubmates Stephen Smithies, Mark Wharton, Phil Scarf and new club member Tony Moran.
Meanwhile, Valley’s juniors reflected on another successful year at their annual
Christmas party and awards presentation event.
The Champion of Champions award went to Clara McKee after her stellar season in the Yorkshire and English Championships.
The youngest joint winners of the coveted junior coaches awards were Teddy Haigh and Jules Ciolino. Also taking home awards were Rowan Gardner, Thomas McKee and Ashleigh Dixon.