Sabotage fails as Moss race is big success
THE Holme Moss Fell Race won by Peter Bray proved a massive success – despite a sabotage attempt!
When organisers Holmfirth Harriers staged a last check on the section from Cartworth Moor to Holme Moss of the gruelling 18-mile event, they found half a mile of route flags had been completely removed. This section was agreed by Yorkshire Water and BH Sporting, in consultation with the gamekeeper, and the flags were to ensure competitors kept to the agreed route.
Fortunately, Rob Kersey, the event organiser and Harriers president, had spare flags with him and was able to replace the missing section
So the race was a great success with 141 runners starting and all but two completing.
Rain had softened up the moor and many runners told tales of sinking up to their knees and even thighs in the boggier sections.
As is often the case nine out of the first 10 at Holme Moss checkpoint, on the way out, were still in the first 10 at the finish.
Only Under 23 Alistair Thornton of Loughborough University had moved up from 29th at Holme Moss to 10th at the finish.
The first three remained the same throughout with Peter Bray (Chorlton Runners) finishing in 2hr 34min 08sec – almost seven and a half minutes clear of second-placed Jake Lane (Totley AC) and Richard Roberts (Eryri) in third.
Bray’s time was just under a minute short of Karl Gray’s 2013 record, and he looked like he could have gone round again without too much trouble!
First vet home was M50 Richard Pattinson, Calder Valley, in an excellent 2-50.36.
The race was sponsored by Brooklands Nursery and Trespass Outdoor Clothing. A donation and raffle raised £216 for Holme Valley Mountain Rescue team.
Gary and Debbie Devine of Pyrenees Haven provided the main prize of a holiday.
With so many Holmfirth members helping around the course, only a small number took part, with the best results being Mike Fanning’s sixth place and 1st M45, Jordan Mullinger’s second female and Barbara Hinchliffe’s first F60 places. Holmfirth Harriers’ Mike Fanning was sixth and first M45 in the Holme Moss Fell Race (above left) Jordan Mullinger, (above right) Clark Hind and (below left) Barbara Hinchliffe Pictures by Norman Berry
Holmfirth and other local clubs results: Mike Fanning 6th, 1st M45, 2-51.56; Clark Hind 22nd, M, 3-19.16; Jordan Mullinger 47th, 2nd F, 3-30.37; Jonny Ridge (Denby Dale) 35th,M, 3-30.44; Anthony McCarthy (Meltham) 45th, M40, 3-41.28; Jo Worboys-Hodgson (Denby Dale) 48th, 2nd F45, 3-43.08; Andy Petrie (Stadium) 51st, M40, 3-45.38; Chris Beadle 56th, M45, 3-47.33; Daniel Greenwood (Meltham) 60th, M45, 3-51.43; Giles Bailey (Meltham) 67th, M50, 3-58.12; David Gill (Denby Dale) 69th, M55, 3-59.59; Ben Parkin (Stadium) 72nd, M, 4-01.30; Barbara Hinchliffe 75th, 1st F60, 4-06.43; Andy Bloomfield (Denby Dale) 88th, M40, 4-14.17; Andrei Vais 95th, M, 4-21.02; Debbie Hall 117th, F40, 4-41.59; Gilly Markham (Meltham) 125th, 2nd F60, 4-55.44.