Focus turns to road and fell racing season
THE cross country season sadly ended prematurely, when the National X Country Championships had to be cancelled at Telford two weeks ago due to heavy rain flooding the car park and course.
So now the focus moves onto the road and Fell Championships, with Harriers having to make a choice last weekend of road or fell.
The choice being, either running the Trafford 10K, the third of nine series road race championships, or the Ian Roberts Memorial Fell Race, first race in the series of the eleven Fell Grand Prix (FGP) races, since both were run on Sunday.
The FGP is really two championships in one, with it being a Harriers internal championship and also an inter club championship, consisting of eight clubs competing against one another. What one can only describe as a magnificent turnout of Harriers and certainly the best in years. 37 Harriers competed in either of the two races, with 28 running the Trafford 10K and 9 running the Ian Roberts Memorial Fell Race.
Starting with the Ian Roberts Fell Race, this started and finished at Marden Cricket Club. In fell race parlance, its classed as a BM race (short and medium climb), 6.5 miles (10.3km) long with 853ft (260m) of climb. First home for the Harriers was John Bramwell, 34th in 61m, 37s, followed by Declan Harrison, 38th, in 63m, 25s and then Jake Warwick, 42nd in 64m, 2s. Congratulations to Jennie Ransome, first Harrier lady home, 74th, in 71m, 41s and winner of her age category (W60). Rest of the Harriers were Pete Butterworth, 61st, Chris Gee, 76th, Emma Ball, 79th, Molly Howell, 100th and Matthew Cox, 131st.
Now onto the Trafford 10K, in what must be one of the best Harriers turnouts for years. 28 of them ran the 10K, with some 9 PB’S (personal bests) either achieved or broken this year. The course is one lap and flat, therefore fast. Starting from Partington and running around Dunham Massey, before returning to Partington.
Danny Bennett was the first Harrier back finishing 252nd in 34m, 42s, followed by Richard Stirzaker, 309th in 35m, 45s and then Luke Burley 317th. First Harrier female was Isabel Brandon, 597th, in 40m, 2s, with Juliet Smith being the second lady in 643rd place.
On the Saturday, two Harriers ran the Saddleworth 10 Reservoirs Fell Race. A 26 mile high moor route, around Saddleworth Moor, visiting 10 reservoirs with over 4000ft of climbing. Could be the start of a new trend, reservoir tourism, though I don’t think you will see it in the trail walkers brochure anytime soon!
The race started and finished at Dovestones reservoir near Oldham. If you are a walker then Dovestones is the place to go, as it has several scenic walks around it, with spectacular views. But get there early, the carpark
fills up fast, due to its popularity. Kay Welsby (FV40) and John Bramwell (MV50) were the two Harriers running in snow with the clag (cloud) down, so good navigational skills were required. Kay came 81st, in 5hrs, 57m, 16s and John 82nd in 5hrs, 57m, 17s, so a very good joint effort. Obviously it had not tired John out, because he went on to run the Trafford 10K on the Sunday.
Now we have had a complaint and in the best traditions of journalism we are rectifying it. One of our members has complained that we didn’t publish a report on the Windy Hill Fell Race, held on Sunday February 11th. Not only that, he has written the report for me, Chris Gee this is your moment of glory.
The race starts and finishes at the Rams Head, Denshaw, heading down to Piethorne reservoir, then under the Rakewood Viaduct to Lydgate, with a gentle climb up to Blackstone Edge, then onto the masts at Windy Hill, before making its way back to the Rams Head.
A total of 11 Harriers braved the elements and the clag, to complete the 11.8 mile race with 2,100ft of climbing. First Harrier back was Jonny Lawlor, 60th in 1hr, 55m, 35s, then Pete Butterworth, 77th in 1hr, 55m, 13s.
Declan Harrison was just 8 seconds behind Pete, placing 79th. Jennie Ransome the ever consistent runner, was first female Harrier to finish, 94th in 1hr, 59m, 22s. Jennie was followed by Chris Gee, 144th, in 2hrs, 11m, 14s, Bryony Sherry, 196th, an excellent run from Bryony, who is relatively new to fell running.
A note to all walkers, it is an excellent route for a walk, either starting from the Rams Head or the car park by the masts on Windy Hill.