Skyrac AC

Fellrunners

The Fellrunner is the official journal of the Fell Runners Association which covers the sport from cartoons to gigantic labours of love and scholarship.

The current issue includes an article entitled "Why Do We Love Relays?" and amongst the 2500 or so words of explanation is a section by Dave Hodgson who suggests that relays bring into what is essentially an individual (or less politely, selfish) sport the attractions of a team event. Dave is one of the major figures in fellrunning with four second places in the Three Peaks Race amongst his achievements and he is Treasurer of Horsforth Fellandale which organises the Danefield Relay. This three lap relay around the tracks and bridleways of Danefield Park on The Chevin was established in 1998 when Skyrac entered two teams amongst the 48 teams that took part, Skyrac having taken part every year since.

One of the special qualities of the event is that because all runners cover the same three mile route, times can be compared within each team as well as between teams and so the relay is a race wihin a race.

For the first three years of the event the winners were Pudsey and Bramley but last Wednesday Otley triumphed.

In 2000 only 28 teams turned out but this year saw a record turn out of 72 teams with Skyrac being represented by two teams. Graham Grinstead, Malcolm Coles and John Forsyth came 25th followed by Dave Hill, Peter Rawnsley and Roger Dawson.

For more information about Skyrac AC which is an all-round running club covering juniors, track and field, road running and the fells ring Neil on 0113 229 0924.

Horsforth Harriers'

mixed results

A small group of Horsforth Harriers made the annual trip to the Midlands to compete in the recent Potteries Marathon at Stoke on Trent and met with decidedly mixed results.

On the positive side, Nicola Wilde ran to within three minutes of her personal best on what is regarded as a tough course, to finish third lady overall and first F40 in 3 hours 18 minutes. Dawn Gray, making her debut at the marathon distance, turned in an excellent 3:34 performance.

Two other ladies did not fare quite so successfully, with Jean Davey having to drop out at six miles with achilles trouble - subsequently to be sadly encased in plaster, and Julia Day dropped out at 15 miles with stomach cramp.

Disappointing results for two athletes who had both been in excellent recent form. Jean hopes to be fit again to compete in the Benidorm Marathon at the end of the year.

For the Horsforth men Marc Springer and Martin Pearson both completed another marathon hard on the heels of their performances at London and in Marc's case after his further performance at Leeds, to finish in 3.15 and 3.35 respectively. Graham Dawson, a veteran of over 100 marathons, chalked up another finish in 5.15.

Somewhat belatedly, and without the literal fanfares the individual winners received on the day, Horsforth Harriers men's team added to the club's success in the Leeds Marathon (Helen Sly won the ladies race) when the plaque awarded to the first men's team arrived through the letterbox of a surprised, but presumably delighted, men's captain, Marc Springer.

The team beating off illustrious opposition from all parts of the country on the day were Marc Springer, Angus Teanby, Steve Wood and Phil Hill.

More recently, Horsforth have had members running locally in the re-organised Meanwood Valley Trail, Skipton White Rose 10K and Pudsey Tough 10K Challenge, and entered three teams in the Danefield Relays, which are organised by Fellandale, the other Horsforth based running club.

All these races have been well attended, probably because of the continuing uncertainty regarding, and cancellations of, races due to the continuing foot and mouth outbreak.