Running Log

A nip-and-tuck battle for the whole 50 miles saw Horwich just beat Pudsey & Bramley to the Calderdale Way Relay title.

Brendan Bolland and Russell Maddams took over the Horwich baton nine seconds behind at Shelf and won by ten seconds at the end of the final leg at Norland, near Elland - a tiny margin in a six-hour race.

Unexpectedly mild weather on the day balanced the sodden underfoot conditions over the moors on this six-leg, two-runners-per-leg fell relay.

All the top clubs from Lancashire, Cumbria, Derbyshire and further afield joined the Yorkshire contingent in a record 112 teams.

Top local team performances were by Bingley Harriers (fourth), Keighley & Craven (11th), Ilkley Harriers (18th), Dewsbury (24th) and Spenborough (45th).

Bingley duo Ian Harris and Alistair Brownlee managed the fastest time on the long fourth leg after Brownlee's younger brother Jonathan and clubmate Jamie Robinson on the short leg three, and Robin Lawrence and Tim Midgley on leg two, had hauled their team into a top-four position that they retained.

Baildon Runners were a highly creditable 57th, benefiting from a superb fifth leg by in-form Gareth Hey and Quentin Lewis.

St Bede's pair Will Kerr and Simon Forde, despite losing several minutes taking the wrong route down Studley Pike, passed 31 teams but a weakened team could not maintain their hand-over position.

Bingley Ladies won the women's event, boosted by a superb anchor leg by Natalie White and Aly Raw on the final leg.

Ilkley Ladies were second after second-leg runners Alison Eades and Nicki Jacquies, on the leg across Studley Pike to Todmorden, had brought them right into contention.

  • St Bede's presented a £250 cheque to Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team in recognition of the voluntary work they provide fell runners at the Calderdale Way and year-round. It is part of £1500 of charitable gifts made by the club during 2007.
  • Sue Shepherd from CVSRT had given a talk to members at Esholt about hypothermia and safety while running off-road.

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