Cake Race, Snowdon Half Marathon, Rossendale Tri, Fred Whitton Challenge, Alderley Edge Bypass 10K and Salzburg 10K, 2024
15th May 2024
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DESPITE THE HARRIERS taking part in several races over the weekend, the main attention was on the fells, where 13 Harriers ran the Cake Race. This was the fourth race out of eleven races in the Fell Grand Prix (FGP) Championship and Rochdale’s own Fell Championships. It was a short drive for the Harriers to Diggle, where the race started and finished. It’s called the Cake Race, because runners are encouraged to bring cakes to be judged on the best decorated and best tasting cake, along with a junior cake contest. After the race there is as much cake as the runners want to eat. The race was run in the high temperatures experienced over the weekend and more than one Harrier, plus the winner, probably did not drink enough water before the start, to prevent themselves suffering from heat exhaustion. The winner Nick Sheard (time 1hr, 12m, 4s) collapsed at the finish, though thankfully he fully recovered. The race is 16km (10 miles in old money) in length, with an overall climb of 518m (1700ft) and from Diggle climbs to go over Standage and Black Moss Moor.
Congratulations to Dave Parton (1hr, 18m, 41s), who finished in a respectable 6th place. Followed by Kay Welsby, 28th in 1hr, 27m, 14s, being the 3rd lady to finish and 1st FV40, so a massive well done to Kay. Kay’s prize was 36 mars bars, all but one of which had been consumed by the track session on Tuesday. Possibly that was another PB, maybe even a world record, but we have not checked.
Decland Harrison was next to finish, 56th, in a time of 1hr, 36m, 20s, followed by Emma Ball, 73rd, in 1hr, 39m, 10s, also winning her age category. Daniel Fenwick was the next Harrier to finish, 81st, in 1hr, 40m, 9s.
A big well done to the ladies team, who finished 1st, the team consisting of Kay Welsby, Emma Ball and Zara Hirst.
After the Cake Race, attention turns to the roads, where various Harriers went on their travels competing in a variety of races. Pride of Place goes to Phil Lockett, running in the Snowdon Half Marathon, billed as one of the toughest half marathons in the UK. Phil finished in a respectable 61st place out of 630 runners, in a time of 1hr, 50m, 13s.
We then have Corina Haynes who ran the Alderley Edge Bypass 10k, here a section of the A34 bypass is shut at Wilmslow for the runners to complete an out and back route. It is described as surrounded by the peace and tranquillity of the Cheshire Countryside and farmland ! (what with the A34 and so close to Manchester Airport, talk about rose coloured specs). Corina though finished in a time of 50m, 11s, winning the female vet 60 (FV60) category, beating the next FV60 by over 4 minutes and winning a £25 prize. Must have been that pleasant Cheshire countryside that spurred her on. Next on Corina’s ‘to do’ list is a sub-50 minute 10K.
Nearer home Henry Pickup competed in the Rossendale Tri Event, which consisted of a 450m pool swim, which Henry did in 9m, 5s, followed by a 23km road race (51m, 11s) and finally a trail run of 4.87km in a time of 22m, 46s. Being Henry’s first Tri, he accidentally swam 2 extra lengths of the pool.
Traveller of the month goes to Jackie Mason, who you may remember along with her husband Richard, ran a half marathon in each of the EU countries last year. This time Jackie ran the Salzburg Half Marathon, Salzburg being billed as the home of Mozart.
Finally, if all the running hasn’t made you either envious or dizzy, then the prize for effort of the weekend must go to Kristian Price and Jeff McCarthy, who both took part in the Fred Whitton Challenge. This is a cycle race starting and finishing in Grasmere, in honour of the late Fred Whitton, who was a great advocate for cycle sport in Cumbria and Lancashire. It’s a 112 mile cycle around the Lake District and takes in all the Lakeland passes of Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Hardknott, Wrynose and Blea Tarn. It is also a fantastic driving route, so just go on the website and check out the route. Be warned though that Hardknott has claimed it fair share of cars, it is a very serious road climb. Kristian finished 1750th, in a time of 10hrs, 22m, 34s and Jeff was 1981st, in 11hrs, 33m, 40s. The total number of entrants being 2031.
Next up this weekend is the Calderdale Way Relay, where the Harriers have three teams entered.