Three Peaks FR 2024, Mid Cheshire 5K and Newport Half Marathon

1st May 2024

John and Kay checking in at the top of Pen-y-ghent, with noisy support from Club mates

THERE WERE NO CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP races during the weekend 27/28th April 2024, so the Harriers split into two groups: those running the fells and those who favoured a road race.

Two Harriers chose to run the Three Peaks Race Fell Race held in the Yorkshire Dales. This 24-mile fell race had over 5,500ft of scent and started and finished in Horton-in-Ribblesdale. The first peak was Pen-y-ghent (old English meaning Hill of the Wind),. There Kay and John were met by six, rather noisy Rochdale Harriers who had travelled up for the day. Then off this summit down to the historic Ribblehead Viaduct, (the last to be built substantially by hand, after which mechanisation took over).

Six noisy Harriers travelled up the Pen-y-ghent to support Kay and John (Pen-y-ghent in background)

After a long slog to the viaduct, there was a river crossing and a steep climb up Whernside, followed by a descent to the Hill Inn, then a very steep climb (literally) up to the summit of Ingleborough. Just when the runners thought the hard work and sweat was over, there followed a six mile non-stop descent to the finishing field at Horton-in-Ribblesdale. To add to their agony, the runners can see the finishing tent all the way from the summit of Ingleborough.

Kay Welsby and John Bramwell ran the race together. John had a fall along the way and finished the race in 267^th place with a time of 4hrs, 36m, 35s. Whilst Kay was placed 268^th in a time of 4hrs, 36m, 41s, coming 5^th in her age category of WV40. A big well done to you both, it’s one of the toughest races outside the Lakes. Incidentally, the race has been won by RHAC’s President, Colin Robinson, in 1969.

Juliet Smith achieving a season’s-best time at the Mid Cheshire 5K

On Friday Juliet Smith had ventured down to Kingsley, running in the Mid Cheshire 5K. It’s billed as one of the fastest 5Ks in the country, enabling runners to achieve a fast time for the 5K. Juliet had aimed at getting under 20 mins for the distance. In fact she smashed her target by 30s, achieving a time of 19m, 36s and as she says, its only early season, so we expect to see more good results from Juliet.

The confusingly-similarly named Julie Smith at the Newport Half marathon

Another Smith, Julie, decided that she fancied a trip to South Wales, Newport to be exact, to run the Newport Half Marathon, held on Sunday. The half marathon is a new event and aims to take the runners past iconic landmarks such as the transporter bridge (yes there is another one, in addition to the Middlesborough transporter bridge. In fact, if you are brave, you can climb the stairs up the bridge, walk over it and then go down the steps at the other side. Julie finished the race in a time of 2hrs, 32s in the bright sunshine of South Wales.