Club members have been showing the strength and depth of their running prowess throughout May. With some cracking results locally, over the borders into Wales and Scotland – at Intercounties, British Champs and BOFRAs – there is loads to report on.
The re-vamped John Carr Series saw some superb individual and team results. Joe Baxter taking the win at the first race – Baildon Trig, with Mitchell Boocock racing brilliantly finishing 21st and Neil Armitage 33rd – both Mitch and Neil also competing in all 3 races. John Navis was 1st P&B home at the second flatter, faster race, finishing 5th – The series finale, a 3-mile relay was won by P&B – Joe, John and Colin.
Joe Baxter representing Yorkshire at the Inter-counties Fell Championships
Rachel Pilling running for Staffordshire
The Inter-County Championships came to Yorkshire, racing at Flower Scar on the 11th – Members were running for various counties and represented themselves and their counties well – Joe Baxter (Yorkshire) – 7th, Rob Hope (Lancashire) – 2nd V40 and Rachel Pilling (Staffordshire) – 11th.
Tuesday 14th May was a local favourite, Jack Bloor – It’s always good to have a few out for this and even better when we get good results. Nine chaps ventured out to the fire scorched Ilkley Moor. Neal Crampton got a podium spot finishing 2nd and Graham Pearce followed in 5th. Neil Armitage wasn’t far behind and secured the win for team.
The BOFRA season sprang into action with the first race at Sedbergh on the 18th – The P&B BOFRA Family (Harding, Wilkinson, Pillings & Walkers) was out enjoying the sun, the gala and a short steepish hill. A strong start to the season with plenty more to come in June – 2nd Coniston Gullies, 8th Lowgill Sports, 16th Kettlewell, 23rd Hawkswick Dash. These races are tough, great fun and usually involve beer and/or cake. Check out the details at: http://www.bofra.org.uk/racecalendar/2019/champsonlyraces.php
Also, on the 18th Charlie Mac, Richard Pattinson (running together) and Jake Lodge braved Old County Tops – 37-miles and 10,000ft of climb, starting from Langdale and heading up Helvellyn, Scafell Pike and Coniston. Charlie and Richard made a strong start and reached Scafell Pike in 7th overall and comfortably leading the MV100 category. Unfortunately, due to an accident on Scafell, the pair had to retire before the climb up Coniston. Jake and partner Harry finished in 66th in 9hr52mins – a great run and he came to Tuesday training the following week.
A smiling Neal on his way to 2nd at Jack Bloor
The end of the month saw a return to Ras Y Meolwyn, Blaenau Ffestiniog – a distinctive pocket of grey within Snowdonia – for the 2nd round of the British Champs. The ladies (Caroline, Claire and Rachel) were out in force and managed to improve on their team result in Ireland. Not quite a team out for the chaps, but a fine selection all the same. Jake was out, fresh from OCT the previous weekend, Niall and Rob on the start list and ready to go, then the last-minute entry of Graham who was planning to have a trot as part of a weekend jolly but joined the racing instead.
Not at all in P&B style no-one went too wrong in the misty slate-mine coloured skies that covered the hills – good results all round including 1st V40 for Rob. Another positive result from the champs is that Caroline is now up to 2nd place in the fantasy fell running league, in part due to Rachel’s 8th place finish.
The same weekend Karen Pickles returned to her winning ways. After a cautious return to racing following injury, it is great to see her bag a win at the Kirkcudbright 10km in between the many glasses of bank holiday wine – Chuffed to see Karen’s return to racing as well as our other ladies coming back from injury.
Lots of other racing results over on the Results page — too many to cover everything here. Well done everyone who got out to represent the club this month.