Hoad Hill Harriers

Continuing to the Dalton 10k, Hoad hill was once again out in force and managed a few prizes against a very competitive Field. Bobby Atkinson was the winner in an incredible time of 32.25 which turned out to be the fastest 10k time this year by a vet 50. Our own Dave Fulford was 3^rd home in a time of 34 .46 and received a Pete Bland voucher for his effort. It was again a good evening for running if not a little breezy on the run back to Dalton but overall a good event.

GARBURN TRAIL RACE

Once again a trail race has fallen foul of the weather. Heavy overnight rain and the prospect of sleet on high ground caused panic and the low level route was put into operation. This low level route was 11.7 miles long and was still a tester. The organisors advised full body cover but stopped short of making it mandatory, so it was then down to what you thought was sufficient to get you to the end without Hypothermia. In my case it was a pair of gloves and a top in a Bum Bag, with very little intention of actually putting it on. Clothing for the race was club vest and shorts, I have to say it was the conditions that suite me down to the ground, cool, wet, and muddy.

The race starts from Staveley, on the road with a 1.5 mile climb before you leave the tarmac for a gravel Bridleway, the terrain then changes to grass, gravel, and a long boulder strewn descent back to the road, brilliant.

The route is then undulating all the way to Kentmere, where normally you would go over Garburn Pass, this time however we looped back and climbed the bridleway back to Grassgarth. This was all runnable terrain and as such there were no areas for a hand on knees climb, where you could have a breather. The race for me was going ok, and some competitors I had passed on the long downhill took a long time to catch me back up. I managed to stay with a group of three runners for about 3 miles and eventually summoned enough strength to pass them and that’s how it stayed to the end. Oh it did absolutely chuck it down on the last climb up to Reston Scarr but too late then to even think of putting extra gear on and yes I was frozen but only 10 mins from the end so who cares. My time was 1hr and 30 mins and I was 4^th Vet 50 in 41^st place. I was freezing and knackered but had the satisfaction of knowing that I could not have run any faster. I did not see Penny Moreton on the day but Penny finished in 2hr 10m 25 sec.

Graham

MORECAMBE 10K

On Sunday a large party of runners from GlaxoSmithKline HoadHillHarriers made the trip to Morecambe for the annual 10k road race, one of the races included in the club championship.

Run out and back along the promenade from the newly refurbished Midland hotel with a loop through Heysham this is a fast course, which attracted a field of almost 300 runners.

As is usual over the last few years it was a very hot, sunny, day with only a very slight breeze over the promenade to provide any relief.

Race winner was Stewart MacDonald from Bingley Harriers in 33min. 45secs. First lady, and in

First back for the Harriers was Gary Dover in 29^th. place in 40.03, to be first mv45, a pleasing result for Gary, coming back to form after a long spell of injury.

First lady was Sharon Dixon in 54^th place in 41.51, third lady overall and first LV35.

Other finishers were as follows, 34. Eric Hampton 40.32. 56. Nigel Storey 42.32. 92. Pete Davison 45.37. 105. Pat Thomas 46.22. 117. Ken lamb 47.31. 163. Simon Barton 51.04. 182. Mike Fawcett 52.42. 190. Mike Lavery 53.50. 193. Paul Jarvis 54.12. 202. Stuart Currie 54.53. 220. Sylvia Gittins 56.36.

Mike Fawcett

This will go down as one of Mikes most expensive races, after the race Mike decided to have a look at the local running shop with Sharon as her recent winnings were burning a hole in her pocket. On returning to his car it was noted that some unfortunate’s vehicle was receiving the attention of a traffic warden. Of course Mikes car was ok he had put 3 hours on the ticket. Unfortunately it was Mike’s car and trouble was they had been away for 3 hours 10 mins and wallop £50 quid please for the extra minutes. Hopefully the other competitor that took Mikes initial “3 hours will be ok” advice faired a bit better. As a foot note, Mike with a mind to keep costs down, paid up that night and the pain was reduced to £25.

HAWKSHEAD 10K

A large number of runners from all the local running clubs travelled to Hawkshead on Wednesday for the 10k road race organised by Kendal AC.

On a very hot, humid night this popular race attracted a record field of almost 170 runners.

Race winner was Danny Parkinson from organising club Kendal in32min. 43secs. first lady was Bev Wright from Blackpool in40.17 in 27^th place overall.

From the local runners first back was Gary Dixon from Barrow & Furness Striders in 2^nd. place in 33.48, with David Fullford of GlaxoSmithKline HoadHill Harriers in 5^th place in35.24. First local lady was Sharon Dixon of HoadHill finishing 4^th lady and in 36^th. place overall in 41.53.

The Hoad Hill ladies team of Sharon Dixon, Julie Hunter & Alison Knowles took the ladies team prize.

Other local finishers were as follows (HoadHill unless shown A = Allithwaite, B = Barrow, BC = Blackcoombe.

15. Darren Athersmith 38.28. 18. Paul Parker (B) 38.33. 19. Ross Keating 38.45. 21. Simon Stanway (B) 38.57. 30. Gary Dover 40.32. 41. Ian Sadler (B) 42.39. 42. Nigel Storey 42.43. 49. Steve Harrison 43.36. 50. Peter Taylor (BC) 43.52. 57. Sue Hodkinson (BC) 44.45. 59. Bill Ross (BC) 44.58. 60. Mike Jewell (BC) 45.20. 66. Tom Southward 46.37. 75. Phil Newton (BC) 47.15. 76. Pat Thomas 47.15. 85. Dave Wilson (BC) 48.24. 90. Julie Hunter 48.50. 94. Ian Conway 49.36. 97. Paul Coward (A) 49.48, 98. Andrew Gittins (BC) 49.52. 102. Alyson Knowles 50.20. 121. Carol Whittle 53.17. 126. Abbie Young 53.45. 127. Rob McKeever (BC) 53.55. 128. Helen Fawcett 54.40. 129. Mike Fawcett 54.40. 133. Dave Jones 56.01. 136. Claire Watson (BC) 56.26. 137. Penny Moreton 56.26. 142. Karl Fursey (BC) 57.49.

After the race all the runners enjoyed the traditional prize giving barbecue in the village square.

Mike Fawcett

FLAN FELL RACE

Flan Fell Race, what can I say other than 1.7 miles of hard work and sweat, the sweat being most pronounced as it was a very hot evening. The juniors were first off with the winners honours going to Tom Taylor of Kendal AC in 10.06 over the mile course.  In a virtual dead heat finish for second and third came Luke Turner Hoad Hill, 10.38 and Thomas James, Hoad Hill 10.39. Abigail Howie, Hoad Hill finished strongly ahead of the ever improving Katie Griffiths in 11.48 to win the junior girls race. At 7.30 it was the turn of the seniors and a field of 16 took off from the Gill to the top of Flan, where Erik and Simon were waiting to make sure we all arrived there. The downward run only takes half as long as going up and this bit can suite the faster runners, as they have a chance to pass people who are good at climbing, but not so good at descending. Sometimes this can prove difficult on a single fell track, but not usually on a track as wide as the path back to the Gill. In my case it did prove very difficult and I aired on the side of caution which is unlike me, otherwise the outcome would have been different. The battle of the race was Chris Howie who held off club mate Jeff Chadwick, to win in 11.24.  The two swapped the lead on the early part of the ascent, before Howie pulled away at the top and then opened up the gap with a fast descent back to the finish line. Chris was rewarded with a clean sweep of prizes, First home, fastest Vet and fastest time. Melanie Hyder was the first female home and Sharon Dixon was first Vet female home and the rest of us were reduced to gasping, sweating runners wondering did we just do that.

Graham

Finally

We have had another classic Erik faux pas. As we were all waiting to set off on our Monday night club run, Erik was asking what the intended route was as he said he had to quickly go home, but would catch up with us on route. All became apparent when we looked at his feet and found he had put on odd shoes, yes odd shoes, a tennis shoe on one foot and a running shoe on the other, not even the same make. This must be a first.