Fell Runs & Challenges in July

Marc Scott has had a busy race calendar during recent weeks, accomplishing some top performances, with 3 races in 5 days to really test his endurance. On Sunday 22nd July, he took a well-deserved 2nd place from 13 runners at Hawkswick Dash, a BOFRA Championship race at Littondale, near Kettlewell, which is a short, sharp fell race, finishing in 4.45. Only 2 days later, Roseberry Topping was the venue, covering 1.5 miles with a sharp ascent of 720 feet and a very steep return downhill, where Marc finished 17th overall from a field of 54 competitors and was 1st junior in a time of 15.13. After only one day’s rest, he then embarked on the Ambleside Sports Fell Race, another meeting in the BOFRA calendar on Thursday 26th July; a demanding course, which covers 1.5 miles and climbs over 600 feet. There were 25 entrants willing to take on the challenge and Marc finished 4th in the Under 14 age group, with another excellent time of 11.04, with more to come over the Summer months on the off-road circuit. Paul Goad was another Harrier keen to get into the mix of mud and hills, also taking on the testing course at Roseberry Topping, on a night with good weather during this summer’s strange climate. He finished 53rd overall, after taking 21.10 to complete the steep climb to the summit and back.

James Herriot Trail Run 14K - Castle Bolton - 29th July 2007

Staying off road, Sunday 29th July saw the annual running of the James Herriot Fell Race, which covers 14k (approximately 8.7 miles) through scenic Wensleydale. This year 3 Harriers took to the grassy moors, trails and farm tracks en-route to the finish at Castle Bolton on a day, which was warm with a fairly strong, gusting wind. Tony Hewson was first to finish in 50th place with an excellent time of 67.20, while Jim Robinson and Ian Hepworth faced some stiff competition in the Male Vet 60 category. Jim was next across the line and 76th overall in 70.18, which earned him 4th in his age group, despite another nasty fall only 2 miles from home, injuring his elbow and hip for the second time in as many weeks, while Ian completed the course in 74.50, taking 114th position and 5th in the same category, from a total of 285 runners on the day.

Harrogate Town Centre 10K 29th July 2007

Back on the roads, Dan Spencer chose to compete in the ever-popular Harrogate Town Centre 10K on the same day on more slightly even terrain, although the course does include an uphill climb, as it takes in 2 laps around the town itself. He had an excellent run, taking the route in his stride and finished 39th overall in a first-rate time of 38.33 from a field of over 630 competitors on the day.