The final race of the year in the Dave Parry Winter Fell Race series, Race 4 at Guisborough Woods, had 169 entrants, 6 of them being from Thirsk and Sowerby. The 3 lap course with a bit of everything, – fast and flat, steep ascents and slithery descents – saw Andrew Price coming in 12th in 44.44, Paul Peacock 49th in 51.39, with the eventual 1st Open lady, Esther Harrison, 52nd in 52.04, Trudy Morrice 64th, and 2nd F 50, in 54.09, Brett Edgeworth 76th in 56.53 and Lindsey Collins 135th in 66.28. Congratulations to the 3 ladies on coming 2nd in the team competition.
Darlington South Park and Millfield were two locations which held park runs on New Year's Day, and once again, thanks to the organisers for making the effort. Andy Whiteley, obviously not suffering any ill effects from the previous night, came 20th out of 277 at Darlington in a PB time of 21.24 with Allison Whiteley 204th in 31.42. Rob Lickley, gradually getting back into running again, came 111th out of 143 at Millfield in 35.32.
The previous day, which started wet but then dried up nicely for the start, there were 494 finishers at Fountains Abbey, Richard Grant being the first club finisher on his first time at Fountains, 12th in 20.06, with Mike Cropper 106th in 23.53 and Alan Docherty, really testing himself for the first time after his knee operation, taking 32.33 with his wife Tracey alongside keeping an eye on him 32.43. Paul Adams took 37.18 and Marian Codling, walking, 52.11.
At Millfield, Lorraine Hiles was 31st out of 198 in 22.57 with Stuart Waters putting in an appearance for the first time for ages, taking 26.14 and Rob Lickley 36.01. Pete Jackson came 32nd out of 112 in 26.18 with Diana Williams taking 39.27. Thanks are due to all organisers and volunteers who make these events possible each week.
Duncan Fothergill making a dash for the line at the Captain Cook's Fell Race
