Diana Williams with her support group for her 50th park run, at Fountains Abbey
Photo – Kerry Morgan
Coronation Day saw a big turnout, 473, for the latest park run at Fountains Abbey. Diana Williams was celebrating achieving her 50th park run, and 14 members were there in support. Fastest of them was Gary Wilkinson with a PB just about every time he turns out just now. 19.32 was his time this week, in 17th place with Mike Cropper next, 57th in 22.33 and Anna Whitham 137th in 25.11. Marc Davies, in a change from his usual fell races, came 149th in 25.24 and others in support were Alan Docherty, Tracey Docherty, Adrian Saunders, Amanda Johnson, Paul Adams, Kimberli Werner, Bev Davies, Denise Gandy (PB), Diana sporting a tiara, and Ian Codling. Other park runners were at Northallerton, Millfield, where Bronwyn Mayo was 3rd lady, Darlington South Park with the well travelled Jason Mc Laughlin at Brooklands.
The previous weekend, four Harriers took part in the Cake Race at Diggle, where, if you took a cake for all to share at the end, you got a reduction in entry fee! Conditions were warm for the hilly 10 mile loop, mostly along the Pennine Way, and Richard Grant was first member home in 14th place. Rose Kruger was 10th lady to finish, and only moments later, new member, in his first fell race for the club, came Andreas Kruger, 68th, with Joe O'Keeffe 83rd. Afterwards, everyone feasted on cake of all shapes and sizes – and excellent flavours!
Richard Grant's cake for the Diggle Fell Race
Rose Kruger, Andreas Kruger, Joe O'Keeffe and Richard Grant at the Diggle Cake Race
Photo – Richard Grant
More traditionally, perhaps, 7 members were among the field of 159 at the final fell race of the Dave Parry winter series, the Gisborough Moors Fell Race over 12.3 miles with 2200 feet of ascent. The race went across boggy moorland to Percy Rigg and Kildale before returning via Captain Cook's Monument, as well as an out and back up Roseberry Topping, then back to Guisborough. The weather was better than had been forecast, though there were still plenty of boggy lengths and the odd mire to ascend or descend, but generally, conditions were good. Tom Levy was first club finisher, 17th in 1.41.03, with Paul Peacock 54th in 1.55.19 closely followed by Esther Harrison, 58th in 56.48 with Alan Simpson 98th in 2.12.46, Clare Rowntree 102nd in 2.13.22, Marc Davies 112th in 2.16.14 and Fran Jeffery 128th in 2.21.37. Tom, Esther and Fran went away with bottles of wine as a prize, and the ladies, Esther, Clare and Fran, got 2nd Team Prize.
Clare Rowntree at the Gisborough Moors Fell Race
Photo – Bev Davies