After a wet Saturday, New Year's Day dawned fine and dry for the first Club Championship race of the year, Captain Cook's Fell Race, Race 5 in the Dave Parry Winter Series – not without mud even though the air was dry! Predictably, some steep climbs were involved from the start and a sting in the tail towards the finish saw a steady climb about 1 km from the end. A grand total of 34 Harriers out of a field of 310 turned out for this popular race, with Andrew Price first club finisher, 19th in 36.28 with Matt Jones 49th in 39.38, Paul Peacock 60th in 40.28 and Esther Harrison 41st, and 3rd Open Lady, in 41.19. Richard Grant took 42.02, Walter Busuttil 43.34 just ahead of Ken Wood in 43.45. Daniel Garthwaite took 44.01, Joe Lofthouse 44.13, Adrian Elsworth 44.17, Trudy Morrice 116th and 3rd F50, in 44.35, Brett Edgeworth 46.12, Clare Rowntree 46.49 just pipping Alan Simpson, 46.51, Joe Joyce 49.27, Fran Jeffery 51.12, Duncan Fothergill, starting off the year as he finished the last two by not missing a championship race, 51.42, Lyndsey Collins 51.48, Hilary Coventry 52.49, Helen Ashworth 55.09, Louise Mayfield 55.23, Martyn Coy 56.21, Andrew Pollard 56.41, Kirsty Naylor 57.16, David Tervit, another regular championship runner, 57.26, Rosie Gatenby 59.10, Ruth Pollard 59.14, Rob Burn, taking it steady just now, 63.56, Faith Coy 67.01, Beth Haggath 67.54, Christine Burn 75.57, Hugh Jenyns 78.45, Denise 86.39 and Phillip Craig 90.21. After a tough race, there were some happy smiling faces at the end!
Congratulations to the ladies on taking 2nd Team Prize, beaten by a single point by the winners.
Joe Lofthouse at Captain Cook's Fell Race
Adrian Elsworth at Captain Cook's Fell Race
Louise Mayfield at Captain Cook's Fell Race
Saturday dawned wet, and continued wet, for the park runs, with members at Fountains Abbey, Millfield, Northallerton, Darlington South Park, Cusworth Hall – where Bronwyn Mayo was 2nd Lady in 23.57, and Warwick Racecourse. The coffee at the end was especially welcome!