On the longest day, on a warm, sunny evening, almost 340 runners tackled the latest HDSRL event, hosted by Wetherby Runners and based on Sicklinghall. The 6.2 mile race began with a run round a grass field – with grass hard and lumpy to run on, before moving out on to roads which might be described as switchbacks, always seeming to go up and not very often down, apart from a nice long downhill to the finish at the village hall – where welcome drinks and refreshments were waiting. Tom Levi was first club finisher, 9th in 35.42, Matt Jones 16th in 37.20, Ben Morgan 22nd in 38.02, 2nd claim runner, Heather Tuffs 27th, and 1st Senior lady, in 38.22, followed by Paul Peacock 40th and 1st M55 in 39.39, Gary Wilkinson 42nd in 39.42, and Esther Harrison, 53rd and 1st F35, in 40.29. Dan Garthwaite came 61st in 41.16, Richard Grant 69th in 41.40, Ken Wood, 75th in 42.23, Bronwyn Mayo 105th, and 2nd F35, in 44.16, Adam Harper-Walker 111th in 44.30, Lorraine Hiles 137th and 2nd F55, in 46.48 with Rob Burn 139th and 2nd M65, in 46.51. Joe Joyce took 47.06, Trudy Morrice 57.28, Adrian Elsworth 47.53, David Tervit 48.10, Pedro Carrasco 49.14, Kirsty Naylor 49.17, Fran Jeffery 50.46, Louise Mayfield 52.23, Dave Baker 52.34, Richard Soper 53.33, Rosie Gatenby 54.05, just ahead of Andy Newing 54.07, Helen Ashworth 54.27, Martyn Coy 56.24, Alan Dochery 56.52, Craig Atherton and Allison Whiteley 57.10, Faith Coy 57.57, Tracey Docherty 59.14, Chris Wordsworth 59.24, Geoff Bullock 59.53, Lynne Jackson 60.23, Duncan Fothergill 60.29, Janet Balmain 60.41, Beth Haggath 61.02, Louise McVay 61.26, Liz Wordsworth 61.29, Lisa Scott 65.11, Christine Burn 69.42, Denise Gaudy 77.03 and Liz Stephenson 84.13. Well done everyone on a testing course where heat was certainly a factor.
Ken Wood, Richard Grant, Paul Peacock,Tom Levi, Dan Garthwaite, Esther Harrison and Matt Jones relaxing after a hard HDSRL event at Sicklinghall
Earlier in the month, with temperatures in the mid-twenties, and little breeze on the tops, four lady members, with one husband in support, tackled the 42nd Swaledale Marathon over 23.2 miles with 4000 feet of ascent. The conditions made for hard going, and Rose Kruger was first club finisher in 4.54 hours, Anna Whitham 108th in 5.09, Kirsty Naylor 115th in 5.16 and Lucy Sillars, supported by husband, Tris,156th in 5.38. 419 people in total completed the marathon, which could be run or walked, and our team did well to come 2nd on points, 7th overall, receiving a handsome, specially made mug and a certificate for their efforts.
Kirsty Naylor, Anna Whitham, Rose Kruger, Lucy Sillars and husband, Tris, after the Swaledale Marathon
Hilary and Gavin Coventry were again in Ireland for their parkrun, with Ian and Marian Codling in Aberdeen, and others supporting more local events in Fountains Abbey, Millfield, Northallerton, Eastville, Stewart Park, Whitney and Potternewton.
Monday evening saw a massive 81 runners, including some in the Couch to 5k group organised by the club in the form of Duncan Fothergill, Jody Sygrove, Dave Baker and Andrea Colls, take part in the monthly time trial at Sowerby Gateway – though not all on the track! Well done and thanks to Duncan for masterminding this event.