Swaledale Road Runners

Well done to all Swaledalers who completed the rather blustery Brass Monkey Half Marathon today! The wind was blowing across the course so it was pushing you sideways for most of the race, backwards for a couple of miles and forwards for about half a mile. All in all very hard work but we were rewarded with a 30th Anniversary gilet at the end. The race marks the start of our new club championship.

Dave Atkinson – 1.27.05, Simon Barlow – 1.32.33, Jacqueline Keavney – 1.34.17, Chris Lamb – 1.36.12, Stuart Clarkson – 1.46.23,Gary Young – 1.47.04, Jess Young – 1.49.00, Karen Saward – 1.51.11

Jess Young

Here are the first results from the club championship. (Once a few more races have taken place I will sort them out properly into age groups and presnet them a bit better). For a full explanation of what the age-graded results mean and a list of other races look in the competitions section above.

Liz Sowter

It is great to see people joining our Thursday beginners' group. For more information see the poster. Tell your friends and family about it or display a copy of the poster in your neighbourhood.

Only two days after our arrival on the Costa Blanca we found ourselves on the start line of the 2nd San Silvstre de Benidorm with 250 excited Spanish runners. Many towns celebrate this Saint's Day with a race, this particular one in Benidorm being just 6.2 kms long, a far cry from my preferred longer distance plods. It was a two lap course, completely flat, with half its length along the immaculate Benidrom sea front. As the weather is currently very settled, with high pressure sitting over Spain, it was 20 degrees, very different to our previous races in December on the North York Moors! Neil ran 23.13 and finished in an amazing 21st place, but was horrified to find out that of the 20 runners ahead of him, 10 were in his 40 - 45 age category. I fared slighlty better, although I had a time of 31.14 I was 5th in my age category. Due to the generosity of the sponsors, the first 5 in each category received prizes, so I found myself, slightly bemused, standing on the podium receiving my first ever individual race trophy!

One week later we entered our second Spanish race, which was a 17.5 km mountain trail race, starting in the small town of Barxeta, west of Gandia. Being used to small, low key fell races, we were somewhat surprised to find ourselves crammed into the plaza with 600 runners, all pumped up by the inspriational music and fireworks on the start line! The course was great, with 790m of ascent and more frighteningly, descent, as the hard stony trail undulated through orange groves, pine forests and on to the mountain tops, with stunning views. Although it was another perfect sunny day, the 9.30 start and ample shade in the pine forests meant that the temperature remained bearable for us unacclimatized, lilly-white Brits! It was a novelty for me to have so much company on the route and there was a great air of camaraderie, including lots of help to stand up when I fell over! Neil completed the route in 1.36.49 in 106th place and I limped in at 2.05.58.

Happy New Year to everybody!

Ros Blackmore and Neil Bowmer

Congratulations to the two winners of the 'guess the legs competition', Ros Blackmore and Stuart Clarkson. If you are still curious, click here for the answer sheet.

After a night of partying the idea of doing a fell race seemed less appealing than it had a couple of weeks before. Alarm failed to go off, so woke up at 9.30, the time that Derek was picking me up! Pit stop breakfast and off we went with Johnny Tennant as support. Arrived at Great Ayton, very busy in Royal Oak at race registration, quick change and onto the start line as the heavens opened. Large strong field of good runners, pleased to see Ione, Simon and Erika were also there.

Very wet and windy, boggy and slippy conditions, just what a hangover needed!! A great run well supported all around the course even in these conditions.

I came home first for Swaledale followed by Derek then Erika and then Ione and Simon,  Great run - don t know why I've not done it before, great start to the year!! Happy New Year everyone!

John Wilson

Results: John Wilson 40.08 (61st), Derek Parrington 41.39 (85th), Erika Johnson 42.07 (4th female, 1st F40), Simon Dowson 54.36, Ione Dowson 54.44. Total number of finishers 290.

Click on the photo to go straight to the gallery.

Fourteen Swaledale runners were among the four hundred and fourteen who took part in this year's Jolly Holly Jog. The race was won by Jamie Rutherford of Darlington Harriers in 36.16 while Becky Penty from York Acorn RC was 4th overall and first woman in 37.36! Martin Randall was first man home for Swaledale in 42.57 ahead of Derek Parrington in 43.34. Jackie Keavney was first vet 40 in 45.57. Stu Clarkson was next in 51.21, followed by Janet Mcrae 52.59, John Hunter 56.26, Pete Richardson 58.51, Kate Derrick 59.19, Marian Hunter 59.20, Helen Mckay 1.01.13, Vic Parkinson 1.00.37, Linda Turnbull 1.04.52, Julia Spittle 1.05.49 and Pauline Bennison 1.05.50.