3 Race Challenge
17 members took part in a 3 race challenge on Saturday, a fun way to tie in Fountains parkrun, the Littondale 4 mile road race and Arncliffe fete fell run (1.5 miles), while enjoying the old fashioned Yorkshire fare provided at the Arncliffe fete (if you have never been, its a great flash back to how villages used to hold their fete’s, the announcer needed an interpreter his Yorkshire brogue was so broad and his jokes just a little on the risky side!).
With the weather being very warm and sunny and the challenge of doing 3 races in 6 hours, strategy and will power was always going to be needed in abundance, and Ripon runners proved they had it in spades.
Firstly came park run, strictly a run, not a race, and despite the conditions, Matthew Bould, James Parkes and the ever improving (how quick can he go?) Dave Binks all recorded PBs and Andrew Harker completed his first parkrun.
After a quick refuel at the Fountains cafe, the Littondale 4 mile road race came next, a wonderful run along the Littondale Valley down quiet, undulating country roads. Dave Binks came in first for the club with Michael Hernandez chasing in second, Lewis Brooks came next (and claimed 2nd place in the under 23 category) with Matthew Bould 4th. Wendy Marks was first lady back and also claimed first in the V50 category, Anita Oldham was second back for the club with Anne Cheeseman 3rd.
Further refuelling (hot dogs and beer seemed a popular choice for many!) followed before the daunting task of the fell race run under BOFRA regulations. Most members had never done a fell race before, and there was a nervous silence at the start as we followed the course that included a short flat section, before we climbed straight uphill for about 500 yds. A run along the ridge followed before a quick and steep descent, leading to a quick run onto the village green and the finish. Dave Binks was again first back for the club in an impressive time of 13 mins 45 seconds, with Michael Hernandez in second in 15 mins 10 seconds and Lewis Brooks again in 3rd (despite injury) in 16.09. For the ladies Anita Oldham was first in 21 mins 59 seconds, Lindsey Fallow using her local knowledge of the fells, came next in 22mins 50 seconds with Anne Cheeseman in 3rd in 25 mins 8 seconds.
Overall competition winner (based on combined times) was Dave Binks, and James Parkes, and the Garbutts, John and Trish received recognition for their continued improvement and sporting endeavour.
We were not the only club taking the opportunity to fit 3 races in as Skipton had done the same. Maybe next year we could expand the challenge further?