Knaresborough Bed Race - 10 June
Report by Suzanne Rickard
Saturday 10th June was predicted to be hot and sunny for Bedrace day and it didn’t disappoint. But there were struggles in the lead up and on the day.
With everyone leading busy life’s and not being able to get the beds through to Knaresborough as often as we’d like due to our usual chauffeur Malcolm Gatford being unwell, this did not deter the determination shown by both the men’s and ladies’ bed race teams to success.
The men’s team of Jamie Baker, Archie Bordewich, John Chatwin, Ian Harrison, Ted Leahy, Hugh Watkin, with passenger Finlay Chatwin, were consistent from last year so committed to training in Knaresborough without the bed.
The ladies’ team of Laura Eden, Heather Glegg, Anneke Imeson, Libby Rickard, Emma Sorby, Claire Walker and passenger Ian Pollington-Clyne, had several team changes, some very late in the day, due to injuries and broken bones.
Thank you to Anneke and Heather for coming out of Bedrace retirement, as it seemed it was the weekend for everyone to be either at family events or on holiday.
Surely nothing else could go wrong… for the men’s team the outfits did not arrive in time so a few hastily improvised jackets, tops, were located or fashioned out of foil, so no penalty points incurred.
For the ladies, who could predict that the train Libby was travelling on would hit a cow!.. After a long delay, a decision was made to reverse the train back to Horsforth. One Uber later with 2 random strangers, a full ladies team was present, even if they were a character down for the parade (perhaps Mrs White was the one who was murdered?).
Despite all the challenges the men knocked off several seconds from last year’s time and achieved a time of 13.23 coming second to GH Brooks. The ladies successfully won the trophy back, first Ladies team by a slim lead of 7 seconds.
The teams would like to thank their nominated marshalls, Matt Brooks, Michael Harrison, Suzanne Rickard and Donna Riddler. Also for the massive support shown by all the Ripon Runners, family and friends both at the event and in the build-up, from those stepping in to help us train and for those lending outfits. Not forgetting all the messages of support, It all definitely spurs you on and shows what an amazing club we are part of.