Knaresborough Bed Race
The Ripon ladies made it seven consecutive wins and the men were just pipped to second place overall in another really successful bed race weekend for Ripon Runners. Below are the reports from the team captains Suzanne Richard and John Chatwin.
From Suzanne:
As always the sun came out for the Knaresborough bed race. With plenty of help from fellow Ripon Runners, beds were decorated and transported upto the castle grounds. Thanks to Malcolm Gatfords engineering skills, both beds passed the scrutiny and everyone got into costumes for the theme of A Night at the Theatre. After the parade the beds were stripped of their decorations ready for the race. The men’s team (John Chatwin, Mark Ryder, Jim Berriman, Dougie Scott, Dom Lockwood, Reece Dalton and driver Lauren Binks) were first to go out and went out strong, but despite their best efforts were overtaken by one team on the hill. Even so a tremendous effort from the team for the rest of the race earnt them a well deserved 2nd place. The ladies team (Suzanne Rickard, Donna Riddler, Becky Turner, Anneke Imeson, Heather Glegg, Emma Sorby and driver James Pollington-Clyne) set off bed 23 and with 2 other ladies teams setting off close behind were also under pressure. Getting a clear route through with great steering skills from James, they managed to overtake a bed on the hill and 2 on the high street. A smooth river crossing with not too many beds ahead saw them retain their title of First Ladies team for the 7th time.
From John:
What a day, one if the most amazing racing days I’ve experienced, the atmosphere during the parade and race was unbelievable!! The lads did Ripon Runners proud on a really hot day. It’s difficult to describe how hard the Bed Race is. You basically run 2 miles as fast as you can uphill and downhill reaching speeds at times of sub 4 min miles then have to swim across a river all the time pushing a bed. We came a close second to a very strong GH Brooks team who had pulled together runners from previous winning bed race teams all in an effort to beat us. I couldn’t have been prouder as captain when we crossed the line knowing we’d given everything and pretty happy with 2nd place (although I would have loved to come home first!!). The team was made up of Reece Dalton, Dom Lockwood, Mark Ryder, Jim Berryman, Doug Scott and myself with Lauren Binks as our passenger.