The Great Knaresborough Bed Race, 11 June
Report by Suzanne Rickard
The Great Knaresborough bed race, for those that don’t know, is one of those quirky British events, which takes weeks of planning and preparation for a 2 mile run and refreshing swim across the river Nidd. This year was the 55th year of this quintessential event and the theme for the pre-race parade was, “The environment, reduce, reuse, recycle.”
The race involves a team of 6 male, female or a mixture pushing a bed (more like a go kart than a bed) with a small, lightweight, but capable, driver around a very hilly course. It all starts at Conyngham Hall and heads off along the riverside, up Castle Ings, through the market place and down the high street, back across to the other side of the river Nidd, a swim across the river, then a crazy and somewhat chaotic scramble, to the finish line.
Tactically, a very light weight passenger is ideal, but they also play a key role, as the bed that Malcolm Gatford designed for Ripon Runners involves the passenger steering the bed around the course (as opposed to having shopping trolley type wheels). They are also required to shout encouraging comments to motivate the team! Thanks to this year’s excellent prospective Formula One drivers, Finlay Chatwin and Ian Pollington-Clyne.
The event doesn’t just involve the big day, various meetings and weeks of planning and training; the beds have to be decorated in the chosen theme. For the girls, thanks go each year to Andy Matheson who very kindly drops us a supply of large cardboard boxes, for us to paint and design. Donna Riddler although not running for us this year, helped us enormously by painting and storing the decorations.
Each team provides two marshals. This year huge thanks go to Lisa Sorby and Jo Hope for the girl’s team and Helen Cox, Beth Constantine and Matt Brookes for the men’s team. Your efforts are hugely appreciated.
Tens of thousands turn up to watch the event, and amongst the crowd, it is fabulous to see fellow Ripon Runners who are there to support, shout and encourage us, helping us get around the challenging course. Thanks also, to those that send messages of support and follow the event via social media. All of this is very much appreciated; we are proud to represent such a fabulous supportive club.
This year, the men’s team of John Chatwin, Jamie Baker, Archie Bordewich, Ian Harrison, Hugh Watkins and Ted Leahy ran the fastest time ever for a Ripon Runners team. This is highly commendable and after a battle of overtaking manoeuvres with Knaresborough Striders, Ripon Runners men finished second to GH Brookes bettering their 3rd place in 2019.
The ladies’ team, aiming for their 9th successive win consisted of Suzanne Rickard, Claire Walker, Anneke Imeson, Heather Glegg, Emma Sorby and Lucy Philpott. Despite knocking off over 30 seconds off their 2019 time they also finished second to the Welly Wheelies.
Several beers were sunk at the post race analysis in the Royal Oak, with many declarations of intent on how to claim titles next year!