Coiners Fell Race and our Junior Fell Championship Race 4.
Well, were can we start on this one, no pre-night planning of the trip, no early morning start for a 300 mile round trip and yes, no rain, wind, snow. All we had was a short trip over to the next valley, lovely May sunshine and mass of juniors wearing Blue and White. Just before we set off, an emergency phone call was received from Dave (Woodentops) Woodhead, begging for a lift has is beloved motor home had sprung a fault and he knew the kind Bingley Harriers would be on hand to help out. After negotiating a fee (more pictures of our team than any other on the day!!) we decided it was in the best interests of Fell running and our club that to allow him to travel with us.
So to the races, but before that, the blue sky and white cloud blended into the scene on the Fell side with the Bingely blue and white being worn so proudly by all our juniors.
Right, we started with a mass start with the U8 and U10’s races. We had a great turnout in these races with Livi Tiffney and Oliver Peace running in the U8’s with Joseph Carnelley, Joseph Child and William Moorhouse all in the U10 boys. Livi had another great race in only her 2nd fell race over a very hilly course, finishing well up in the pack. Dad Paul told her at the finish that her downhill style and pace was far better than his. Oliver ran a fantastic race, pacing it just right and finishing 2nd overall. In the boys U10 race, Joseph Child in his first fell race had a great race along with the ever improving Will. Joe Carnelley took the honours in the race taking a great 3rd place overall.
The next mass start was the U12, U14 and U16 races, and what a sight it was with Bingley being represented in all the races. In the U12’s we had Lucy Shutt and Katie Smith (in her first fell race) with Joseph Treasure-Jones. In U14’s we had Abigail White, Olivia Roper, Vicki Merrick, Alex Stewart, Henry Moorhouse and Matt Merrick. In the U16’s we had Max Nicoll.
In the U12 race, Katie running in her first fell race ran a very tactical race and finished in a fantastic 4th place, just missing out on final downhill finish. She was closely followed home by Lucy who’s uphill running is becoming a faster each week. The every improving Joseph was the star in the boys race taking a great 3rd place overall.
In the U14 race, even more medals finished around the Bingley necks. In the girl’s race, Vicki took a great 2nd overall behind her friend from Stockport Lily, but next across the line, after a fantastic run was Abigail for a well deserved 3rd place. Olivia then came home close behind the leaders after another good race. In the U14 boys, Alex had a fantastic race and took a great 3rd place. He was followed home by Matt and Henry who is now on the comeback trail after injuries at the end of last year and the start of this.
In the U16 race, Max had a great race finishing well up in the pack and looking more like a senior fell runner every day. Keep it up Max and show the younger juniors how to step up to the U16’s and then the seniors.
Since the start this year’s championship and fell races, I’ve tried to pick out a star on the day. Sometimes this is made easy for me, sometimes difficult like the last race which the team took, but today it was even harder. We had some excellent individual performances and what can I say about the teams overall performance, but I need to make a judgement and for this race it has to go to Abigail White. She put in today what I believed she can do, she struggles with the cold in her fingers in winter races, but today the sun shone and so did Abi.