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FRA English Junior Fell Championship – 2014

Last weekend brought a close to the FRA English Junior Fell running championship for 2014. It seems a long time since it all started back in April, with Pendle in the wind and rain for the opening and ending in sunshine for our own TTT races. We’ve travelled some distance over the last 4 months to 7 locations across some of the best fells and hills in the North of England.

The aim set for 2014 by Alan and I was to see how many Bingley children we could get to run in the championship, knowing it was a distance to travel we tried to put the 5 best races in our Bingley championship hoping this would attract both the children and parents. My personal aim was to try and better the team finish from the previous year. The championship (u12 upwards) consisted of 7 races, of which 4 were only required as counters in the final placing. The team score is calculated from the best 3 finishes from the club across the age group, so it was very competitive in all races.

Over the 4 months, our team of merry kids wore the blue and white vest with pride in all conditions, promoting the club with children from other clubs in the country.

So where did they go:

  • April 6th – Pendle (Clayton-le-Moors Harriers)
  • April 19th – Rivington Pike (Horwich RMI)
  • May 5th – Coiners (Calder Valley FR)
  • May 31st – West Nab (Holmfirth Harriers)
  • June 7th – Turner Uphill only (Broughton/Ambleside)
  • June 21st – Clougha Pike (Bowland FR)
  • July 13th – Kettlewell (Bingley Harriers)

And how did we do:

Well, with so many names choose from I thought it would be best to give a link to the overall results section on the FRA Junior Website. Allow you to pick out your own child, children, but I would like to give mention to the new U12 boys and girls who were running in the championship for the first time. It was difficult at times on this stage, but you all did yourself and me proud. We also have a team of girls in the U14 (Olivia, Lucy and Katie) who worked and encouraged each other in all the races and this was great to see.   In the U16’s we had a new boy in Ryan Bradley who joined Abigail White and the Merrick twins (Matt and Vicki). Overall each individual had a great time and have set themselves a target for the 2015 Championship (I hope)., but a special mention must go to Olivia Roper, running in the U14 older age group and taking a great 9th place overall and Vicki Merrick, running in the U16 lower age group and taking a fantastic 8th place overall.

ttp://www.felljunior.org.uk/FRAJunior/index.php

Now onto the team event, as mentioned previously, this is the best 3 finishes from the club in any races with all 7 races counting and a maximum of 150 points per race (i.e. if the club had 3 winners). The position of the team in 2013 was 9th overall with 677 points (from a total of 6 races). In 2014 we finished 7th overall with a total of 878 points, only 5 points off a 6th place finish. So, overall I think my objective I set myself has been achieved but this couldn’t have been done with the support of the parents getting so many kids around the North of England. Without wanting to leave them out, the kids themselves have done a fantastic job, they have travelled long distances, waited around in the wet, ran when sometimes they could have sat in the car, cheered on all the other Bingley runners and not to mention the other clubs, but overall enjoyed themselves and smiled all the way. I know I was say this, but I will again, each and every one of them has done the club proud this year. The comments I’ve received from other clubs have been so encouraging and for them to say it’s great to Bingley Juniors back was great to hear.   Thanks everybody, it was a great FRA Championship this year, made by you.