The 300 limit filled by on-line and the old ‘send a cheque’ entry routes for this Category A (very ‘felly’) short (AS) race with a lot of rough descent making it one of the longest 8km around. Fortunately my late entry arrived as some others dropped out – lucky for me. A chilly grey day with wintry showers forecast. The earlier junior races (lots of pictures on Facebook and Woodentops site) with a great blue & white stripe turnout (even with some at the National XCs in London) got away without rain. Not so the seniors. As we queued for numbers and kit checks the wind started to blow spots of cold sleety rain.
The start below White Wells Cafe is always fast – after a third of a mile or so the paths narrow as you start the first climb up past the Cow & Calf rocks. Runners bunch up and it is difficult to pass in the deep rocky heather & bracken either side of the path. If you are not where you want to be in the pack your competitors ahead start to stretch their lead on you. Climb the next ridge above the Cow & Calf, back along the top, then a rocky uneven descent as prelude to a similar ascent with rocky heathery scrambles and running along the top into a horizontal sleet shower. Down Rocky Valley, more ups & downs and round a trig point (or was it a rock?) on the moor top with a marshal shouting ‘Its all downhill from here’. She was lying. There is always another climb in the Ilkley Fell Race even in the middle of the fast steep finishing descents you find yourself with a substantial climb back up the bank as you traverse back towards White Wells and the start.
Bingley had 4 ladies and 5 men (plus Mark from Sunderalnd who works in Bingley during the week and runs with us on a Thursday) in the start line. Robbie Williams and Sunderland Mark (Robinson) were on their first fell race – and Ilkley is not an easy introduction. I knew Robbie was doing plenty of off road running but Mark was sporting bright, new off-road shoes. I was a little worried – Mark is the first to chirp up he will go back or go a different way in his road shoes if we have the odd ‘off road’ bit on a dark Thursday night club run. My worries were needless – Robbie and Mark enjoyed their runs. Both started at the back of the pack (not knowing about the start). Robbie took it steady in the first half while he got used to what was going on and then picked his speed up (and passed me!) in the second half. Mark soon realised that mud and puddle dodging was more effort than it was worth and enjoyed having good shoes and grip for the job in hand.
The race attracted some top notch runners with Simon Bailey (Mercia, 36.52) pipping Tom Adams (Ilkley, 36.59) by 7 seconds, and Ted Mason in third. Caitlin Rice (Glossopdale, 46.14) was first lady in 30th place, and over 5 minutes ahead of Rachel Pilling (Pudsey & Bramley) in 69th place. For Bingley Paul Tiffany was well placed in 15th with Paul Mitchell not far behind in 26 and 1M50.
Bingley (and guests) results were
15, Paul Tiffany , 44.15, 3M40
26, Paul Mitchell, 45.58, 1M50
105, Greg Trusselle, 55.39
122, Shona Stone, 56.43
134, Robbie Williams, 58.04
145, Becky Weight, 59.52, 3W50
162, Mark Robinson, 62.10 (Sunderlald Striders
180, Jason Beckett, 65.05
185, Marisol Carrera-Viva, 65.55
186, Sue Fulton, 66.04
Pictures, in no partiuclar order, courtesy of our own Bruce Duncan, and Dave Woodhead (Woodentops) for Greg. Thanks. Becky Weight
Paul M , Marisol, Sue, Becky, Shona, Paul T, Robbie & Mark, Jason, Greg
: 
