English Fell Race 3 and Bingley Harriers Junior Championship bonus race
Venue, Cowpe in Rossendale, weather – good old Lancashire welcome, rain and wind, just 5 days since the beautiful sunshine and blue sky’s of Yorkshire and the Calder Valley. Typical Lancashire welcome!!
Day started with a missing junior, poor Katy Boden was on her way until a smashed windscreen in the car caused them to turn back.
On to the races, Max Nicol got proceedings in the in the U16/U18 races, yes strange way to run things has we thought we was lining up with the U8’s race. Well a great start was had (left home without his thermals) so a start was required in his summer kit in the usual weather of Lancashire. Overall Max had a great race, a little cold and his face told a story at the finish.
New to fell running Lilly Smith then join fellow U8 Callum Watson in the U8’s race. Callum had a great race well up in the field with Lilly following him home. Great to see these two running for Bingley at such a tender age.
Next up was Joe Carnelley in the U10 race. Joe on his comeback from a broken toe put in a fantastic race being behind the leader pack on the first climb, but finishing quickly on the downhill to take a brill 4th place overall.
In the U12’s we had Lucy Shutt and Katie Smith who was running only her 2nd fell race and this in a week. Katie had a great race again and finishing well up in the pack with Lucy following her in. Katie finished with only one shoe, the other never to be seen again. Lucy was a little luckier; she lost her shoe twice but managed to put it on again.
In the U14’s, the usual team of 4 turned up, Olivia Roper, Abi White and the Merrick twins. After 2 hours of waiting in the changeable weather it was their turn to run. Matthew led all the runners out and up the first climb, but struggled on the downhill in the testing conditions to finish behind the leading boys. Vicki then finished in the top 10 of the girls followed by Abi and Olivia close behind.
Overall a great (wet and muddy) day out at Cowpe, the juniors fly the Bingley Harriers flag again in the FRA English Fell Champs.
Star of the day goes to Katie Smith who ran half the race with one shoe.
By John Merrick