Many runners from Pickering Running Club had to choose between the ‘At the Double’ in the Winter Fell Race Series on Saturday or the Sledmere Race in the East Yorkshire Cross Country League on Sunday, an especially difficult choice for those in line to win prizes at the end of the season. Some super fit and brave souls did both, racing hard both days with minimal time for recovery. For both races runners were relieved that the forecasted sleet didn’t materialise and the cold, grey conditions were actually well suited for running.
The ‘At the Double’ was based at Skinningrove and the 6 mile route took runners along the coastal path and back with the steep technical descents and tough climbs totalling nearly 1,000 feet of elevation. Kelly Richmond was first back for PRC clocking 61 minutes 3 seconds. Kelly was the 5th female to cross the line and 37th out of a total of 89 competitors. Lynn Humpleby was next in 69 minutes 56 seconds which placed her 2nd F45, followed by Lucy Saggers in 71 minutes 26 seconds and Nicola Thorpe who was first F55 in a time of 72 minutes 29 seconds. Sue Slack was pleased to be 1st F60 with her time of 72 minutes 52 seconds.
Sue was closely followed by David Stephenson in 73 minutes 31 seconds, Alice Hayter in 73 minutes 51 seconds, placing her 3rd W45, and Louise Bailey-Parkin, who was hampered by much tying of shoe laces, crossed the finish line in 74 minutes 25 seconds.
The Sledmere Race took place in the beautiful grounds of Sledmere House. The hilly, often muddy route followed a 2 lap course around the estate totalling 7 miles. As always with the Cross Country League the route was well marshalled and runners were spurred on by lots of enthusiastic encouragement. There was an exciting battle for the first PRC runner between Mike Richmond and Simon Jones with Mike just winning by 3 seconds. Mike’s time of 48 minutes 5 seconds placed him 24th out of 240 and 3rd M45. Simon’s time of 48 minutes 8 seconds placed him 2nd M55 and 25th overall. Richard Robinson was next in 50 minutes 6 seconds. Despite racing the previous day Kelly Richmond was 1st female across the line in a very impressive 50 minutes 46 seconds. Kirsty Brown somehow managed to accumulate more mud than anyone else as she sped round the course in 53 minutes 42 seconds. Next for PRC was Dave Owuor in 56 minutes 9 seconds closely followed by Paul Smith in 56 minutes 35 seconds which placed him 3rd M65. Paul was followed by Mike Wilson in 57 minutes 28 seconds and Karen Farmer-Scott whose time of 59 minutes 14 seconds placed her 2nd F60. Only 5 seconds later Richard Johnson crossed the line in 60 minutes 19 seconds, followed by Suzy Hodgson in 66 minutes 24 seconds, Alice Hayter in 67 minutes 31 seconds, Serena Partridge in 71 minutes 7 seconds, Sally Brown in 77 minutes 3 seconds and Mike Punchard in 77 minutes 54 seconds. Nicola Wise was pleased to cross the finish line 5 minutes quicker than last year in 79 minutes 24 seconds, closely followed by Debi Adams in 79 minutes 43 seconds. Dean Wise took a tumble with only 50m to go but his excellent roll meant he was able to run the last uphill to finish in 80 minutes 25 seconds.