It was a hot, humid day for the Hardmoors Farndale races at the weekend but on the plus side conditions underfoot were dry and firm. The various distances take runners over moors, along riverside paths and through bracken so tall and dense it’s impossible to see further than the little ribbon of a path just in front of your feet! Michael Todd chose the tough marathon option but it just wasn’t his day and he reluctantly withdrew from the race after 24 miles and over 3,000 feet of climb.
The half marathon option is actually 16.3 miles with 2,250 feet of climb. Simon Jones paced himself perfectly to finish 3rd overall in 2 hours 22 minutes. Kim Cavill’s time of 2 hours 43 placed her 4th female. Richard Newbert was next in 2 hours 44 minutes followed by Lucy Saggers in 3 hours 22 minutes. Chris Adams ran with son George crossing the line in 3 hours 33 minutes then came Nicola Thorpe and Alice Hayter who finished in 3 hours 37 minutes and Lynn Humpleby in 3 hours 50 minutes.
The 10k may be the easiest of the three choices but it is still a tough challenge with over 1,100 feet of climb along the 8 mile route. Darren Smith had an excellent run finishing 1st overall in 1 hour 2 minutes. Graham Robinson was pleased to be 14 minutes quicker than last year and his time of 2 hours 14 minutes placed him 1st M70 despite having to carry 13lb of gear including his oxygen tank. It was a family affair for the Dennisons. Charlotte Dennison ran with daughter Liv crossing the line in 2 hours 36 minutes, but they couldn’t quite catch dad Martin and son Henry who finished in 2 hours 25 minutes

What better way to spend a Wednesday evening than running the Ravenscar Rumble? The conditions were perfect for this latest race in the summer series with a cooling breeze and very firm underfoot. The 10k route offered wonderful seascapes and to make it more fun there was a huge hill in the middle to contend with totalling nearly 1,000 feet of climb. It must have seemed easy for Mike Richmond after his recent Ironman training and he flew round finishing in 47 minutes 13 seconds, placing him 3rd M45 and 17th overall. Dave Smith wasn’t far behind in 48 minutes 55 seconds placing him 2nd M55. Steve Lightfoot, in his first race for PRC, earned the prize for 1st M50 with his time of 50 minutes 27 seconds. Russ Grayson was next in 55 minutes 58 seconds, then came Paul Smith in 57 minutes 13 seconds, 3rd M65, Rich Johnson in 59 seconds 28 minutes, Nicola Thorpe in 62 minutes 7 seconds, 1st F55, David Stephenson in 62 minutes 18 seconds, Sue Slack in 63 minutes 36 seconds, 1st F60, Nick Cousins in 65 minutes 44 seconds, Serena Partridge in 73 minutes 18 seconds and Mike Punchard in 75 minutes 11 seconds. Following this latest flurry of prizes the ladies team are now in contention for a series prize. Keep up the good work!