Saturday was an absolutely glorious day for the latest race in the winter series, The Blakey Blitz, with clear blue skies and crisp freshness, perfect for running as fast as humanly possible over the moors. The race was based at the Lion Inn on Blakey Ridge and took runners down into Rosedale, up the other side, across the tops and down into Fryup Dale before heading back with even more lung busting climbs totalling 2,264 feet of elevation over 10.5 miles, so not a race for the faint hearted. Robbie Preston was first back for Pickering and worked hard for his excellent time of 1 hour 26 minutes which placed him 6th overall. Dave Smith was 3rd M55 with his time of 1 hour 42 minutes. Only 18 seconds behind was Simon Jones also clocking 1 hour 42 minutes. Kim Cavill was next, in a time of 1 hour 52 minutes, which placed her 3rd F40 and 7th female overall. John Cheetham loved every second of his first ever fell race, even sinking into a bog! Despite this he still managed to cross the finish line in 1 hour 55 minutes. John was followed by Emily Loftus in 2 hours 1 minute. Lucy Saggers was justifiably chuffed with her 8 minute personal best time for the course, clocking 2 hours 2 minutes and bagging the 2nd F55 prize. Alice Hayter was next in 2 hours 7 minutes followed by Mike Wilson in 2 hours 10 minutes, Nick Cousins in 2 hours 14 minutes, Charles Corbett in 2 hours 20 minutes and Serena Partridge in 2 hours 23 minutes.
The Pickering Ladies are in with a chance of winning the top spot for the whole winter fell race series. With two races to go it’s nail biting stuff!

Also on Saturday, it was the 10th anniversary since the start of Dalby parkrun. 243 runners congregated at the start to listen to the emotional announcements by the run directors, many of whom have been helping to make this such a wonderful parkrun from the start. Since the start nearly 17,000 people have completed the course and nearly 900 volunteers have encouraged them along the way. Several of the runners on Saturday chose to wear celebratory fancy dress and there was a party atmosphere helped at the end with cake made by volunteers and supplied by the Courtyard Cafe where runners enjoy their social post run refreshments. Dalby parkrun is about so much more than just running and long may it continue.