On Saturday 1st May, Jennie Thompson, a new member of Pickering Running Club, ran the Esk Valley Epic Ultra based in Glaisdale. The 36 mile route takes runners up the Esk Valley to Castleton, Westerdale and Blakey before heading back via Botton and has a massive 4,500 feet of climb. Jennie had an amazing run finishing 1st female and 2nd overall in an incredible time of 5 hours 41 minutes.

Last Sunday, conditions were perfect for running the Leeds Marathon; bright and sunny with a cooling breeze. There was a brilliant atmosphere and great support along the undulating route which had over 1,000 feet of climb. Ryan Gaughan loved it and had a brilliant run, cruising across the finish line in 3 hours 11 minutes placing him 184th out of over 4,400 runners. Mike Richmond and Kirsty Brown also had excellent runs with Mike finishing in 3 hours 15 minutes and Kirsty in 3 hours 44 minutes.

Bilsdale Fell Race also took place on Sunday. The 12 mile route with 3,255 feet of climb is one of the toughest in the Summer Series but the wonderful moorland vistas made the climbs worthwhile and helped distract from burning quads! Robbie Preston was 1st back for Pickering and 13th overall in a speedy time of 1 hour 57 minutes. Lucy Saggers was 2nd female overall and 1st F55 with her time of 2 hours 41 minutes . Just 15 seconds behind Lucy was Alice Hayter also clocking 2 hours 41 minutes and achieving a course personal best by 10 minutes, 3rd female overall and 1st F50. Charles Corbett was next in 2 hours 44 minutes followed by Nick Cousins in 2 hours 51 minutes and Lynn Humpleby in 3 hours which earned her the prize for 1st F45. Lucy, Alice and Lynn are continuing to earn valuable points in the league table and were 1st female team. Will they bag the series team trophy again?

Sunday also saw the running of the Hardmoors Whitehorse races. The marathon, 29 miles with 2,500 feet of climb, follows a beautiful route taking in Rievaulx Abbey although there was more road than usual for a Hardmoors event. Kim Cavill, who is not a fan of tarmac, preferring to be off-road, still managed to bag  joint 1st female trophy crossing the line with her running friend in an incredible time of 4 hours 49 minutes.

Erin Outram also had a brilliant run finishing in 5 hours 28 minutes, placing her 7th female overall. Martin Dennison and Chris Adams finished together in 6 hours 36 minutes.

The Half Marathon was 16.5 miles with 1,700 feet of climb. Simon Jones was 4th overall and 1st M50 with his excellent time of 2 hours 18 minutes and Charlotte Dennison achieved a course personal best with her time of 4 hours 6 minutes.

The 10k option was 7 miles with nearly 1,000 feet of climb. Graham Robinson crossed the line in 1 hour 58 minutes, a course personal best by 4 minutes and earning him the trophy for 1st M70.

Jennie Thompson with her trophy for 1st female in the Esk Valley Epic