Castle Howard trail races July 2019
Sun 07 Jul 19 — Lizzy Wise
The sun was shining for the Castle Howard trail races and the wind was doing its best to keep everyone cool whilst also making the uphill sections much tougher! The race is held to support Welburn Primary School and Pickering Running Club assist in the organising. Given the clubs involvement it was a good turnout with 16 runners taking on the trails. A few opted for the shorter 5k (and a bit) which was a single loop round the estate. Paul Smith finished in a fantastic third place in 28.06, Michael Hetherton was the next back in 32.59 and Lynn Humpleby in 36.05 taking home the trophy for the second place lady. Debbie Rycroft rounded off the gang in 39.11. The 10k (and a bit) was the more popular option and was run on the same course as the 5k but with the runners completing an additional lap to make up the distance. Simon Jones finish in a fabulous fourth place and first in age category. Simon Rycroft finished 10th overall and also took home a trophy for first in is age category. Russ Grayson was the next back in 48.29 then Ruth Kaftirani in a quick 56.34 taking a trophy for first in her age category and closely followed by Christopher Wilson in 56.40. Lizzy Wise was the next in 57.26 followed by Heather Farrow also age an category winner and taking home a well deserved trophy for her time of 59.54. Kelly Gaughan had a great race finishing in 61.52 which was supeb as she cycled up the hills to get there. Serena Partridge was next in 63.05 then Jennifer Wise in 64.30 and Nicola Wise in 65.05. Finally, Pam Garnett ran a determined race to finish in 74.57.
After a 2 month rest from racing Andy Harvey headed to Essex to visit his folks, coincidently the trip coincided with the Mersea Round The Island All Terrain Race! The field was made up of a handful of locals and one person from North Yorkshire. The All Terrain description was spot on with some road, mud, grassy paths mixed in with 3 energy-sapping sandy sections. Much like the Queen's Guide to Morecambe Bay, Harvey's mystic-like ability to read the shifting sands, as if he was reading the lines of a book, is rarely seen among common folk. Here he used to his advantage as he glided serenely along the strand line, picking up several places as all others, naively lured into the deceptively soft sand like sailors to the siren's call, laboured through Mersea's treacle-like silt. Harvey finished 74th out of 258, cheered on by supporting cousins, in a time was 1:53:22. A satisfying 8 minutes faster than his last appearance 3 years ago, so with an impressive improvement of about 40 seconds per mile, Harvey looks in tip-top form for the upcoming Club Championship
Kim Cavill took on the St Cuthbert’s Way 100k from Holy Island to Melrose. It was 64 miles with over 8000ft of ascent and it was super hot and humid! Highlights for Kim were Vimto ice pops; ice in her cap; lovely wooded single tracks and some big climbs in the Cheviots and the Eildon Hills. Kim stormed round and managed to just dip under 12 hours in 11.59.51 for 1st lady and a course record, and 2nd place overall. Kim’s reaction was that her “feet are covered in blisters now but I’m happy!”
Those wanting some reliable roads to run on headed to the Humber Bridge for the half marathon, hoping the winds weren’t too brisk for the exposed estuary crossing. Chris Adams showed a return to fine form finishing in 1 hour and 51 minutes and Mike Punchard also had a great race to finish in 2 hours and 27 minutes.
Running alone wasn’t enough for a determined team who headed to Ripon for a triathlon. New member Maggie Barraclogh and Shirley Tyrell were taking on their first open water triathlon while Sue Slack was back for more to try to conquer her fear of open water swimming, they were also joined by Richard Mcculloch. The trio took on the sprint distance – 750 meter swim, 20k bike and 5k run. Mcculloch finished in a great 1 hour and 26 minutes, Slack in 1 hour 44 minutes, Tyrrell in 2 hour and 5 minutes and Barraclough just behind in 2 hours and 7 minutes. Tess Roebuck took on the standard distance – double the sprint triathlon distances and finished in a superb 3 hours and 32 minutes.
