Wharfedale Harriers

The Calderdale Way Relay proved an eventful day out for Wharefdale Harriers. Our position wasn't as good as hoped but just to get a team round at all was a major achievement, and that was down mostly to the logistical support crew of Keith Holder, son Jack, and David Hird, than the runners - who actually have a rather easy job by comparison.

With the usual last minute reshuffling of pairings, more to cope with the hectic social lives of some of the younger members of the team than colds or injury, Alfie Atkinson became paired with John Wootton on the first leg - a chance, we thought, to set our stall and get off to a flying start.

Unfortunately, Alfie had one of those days when mind and body just didn't want to play. John, expecting to be put under a bit of pressure from Alfie, stormed up the first hill so fast that the younger man was never able to find his stride. At the end of leg one, instead of being placed in the top ten, Wharfedale found themselves in the bottom half of the field in 52nd place with a time of 1.29.

A rather disgruntled Andy Holden and Steve Hounslow, having almost given up the first pairing for lost, at least had the thrill of a good chase. They ran a cracking leg two, clocking the 17th fastest time in 1.07, overtaking no less than 19 teams and bringing Wharfedale up to a rather more respectable 33rd place.

Next up saw the club field possibly the youngest pairing in the whole field, with 16 year-old Martin Hounslow and 18 year-old brother Sam picking up a couple more places with a solid run of 46 minutes on Leg three. At this halfway stage their main ambition was now to catch local rivals Ilkley Harriers, some seven minutes ahead.

The Hounslow boys handed over to Ted Mason and James Wadsworth but again things didn't go quite to plan. A mile into the run and James' shoes fell apart - to the extent that he might as well have been running in a pair of carpet slippers. Despite being seriously

handicapped on the descents, the pair still managed a respectable time of 1.16 (18th fastest) through some strong running on the hills, to pick up eight more places and bring the team up to 24th position.

Following on from these two was the veteran pairing of Paul Rogan and Lionel Sands who run a superb leg five in 1.03, the 22nd fastest time for their section, and bringing Wharfedale up to within three minutes of Ilkley. The chase was on.

On the final leg Bob Hamilton and Sam Wadsworth set off in pursuit of their local rivals but soon came undone when Sam took a bad fall that left him dangling off a greasy wooden footbridge. With a cracked head and a gashed knee things did not look too bright for a while as Sam limped along for half a mile, but a sighting of vests in the distance was like a red rag to a bull.

Sam managed to find a rhythm and the pursuit got going. Ilkley were eventually overtaken with just a couple of miles to go to bring Wharfedale home in 22nd place overall with a leg time of 1.21 (19th fastest) and a race time of 7.03.

So, it made for quite an adventure in the end, and despite all the mud, and all the waiting around in the cold, the irrepressible nature of fell runners ensured that the talk on the drive home turned to the tactics for next year, and aiming for a top ten placing.

This coming Saturday the club is holding an informal junior event, starting at the Millennium Gardens in Ilkley at 2pm. All junior runners are very welcome. Afterwards, weather permitting, it is hoped to have a family run out on the moor.

Wharfedale Harriers is a family oriented club aiming to promote fell running

across all ages and abilities. Senior training takes place on Monday and Tuesday evenings from Silsden, Wednesday evening from Skipton, and Thursday evening from Ilkley at the Grammar School. For more details please contact David Hird on 01535 653826, or visit the website at www.wharfedaleharriers.org.uk.