by The number of participants in this year’s gargish show dropped races exceeded all expectations when there has been an incredible participation of 140 competitors compared to the five age categories.
The entrance secretaries were occupied all morning, meeting, welcoming and recording the runners who had literally came from all over the world.
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Local farmer John Thompson is the steward for the race for more than three decades and each year, the race launches a surprise or another and this year, it was the first entering the Barbados.
The brewers’ family was finished from the family visiting Amsterdam in Skipton and it was a good opportunity to try the gargrave fells after the plains of their country of origin. Other runners from outside the limits of Yorkshire came from Cheshire, Wales, Bedford, Kent, Newcastle and London.
It was great as always to see entire families participating and enjoying the incredible multi-terrain lessons. Special thanks must go to Mr. Chapman de Flasby Estate for having kindly allowed the race to be poured on his land and all its staff for their kind assistance for without them, the Fell Race show would not be possible.
The U-9 race according to tradition was the first to leave the ring and cross the field and the river for a short stiff climb to the turning point. Finlay Sample, eight years, was the first of the 28 competitors to cross the line and the first girl was another Daisy Hardcastle of Ripon.
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Twenty-eight runners also disputed the title U-12S. Ilkley Harrier Michael Moore, 11, led the ground to the house. Alfie Telford of Gargrave was the first local house in an honorable seventh position, which earned him the brassless rights of the impressive Donald McKell trophy which is attributed to the best placed local male runner in any category. Pheobe Glowdansky in progress for Trawden AC was the first girl.
The U-14 age group had the greatest number of competitors, but the competition was still fierce. Charlie Porteous by Bingley Harriers won the honors with a large 9.32 race. Settle Harrier Martha Hart was the first girl.
There was a solid field of athletes in the U-17 race which led a slightly shorter route than the senior field of runners, turning by the forest just before the last climb to Sharphaw. George Martin, fifteen, from Northalleston and which takes place in the colors of the Sedbergh School, was the Victor a minute of leave from last year. Camilla Hart, fourteen, from Settle Harriers, was the first runner woman at home and once again resolved much more than a minute of resumption of the period of female victory in recent years.
Looking back on the results of the race for the past 30 years, it is interesting to see what some of the junior runners have achieved. Alistair Brownlee was the winner of the U-17 race in 2002 and he became a successful triathlete who won gold at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. Scott Thwaites was the U-9 winner in Gargrave in 1998 and he became a professional cyclist, representing Great Britain in the 2014 Commonwealth Road Course bronze. He also got into the Tour de France.
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Many of the last winners of the racing at the Juniors in Gargrave continue in the ranks and are seen still in progress in the senior race and it was good to see some of them come back on Saturday.
It was quite a show because the 73 senior runners and the eight U-17 athletes left the ring for the climb through the prairie and the grazing towards Sharphaw which was resplendent under the sun.
Ilkley Harrier Jack Wood, 36, was the first runner to resume the fields of the ring, fresh from his victory the previous week in the four -thousand Littondale road race. An athlete with multiple talents on the road and fell.
Barlick Fell runner Jimmy Craig, an former aforementioned junior champion, was in second place and the son of Farmer Jack Paul, 27, of Arncliffe was in third position. Three 15 -year -old runners have chosen to change equipment and addressed the upper course, obtaining incredible results in the process.
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Angus Miller by Ripon Runners was in the eighth position in total and Daniel Hood of Skipton was in 12th position. Clara McKee was the first lady and in the tenth position in total. Clara Court for Calder Valley and is currently the British Inter Centy Mountain U-17 race champion and the Yorkshire Fell Running Champion. The second lady was Rachel Pilling by Pudsey and Bramley.
The local first lady was Becky Coates of Coniston Cold and the first local male was Chris Faulkner de Gargrave. The first male veteran over 50 was David Middlemass of North Leeds Runners and the first veteran woman was Trudi Entwistle by Calder Valley who celebrated her birthday.
It was a show Fell Race to remember with an impressive number of competitors, superb races, a camaraderie and real personal achievements. A big thank you to Christine for her wonderful comment and to all the delegates and the marshals.
Complete list of laureates: under nines: 1. Finlay example U / A 5.58. 2. Harry Simpson U / A 6.00. 3. Charlie Gates Settle Harriers 6.16. 1. Daisy Hardcastle U / A 6.22. 2. Harlie Bradley Keighley and Craven 6.24. 3. Maggie Meredith Settle Harriers 6.42. No local runners.
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Under twelve: 1. Michael Moore Ilkley Harriers 6.44. 2. Higo Baldwin Keighley and Craven 6.51. 3. Henry Foster U / A 6.51. First local male: Alfie Telford U / A 7.14. 1. Pheobe Glowdansky Trawden AC 7.29. 2. Sophie Wright Settle Harriers 7.43. 3. Isobel Moore Ilkley Harriers 8.04. No local female.
Less than fourteen: 1. Charlie Porteous Bingley AC 9.32. 2. Will Parker Keighley and Craven 9.55. 3. Thomas Overend Keighley and Craven 11.29. 1. Martha Hart Settle Harriers 12.05. No local runners.
Under the age of nineteen-seven years: 1. George Martin Sedbergh School 12:30 p.m. 2. James Bastow City of York AC 12.34. 3. Billy McPherson U / A 13.52. 1. Camilla Hart Settle Harriers 4:00 p.m. 2. Holly Fitch Wharfedale Harriers 16.27. 3. Jessica Robinson Keighley and Craven 16.43. No local runners.
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With the seniors: 1. Jack Wood Ilkley Harriers 22,34. 2. Jimmy Craig Barlick fell to runners 23.14. 3. Jack Paul Wharfedale Harriers 23.22. First local male: Chris Faulkner U / A 36.50. First male veteran over 50: David Middlemass North Leeds fell to runners 28.57. 1. Clara McKee Calder Valley 25.47. 32. Rachel Pilling Pudsey and Bramley 30.50. 3. Katie Poulter Ilkley Harriers 33.11. First Local Lady: Becky Coates U / A 33.20. Veteran First Lady out of 50 Trudi Entwistle Calder Valley 33.46.
