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Race Report

Local man of steel, Ted Mason was pushed into an unfamiliar second place at Sunday’s Burnsall Fell Race.

To be fair to him, he had come a very impressive third in the FRA Championship Race at Hodder Valley the day before, earning him his “man of steel� handle.
The BOFRA race is run over a similar course to the Burnsall Classic Fell Race earlier in the season, but starting and finishing in a different field. It’s a short, sharp, race over 1.5 miles of steep terrain, testing even the most experienced of runners. The course is fully flagged to the turning point at the summit, marked by a Trig point, 900 feet above the start line. Then it’s all change, as runners have to find any route home by making their own way back down the heather coated and rocky, steep fell side. It is rumoured that there is a “best way� back but not many know it! The weather was kind by being cool, but was humid making it feel warmer than it was once you were running. The ground was the soft side of firm leading to a fast race for all. The senior race winner, at the head of 70 season-hardened runners, was Mercia’s Simon Bailey in a time of 13.15. Wharfedale Harriers’ Ted sped in a minute and 11 seconds later with fellow Wharfedale Harrier, Sam Watson, 50 seconds behind him to take third place.

The winner of the ladies race was Wharfedale’s Kirsty Hall in an impressive time of 19.21. The second lady across the line was Holmfirth Harriers’ Lisa Lacon, 58 seconds later, followed by Wharfedale’s Jean Powell 38 seconds after that in third place.

The U17 race had the now customary speedy first place finish from Wharfedale Harriers’ Thomas Nelson, in a time of 11.34. The course was shorter than the senior race and had no element of “find your own way home.� Second boy across the line was Keighley and Craven’s Jimmy Lund, 13 seconds later with Bingley Harriers Matthew Merrick hot on his heels, and breathing down his neck, in third place with the same finish time of 11.47. The first U17 girl was Helm Hill’s Katherine Lawson in a time of 13.53, making it her 7th win of the BOFRA season, and securing her place as 2014 U17 BOFRA Girls’ Champion. Second girl home was Bingley Harriers’ Victoria Merrick, 29 secs later and third girl was Wharfedale’s Hannah Newbold, 15 seconds after Victoria.

Ilkley Harriers Euan Brennan won the U14 race in a time of 7.17. Second boy was Keighley and Craven’s Joe Hudson, 7 secs later, with Bingley Harriers’ Reuben Mantle in third place, 2 seconds after Joe. The first girl across the finish line was Clayton-le Moors’ Briony Holt in a time of 7.59. This, her eighth BOFRA win, secures her place as 2014 BOFRA U14 Girls’ Champion. Second girl was Wharfedale Harriers’ Emily Jones 44 seconds later and third girl was Settle Harriers’ Eve Hutchinson, 9 secs behind Emily.

Thomas Marshall of Settle Harriers won the U12 race in a time of 5.14. Second boy home was Keighley and Craven’s Louis Hudson just 6 seconds later. Third place went to Wharfedale’s Sam Smith 20 seconds after Louis. Wharfedale’s Charlotte Barrett was first U12 girl in a time of 6.01 with Rossendale Harriers’ Lauryn Gregg 13 seconds behind her, in second place. The third girl to finish was Keighley and Craven’s Lilli Carr, 8 seconds later.

The short and furious U9 race was won by Wharfedale’s Nathan Caunt in 2 mins 34 secs, adding yet another win to his spectacular first BOFRA season. Second boy home was Settle Harriers’ Hamish Griffiths, 7 seconds later, and third boy to finish was Douglas Seggar-Staveley of Settle Harriers, in a time of 2.45. The first U9 girl was Helena Roberts in 2 mins 42 secs. Second girl was Wharfedale’s Eibhlis Price 14 seconds later and third place went to Keighley and Craven’s Maggie Hudson, 17 secs after Eibhlis.

Sue Thompson