Embsay Fell Race Results
Sunday 18 September 2016
Race Report
The morning of this year’s Embsay Fell race did not bode well. Low lying cloud and mist suggested that the race might be more of an orienteering exercise than a true fell race. However, by the time registration opened, the mist had lifted and bright sunshine bathed the fell and the runners.The sunshine clearly attracted the racers as staggering 92 senior and 140 juniors lined up to tackle this multi-terrain challenge.
Starting in the field behind the Elm Tree Inn, it gives the impression of being a tough cross country course, as undulating fields are the order of the day for the first part of the race. Do not be deceived, however, as the terrain soon changes to steep track and then boggy marsh land before the hand over fist climb to reach the summit of Embsay Crag. A right turn then takes runners along the heather coated skyline before descending a steep bank to meet the outward route at the fell base, and return to the finish funnel.
Senior race winner was the rarely beaten Simon Bailey of Mercia Fell Runners (18.45). 2nd and 3rd places were taken by Ilkley Harriers’ Jack Wood (19.26) and last year’s winner, Barlick’s Jimmy Craig (20.14). Winner of the ladies race was Calder Valley’s Lucy Collins (23.19). 2nd lady was last year’s winner Jo Buckley (24.32), also of Calder Valley and 3rd lady was Settle Harriers’ Carol Evans (24.44).
The U17 race follows the same course as the seniors and was won by Wharfedale Harriers’ Logan Hargreaves-Madhas in 21.20 – a time that would have put him 7th in the senior race! 2nd and 3rd places went to Helm Hill’s Jacob Aubrey (21.52) and Ambleside’s Jake Shuttleworth (22.19). The girls’ winner was unattached runner Emily Field in 25.15 – a time that would have made her 5th lady in the senior race! 2nd and 3rd girls were Clayton-le-Moors Briony Holt (25.52) and Ambleside’s Hannah Durkin (29.40).
The U14 race was won by Ambleside’s Ben Edmondson (13.16). 2nd and 3rd boys were Settle’s Sebastian Segger-Staveley (13.24) and Wharfedale’s Sam Smith (13.40). The girls race was won by Ilkley’s Bernadette Raven (15.54) with Wharfedale team mates Freya Mitchell 2nd (16.26) and Charlotte Barrett 3rd (17.03).
U12 winner was the now very familiar face of Helm Hill’s Henry Hunter (8.53) with Ilkley’s Lewis Carr 2nd (9.17) and Settle’s Ben Greenep 3rd (9.19). The girls’ race was a fierce battle between Leven Valley’s Olesia Winder and Broughton Runners’ Emily Swarbrick. Olesia repeated her win of 2015 in 9.47 with Emily 1 second behind. 3rd girl was Clayton’s Ella Dorrington (10.03).
The U9 race was won by Keighley and Craven’s James Sadler-Townsend (4.18) with Wharfedale’s Tom Hooper 2nd (4.25) and Settle’s Jack Sanderson 3rd (4.31). Girls winner was Wharfedale’s Emily Anderson (4.36) followed by Keighley’s Katie Buckley (4.41) and Millie Timbers (5.00) in 2nd and 3rd places respectively.