Muker Show Fell Race Results
Wednesday 3 September 2008
Race Report
Muker Show was quite a wet affair. Normally the race goes out and back through the river but with all the rain we've had the river was a no no. So the races went through 4 or 5 fields which also meant going through several stiles. The river was crossed via the bridge then you went along quickly to a steep climb up the fell. Once at the summit it was a dash across the ridge round a flag and back diagonally down the hill across the bridge, through the fields before finishing in the show ground...easy as that. With this being a senior counter at a crucial part of the season the big guns in each of the senior categories were all there, with the exception of our top lady at the moment Lisa Lacon.
So seniors and under 17's lined up on what is a very fast race, to do well you need to be switched on from the start. Jack Thompson started off like a greyhound out of the trap but when it came to the top of the fell Lee Athersmith was in number 1 spot with Alastair Dunn and Ted Mason hot on his heels. Things were very close between Lee and Alastair in the final fields with Alastair digging in and getting himself a hard earned win and Ted coming home in 3rd. This result put Alastair in pole position in the championship, but it's still to be won with 3 races to go. Back to Muker, Brendon Taylor put in another classy performance coming home in 4th with Mark Croasdale 1st vet 40 in 5th. Next was Mark McGoldrick followed by 1st under 23 Jack Thompson then another under 23 Sam Watson in 8th, first v50 was Jack Holt in 14th and 1st v45 Colin Urmston was back in 18th.
The ladies saw 2 locals take 1st and 2nd with Avril Hunter caliming victory, followed by Erica Moks. First BOFRA counter was Val Done in 3rd with a tremendous finish, passing Dawn Richards on the way in. Lynn Whittaker finished 7th lady with Sam Morphet first under 23 in 8th.
The under 17's saw a win for Luke Croasdale with Jack Smith in 2nd and Ben Stones of Muker 3rd.
The under 14's and under 12's saw 13 runners line up in this non-championship race, it was no surprise that two of our top BOFRA u12's came back 1st and 2nd; Ben Johnstone won by a 3 second margin over William Smith. 3rd place went to Leander Schlutermann on holiday from Germany only 10 seconds adrift. Mary Stones; a local, took 1st place in the girls with Muker's Madeline Hill in second and Leander's sister Emily in 3rd.
Our thanks to all who made this event run smoothly on a wet miserable day and to all who supported this event.
Barry Scholes