West Nab Fell Race – English Junior Fell Championship 29/5/2021
Thomas, Trudi and Clara Modelling the new club vest
Holmfirth Harriers did a fantastic job of hosting one of the four English Junior Fell Championship races that will go ahead in 2021 with competitions at U9 level increasing in two-yearly increments up to U19s. Race distances go up by age category with U9s running over 800m increasing to 8.1km for the U19s.
Calder Valley has a burgeoning junior section and despite limitations of the current pandemic was represented at U9, U11, U13, U15 and U17 age categories
Harry on his way to winning
West Nab was a great start to the year for the CVFR Juniors with some fast times and great finish positions for many of the young runners. The weather was superb – hot but manageable – and the terrain on and around Marsden Moor was dry in general but rocky in places.
The junior races were staggered with boys setting off first and girls three minutes later. All races had a good steady climb on the track up to Nab, across fields and down into Clough. Older age groups with extended race distances crossed the river to end with a steep, tough climb. The online registration process, staggered starts and orderly departure away from the finish line made for a well organised, safe event that went very smoothly.
Friends Ishbel & Lottie running hard
There were some exceptional results amongst the juniors with Ishbel Symington and Lottie Cliff coming in 3rd and 4threspectively in the U9s. Harry Cliff won the U11s boys race against a strong field and led pretty much from the start. Clara McKee had it all to do in the u13s girls race having to pick past the back markers in the boys wave to claim victory in her age category.
At U13 level, Joseph Stone, Leo Hackett and Ted Parker all had good runs and at U15 level, CVFR was represented by Olivia Falkingbridge, Charlie Pickens, Thomas McKee and Ollie Pickens. The club was well represented at U17 level by Tom Owen, Euan Logue and James Aitken.
The Seniors were also in action on the day. James Logue came in overall 6th position with both Trudi Entwhistle and Helen Flage having good runs.
– CALDER VALLEY NEWS REPORTER: MARC COLLETT
