Steep and short at Barbondale

Calder Valley’s junior runners were out in force at the Barbondale Fell Race. It was the fifth counter in the Kendal Winter League and it is notorious for its steepness. Calder’s William Hall was second and James Duffy a fine fourth place. Both lads moved up to this new age category and doing themselves proud indeed. Patrick Casey is showing some good early season form taking a fantastic 3rd place in the under 13s

Birkrigg Fell Race

Several of the CVFR juniors also had a cracking weekend, representing Calderdale in the Girls & Boys West Yorkshire Schools Cross Country Championship races on Saturday 3rd February. Whilst official boys’ results had yet to be published at time of press, Calderdale boys won third place team for both Y7 and Y8/9s. There were also some excellent individual results in the year 8/9 boys race: CVFR Joe Hobbs and Alex Duffield battled it out for places in the top 20 at 15:57 and 15:59 respectively for the 4.3k year 8/9 race, and another astounding run by James Duffy allowed him to speed home in 2nd place.

William Hall Birkrigg 2018

Not one to let the grass grow under his feet quite literally, James was racing again on Sunday 4th – this time under CVFR colours, with team mate, William Hall in the Birkrigg fell race at Ulverston. In surprisingly sunny and warm conditions, Will won 2nd place after a storming final descent and James sprinted in shortly after to take 5th place in the U15’s. These results are all the more impressive given these lads have just gone up an age category and as they don’t turn 13 for another 9+ months, they are racing just about all of this FRA season against many boys who are more than 2 years older than them – definitely a duo to watch in the future!

Photos (credit Stephen Hall) James Duffy William Hall 

CVFR junior do well at schools cross country

The HX7 school cross country finals were held on Thursday in a very muddy Stubbs field in Mytholmroyd.

Given the conditions there were some very impressive performances from year 3s to yr6s, including some notable ones by CVFR juniors.

George McFie was an assured 1st in the yr6s race with Tom Owen at 5th and Hattie Pope who ran a beautiful race to secure 4th girl. Elio Paskin just keeps looking stronger in his races and deserved his top 20 finish. 

In yr 5 Thomas McKee came in 2nd, followed by Ollie Pickens at 8th and Fearne Hanson, whose performances continue to impress, got 2nd girl.

Yr4 saw Sam Annison and Owen Whyton battle it out for the 5th/6th place. Sam’s position was all the more impressive as he had risen from his sick bed to run.

Finally in the Yr 3 race Clara McKee not only got 1st girl but came in 2nd overall in her usual effortless manner. 

The top 5 boys and girls in each race will now go through to the Calderdale finals where they can run for a chance to get into the West Yorkshire finals so watch this space!