Juniors restart/New members

CVFR juniors will resume after the Christmas holidays on Tuesday 9 January. Mytholmroyd Community Centre at 5.45pm. We are now able to take new junior members. If your child is interested in coming along can you please be there slightly earlier to fill in the membership form. Your child will be on a 4 week probation. This is to see if they like it and to make sure they are behaving (which I’m sure won’t be a problem in most cases). It will be £1 for each week for the first 4 weeks then if they like it it will be £5 then and thats it for the year. 

Twas the week before Christmas …

Calder Valley Fell Runners – 18th December 2023

‘Twas the week before Christmas and out on the moors
Fell-runners were racing, from ultras to scores
With stamina, speed and map-reading nous –  
One of them even dressed up as a mouse!
The Juniors partied (Jayde won the Stoop too!)
Happy Christmas to all of our red and white crew

The Stoop  

The Stoop event, held in Haworth’s Penistone Hill Country Park on Sunday 17th December, offered yet more festive racing and chocolate-eating for both juniors and seniors.

Jayde on course to take the U17s win. Credit Woodentops

The older juniors do two laps of the moor, past the edge of the pond and back round by the trig, each time dropping back into the quarry. CVFR’s Jayde McGregor won the U17 Girls’ race in 15:59. Ishbel Symington completed the single-lap U11s course in 9:51

Juniors celebrate 2023 achievements

There was a room full of happy faces as junior members of CVFR got together for their Christmas party and awards presentation on Sunday 17th December.

Juniors celebrate their hard work on the fells. Credit Trudi Entwistle

The evening burst into a frenzy of fun, with the party balloon game being a firm favourite.  A balloon is tied to one of each of the child’s legs with a long bit of string. Others then try to step on and burst the balloons while protecting their own. The last balloon standing wins the game.  (Seniors take note: this game could be the secret of these youngsters’ nimble footwork on the fells. Colin Duffield will be asked to include this in future warm-up drills).

Fun at The Balloon Game. Credit Trudi Entwistle

This vigorous exercise also guarantees a healthy appetite, so the buffet was attacked with gusto, after which the awards were introduced by juniors coordinator Andy Clarke and presented by CVFR and England runner Charlie Pickens.

Winners and runners-up in each age category of the junior club championships were recognised, as were others who have improved or shown particular commitment and enthusiasm throughout the year.

International junior Charlie presents Clara with her award. Credit Trudi Entwistle

The Champion of Champions award was again won by Clara McKee – well deserved after her stellar season in the Yorkshire and English Championships, but maybe one of the other juniors will make a challenge for it next year.

Teddy and Jules looking rather pleased with their awards. Credit Trudi Entwistle

The Junior Coaches Awards are chosen by each of the club coaches for the junior who they feel deserves some recognition. The youngest joint winners were great friends Teddy Haigh and Jules Ciolino. Next up was Rowan Gardner, who has shown a marked improvement in his fell running this year. Thomas McKee and Ashleigh Dixon also took home awards, and a great fun night was had by all.

CALDER VALLEY NEWS REPORTER: JIM COOKE

Hurrah! Storm Ciarán delivers Mudfest for our juniors!

Clara tackles tussocks to take Record

CVFR at Shepherds Skyline Juniors. Credit Thirza Hyde

The talented Clara McKee broke the U15s record at the Shepherds skyline on Saturday a proper tussocky fell course that threw down the gauntlet to the juniors. Depending on age category it was one lap for the youngest with the older U17s doing 3 laps of the technical route. Accepting, they took the initiative on the descents, especially young Alfie Hobday who came bounding down the hillside on to the very muddy, slippy path. Losing shoes and taking tumbles the juniors got up and bested the monstrous hairy mounds of earth.

Ishbel making a splash at the Shepherds. Credit David’s Running Photos

Fearless descender Alfie. Credit Thirza Hyde

Results:
U11: 5th Alfie Hobday 9.32, 6th Ishbel Symington 10.04
U13: 3rd Harry Cliff 7.05, 5th Mani Kaler  7.35
U15: 1st Clara McKee 5.44 (new record)
4th Ted Parker  8.06
U17: 1st Thomas McKee 9.00

Withins Fell Race and Quarry Runs

Clara hot on her brother Thomas’s heels. Credit Woodentops

CVFR’s Clara McKee continued her seemingly faultless season, taking first place in the U15 race and setting a new girls’ record of 6:01. Alfie Hobday and Harry Laprell also had excellent runs, finishing neck and neck in 8th and 9th position in the boys’ U11 race. Thomas McKee secured third place in his U17 race with Isaac Howgate coming in sixth, just two minutes behind. Jayde McGregor wasn’t far off the pace, coming in 11th overall in the joint standings for U17 and U19 races, and topping her own age category.

In the youngest age category (U9) Cora Slater ran a brilliant race to finish in sixth place overall and second in the girls’ race.

Calder Valley News Reporter: raymond kelly

Top marks at English Schools Fell Running champs

Fourteen Calder Valley juniors competed in the English Schools Fell Running Championships, which were held in Giggleswick on 24th September.

Jayde McGregor tackles the stream crossing – credit Woodentops

With courses ranging from 2.7km for Year 7s to 6km for Year 12/13s, all age groups faced varied fell terrains with lots of twists and turns, a stream crossing, and a mix of short, sharp and more sustained climbs and descents.

Clara’s winning sprint finish – credit Woodentops

Racing in her Calder High School colours rather than her habitual CVFR red and white stripes, Clara McKee rounded off a triumphant year of fell-running by taking first place in the Year 8/9 girls’ race. 

Top ten finishes were also notched up by Charlie Pickens (6th Year 12/13 boy), Mani Kaler (9th Year 7 boy), Tom McKee (10th Year 10/11 boy).

Tough steep climb for Rowan Gardner – credit Woodentops

Some newer recruits to fell-running also put in good performances, including Year 7s Rowan Gardner, Vincent smith and Rowan Campbell-Brough and Year 10/11s Isaac Howgate and George Daniels.

Cat Pos Name School Time
Y7M 9th Mani Kaler Calder High 15:01
Y7M 24th Rowan Gardner North Halifax 16:51
Y7M 41st Rowan Campbell-Brough Calder High 17:40
Y7M 42nd Vincent Smith North Halifax 17.51
Y7M 43rd Tom Burton Chapel on Le Frith 17.54
Y8/9F 1st Clara McKee Calder High 21:59
Y8/9M 36th Harry Cliff North Halifax 24:46
Y8/9M 70th Ted Parker Ryburn Valley 28:24
Y10/11M 10th Tom McKee Calder High 26:41
Y10/11M 46th Isaac Howgate Calder High 33:46
Y10/11M 48th George Daniels Calder High 33:58
Y10/11M 51st Murray Wood Ryburn Valley 34.52
Y12/13F 12th Jayde McGregor Crossley Heath 40:11
Y12/13M 6th Charlie Pickens Rochdale 6th Form College 27:23

Calder Valley News Reporter: Jim Cooke