June Road and Fell Results
29th June 2009
Cleveland Way Relay 28th June
For those who don't know this is a 16 person relay over the 108 miles of the Cleveland Way, starting at Filey at 5am. Unofficially we finished 3rd out of 9 teams.
Leg 1 Mike (the Master) Hetherton took the 1st leg, the longest of the day at 14k and cam in in a solid 5th place. Thanks too to Carol for driving duties.
Leg 2 We don't see too much of Jerry Barnes these days, so were grateful for him running another solid leg and maintaining our position. Jerry started in Scarborough and finished at Cloughton Wyke.
Leg 3 The weather all along the coastal section was very misty and muggy. Another solid run from Martin Kirby finishing at Ravenscar.
Leg 4 The rules dictate that at least 1 leg must be run by a woman and Joe Ellerton ran to Robin Hoods Bay. Despite a slip on the damp ground which resulted in a cut on the elbow and a scenic tour of Bay town Jo held our position. By this time Loftus and Whitby and North Yorks Moors had already established a bit lead, while we were in a battle for 3rd place with NYM B team and Billingham Marsh House.
Leg 5 A great run from Dave Chaplin pulled us up to 4rd place, just behind Billingham, in the leg finishing at the Whitby whale bones.
Leg 6 Phil Paxman held our position on the run to Runswick Bay.
Leg 7 The team was only pulled together during the last week or so and inevitably some runner send up on a leg they haven't run before and do not have chace to reccy. So it was with Tim Lawes who had what looked on paper a straightforward leg along the coast to Skinningrove. Tim overtook 3 runners, or to be more precise overtook the same runner and his dog 3 times, but still finished behind him at the end ! No blame to Tim, I am grateful that he ran despite feeling unwell and we only dropped 1 place. Tim is of to Africa for a month as part of his medical training before returning to Newcastle to complete his studies. However, he should be around again next summer and has already booked his place in next years race.
Leg 8 Andy Normandale pulled us back up to 4th place, passing NYM B team near Skelton. This was the leg where the Cleveland Way finally leaves the coast at Saltburn and heads inland.
Leg 9 Sprinter turned fell runner Martin Perry ran this, probably the hilliest leg of the race, involving the climb up Roseberry topping plus 2 other substantial climbs and held our position.
Leg 10 Our 2nd lady Heather Tuffs ran extremely well including the climb of the Captain Cook monument as well as a very long road climb at the end of the leg.
Leg 11 Tom Bean ran superbly to pull us right back up to the Billingham Marsh House team.
Leg 12 There is a mass start at Clay Bank to avoid the finish in Helmsley being too late. The race suddenly gets more competitive again as all the teams are close together again. Mark Metcalf ran this leg and despite not having run for a week was the 1st to the Lordstones cafe above Carlton in Clevland.
Leg 13 Mike Raynes, running to Osmotherly maintained the lead, though it was a very narrow one with Loftus and Whitby in hot persuit.
Leg 14 Things got interesting again on Chris Judges leg. Not only did Chris not know the leg, but the weather took a turn for the worse with a thunder storm and torrential rain. I was quite worried about whether Chris would get lost, but needn't have worried. I didn't see Chris at the end of his leg, but saw the Loftus runner who had set off just behind him. He told me Chris had finished in the lead but had to keep asking the correct way. "I wish I hadn't b****** bothered telling him" was his comment.
Leg 15 Mark Dowson set off witha small lead, but again navigational problems set in. Mark was in the lead at the White Horse, but ran past it rather than turning back. Mark probably ran an extra 2 miles and we dropped to 3rd. This race wouldn't be the great event that it is without these sort of stories to enliven it !
Leg 16 Andy Neesom ran the final leg to Helmsley, maintaining 3rd place.
At the end, to get the final placing the times up to the mass start at Clay Bank and for the mass start to the finish must be added together. We were 4th up to Clay Bank, just behind 3rd and 3rd for the final section, by a comfortable margin, so believe that we were 3rd overall.
Thanks to everyone who ran and helped and to NYM for organising it. A great event !
Leg 4
