Cracoe Fell Race Results
Sunday 29 July 2007
Race Report
Cracoe is a great venue for one of our Championship races. It's got everything; plenty of parking
(free), great for spectators and a nice handy pub for our presentation. The village nestles beneath a
spectacular fell, with the obelisk and Rylstone Cross prominent on the fell top. Our race takes the
seniors around the obelisk. The races all start with several fields to climb gradually to the fell wall,
where you cross some open moorland with some drainage trenches to jump across. The final climb
of the race is quite sharp up round the obelisk. Coming back is like the Grand National jumping the
trenches at a rapid pace - it's certainly exhilarating. For a change this season the sun shone for us on
race day, considering there's quite a lot of racing on at this time of year we attracted some healthy
numbers.
The senior field had 48 runners and with some of the big players in the championship with other commitments, it was time for the other athletes to shine. Chris Smales took full advantage of this and won comfortably. He was also first over 40. 20 seconds adrift in second was Andrew Grenfell ahead of third place Colin Moses. Sam Watson did well to hold fourth place with a 2 second gap over first over 45 Adrian Pickles in 5th. Mark McGoldrick, Colin Urmston and Iain Gibbons took the next placings ahead of Andrew Preedy who had Jack Holt (first over 50) breathing down his neck in tenth spot. Dawn Richards has improved greatly in her races and got herself a well earned first with Julia Murfin second and u23 Sam Morphet taking 3rd place.
'Under 17' James Mountain once again held off the competition over the same course as the seniors. I cannot work out whether he does just enough to win because he looks so comfortable crossing the line - his time would have put him in 3rd place in the seniors. Alex Till was hot on his heels just 2 seconds adrift, with Tom Sessford and Jonny Bradshaw in 3rd and 4th. Matt Fretwell, Jos Addison and Jack Thompson put in a great effort to take the next three places. Emma Flanagan had quite a wide margin over the rest of the u17 girls with Amy Fretwell in second followed by Emma Thompson and Lois Grinstead.
The under 14's saw Sam Till keep his winning form with Rory Addison and Ryan Croasdale in second
and third. Next Sam Westcroft managed to hold off first girl Melanie Hyder by a narrow margin.
Emma Spencer claimed second prize with Lauren Munro-Bennet, Melanie Morphet and Faith
Biddle 3rd, 4th and 5th girls.
In the under 12's James Hall recorded his first BOFRA win, having been consistently in the top three. Ben Johnstone and Phil Done put in great performances to take second and third places with Joe Stapleton, Declan Bulmer and Harry Sessford in close contention. In the under 12 girls Charlotte Cox held off Rebecca Flanagan with Chelsey Holder and Martha Pickles taking 3rd and 4th.
In the under 9's, most of these run for little reward on the day but they give it their all. I'm sure some of them will make a great impression when they move up to the u12's. Oliver Spencer once again won the race but not far ahead of first girl Ellamae Gibson. Tom Murfin was second boy back and third overall, with Jacob Croasdale, Robbie Johnstone and Daniel Cardus 3rd, 4th and 5th boys. Nathan Chadwick came next with James Stapleton 2 seconds behind. Emily Cox was second girl, with Erica Nichols and Emma Thompson following.
Thanks to everyone who competed, supported us, helped on the day and to the landowners whose fields we used - without these people there would be no championship. See you at Farleton Knott hopefully.
Barry Scholes