Cross Country

Hi all,

just a short reminder, the Cleveland Way Relay will be on again this year, the date remains as communicated at the end of last years race, 29th June 2008. I thought it was an enjoyable event last year, mainly thanks to the participation of a good number of teams. I therefore hope that you all can turn up a team again for this year's event. If possible, could you let me know if you intend to participate again, it would be much appreciated.

NYMAC is planning to have 2 teams again this year, and with a lot of luck, and some hard work by one of our ladies, we may even have a 3rd 'ladies only' team on this years relay.

Looking forward to hear from you or at least see you at Filey, 29.6.2008, 5AM.

Cheers,

Martin Dietrich

On an evening of torrential downpours a contingent of 7 Loftus and Whitby runners travelled to the remote village of Langdale End to run a 6 mile fell race. Miraculously, about 45 minutes before the start the clouds parted and the evening turned fine with a light breeze, blue skies and sunshine!

Alec Duffield showed he is over his recent breathing problems by scoring a decisive win leading from start to finish. He knocked 50 seconds off the course record for this race coming in in 41.17. Dan Middlemass had a tussel for 2nd place with Mike Jeffries of Billingham Marsh House, eventually being pipped by just 13 seconds to come in in 44.59.

Steve Hardy had an exceptionally good run finishing one place behind Dan in 47.20 and showing a promising improvement in form. Next runner in, in 9th place was Rob Williamson - now evidently over his calf injury. Chris Ellis, clocking 52.55, was just beaten to first V50 by Ted Kraft of Scarborough.

Julie Mastrolonardo had a good run taking into account that she ran in trainers on a course that was very wet and slippy and involved at one stage a waist-high wade through a river. (Alec apparently swam this!) Julie finished in 56.44 - and was second woman. Robert Howard didn't have the best run, but seemed to enjoy the night out anyway and finished in 57.42. Most of the runners rated this as one of the best races they have had for a long time. The course was really varied and well marked out and the "water sections" only added to the fun!

Loftus won the mens team prize with prizes also for Alec (1st man) Julie (2nd woman), and Dan (3rd man).

Thanks to Catherine Hare for driving, bag handling, photography and general support!

Loftus ‘B’ Team set off on the Cleveland Way at the ungodly hour of 5am with Neil Braithwaite who rolled off the operating table and onto the start line. He ran a solid leg and came into Scarborough with two other runners contesting 5th, 6th and 7th place. Freddie Rodgers ran a strong leg on a lovely morning handing over to Dave Collett in 5th place. Dave surprised himself with a good time and went home for breakfast satisfied with his contribution to the team. Jo Braithwaite ran an excellent time, breaking her target time by 30seconds despite having an unscheduled on-route stop (I wish we had that on camera!). An injured Rob Williamson took over at Robin Hood’s Bay and took an excellent 12minutes out of NYM team by the time he reached Whitby.
Dave Horness set off aiming to beat 60minutes for his leg, and overtook NYM on route, but did not quite make it to the top of Runswick Bay bank (and didn’t beat his target either!) But Good Samaritan Ian Brown came down the bank a bit to his rescue, and then ran strongly through over grown jungle paths to Skinningrove getting a good soaking on the way. Tecca Howard carried on the challenge running a good strong leg despite the rain and falling arse over tit into the mud, then handing over to Mark Walker. Mark also set off in heavy rain, but was fired up from the start and turned in a storming record breaking leg before finally grunting his way to Jimmy O’Brian, (who didn’t get lost this year) Jimmy ran another good time and turned in a good performance for the team. Julie Mastrolonardo was awaiting Jimmy’s arrival. Julie ran an excellent leg on a lonely moor top ending up at Hasty Bank looking like a drowned rat (the poor bugger!), but got lots of soggy cuddles from her kids which perked her up. Meanwhile, Rod Levan had set off on the mini mass start with five other team runners facing three bloody great hills (sorry Rod you got the short straw). Despite this he coped very well in shitty conditions and ran a strong leg to Mike Pope who also got wet through and finished his leg snotty and sweaty narrowly missing out an a leg record.
Darren Fawcett took over and looked like he ran through someone’s front door, but that’s how it starts from Osmotherley. He ran a good solid leg and said he enjoyed it (silly bugger!). Julia Jackson (on her first ever outing on the Cleveland Way) ran a ‘nice’ leg (That’s the problem with JJ she is too nice, she’s not aggressive, she doesn’t swear and she doesn’t even spit.) But she got to the end and said “oh that was hard!” (I rest my case). She handed over to the three amigos on the last leg. Norman Chester, Mally Peggs and Tecca Howard all were trying to cover themselves in glory while the rest of us sat eating fish and chips in Helmsley. Not long after feeding our faces the boys came in to great applause and recording a new ‘B’ team overall record by an outstanding 92seconds and finishing in a very creditable 4th place out of 7 teams, which was the best we could have hoped for.

A big Thank you to all runners and supporters for your commitment and efforts. Dave.
Dave Horness

Alec Duffield selected to run for England
Following Alec's succesful outing on the track in the Northern U20 3000 race he decided to run at Snowdon the following Sunday in the Junior trial race for the forthcoming world Mountain running champs in Turkey. The race at Snowdon was 'uphill only' as the world champs will be.

On the lower slopes the field were quite tightley bunched with runners conserving energy before the bigger sloes. First to show was Alec quickley stretching the field. He was soon joined at the front by a small group. As the race progressed Alistair Brownlee pulled well clear and a single file procession followed. Alec ran very hard and kept the pressure on the rest of the field, finishing 3rd English runner, 4th overall. Other English runners earning selection were James Kevan (2nd) and Nick Swinburn (4th)

This result earned him selection for the 4 man English team, running in Turkey on the 10th of Sept.

Dan Middlemass came second in 87:25
Colin Knapp came 34th in 103.58
(Race report and pictures: www.nym.ac/)

Four Loftus members braved the elements on Sunday 12th February to run in the Castleton - Danby Race. This 8 mile course across Moors, Woods, Bogs and Streams was a challenging course with over 1100 feet of climbing.
Dan Middlemas (55.48) had a superb run coming in second to Nick Swinburne who had over 2 minutes advantage. Next in was Andy Pearson, in 10th place in a time of 60.10 with Steve Hardy, 62.24 and Colin Knapp following in 67.40. This was one of the few occasions when we had a team competing and finished a creditable third place. This race is part of the Winter Fell Series.

Note from Andy: For those of you club members who have not done any of this series you don't know what you are missing! How many times during a Road Race will you get lost, fall over, end up in a stream, lose a shoe and risk life and limb on crazy downhill sections so you don't lose a place! The races are usually challenging, fairly well marked and usually based around a pub! For further details and lots of pictures go to www.nym.ac