Great Whernside Fell Race 29 October 2011 (incorporating the Yorkshire Fell Championships)

Chocolates, Trophies and Jonny Brownlee

The race involved a well fought out climb, the lead changing hands several times with Leeds City's Chris Birchall turning first at the summit. Ian Holmes took the visiting Cumbrians Carl Bell and Mike Fanning on the 'directissimo' across the tussocks, the others (mainly from Pudsey and Bramley and Calder Valley) took the same path that they had used on the ascent, now full of ascending runners. As they came towards the finish, Ian Holmes and Carl Bell were running down the final steep fields together, until Ian stumbled with about 20 yards to the line, otherwise Pete Jebb said "I'm sure it would have been a dead heat"

Carl Bell from Howgill Harriers

Results

1 Carl Bell (Howgill Harriers) 31:06

2 Ian Holmes (Bingley) 31:13

3 Chris Birchall (Leeds) 31:39

4 Mike Fanning (Borrowdale) 31:42

5 Gav Mullholland (CVFR) 31:46

6 Karl Gray (CVFR) 31:47

7 Fred Slemeck (Pudsey and Bramley) 32:12

8 Alex Bellew (Leeds Uni) 32:16

9 Matt Lockyer (P&B) 32:23

10 James Logue (CVFR) 32:28

Ladies

1 Sarah Ridgway (Eryri) 36:33

2 Jo Waites (CVFR) 39:10

3 Sharon Taylor (Bingley) 39:40

Sarah's time was only 23 seconds outside the record - while the men ran 1 and a half minutes outside the record - Sarah told us she was travelling south after flying into Glasgow airport last night and thought she would break up her journey back to Snowdonia, "I really enjoyed the running here at the fell relays two weeks ago and thought it would be really nice to come back." 

We're sure, had Sarah known how close to the record she was, she may have been able to go a bit faster.

Full Results

Yorkshire Fell Championships - (Sponsored by Up & Running and 'The Wharfedale Clinic')
The Return of (Ian) Holmes

The Yorkshire Fell Championships trophy table

Gold - Ian Holmes

Silver - Chris Birchall

Bronze - Gav Mullholland

Mike Fanning (4th today) tries to say "thank you very much" to Ian Holmes (Yorkshire Championship Trophy holder)

Team Gold - Calder Valley Fell Runners

Ladies

Gold - Jo Waites

Silver - Sharon Taylor

Bronze - Gill Myers

Team Gold - Wharfedale Harriers

Under 23s

It was a real battle between Leeds Uni mates Fred Slemeck (on the left) and Alex Bellew (on the right). Just 4 seconds separated them at the line, Fred having the advantage. Alex said "it's because he's a lanky bugger so he was able to leap over the bogs better than me." When Fell Running Briefs approached these two promising fellrunners, they were still fighting for the trophy. 3rd U23 was Todmorden's Sean Carey.

And Jonny Brownlee you ask? What about his appearance? We know you are dying to know........Dave Woodhead kindly handed out at the prizegiving, to anyone who wanted one, a signed postcard of Jonny (in his tri suit) with his bike!