Midgley Moor Fell Race (a.k.a. Alex Foster’s Tour of Calderdale) by Paul Jackson

Midgley Moor Fell Race (a.k.a. Alex Foster’s Tour of  Calderdale)

On Saturday the second Grand Prix/champs race was held at Midgley near Halifax. A small village with farmland, rolling hills and a cricket pavilion as the registration. The convoy arrived nice and early and even Marcus managed to keep up with us.

This was Jon Hyde’s debut on the fells and he was joined by 9 other A&T on what promised to be a good day for the club.

Most of us went for a warm up near the start line whilst Marcus, Lynds and Michelle polished off the WI’s tea and biscuit stall in the pavillion.

On the hour the start was called, all concern’s over navigation were forgotten as we ran off up the farmer’s field and onto the moors. 124 runners of all abilities.

As the field stretched out Alex Foster, Simon Ford and Mark Ruscoe were in great positions, I was slowing down after my sprint up the first hill, and it wasn’t long before Jon Hyde was past me.

Over Crow Hill then onto the trig point then a more level run over the rough heather on the moorland.

It was about this point that the runners in front of Alex split. One runner went one way, two others went a different way. Safety in numbers thought Alex, and went with the two. Some time later after a detour around the Calder Valley he popped up in front of me! “Bloody Hell, I’m ‘avin a good ‘un” I thought before the penny dropped, but Alex had lost a lot of places and was going to struggle to get back up with the leaders.

Marcus pushed on strongly followed by David Ruscoe and John Foulds all leaving me in their trail. For the girls, Lynds, energised by custard creams, was moving strongly on the hills and making good progress. Michelle was digging in, in only her second fell race.

At the finish, Mark Ruscoe stormed home to finish 10^th. When you consider the first two beat the race record, that’s not bad going. Simon came in a very respectable 18^th followed by Alex, who was looking at a very good top ten finish before going astray.

Jon Hyde had a great debut run followed by Marcus, David and John Foulds who managed to hold off my kamikaze downhill sprint.

Lynds next powering past a fellow runner in the finisher’s funnel (not cricket lyndsJ) Then Michelle.

Now if Grandstand had been covering the race, Ray Stubbs post race interview immediately after with Michelle would have been something like this:

Ray Stubbs- “Well Michelle, how do think you ran today?”

Michelle-      “F***??g H%%l Stubbsy you F%%?g P###k”

Ray Stubbs- “Will we be seeing more of you on the fells soon?”

Michelle-    “Will you F@@*** ‘LL”

(Muffled sounds and screams as microphone inserted where sun doesn’t shine).

Having said that, all back in safely, we got back in the cars found a pub and had a pint. Even Michelle said she’d be back for more.

1^st Karl Gray V40    Calder Valley   36.39 (new record)

10^th Mark Ruscoe                            43.27

18^th Simon Ford                               44.15

33^rd Alex Foster                               46.54

36^th Jon Hyde (V40)                        47.10

43^rd Marcus Taylor (V40)                49.12

49^th David Ruscoe                          50.04

51^st John Foulds (V50)                   50.09

52^nd Paul Jackson (V40)                50.10

90^th Lyndsey Carter                        58.05

115^th Michelle Fuller (V40)             1:10.44

Although Mark had a stormer and  Jon had a great debut, run of the day goes to Lyndsey Carter, in her first fell race since being carried off Wardle Skyline by the Mountain Rescue.

Thanks to all for a great turnout and all your efforts.

The next Champs race is Wardle Skyline on the 9^th April, full details to follow. Pendle Cloughs in May has been swapped for another race later in the year due to a clash.

Anyone thinking of going to Liver Hill on Tuesday will need to make own arrangements as I am not running and might not be able to make it.