Calder Valley Fell Runners – 26 June 2023

The future is bright. And red & white.

Fell running in the Calder Valley looks to have a very bright future if the exploits of the CVFR Juniors are anything to go by. The club was well represented at the Hope Bowdler race in the Shropshire Hills which incorporates the Junior British Inter Counties U15/17/19 Fell Running Championships. Yet another sterling performance from Clara McKee saw her win her race and secure the title of 2023 British GU15 Inter County Fell Running Champion. And there were other top ten finishes across the age groups for the CVFR youngsters.

Hope Bowdler Inter Counties & English Junior Championships Races

Winning U15s teams and reserves. Photo credit Woodentops

This junior event took place near Church Stretton – a busy, historic, market town that is the only town in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Race distances vary depending on the age group, with the Under 15s facing 4.5km and an 800ft climb and the eldest Under 19 group stretching themselves a bit further with a route that is just under 9km and a 1,500ft climb. The steep terrain on a very hot day didn’t stop the juniors from producing some amazing results.

Clara U15s Inter Counties Champ. Photo credit Woodentops

Running in her county colours, Clara McKee delivered a fantastic performance in the under 15s girls race, taking first place in her age group, and finishing 1.5 minutes ahead of her closest competition. As well as taking the top spot on the day, this performance also confirmed Clara as 2023 British GU15 Inter County Fell Running Champion, the culmination of a season of incredible consistency. Clara is quickly making a name for herself in the sport and will be one to watch. With her other 2 Yorkshire team mates Clara also came away with Team Gold beating Lancashire and Cumbria.

Will climbing well. Photo credit Woodentops

In the under 19s boys race and donning a Yorkshire vest William Hall had another solid run. Taking 6^th overall and being 2^nd team counter it was yet another Yorkshire Team Gold beating Merseyside and Lancashire.

Joe Stone also excelled in his under 15s boys race. Having being chosen as a reserve for the Yorkshire team he proved beyond doubt that he can cut it at this level, crossing the line in 8^th place in a field of almost 40 runners. With the motivation to do well only 2 of the Yorkshire team pipped him to the post. Ted Parker had a good race placing 37th.

George pulling away from the rest of the field. Photo credit Woodentops

Racing in their red and white club colours and vying for English championship points George McFie ran very well in the under 17s boys race to take 8^th place in a quality field.

Jayde enjoying her racing. Photo credit Woodentops

Jayde McGregor, who’s loving her fell running and gaining confidence in every race, placed 15^th in the under 17s girls race.

Smiling team mates Harry, Mani and Joe

In the under 13s boys race there were top 10 finishes too for good pals Mani Kaler (6^th) and Harry Cliff (8^th).  

CALDER VALLEY NEWS REPORTER: raymond kelly

It was a cracking days racing on Saturday at Annecy in France in the International Youth Cup where the standard gets higher each year! CVFR’s Charlie Pickens was one of a team of four in the Under 18s who picked up bronze medals for England in a hard fought race. Well done to Charlie and all the team.

Calder’s Charlie runs for England

Charlie Pickens from Calder Valley Fell Runners has been selected for the International U18 Mountain Running Cup Team after finishing third U17 in the trial race a few weeks ago.

Charlie making us proud – credit Woodentops

This year sees the 16th edition of International U18 Mountain Running Cup to be held in France on 27 May. It will be part of the MaXi-Race events around Lake Annecy and run on the paths of Mount Semnoz, located within the Bauges Mountains Natural Regional Park. 

England are once again fielding two strong teams (the format is 4 junior women and 4 junior men in each team) with the athletes looking forward to the opportunity to race against some of the best junior mountain runners on the international stage.

This is the 2^nd time Charlie has swapped his Calder Valley red and white stripes for the red and white of an England vest. He was part of the winning England team at the 2022 JHI in Ambleside coming off the back of a strong fell season. Charlie also finished 3rd in the U17 Boys Fell Running Association Championship in 2022.

Charlie has run with Calder Valley since he was small and it is wonderful to see his successful transition from junior to senior athlete.

David Bell Memorial Hoppits Hill Races

The big event this weekend for Calder Valley’s juniors was the David Bell Memorial Hoppits Hill Races, held at Lower Hopton Cricket Club, in Woodbottom (Mirfield, West Yorkshire), & expertly organized by fell running legend Nicky Spinks.

The CVFR over 15 contingent at David Bell Memorial Hoppits Hill

Adults run a 4.85 km (210m ascent) black route over an undulating course, with Hoppit hill in the middle. For younger racers, there are a series of different courses: a 6–9-year-old ‘red’ route (1km, 55m of climb), a 9-11 ‘orange’ (2km, 106m of climb) course, an 11-13 ‘blue’ (3km & 170m ascent) route. Juniors aged 13-19 run the same course as the adults but are classed separately.

Starting as they mean to go on – David Bell Memorial Hoppits Hill Races- Credit Dave Woodhead

This year, Hoppits Hill was the first of the 2023 CVFR Junior Champs races. Runners were treated to blue skies, plus dry & fast conditions under foot – a great start to the season! It was a strong outing for the Calder Valley with racers placing exceptionally well across the board.

In the junior races, the U11 girls ran strongly, with Georgie Illstone, Ishbel Symington & Rose Hughes finishing the 2km race in 9th, 10th & 11th place respectively (15:15, 15:20 & 16:40). In the U13 boy’s race, Mani Kaler did a fast dash to finish the 3km 4th in 16:45.

Hoppits Hill – CVFR U11 girls team – L to R – Ishbel Symington, Georgie Illstone & Rose Hughes – credit Dave Woodhead

For the full 4.85km distance, the juniors showed the seniors how to start well & win a race – taking up front positions, driving the rest of the field & keeping a fast pace up the first steep incline! First of the 121 runners over the line was CVFR U19 runner William Hall. Hall beat out all the 2nd & 3rd placed runners by mere seconds, taking not only the U19 win, but also overall gold, in an astounding sub-20-minute time (19:57).

A minute behind winner Hall, & in 5th & 6th place overall (2nd & 3rd in their U17 boys’ race) came teammates Charlie Pickens & Thomas McKee – with only 12 seconds separating them (20:57 & 21:09 respectively). This marks an impressive start to the season for Thomas, in his first race at U17 level. Completing the junior male results, Elijah Peers-Webb came 2nd U19 & 15th overall in 22:40.

Leading the women’s races – yet again – & the first female runner over the line was Clara McKee. Clara finished 11th overall in in 21:32. In so doing, she ran this 3-mile race a jaw-dropping 4+ minutes faster than any other female runner, & even finished in the pole position for all the U15 races!

Hoppits HIll – junior girls’ winners – 2nd FU15 Graihagh Turner Penistone FR 22.49, winner & 1st FU15 Clara McKee CVFR 21.32, 4th & 1st FU17 Amy Kennedy City of York AC 25.01- credit Dave Woodhead

The final two CVFRs over the line were in the senior races. Tristan Watson, with a time of 24:47, finished 35th overall & 22nd in the men’s senior race. In the women’s competition, Trudi Entwistle, showed where Thomas & Clara get their racing prowess from, finishing 55th overall, 3rd adult woman & 1st in the female veteran 50 (FV50) age category in 27:34.

Hoppits Hill Races-winning trio L-R 2nd James Wynne Horsforth Fellandale 20.01, winner William Hall CVFR 19.57 & 3rd & 1st U17 Lachlan Wills Wharfedale Harriers 20.02- Credit Dave Woodhead

Reporting back on the race, Entwistle observed how ‘very pleased’ she was with her run & how much she ‘enjoyed getting back into racing since last summer’s covid’. She was ‘delighted’ to cut 5 seconds off her 2022 time!

CALDER VALLEY NEWS REPORTER: CATHERINE JONES