You will all be glad to know that the 2020/21 club counters have now been finalised (with a few dates and start times TBC).
We have done it a bit differently this year, as we wanted to encourage as much participation as possible and make it accessible for everyone. We have had dwindling numbers recently so are doing it this way for this upcoming season, and if we need to change things for next season we can, but the committee got together and thrashed out loads of ideas and this is what we come up with.
Basically, there are 5 disciplines, Road, Fell, Trail, Borders and Cross Country. The Borders and Cross country dates are TBC as we don’t get these fixtures until July/Aug time. There will be 7 races in each discipline. Your best 5 are to count and a a minimum of 3 are needed to qualify for a prize. You will also notice that there are no clashes (yet).
Here is the big change. To qualify for Club Overall Champion, you have had to have ran at least 2 races out of the 7 from each discipline. So that means you’re going to see me on the fells getting lost somewhere in Wales sometime soon.
See more details on our much improved website below with is ace btw (thanks Steve R)
https://www.helsbyrunningclub.org.uk/club-championships/summer-road-fell-and-trail-races/
Can I also thank everyone who contributed to this, Tim, Ben, Laura, Phil, Karen, Col, June, Debbie and anyone else, too many to mention who were at the meetings. We have tried to cater for everyone, there will even be a turning up cup I believe as well, so watch this space.
Any questions fire them over.
Thanks
Fitzy
Warrington 5 mile trail series
Race 1: Winter 25 January 2020
by Karen Horsley
If you’re averse to a little mud then this race is definitely not for you! I’d first heard of this series in 2018 and my plans to run last year were scuppered through injury which left me even more keen to sign up for the 2020 races. It was a lovely surprise to find out that Geoff and Hayley (and Geoff’s friend Carole) were also running, although through illness Hayley couldn’t join us.
The four race series is organised by Warrington Running Club and the course start is at Colliers Moss, near Warrington. It’s chip timed and the medals are themed around the seasons with the remaining races being held on 28 March (spring), 27 June (summer), and 17 October (autumn). It was fairly pleasant weather for the winter race, not too cold, not too windy, not too bright, as 368 brave souls waited for the start.
The series Facebook page had promised mud and they certainly weren’t kidding. The race began along a nice solid track but soon had us slipping and sliding along a single file path, up and down hills and through muddy water troughs with plenty of marshals on hand to help if needed. The 5 miles seemed to pass by relatively quickly because we were having so much fun, as Geoff said, “with mud and puddles almost deep enough to swim in” – how could this race be anything other than fun?! The camaraderie on course was great with loads of encouragement from race marshals, other runners and spectators, I especially liked the young girl on the last hill climb shouting that we’d conquered all the mud! Great running by all, fabulous goody bags and medals and a great sense of pride at what we’d achieved. Very much looking forward to the next race.
Geoff: 00:46:04
Kai: 00:49:55
Carole: 00:57:28
Karen: 01:02:30
Parkrun
Full results for Helsby members at parkrun this week: https://tinyurl.com/y2lncx2p
Cheers
Gaz