Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers...

The year started, as it so often does, with a large gathering for the Captain Cook's Fell Race on New Year's Day, beginning from Great Ayton and taking in Captain Cook's Monument and Roseberry Topping before returning to the start.

392 completed the very competitive (for some) race, among them 32 Thirsk and Sowerby members for the first of the year's Club Championship races.

Josh Fothergill continued his superb form to finish 4th in 32.46 minutes, only 3 seconds behind the 3rd placed runner.

Tom Levi finished in 19th place in 35.45 with Joe Martlew 22nd in 36.09 and the consistent Paul Peacock 54th in 40.02.

New member Ashley Dodgson wasn't far behind, 58th in 40.22 with Joe Poole 64th in 40.49. Luke McNiff took 42.46, Charles Lamb 42.47, Esther Harrison 43.07, two more stalwarts, Trudy Morrice and Alan Simpson had a sprint finish to come in 43.26 and 43.27 respectively.

Paul Chapman was next, 44.58, then Joe O'Keeffe 46.28, Brett Edgeworth 46.36, Rob Burn, 47.31, (could anyone be more stalwart or consistent than Rob?) and Chris Coates, 48.25.

Everyone else took over 50 minutes and they were Andy Butcher, Stewart Mechie, ever improving Joe Joyce, Lucy Seggars, Louise Mayfield, Kerri-Lee Wooding, Fran Jeffery, Kirsty Naylor, Duncan Fothergill, David Tervitt, Lucy Sillars, Rosie Gatenby, Stuart Hill, Beth Haggath, Alison Butcher and Christine Burn.

A superb effort, everyone, and appreciation to the organizers, Esk Valley Fell Club, who were up even earlier than the runners to set up the course!

They must have felt it was worthwhile.



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