The Skipton Tough 10 (M) Sunday, 2^nd July, 2006
“Rural, scenic, rather bumpy and not for whimps!!!”

MARTIN’S RACE RATINGS:

Do it again: Yes

Scenery: 10

Atmosphere: 8 really well marshalled, but no spectators to speak of

Organisation: 9 maybe could have thrown in an extra drinks station given the heat.

Value: 9 £7 to enter on the day and a pair of socks and drink in your goody bag

Beginner Friendly: 5 it does rise to 327 metres at its high point (around 4 ½ miles) and I struggled today, but I think it was the heat more than the course.

The registration was at Craven Swimming Pool for a change this year which threw Steve Myerscough, (he went to Skipton Rugby Club and was too late to register). I was sweating at the Start without warming up. It as nice to see Barry Norman and Ian Sharples back from injury, but it’s not the race I’d have chosen for a comeback! Hats off to two PNE fans!

The Starter warned us to take it easy. The first couple of miles are flat, but then it starts to gradually rise and I’m ashamed to say I started walking 2 or 3 times very early on (and I call myself a fell runner!). A Preston Harrier was doing a Beckham at the side of the road, (being sick), and carried on gallantly for a short while before retiring.

The road was littered with squashed bunnies, (except they all had one ear stuck up).I heard shotguns and I thought poor bunnies, (if they escape getting run over, they are shot!). But it was a clay pigeon shoot.

I was struggling on the downhills as well as the uphills. I don’t know Yorkshire as well as Cumbria, but it was a very nice area.

Every time I could hear footsteps behind, I thought the only Wesham Runner behind me, Alan Taylor, was going to overtake me and sure enough, about 8 miles, Alan came past and looked good, straight away creating a 100 yard gap. We ran past a few spectators, but they were more interested in the sheep shearing! About the 9 mile point Alan seemed to flag and I got him back and also overtook a Skipton Runner in front as well, finishing in 1:21:06.

Michalea, Levon and I adjourned to The Canalside Bar. We’d arranged to meet Steve Myerscough, but Steve couldn’t find this either! It was that posh, I had to put my top on!

Unbelievably, (according to Lytham’s Tony Croft), Wesham had won the team prize. (Unbelievably with me in it!). I’ll grab the wine next time I see Tony.

1^st Ken Chapman (Salford) 1:00:09

5^th Barry Norman 65:01

1oth Ian Sharples 68:34

37^th Martin Bates 81:05

39^th Alan Taylor 82:07

Other locals : 9^th Tony Croft 86:27 (LSARR), 48^th Shane Cliff 86:27 (RR), 55^th Trevor Willoughby 89:53 (LSARR), 56^th Ray Willoughby 90:10 (LSARR), 60^th Stephen Young (Preston) 92:32

84 finishers.

FULL RESULTS

Written by: Martin Bates

Submitted: 4^th July 2006

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Website/Magazine Editor