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Athletics: Gray hits his peak in thriller
CALDER Valley Fell Runners club captain Karl Gray produced a stunning display at the 55th Three Peaks Fell Race in North Yorkshire.
This race is the blue riband event of British fell running which in recent years has attracted a large field of competitors.
Among them was Allan Greenwood who completed his 20th event.
The 47-year-old printer, who lives at Ainley Top, found it tougher going than usual but got round in five hours and 53 seconds.
Greenwood, a well known organiser of local races, has also done the Three Peaks cyclo cross race 14 times.
The race takes in 24 gruelling miles of mixed terrain, with over four and a half thousand feet of climbing.
Warm conditions and an unusually dry course meant that competitors had to contend with cramp and blisters to add to the challenge of running a near marathon distance over Yorkshire's highest peaks.
No such problems for Gray however, who powered round the course in a PB and world class time of under three hours to record his first podium finish.
Gray excelled on the precarious descents of Whernside and Ingleborough recording the fastest split times of the day, including an astonishing 27 minutes for the five miles from the summit of Ingleborough to the finish in Horton.
Only two men were quicker over the whole course with World mountain running champion and Three Peaks supremo Rob Jebb recording his fourth win in six years and British international Ricky Lightfoot only yards in front of Gray for second.
Next Calder men were Steve Smithies, who ran in road shoes to finish in a classy time of 3:39:40 in 49th, with Richard Greenwood 107th in 3:55:09 and Paul Bidduph 129th, just outside the four hour mark.
Three Calder Valley ladies completed the arduous course with Barbara Lonsdale leading the way (357th in 4:34:34), followed by Cragg Vale's Jackie Scarf (388th in 4:41:28) and Hubberton's Joanna Porter (438th in 4:48:59).
Other finishers: Ian Wood (4:18:30), Craig Worley (4:22:51), Martin Huddleston (4:25:03), Steve Hunter (4:25:37), Rob Rawlinson (4:26:42), Chris Sylge (4:33:54), Gareth Pemberton (4:34:11), Tim Brooks (4:35:17), Stephen Grimley (4:40:50), Allan Greenwood (5:00:03), Martin Eadon (5:02:01), Philip Jones (5:06:46), Tony Steward (5:09:43).
Halifax Harriers were also out in force with road specialist Ryan Barker clocking an impressive 3hrs, 42 mins and 13 seconds to finish 55th on his first appearance in the race.
Phil Grimes was not too far behind, producing a solid performance to finish eighth in the U50 category in 3.50.57.
Mick Fryer had the misfortune to suffer bouts of cramp and also had a fall coming down Whernside which resulted in a below-par performance to finish 273rd in 4.24.49.
Carole Fryer, on her debut in the race, enjoyed a steady run to finish 26th in a time of 4.32.34.
SEVENTEEN Harriers completed the London Marathon in very hot conditions and two of them, Ray Hall and Sarah Cumber, pulled out having started the race due to a calf strain and feeling unwell.
First back for the Harriers was Andrew Wiggins.
Last year he paced Nell McAndrew round but this year he ran his own race in an impressive time of 2hours 55minutes and with super veteran Mark Crabtree in 2.59 were the only two to break 3 hours.
Geoff Cumber was second veteran over 60 overall in an impressive 3.04. and Kevin Garbutt and Craig Empsall both running their first ever marathon , Kevin in 3.09 and Craig in 3.20.
First lady home for the Harriers was veteran 50 year old Linda Crabtree in 3 hours 32 minutes in 15th position overall in her age category.
It was a slower time for Crabtree due to the heat and she took the decision not to go for a quicker time but to get round comfortably.
Sharon Cousen was next lady home in 4.14, Deborah Greenwood and Claire Plunkett both running their first marathons in 4.25 and 5.04 respectively.
Other finishers: Jonathan Pollard 3.20, Rob Aitchinson 3.24, Nigel Rigg 3.25,Richard Plunkett 3.28, David Cooper 3.38, Andy Haslam (debut) 3.46, David Wright 3.52, Chris Burrell (debut) 4.30, and Garth Walker (debut) 4.38.
Last year he paced Nell McAndrew round but this year he ran his own race in an impressive time of 2hours 55minutes and with super veteran Mark Crabtree in 2.59 were the only two to break 3 hours.
Geoff Cumber was second veteran over 60 overall in an impressive 3.04. and Kevin Garbutt and Craig Empsall both running their first ever marathon , Kevin in 3.09 and Craig in 3.20.
First lady home for the Harriers was veteran 50 year old Linda Crabtree in 3 hours 32 minutes in 15th position overall in her age category.
It was a slower time for Crabtree due to the heat and she took the decision not to go for a quicker time but to get round comfortably.
Sharon Cousen was next lady home in 4.14, Deborah Greenwood and Claire Plunkett both running their first marathons in 4.25 and 5.04 respectively.
Other finishers: Jonathan Pollard 3.20, Rob Aitchinson 3.24, Nigel Rigg 3.25,Richard Plunkett 3.28, David Cooper 3.38, Andy Haslam (debut) 3.46, David Wright 3.52, Chris Burrell (debut) 4.30, and Garth Walker (debut) 4.38.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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