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For up to date results of the latest event visit
the Sportident website.
Click
here for the link
Click
here for link
Click
here
for 2005 Pennine Bridleway Relay results.
Click
here for
2004 Pennine Bridleway Relay results.
Click
here for 2006 Pennine Bridleway
Relay results.
I must admit to having had a few sleepless
nights in the weeks leading up to the event as several fell
races were called off due to the deep snow and ice covering
the route. Some sections of the route were un-runnable due
to deep snowdrifts whilst others had long sections of dangerous
ice. We had several reports from runners out on a leg recce’
of epic runs taking 2 hrs to complete 5miles whilst my daily
forays out onto my local section of leg 5 failed to fill me
with optimism. Slowly, very slowly though conditions underfoot
began to improve and with only just over a week to go I was
able to declare the event would be able to go ahead.
Overnight freezing conditions however meant that any standing
water turned to ice making conditions “tricky”
on the day. Unfortunately we had several mishaps which proves
the point about not being too complacent at this time of year.
We are fortunate to have the services of the Rossendale and
Pendle Mountain Rescue Team without whome we could not consider
staging an event of this kind at this time of year.
We had a record entry once again this year. We had originally
imposed a limit of 90 teams although after extra parking was
secured at Callis Bridge ( for which we had to pay a fee)
we increased the limit to 95 which will remain for next years
event. 3 teams failed to register leaving 92 teams ( 920 runners)
to battle it for the honours. Several teams failed to complete
various legs with 2 runners and 1 team only had runners on
the first leg which eventually saw 87 teams complete the day.
Incomplete teams however are allowed to continue so that everyone
gets a run and are provided with a time.
There were several new teams entered this year including Salford
Harriers, winners of the recent Calderdale Way Relay and along
with Horwich, (course record holders) pre race favourites.
The overall record set by a superb Horwich team in 2007 is
a good one and we doubted given the conditions underfoot that
this would be broken this year. This was put in doubt however
when the Horwich pairing of Gary Priestley and Darren Kay
smashed the leg 1 record. This was previously held by a Horwich
pairing so it stays within the club. With this in mind and
a Salford paring of Andi Jones and John Brown on the second
leg talk was of the second leg record from 2006 by Ian Holmes
and Robb Jebb being in Danger. Tricky conditions prevailed
however and the Salford pair were to finish slightly less
than a minute short of the record time although snatching
the overall lead from Horwich on the day. This was to prove
the order of the day with two teams on top form and star runners
battling it out for the overall win over the final 3 legs.
Horwich were to prevail however but by only 59 seconds after
five legs and 47 miles of effort. The total time was 4.53.47
the record of 4.48.16 from 2007 remaining intact.
It was though a fine effort by Salford in their very first
outing and a vow from them to return to do battle once again
next year.
As ever the tussle for the other category prizes were equally
intense with perpetual Vets winners Clayton-Le-Moors Harriers
winning that title once again in overall 6th place. Last years
ladies team winners Calder Valley Ladies were to emerge victorious
once again this year with rivals Clayton-Le-Moors Ladies some
6 minutes adrift. The mixed category, in the past the domain
of Pudsey and Bramley the mixed category course record holders
was won for the second year running by an excellent Chorley
Harriers team in 16th spot overall.
Only 1 leg record for this year which perhaps reflects the
conditions underfoot. The day itself however was ideal for
running being bright but cold for the later legs at least.
The logistics for this type of event are difficult for the
team organisers and runners as well as the organisers although
things seemed to work relatively well for everyone in the
end, parking at the changeover points posing the biggest problem,
hence the need for an entry limit. One of the main problems
with parking is the insistence by spectators on viewing the
progress of the race at the changeovers.
Kit checks are something we are keen on and we insist on kit
checking every runner at the start of each leg. Some runners
still manage to evade to the kit checks and some still turn
up with no kit or incorrect kit. The race rules and details
are sent out to the club/team contact and he or she has to
sign and return a form to confirm that the rules have been
passed on to all of the individuals in his or her team. I
would like to think that this happens in every case although
given the number of “unsure” individuals at the
kit checks I sometimes wonder ! Everything anyone needs to
know is there for everyone to see on the event website.
For next year we will be introducing a new procedure for the
distribution of race numbers. These have been previously posted
out to the club contact. For next year these will be collected
by the runners at the start of their leg where they will register,
collect their race numbers and get their kit checked. Safety
pins will be provided. An emergency telephone contact number
for use by runners on the day will be printed onto the front
of the race number.
A big thank you to all of the club/team contact/captains.
In can prove to be a difficult job especially with multiple
teams entered. Thanks also for the invaluable help and support
of the Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team, to Fearns
Community Sports College for an excellent Event base and to
all of those Rossendale Harriers and helpers from other local
clubs who turned out to help on the day. Thanks also to Martin
Stone at Sportident for timing on the day and online entry
and to Pete and Mathew from Pete Bland Sports for their support.
The event website has been updated for next year, Sunday 30th
January 2011, online entries will open 1st November 2010,
limit 95 teams.
Graham Wright Rossendale Harriers
Leg 1 Men. Gary Priestley.Darren
Kay. 54.06. Horwich 2010
Leg 2 Men. Ian Holmes. Rob Jebb. 1.16.17 Bingley 2006
Leg 3 Men. Alex Whitten.Adam Breaks 54.37. Calder Valley 2009
Leg 4 Men. Paul Massey.Alistair Murray. 34.48. Horwich 2007
Leg 5 Men. Gary Devine. John Henegan. 58.26 Pudsey and Bramley.
2006
Leg 1 Ladies. Anna Kelly. Vanessa
Peacock. 1.07.31. Clayton. 2006
Leg 2 Ladies. Jo Waites. Jo Smith 1.32.04. Calder Valley .2006
Leg 3 Ladies. Donna Cartwright.Anna Lupton.1.12.01.Radcliffe.2008
Leg 4 Ladies. Anna Kelly. Vanessa Peacock.44.34. Clayton 2007
Leg 5 Ladies. Anne Johnson. Naomi Sharratt 1.14.54. Calder
Valley 2009
1
new leg records for 2010 (Leg 1 men, previously with Horwich,stays
with Horwich ! )
Overall records :
Men (Open team). 4.48.15 Horwich
2007
Ladies 6.08.27 Clayton 2005
Vets 5.04.41 Clayton 2005
Mixed 5.40.36 Pudsey and Bramley 2006
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