Sunshine success for Wilkinsons as Bingley hunt down the Bog Trotters (From Craven Herald)

Sunshine success for Wilkinsons as Bingley hunt down the Bog Trotters

5:07pm Thursday 27th October 2011 in Athletics By Bill Marshall

Bingley Harriers are still basking in the glow of their ladies’ triumph in the British Fell & Hill Running Relay Championships in Kettlewell.

Almost 200 teams of six runners from across the United Kingdom gathered under clear blue skies in the Yorkshire Dales village to challenge for the prestigious title.

After four demanding legs, taking in some of the most beautiful but challenging terrain that Wharfedale has to offer, the men’s title was won by Peak District- based Dark Peak Fell Runners.

However, to the joy of the organising club, it was Bingley Harriers’ Ladies who lifted the women’s title, after an intriguing battle throughout the race which saw the lead change hands several times.

Indeed, it wasn’t until the final leg that Bingley took the lead, which they then held to the finish.

Ruth Whitehead gave the Harriers a strong start on the short first leg, finishing in eighth, but close enough to the leaders to hand over to international athletes Emma Clayton and Hebden’s Victoria Wilkinson for the long second leg.

Running in a pair is challenging, but the girls performed exceptionally to gain several places and hand over to fell-running captain Sharon Taylor and Aly Raw on the third, navigational leg in second place within three minutes of the leaders.

The navigational leg can often be decisive in fell relays, with small differences in route choice making a big difference to the overall result but, due to the near-perfect weather conditions, the navigational leg this year presented few big changes, and Bingley only lost one place, handing over to Long Preston’s Mary Wilkinson on the last leg in third.

However, they were now eight minutes behind the leaders, Scottish-based Hunters Bog Trotters, and the majority of people spectating must have felt that the race had been decided.

However, with a very strong ascent to the summit of Great Whernside, Mary commenced the descent with the Hunters Bog Trotters now holding just a few seconds’ lead and, after a rapid return to Kettlewell, Mary was able to enjoy the acclaim of those gathered in event field as she brought Bingley home to a well-deserved three-minute victory over the Scots, who held on for second, with Calder Valley Ladies in third.

The result was a just reward for Bingley Harriers after their very successful organisation of the event which has gained high praise all around.

Women’s results: 1 Bingley Ladies 4hr18min 12sec (44min 10sec Ruth Whitehead, 1hr 27min 46sec Victoria Wilkinson & Emma Clayton, 1hr 21min 35sec Sharon Taylor & Aly Raw, 44min 41sec Mary Wilkinson), 2 Hunters Bog Trotters Dominant Gender 4hr 21min 06sec, 3 Calder Valley Ladies 4hr 26min 56sec, 4 Dark Peak Ladies 4hr 30min 48sec, 5 Ilkley Ladies Open 4hr 33min 20sec (44min 02sec Kelly Harrison, 1hr 38min 36sec Sally Malir & Emma Barclay, 1hr 18min 23sec Helene Whitaker & Tracy Greenaway, 52min 19sec Sally Morley), 6 Edinburgh University Ladies A 4hr 33min 52sec, 7 Kendal AC Ladies 4hr 41min 50sec, 8 Totley Women 4hr 43min 50sec, 9 Pennine Women 4hr 44min 45sec, 10 Horwich RMI Harriers Ladies 4hr 45min 01sec, 11 Holmfirth Ladies 4hr 46min 09sec, 12 Eryri Senior Ladies 4hr 46min 10sec, 13 Mercia Ladies 4hr 47min 10sec, 14 Wharfedale Harriers Ladies Senior A 4hr 50min 12sec (48min 01sec Cathy Bradley, 1hr 36min 24sec Tamara Hemsley & Gill Myers, 1hr 32min 49sec Judy Howells & Kirsty Hall, Louisa Pickles 52min 58sec), 15 Helm Hill Ladies 4hr 53min 56sec, 16 Keswick AC Ladies 4hr 54min 02sec, 17 Ilkley Ladies Vets 4hr 58min 24sec (50min 27sec Clare Smith, 1hr 37min 28sec Nicky Jacquirey & Alison Eagle, 1hr 28min 54sec Rebecca Mon Williams & Alison Preston, 1hr 1min 35sec Jann Smith).