Unseasonably warm...

Clay Bank West - mysterious goings on... (26-11-06)

Nothing strange about Mike Hetherton's (31st overall) win in the M60 category at the latest edition of the NEHRA Winter Series races. Similarly, there was nothing unusal about Jo Ellerton (70th overall) being seen enjoying her 3rd place female finish....

What is amazing is that Andy Normandale is credited with 94th place. I could have sworn he was warming down with me in Leeds at the time of the race. Are there two Andy Normandales??? One in one Acorn website editors believe cloning has already occurred...


CLUB RECORD FALLS: Leeds Abbey Dash 10km (26-11-06)

November seems to be a record breaking month at the club. Andy Hilton trimmed the 10km record down to 31m 22s at the Leeds Abbey Dash scene of his 2 year old club record. Finishing 27th was 'content' with his effort on the day.

PBs were on offer at this event and Mark Metcalfe duely took it up with an excellent 33m 35s for 71st place. No PB for Andy Normandale but 1st place in the M50 category with 34m 29s, and Mark Harney continues to run prolifically with a 38m 19s showing on this occasion.

Excellent pace chaps!!


CLUB RECORD FALLS: Brampton to Carlisle 10m (18-11-06)

Hywel Care cemented his claim to be Acorn's most improved runner with an excellent result at the Brampton-Carlisle 10 mile road race. In taking fourth place , Hywel lowered the club record below the 53min level for the first time with 52m 09s.

Great job by that man, deservedly emblazoned in bold fuschia over on the club records page.


Guisborough Three Tops (12-11-06)

Thanks in the main to a very chartible runner-up in NFR's Charlie Stead, Andy Hilton took his second victory in the NEHRA Winter Fell Series. Hilton seemed determined to take as many wrong turns as possible during the course of the race but was called back on several occasions by Mr Stead.

A "rubbish" route choice off Roseberry Topping gave Charlie a 200m lead from a 50m deficit and had Hilton chasing hard from 5 miles on. Once back with the NFR man, the Acorn runner waited until the final descent before unleashing his kick to take the win by 20s. There's a lesson in there somewhere...

Behind this pair more red vests were out enjoying a remarkable autumn morning. Mike Hetherton took M60 victory again (41st overall) and Jim Shemilt (30th) and Jo Ellerton (69th) were 2nd in their respective M55 and F categories.

Really good fun!


Guy Fawkes 10m (05-11-06)

Loads and loads of Acorn vests on show at this local 'cracker'. Great to see such a strong turnout of members across the results sheet - 12 in all, nice one. The full list:

56th Mark Harney 66m 39s
67th Dave Lancaster 67m 31s
85th Dave Muckersie 68m 39s
120th Phil Paxman 71m 04s
219th Howard Winzar 76m 21s
373rd Paul Richardson 82m 11s
460th Pete Murray 84m 58s
478th Pete Nichol 85m 36s
536th John Tattersall 88m 23s
684th Anthony Rose 96m 33s

A word of congratulations to the winner Taryn Beattie from New Zealand who got to know about the race via this site!! Makes it seem even more worthwhile to know you have an international readership....

Good job you lot, keep it up!!


Saltergate Gallows (22-10-06)

Andy Hilton returned to the North York Moors to record his first win in the local winter series.

A solid turnout from the Acorn team produced a second place overall with Andy Normandale winning his first race as an M50 as he came home 6th overall.

Mike Hetherton signalled his domination of the M60 category with a fine 1st place (40th overall) and Jo Ellerton keeps on popping up at races, this time securing 2nd in the Female Open standings (57th overall).

Other team mates producing excellent runs were Jim Shemilt (31st), Pete Atkinson (35th) and John McDonough (58th). Great job by everybody!


Richmond 10km (15-10-06)

Word from the course was that this was a "toughie" by all accounts. A road race that felt like a fell race was one description. Interesting that it was sponsored by the 'Hilly' clothing company then...

Undetered by the gradients, Dave Muckersie finished 51st in 41-33 and Jo Ellerton placed 71st in 43-05. Well done to that pair!


Bridlington Half Marathon (15-10-06)

Good running by our runners in this popular road race.

Well done to Mark Harney who placed 49th in 84m 17s, a great time on this course. Equally impressive were the efforts of Joanne Hunt (1hr 45m 23s), Paul Richardson (1hr 47m 30s) and John Hegarty (2hr 11m 29s).

Worth mentioning Joanne and John were late entries. Great to see a half marathon being a spur of the moment decision - class acts!


British Fell Relays (14-10-06)

The Acorn vest returned to the British Fell Relays after an absence of a year and this time it meant a trip deep into the Calder Valley to the Castle Carr estate, north of Mytholmroyd.

This was private land opened especially for the day making the "paths" significant less path-like and a tough day's running ensued.

Andy Hilton opened up proceedings on the first, single man leg and came in a respectable 12th place.

Building on the start, Andy Normandale and Piran White took on the longer, paired second leg coming home a solid 20th place.

The navigational, pairs third leg was expertly handled by Steve Mummary and Jim Shemilt. With a choice of route, our lads did well to return to base in 38th.

Anchoring home the team on the final, single leg - an exact reversal of the first - Pete Atkinson produced a fine run to finish up 40th overall.

This may be one of my favourite events of the year, with a bit of organisation we'll make a real effort to turn out for next year's edition at the Trough of Bowland. Well done chaps!


Harewood Trail 10m (08-10-06)

This popular trail race attracted a sizeable field and a quintet of the red menace from our ranks. Conditions on the day were described as "stodgy".

Dawn Gibbs placed high up in the ladies race, coming home 5th female (I think) and 91st overall in 71-14.

Also on the scene were a bunch of club night regulars in the shapes of Phil Paxman (100th in 72-29), Howard Winzar (143rd in 76-18), Pete Nichol (281st in 85-03 and John Tatt (343rd in 90-22).

Great turnout, well done!


Cancer Research 10km (08-10-06)

Thanks to Andy H, Joy(shhh), Martin, Mike T, Stu & Suzy for offering up their Sunday mornings and marshalling the Castle Howard Cancer Research 10km. Worthwhile cause, great atmosphere and the opportunity to communicate on walkie-talkies - fabulous!

A shout out to Le Papa Jerry Barnes who swept round for third place overall. Still a joy to witness the man in action!

Great North Run (01-10-06)

A general mention for all those who took part in the World's largest half marathon this Sunday. I'd name you all by person but for fear of missing someone out I'll refrain. Nevertheless, you made for an incredible spectacle and no doubt did the vest proud. Good job.