West Vale Sunday 7^th October

This penultimate race of the 2012 Vets G P race series is always one of the more demanding challenges. It was not long after arrival amidst all the pre race enthusiasm that some wit mentioned that the local Mountain Rescue team was on hand!

Nerves were calmed slightly by the news that the course had been ‘modified’ as it had been considered too muddy! We should have known better! Modified in vets terms - an increase in going uphill and as to less mud – well we all found plenty!

Nevertheless our intrepid team all completed the course with nothing more than a few slippery moments and very dirty kit and caboodle!

Pete Walsh led home our men’s team in fine form just missing out on an age category placing. Great running by Kelly Temple ‘our newest and youngest vet’ to achieve a well earned second place in the F35 category. Good to see Martin Smith and Pete Scoreby back to racing after injury and illness and Carol Diggle after her recent Ultra running experience.

Plentiful food at the after race buffet completed our morning excursion with Gary Moss winning one of the spot prizes.

Now its time to remind you all that the last race of this years GP series is once again at Spenborough. Scheduled for the Sunday the 11^th November at 11.02am this is the last opportunity to run for your club in the 2012 series. We would love to see you all there. For anyone who would like to travel with the team please note we will be meeting to share lifts at the back of the Racecourse at 9am prompt on the day.

Individual race and all vets competition details can be found on the Knavesmire website or alternatively at www.yvaa.org

Hope to see you soon but if you need any further details you can contact our vet’s captains

Mandy Clarke Tel: 07771 823370 mandy2235@gmail.com

Gold for team YKH

In spite of yet another race clash – apparently there was some event on in London? team YKH hosted another very successful event on Wednesday evening.

In a gold medal performance Emma Yates was once again our first lady home in a time of 37.21mins with Bill Shively being our first man home in a time of 36.24mins.

Great running by all Team YKH with Emma Yates also winning the F40 category and Graeme Adams achieving the Bronze in the M70 category. Congratulations or should that be commiserations to Kelly Temple who after running as guest on numerous occasions ran for points for the first time having reached the great age of 35!

Well done to our own talented team of ‘Gamesmakers’. Their enthusiastic support and culinary skills were much appreciated by all.

Individual race and all vets competition details can be found on the Knavesmire website or alternatively at www.yvaa.org

Hope to see you soon but if you need any further details you can contact our vet’s captains

Mandy Clarke Tel: 07771 823370 mandy2235@gmail.com

Why pay for an expensive spa treatment when all you have to do is run a vets race?

For a mere £3.50 eight YKH vets delighted in a real ‘mud bath’ on Tuesday at Pudsey

From the very start of the race it was obvious that this was not going to be a ‘clean contest’! Always a very challenging course this year there was no avoiding the MUD.

I am glad to report that most of the YKH team completed the course with ‘glowing complexions’ and looking 10 years younger!!

Well done to Liz Matthews who gained her first vets category success finishing as 3^rd F50. Great running by Pete Welsh and Martin Smith to lead our mens team home and by Ian Bithell who continues his chase for an age related series trophy. Congratulations to all the team (hope you have managed to get the kit clean!).

Followed by an ample buffet in the local pub the team enjoyed yet further success with Ian Bithell winning a large box of sweets (not quite so good for the complexion).

Individual race and all vets competition details can be found on the Knavesmire website or alternatively at www.yvaa.org

Next race is scheduled for Tuesday the 26^th June at Meanwood.

Hope to see you soon but if you need any further details you can contact

Mandy Clarke Tel: 07771 823370 mandy2235@gmail.com

Thirteen of us braved the sleet and heavy rain to run in the second of the Vets races at Otley. Fortunately the rain eased off to a hardly noticeable drizzle and the only decision at the start of this race was whether to wear road or trail shoes.

The first 3 kms of the first lap were on lovely flat tarmac paths, and I began to wonder if trail shoes were the right choice. Cue the off road stretch - a lovely riverside path. BUT, there wasn't much opportunity to enjoy the scenery, with one and a half kms of slippery mud to negotiate, and it was even stickier and slippier on the second lap! It just wouldn't be Vets without mud, but the lack of hills was a bonus.

Knavesmire performed brilliantly, with Barry Atkinson finishing 10th overall, earning him 2nd prize in M50. Ian Bithell claimed 2nd prize in M65, and Jo Hunt, running in her first Vets race, came in as 11th lady home , and first F35!

Kelly Temple ran as a guest, as she still hasn't 'come of age' . Soon, Kelly, soon!

The rest of us - Pete D, Martin, Pete W, Steve, Dave, Duncan, Gary, Linda and myself all reported good runs and 'happy with times.'

The next Vets race is at Kirkstall on 22 May, it would be great to see some new faces there. If you haven't tried a Vets race, why not give it a go - interesting courses, bit of a challenge, but always great fun and a real camaraderie within our team.