Knavesmire Harriers returned on 17 May for a second attempt at the Calderdale Way Relay Race. A massive event , comprising six legs run in pairs over the steep hills and along the canals and valleys of the Halifax area. The hotly contested race is now in it’s 31st year and regularly attracts nearly 100 teams of 12 from across the North .
In the weeks prior to the race most of the Knavesnmire contingent had on a least one occasion made the trip over to West Yorkshire to recce their leg, and / or assist another team mate in doing likewise.
This year we would have 4 male pairs and 2 female, not a sufficiently equitable split to allow us to compete in the Mixed category. We would thus be taking on all Male teams in the Open Category, but no worries, Knavesmire’s Ladies are more than upto the task.
The in total 51 mile race began at 8am from Clay House Park just South of Halifax, and from here would circle Halifax in a clockwise loop.
On the 10.5 mile leg 1 we had Simon Collins and Chris Roberts ( fresh fom Transvulcania Marathon a week ago ). They blasted off amongst the throng of runners in the mass start and were soon on their way out onto the Moors past Ripponden. The chaps completed their leg in 01:22:36 to get us off to a great start , well up the field in 12th, and hot on the heels of 10th and 11th.
At Crag Vale the baton was passed onto our leg 2 (8.5 miles) runners Tom Ratcliffe and Giles Hawking ( both having had Transvulcanian adventures the week prior) . They were able to quickly make up a couple of places , and after the ascent of Stoodley Pike they were vying with Holmfirth Harriers ‘A’ and Calder Valley ‘B’ for 7th and 8 th. After a swift blast down through the woods to the next handover they had got us into 8th position , sandwiched closely between the other two teams.
It was now time for Knavesmire’s Ladies to get in on the action. Sarah Atwood and Cassie Holmes sped around the 4.8 mile Leg 3 and kept us in the hunt handing over at Blachshaw Head with Knavesmire in 12th position.
Leg 4 was undertaken by Harry Holmes and Barry Atkinson , a pairing noticeable for their 30+ year age gap and rhyming names. Initially on the 9.4 mile leg they lost a couple of places, but in the latter stages they worked well together to claw the places back and one more to raise us upto 11th by the handover at Wainstalls.
Anwen and Nik head out on Leg 5.
Now it was the turn of Nik Vogan and Anwen Darlington to take on the hilly 7.5 mile Leg 5 . The girls gave it their all , Anwen was in her element out on the Moors and Nik hung on for grim death to keep up. They ran the leg in a great time of 01:02;33 and lost just one place.
Rory and Darren embark upon Leg 6. Perfect Synchronicity.
Now in 12th place place is was time for Rory Henderson and Darren Hendley to dash around the 10.5 mile anchor leg 6.
The pair stormed around to the finish, Darren out in front with Rory busting a gut to keep up, they made up one place to bring the Knavesmire team home in a very commendable 11th position.
Rory crosses the finish line to compplete the race.
88 teams completed the event , and only one team ahead of us had a Lady in it.
Another great team effort by the Knavesmire Harriers.
If you fancy getting in on the relay action why not get your name down for the Danefield relays , it’s teams of three and it would be great to have multiple YKH teams.
More photos available here