Barlick take third place
Race Pictures from James Stead
Seventeen months after the club came into existence, Barlick Fell Runners Open Team took third place in this prestigious race. Everyone worked hard and there was a great team spirit in both teams, especially the mixed team, which contained many members who this time last year were not even running, let alone racing.
Calder Valley had set their stall out to go for this race and their team was packed with stars and internationals. They showed their intent right from the start and had built up a lead before they left the Clay House Park starting venue. At the end of the first leg, their lead was two minutes and they continued to add to this with each of the subsequent legs. It was an awesome performance.
The real race was happening behind them. Wharfedale got off to a good start and at the end of the first leg, they had a one and a half minute lead over Barlick. Our second leg pair of Julian Hood and Stephen Chew managed to shave eleven seconds off this lead, but in the third leg, Wharfedale once more pulled away. Both these teams were opening up the gap between themselves and Clayton who at this point in the race were lying fourth. Our fourth leg pair of Nick Treitl and Jimmy Craig reduced the lead once more, this time by over half a minute, but this still left a gap of four minutes between these two teams, who were both pulling away from the chasing pack. In leg five, Chris Barnes and Lucas Payne once more closed the gap, this time by a minute, leaving Barlick just two minutes and a half minutes behind Wharfedale. On the last leg, Shaun Chew and Sam Wadsworth felt that they were running well, but they had no sight of Wharfedale in front of them, nor of the chasing teams behind them and Wharfedale once more increased their lead. Behind them, in leg five Todmorden had managed to catch and pass Clayton and they started leg six with a slender lead. The last leg was nip and tuck between these two teams, with Todmorden just managing to hold on to fourth place.
From a Barlick perspective, this was a very satisfying result and a great David and Golliath performance against the long established clubs.
The times for the top teams were:
1 Calder Valley 5:57:12
2 Wharfedale 6:15:55
3 Barlick Fell Runners 6:22:06
4 Todmorden Harriers 6:32:09
5 Clayton-le-Moors 6:32:27
6 Rossendale 6:33:02
7 Calder Valley 'B' 6:40:57
8 Holmfirth Harriers 6:47:41
9 Sale Harriers 6:60:49
10 Rossendale Vets 6:58:11
43 Barlick Fell Runners Mixed Team 7:29:34.
90 finishing teams.
In total, there were 12 mixed teams in the competition. Barlick finished 6th out of these 12 teams.