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Thursday, 03 August 2023

Whittle Pike - 3 August 2023

This race saw the return of Jimmy Craig to the fells and he came back in style.  Luckily the heavy rain had stopped by the start of the race and there were even a few midges out on the tops.  With the rain, the going was heavy underfoot but quickly Jimmy was battling it out with Charlie Parkinson, a young U23 runner,  at the front of the pack.  Jimmy had the beating of him and at one point passed him but immediately went off course.  Charlie Parkinson sportingly called him back onto the right line and from that point Jimmy used him as a pilot, as he had no idea of the course.  As they came off the tops, the two were neck and neck and with Charlie taking a better line down the descent, he reached the fell gate just in front of Jimmy.  However, at that point, he acknowledged that Jimmy had the beating of him and waved him past onto the tarmac run to the finish line.  Just behind these two was Ashley Wright, the first of many Todmorden Harriers who had turned out for this race. 
In the next pack of runners was David Poole who came home in 6th place and first MV40 and then completing a top twenty finish for Barlick was Robert Cranham.  On another evening, Barlick may have taken the team prize, but the race was swamped with Todmorden runners and they easily took that trophy.
Hannah Newbold also turned out for Barlick, but early on in the race, she crocked her ankle and thought of turning back, but she soldiered on to the end with a very sore ankle.

1 Jimmy Craig 47:50
7 David Poole 51:57 (1st MV40)
16 Robert Cranham 54:27
80 Hannah Newbold 76:54