Nine juniors made the trip up to Scotland to the small town of Alva for The 163rd Famous Alva Games for round seven of the BOFRA Championships. In blistering heat they had to tackle a very steep and demanding course, crawling through a narrow gap with Gorse bushes at either side, one slip and there would be thorns a plenty to deal with. Once at the top a quick turnaround before heading back through the Gorse as quickly as they could. The u12 race saw some incredible results, Jacob Reeday was in his usual emphatic form and, despite a nasty fall, blitzed the field to take his sixth straight win in the u12 boys category. Lucille Pickles came home 1st u12 girl after another brilliant run, Jody Whitfield who is in good form of late came home 3rd u12 girl just missing out on 2nd by 1 second. Isaac Reeday was 10th boy in his first race at Alva with a great display of determination. 14th and 15th u12 boys were Oscar Clayton and Garth Duffy, the two lads decided before the race they were going to run together, as Garth Duffy entered the arena with Oscar trailing him, he caught and passed two other runners, suddenly stopped and waited for Oscar to catch him up, showing that they really meant they would run it together, only a Barlick Fell Runner would have that in them, as a tearful Mrs Duffy might tell you ! Oscar Clayton knocking 9 minutes off his previous years time just shows you how far these kids have come along. Lily-Grace Clayton just missing out on her first trophy yet again, finishing 7th u12 girl, although she did pick up a medal and some money in the girls 11-14yrs 100mtr sprint, finishing third. In the u14 race Ciara Duffy gave it her all to finish 5th girl , also running at Alva for the first time. Jack Villiers was pushed all the way as he secured a 3rd place in the u17 race. All in all, another great show by this special group of runners.

U17
3 Jack Villiers 12:39

U14
9 Ciara Duffy 18:24

U12
1 Jacob Reeday 10:13
8 Lucille Pickles 12:06 (1st Girl)
11 Isaac Reeday 12:34
16 Jody Whitfield 14:46 (3rd Girl)
20 Oscar Clayton 16:14
21 Garth Duffy 16:15
22 Lily-Grace Clayton 16:34 (7th Girl)

Tim Pigott won this ultra race, although not perhaps in the manner he would have wished.  Tom Fairbrother was leading and with only five miles to go, he took a wrong turn.  When he realised what he had done, instead of back tracking to the point where he went wrong, he tapped the finish line into his phone and followed the directions to take him there.  In doing so, he actually ran an extra mile.  Even though he approached the finish in the wrong direction, he was greeted as the winner, until the organisers realised what had happened.  When they did, he was disqualified and Tim, who had been in second place was declared the winner.  As Tim said, "He made an epic error and ended going along the main road - it's a trail race and was disqualified, but I am gutted that he did not get the prize he deserved".  

But your ability to follow the route is much a part of the event as as having the physical fitness to endure being on your feet for nine hours and as hard as it was on Tom, Tim Pigott got the honours.

1 Tim Pigott 8:43:54.