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Sunday, 18 June 2017

Buckden Pike - 17 June 2017

For a change it was a lovely day for this race, with a clear blue sky greeting the runners at the start.  There were fewer runners than normal this year due to the Championship Race taking place at Tebay, but the closer friendly atmosphere was a useful reminder of how fell races used to be.

The normal advice for anyone running this race is to take it steady up the very steep ascent to the fell gate, but young Jack Cummings of Ilkley Harriers was having none of that.  He was jogging for a lot of the way and throwing down the gauntlet to the rest of the field.  Young Spike Smith of Ripon Runners was doing his best to keep up with him but as the runners disappeared out of view of the spectators on the gala field, Jack had already built up a commanding lead.  In third place was "old hand" John Murfin from Settle Harriers who was not letting these youngsters have too much of their own way.  These runners held their positions all the way to the summit and all the way back down again and that is how they finished.

The ladies races was won by Lucy Haines who is only eighteen years of age, yet she was not fazed by the challenges of this race and  she had an incredible run to finish in 9th position overall..  What was even more incredible was that she was being chased by an even younger runner, Helen Thornton of Buxton AC who was first WU18 and only 22 seconds behind Lucy.  This was a close race between two very talented youngsters and we can expect great things from both of them in the future.

You cannot let a Buckden Pike race go without mentioning the amazing Norman Bush.  He is now 77 years of age and despite his age,  he finished only two thirds of the way down the field, leaving many young men in his wake.  He is an inspirational runner and a great character.

Not many Barlickers out in this race and they finished as follows:

19 Nicolas Kendall 45:49
20 John Boothman 46:41
67 Chris Bateson 1:02:48