Best of RAT Magazine
30th Birthday Edition 2013
Welcome to this special compilation edition of Ratmag, resurrected from the archives to
celebrate 30 fantastic years of Kippax Harriers. In this edition, you will find a selection of
articles from past Ratmags for your enjoyment. Craig created many entertaining editions
during his time as Editor, and picking out the highlights was a difficult, but very enjoyable
task. I hope you all enjoy reading this selection as much as I did, and that they bring back
some great running memories for you all.
Les Kitching, one of the original founder members of the club has very kindly written a piece
about the origins of the club which I hope you all enjoy. Thank you Les!
An archive interview Craig did with Gerry ‘Whizz’ Waterton, a runner with Kippax since it’s
very early days, also makes for a very entertaining read, as does a piece about Ann Bath, one
of the founders of the Kippax Harriers’ Leeds Country Way Relay.
Inspired by Angie Worley’s Runner’s Spouse article, another Kippax runner’s wife has also
penned us a poem, especially for this edition. See if you can guess the identity of the longsuffering mystery writer……
Most of all, enjoy the memories and the party. Here’s to many more years of running for
Kippax Harriers! Happy 30th Birthday! (Helen Cowley - Chairman)
Newsletter editor: Craig Worley. Go to www.kippaxharriers.org.uk
The Start of Kippax Harriers – by Les Kitching
Running for over 30 years, and still only a little bit knackered! To be correct, Kippax
Harriers started as Kippax Road Running Club (I still have an old vest with Kippax RRC on it).
British Athletics Association gave us the name Kippax Harriers.
As it turned out, we were never going to be a pure road running club, as over the years we
have done all sorts of running, both on and off road.
At one time, over half the club were into long off road events, such as Scarborough Rock, 28
miles in the cold and mud, even snow some years. It was always the first weekend of the New
Year. One year it was a club run, and if I’m not mistaken we had over 20 Kippax Harriers
running it. A lot of us used to stay for the weekend, and we used to have a good night out in
Scarborough. The club has also been overseas a few times. In Bruges and Malta, we came
away with some top prizes.
Anyhow, it started like this for me…I played squash once or twice a week for Pheonix Squash
Club, and waiting to play a game, I would run from Rothwell Sports Centre to Methley with
another player. A guy from Garforth, Dave Whiley, spotted me running, and asked if I’d like
to run once or twice a week from Kippax Sports Centre. I can remember it being November
or December time, 1982.
There were three of us at first, myself (Les Kitching), Dave Whitely and Mike Dobson. At
the same time, there was another running group, Robin Seddons, Dennis Glover, and maybe
one or two more. So, we joined up, and that was the beginning. It was only a few months later
Gerry Waterton joined and quite a few others after that.
The first trip was to Lincoln Half-Marathon. Dennis Glover sorted out the bus, and all that
sort of thing, and we had just got our new vest, saying KIPPAX RRC. I still have a photo of
the race.
It was not a club, as such, for a year or more, until we registered with British Athletics
Association, and then it became Kippax Harriers, with a committee etc.
I’m not quite sure on all the dates, but that’s roughly how it happened.
So, I am the only one of the original members, but I’m STILL RUNNING, not quite as fast,
but still up for it, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIPPAX. It’s been a major part of my life, and I
have enjoyed all of it, and made a lot of good friends along the way.
Les Kitching
Newsletter editor: Craig Worley. Go to www.kippaxharriers.org.uk
Race Day - A Runner’s Wife’s Tale
He’s up on race day, full of giddy chatter
Down in the kitchen, I hear a clatter
If he’s making me coffee,
I’ll forgive him the latter!
He’ll be mixing his bottles of energy drink,
Then later I’ll find porridge stuck to the sink,
Oh, I forgot, it starts the night before
I’m accused of losing kit, I know the score.
“Where’s me this? Where’s me that?”
From his GPS watch to his powerstretch hat
Then it’s number on vest time, with safety pins,
A quick rub of ‘hot stuff’ to warm up the limbs.
“There’s numerous hairs in my Vaseline pot!”
“Was that Calderdale Relay or Trollers Trot?”
So he’s off now, into the howling gale
But he’ll be back soon with a black toenail
Pre- race nerves, what does he do?
Behind the nearest bush for a number two
I’ll find out later if it was a PB
And if he’s had pie and peas for his tea
He’s back and there’ll be things I wish I didn’t know
When I shout up the stairs “well, how did it go?”
“I forgot my Vaseline, that race was dire”
As he’s sat in the bath with his ‘ring of fire’
Newsletter editor: Craig Worley. Go to www.kippaxharriers.org.uk
“We’ve been up to Tempsey, we had a right laugh”
Later I’ll find ‘nip tape’ stuck to the bath
Some of the things I hear post-race
How do I manage to keep a straight face?
Craig said that once on Smuggler’s Trod
Martyn ran off and left him, the rotten sod!
I once overheard “I don’t need a GPS, I’ve got GSB”
I wondered what’s the difference, both sound the
same to me!
“So what’s one of those?” I asked in vain
“Well it’s what I like to call my Gary Scampton Brain”
At the end of the day, it’s all meant in jest,
And I know the importance of the Kippax vest!
Anon
(Any guesses?)
Paris Marathon 2013 – by Kelly Palmer
What an amazing experience for all of us Kippax harriers. How it all started…Kate Penrose,
what a great lady. Her ongoing challenges never stop. Kate gets Val to do the marathon and
then Val always gets me involved, and then we had 6. Setting off from Leeds and Bradford
Airport, checking in, all nervous and excited at the same time, all making sure our baggage
Newsletter editor: Craig Worley. Go to www.kippaxharriers.org.uk
was light to carry through Paris in rush hour…eeeeek! It was an experience we will never
forget as long as we live, one of those stories you can tell the grandchildren.
The nerves and excitement on race day, the panic when the kettle did not work for the
porridge (the French porter helped, bless him), and the panic on Lynne's face when we had
one ticket less for the metro! She got another one and then I found I had it in my pocket!
Two stuck together, oops!
Start of the marathon, nerves were bad, especially when the toilet queue was tenfold and
only 6 minutes to get to start. Val, Kate and myself kept together until the last water stop.
It was amazing! Similar to Great North Run, with all the different bands playing as you went
round the course, With the crowds shouting “Bravo” and lots of English shouting out for Val
and Kate it really pays to have your name on Kippax vest. It was a fabulous experience.
The support team managed to follow us around the Marathon. How good are they? The best
of the best. The support team were ace making sure we had enough food, giving me their
pizzas and ordering more bread and water the night before the race, as my portion was
rather small.
Thanks to Sandra and Joyce, especially the care and attention from my mate Samira. Thanks
also to Lynne Tyson, showing her valued fluent French language. She got us out of some
scrapes, I can tell you! We could not have done the Marathon with good results without the
Kippax support team, Ann Martyn, Wendy Chapman, Sam Lambert, Michelle Duff, Moira
Lenaghan, Joyce Robinson, Sandra and not forgetting Kate and Ann's husbands to jolly us
along. With John taking the photographs, he was great capturing us running the
marathon and afterwards with our medals.
The Runner’s Spouse by Angie Worley (January 2010)
(Ed (Craig): When I asked Angie this week if she had any original ideas for this month’s
Ratmag she suggested writing an article herself. She thought it would be a good idea to
present the view of us runners from the perspective of the long suffering spouse. So with
some trepidation I agreed and here it is.)
This is dedicated to all runners’ wives and girlfriends (WAGs) and of course the HABs too
(Husbands and boyfriends)!
Mud, blood and black toe nails!
Yuk I hear you cry but you become a hardy soul as a runner’s wife!
Behind every great man there’s an even greater woman so goes the saying and I would
heartily agree - especially if that man happens to be a running addict.
Newsletter editor: Craig Worley. Go to www.kippaxharriers.org.uk
For five years now it’s been a rollercoaster ride of triumph and disaster, PBs and shandy
boys, muddy trainers and sweaty neoprene since Craig took up the sport and joined the
Harriers.
At times my kitchen floor has had more in common than the stables of Harvey Smith than
the kitchen of his namesake the fragrant Delia – so covered in mud was it that it’s generally
hard to make out the outline of the tiles never mind the original colour – cream!
And I’ve found countless soggy, muddy items of clothes rotting away in the shower cubicle,
sports bag or draped across unsuspecting radiators – not to say clarted trainers secreted in
the corners of my car boot – only to liberate them to a brief period of cleanliness after a
quick whizz round in the washing machine!
Then there’s the blood – and the injuries – I’ve dabbed him down with cotton wool and tissue,
applied the Savlon to cut legs and wrapped up ankles and knees in bandages and tubigrip – and
all accompanied with a caring smile and the soothing words “There, there – would you like a
can, a coffee or a pie – or perhaps all three – darling?”
I’ve stood in the freezing cold, the rain (crouched under a brolly with various other spouses
and girlfriends), and the baking heat and worried myself sick when he didn’t appear at
checkpoints twice during the Three Peaks fell race. (Ed (Craig): I did appear the second year
at the Hill Inn but by the time the author of this article decided to get there, I’d been and
gone.)
I even disrupted a race once by driving through the middle of the start line at Bishop Wilton
Show several years ago to show my devotion to my husband – and possibly the cake stall – an
incident which I believe is now set down in club folklore.
I’ve listened to conversation after conversation and trailed around running shops all over
West Yorkshire in the pursuit of the perfect fell shoe – without much complaint I think!
And I’ve even put up with the long running saga of The Curse of the Black Toe Nail – no not a
Sherlock Holmes mystery – the disgusting appendage to Craig’s foot which often appears at
the bottom of the bed clothes of a morning and makes me shriek with horror!
So why do I do it? Perhaps it’s because I know how much it means to him plus the great
Newsletter editor: Craig Worley. Go to www.kippaxharriers.org.uk
boozy lunches, weekends away and nights out with some truly super running club mates!
The Gerry “Whizz” interview (July 2009) by Craig Worley
You may recall that last month I listed all
for an eight mile run the day before, which
the Kippax participants in the 1990 Otley
was an interesting tactic!
10. There were some familiar names and
notable performances.
“Well I didn’t know any different then” he
But there was one glaring omission, a
person whose speed and consistent
performances
for
the
club
have
transcended the last 26 years.
I am talking of course about Gerry
Waterton, better known as Gerry Whizz.
If Ann Bath gains legendary status as a
result of her stamina and resilience, Gerry
achieves it through outright eye watering
pace.
laughed.
A couple of weeks ago I went to see Gerry
to find out a bit more about his illustrious
running career. After a delicious lasagne
made by Gerry’s wife Julia, we began
where it all started.
Gerry had clearly caught the running bug.
After seeing a poster in a sports shop he
quickly joined a recently formed local
running club – our own beloved Kippax
Harriers. So how many members were
there at the time?
At the back end of 1982, at the height of
the initial running craze, Gerry and a few
mates decided they’d have a go. Each week
they would go out and gradually up the
distance. However, week by week,
somebody would drop out so that by the
spring of 1983 only Gerry was left.
Undaunted, he decided he’d enter the now
defunct Leeds Marathon. But by race day
the furthest he’d run was 10 miles. Doing
the marathon didn’t stop him from going
By the half-way point of the marathon
things were looking good and a sub three
hour performance was on the cards. But
the lack of miles in his legs began to tell –
“I ended up walking for most of the last
six miles and finally finished in 3:32.” Not
bad at all for a debut.
“I’d say only about a dozen,” Gerry
recalled.
Early members also included Andy Burns
and Les Kitching. The club’s boom time was
in the late 80’s and early 90’s when there
were well over a hundred members and
Gerry soon established himself as one of
the quicker runners. His main rivals
included Richard “Sid” Harris, Gerry
Symes, Rob Seddon and John Simpson. And
Newsletter editor: Craig Worley. Go to www.kippaxharriers.org.uk
what a formidable outfit Kippax once were.
The results for the Skipton Tough Ten of
1987 show four Kippax runners in the first
26 (including Gerry of course) all posting
around the 60 minute mark or less.
So when was
christened? “
the
“Whizz”
nickname
“Well I was never really one for
speedwork, I preferred just to run but
once I went to the track at Temple
Newsam with Sid and a few others. Since
I’d not done repetitions before I just set
off at full pelt around the track,” he said.
Apparently
Gerry’s
rather
bemused
colleagues called him back and the
nickname has held ever since.
The nickname of course is very apt. In
1990 Gerry ran 34:55 at the Abbey Dash
(10k) and has posted 58 minutes for 10
miles a number of times at Maltby and
Thirsk. As for half marathons – “I did get
a time of 1:15 at the Kippax Half Marathon
but I wasn’t sure whether it was the right
distance” Gerry admitted. Hmmm, I don’t
think I’d be quibbling. He also ran 1:16 at
the Garforth Half in 1987 and 1:18 in
1993’s Great North Run when he finished
an impressive 376th.
I wondered whether there were any bad
races or low moments that sprung to mind.
Gerry admitted that he once performed
really poorly at the Cardinal Heenan 10k
following a barn dance the night before.
“We got in really late and I was no good at
drinking” he recalled. You see if that had
been Martyn he’d have probably got a PB.
Also, in 1993 Gerry and Julia went over to
Jersey for the weekend. This time there
was no drinking involved, he just felt really
rough, finishing in a time of 1:19. Phew,
shocking time that Gerry! But a true low
point did come in 1998 when Gerry caught
a flu virus which attacked his joints. This
initially stopped him from walking and
prevented him from running for six
months.
Now to the most important question and
one I was itching to ask, how had Gerry
met his wife Julia. Well, Julia used to be a
useful runner for Kippax Harriers too,
sadly curtailed as a result of a serious knee
joint problem.
When the club used to meet at Kippax
Sports Centre, Julia used to run down on
club nights. Often Gerry would pass her in
the old grey van that he had at the time
and stop to see if she wanted a lift. For a
while she resisted his advances. But finally
she succumbed to his charms at the Kippax
Band Club Summer Disco of 1988. The rest
as they say is history and they were
married in 1995.
Less well known perhaps is that Gerry has
also completed a number of long endurance
events. In addition to numerous Smugglers
Newsletter editor: Craig Worley. Go to www.kippaxharriers.org.uk
Trods and other off-road marathons he
has also twice undertaken the Karrimor
International Mountain Marathon (KIMM)
with Les Kitching, on which the first time
unfortunately he developed hypothermia as
a result of bad weather.
He also completed Wainwright’s Coast to
Coast (190 miles) in six days and ran the
Leeds Country Way, all 64 miles in a day
with Les and Andy Burns, I believe in 13
hours plus. Not the record though eh
Martyn!
One thing I was to discover is that Gerry
has kept a great deal of memorabilia over
the years consisting of results, newspaper
clippings,
diaries,
photographs,
race
programmes and even race numbers in some
cases. He’d also worked out that his total
mileage was in the region of 47,000 miles,
that’s nearly twice round the globe!
So does Gerry still have any targets for
this year?
“I’d like to run a 10k in 38 minutes again
this year” is his answer.
On current form, I can see that happening.
He’s still the benchmark as recent
performances at Golden Acre Park and
Kilburn are testament to. In the latter
Gerry won the V55 prize.
As a fairly new runner in the last four
years or so I can also testify to Gerry’s
motivational skills and great kindness to his
fellow runners – good cop to Martyn’s bad
cop, I’d say!
I’ll never forget running the Rothwell 10k a
few years ago. Before the race Gerry
asked me how I thought I’d do. He then
proceeded to run with me for most of the
race sacrificing his own time but having the
effect of knocking two minutes off my
projected one. It was to be over 18 months
before I ran that quickly again. Jay tells a
similar story at Smugglers where he
believes Gerry could have actually won the
race had he chosen to leave Jay. A true
gent indeed.
So in summary, Gerry “Whizz”, great
runner and all round top bloke!
Official retraction by Craig Worley (May 2009)
It has come to the attention of the Editor that there was a serious inaccuracy in the April
issue of this newsletter. It was reported that Jay had missed a race because his washing
machine had broken down. This was a falsehood. In fact Jay had to miss the race because his
fridge had broken down and several dozen pies were in jeopardy. The Editor would like to
apologise to Jay for this reporting error and the hurt and distress it caused him and his
family. We hope this now sets the record straight.
Newsletter editor: Craig Worley. Go to www.kippaxharriers.org.uk
Three Peaks Fell Race (24 miles 4550ft) – 24th April 2010 (Leanne Hague)
Saturday, 24th April 2010, the big day! It
time to douse ourselves in factor 40
was this year’s annual Three Peaks Race.
before we were heading to the start area.
Early rising, Craig had arranged to pick me
up at 6.30 then rescheduled for 6:25 so I
knew he would be arriving promptly. I’m
usually one to lie in bed till the last second,
then run around manically preparing by
randomly throwing items in a bag and
eating a banana en route, but this morning
I was almost organised. Laminated map,
compass, whistle, waterproofs, energy
drink and a variety of running vests, socks,
long and short sleeved tops, various running
shoes and shorts, driving licence all packed
ready to go. With only a brief stop to
collect Mrs Worley, George (Ed (Craig):
George is my golden retriever for those
who don’t know) and fuel we were on our
way to the Dales.
It was looking like a fantastic day with
clear blue skies. The sun was shining down,
would it stay like this for the race? It
appeared the answer was yes! Perfect
weather conditions for the sunbathing
spectator but not for those planning on
running the event. I’m glad I packed the
sunscreen along with my buff and gloves.
You never do know with The British
weather!
We arrived early and registration was well
organised. It didn’t seem to take long
before the crowds started to build. After
checking our dippers were in working order
and letting George run off some energy
after the lengthy car journey, we just had
The Route starts and finishes in a field at
Horton-in-Ribblesdale. The first peak was
Pen-Y-Gent. Craig had told me this peak
was the most runable, and on reflection it
certainly is but I had run out of stamina
before reaching the top. After a steady
run/walk climb, gasping for breath all the
way to the top, I dipped my dabber and set
off intending to put in some effort and
make up time on the downhill. Pen-Y-Ghent
then vanished in a blur as I hurtled over
rock in an unstoppable manor. My screams
broke the air, adrenaline rushed and I
chaotically cascaded down from the
summit. I almost fell several times, ankles
and feet unsteady on the rough ground,
trying to nip into spaces in an attempt to
avoid collision with other athletes. I flew
past Craig, whooping all the way and
headed towards Ribblehead. What
fantastic fun!! It was at that point I knew
I was going to walk the hills, enjoy the flat
and save my energy to fly down the peaks!
After the road section at Ribblehead
there is a viewing point where spectators
gather. Today the fine weather had really
brought the crowds out. I managed to spot
Angie and George chilling out in the
sunshine and enjoying the jovial
atmosphere before pushing on towards the
lower slope of Whernside. The ascent is
very slow and at times you need to use your
hands as well as feet to climb. Then just
when you think you’ve reached the top a
second climb becomes visible and the pain
Newsletter editor: Craig Worley. Go to www.kippaxharriers.org.uk
continues. Finally I reached the summit
ridge wanting to kiss the flag. “That’s two
down and only one to go and it’s all downhill
till the next one” I think.
After a bit of a wobble and a few gasps of
fresh Dales air I was off again until,
Bugger! Cramp struck. I had turned down
Craig’s offer of salt tablets but
remembered his advice on how to make a
quick recovery. After replenishing some
lost body salt using a traditional ‘3 Peaks
remedy’ (Ed (Craig): licking the sweat off
your arms) and performing a few
stretches, I steadily and rather cautiously
descended off the summit with a very odd
taste in my mouth.
The route descended to Chapel-Le-Dale. I
was dehydrated and not carrying water was
a bad idea. I really couldn’t take another
mouthful of energy drink and the legs and
lower back were really starting to feel the
miles. I needed to find refreshment and
enjoy the run on the steady paths for a
while. My thoughts were answered and as
if by magic there appeared a conveniently
located ice cream van where I managed to
purchase real Dales ice cream.
Another checkpoint at Hill Inn then the
path goes along limestone pavements,
wooden boards and finally up the steep
steps to the flat terrain of Ingleborough.
On the summit the route loops around the
trig point where the ground is rough with
loose boulder stones. I spotted Craig
before hurdling a few jutting rocks and
bunny jumping down towards Horton in
Ribblesdale. The route is then mainly
downhill on a rocky path. The last few
miles of the race route are fast running,
that’s if you’ve enough left in your legs
from the hellish climbs. I knew I had after
walking most of the Inglebugger climb. I’d
chosen to get acquainted with other
runners and enjoy the scenery using it as a
distraction. The fast, rubbled ground then
becomes softer, grassier slopes with fewer
obstacles to traverse. A sharp left up a
field and then down to the finish in the
field where we started. With shouts and
applause from the crowds I crossed over
the line still in one piece and wearing the
biggest smile. Bloody Hell... I’ve actually
made it!
The atmosphere and post race sunshine
was great to soak up. We chilled for a
while watching others finish the race then
sat in the field chatting with fellow
runners whilst drinking a well deserved
beer. Entertainment and a live band played
inside the beer tent to add to the already
enjoyable atmosphere but our preference
was the barbeque and grassy field. Tired
muscles and rested heavy limbs combined
with the sunshine and post race beer
brought a strange feeling of pure
contentment. Then we headed for home
after an enjoyable day out. Now that’s
another story!
An unforgettable day... Well maybe not for
Craig I’m sure he wants to put it well
behind him, good luck in London next year;
I’m going back for more if anybody cares
to join me in the challenge? (Ed: Oh
fantastic…not only did Leanne beat me but
Newsletter editor: Craig Worley. Go to www.kippaxharriers.org.uk
in so doing she also found time to stop and
have an ice-cream. I bet she had a couple
Kippax Harriers
328 – Leanne Hague
379 – Craig Worley - CVFR
of pints at the Hill Inn as well but didn’t
mention it in order to spare my feelings.)
4:36:13
4:43:12
Meanwood Valley Trail Race – 15th May 2010 (Rob Kelly)
I believe that the secret to running well is
the City Centre.
in the preparation. A good diet, plenty of
rest, and a thorough stretching routine are
all sound ways to make you run better. So,
I couldn’t help but thinking what a great
route this was to run, ducking and diving
armed with that knowledge I decided to
prepare for MVT race on Friday evening by
consuming 1 four seasons pizza, 3 glasses
of red wine, two pints of lager, 2 Jack
Daniels and one shot of something that
glowed in the dark. I hit the sack around
midnight and was still a bit tipsy the
under tree branches and up steep rocky
hills. I really wasn’t expecting the tough
short hills but they all added up to provide
a varied and challenging route. Weather
was cool but sunny and was therefore
pretty much perfect. OK, so it doesn’t have
the popularity or the PB potential of
following morning to bother with that
stretching malarkey. This outrageous
rejection of my own running beliefs was to
catch up with me later on!
Rothwell 10k or Abbey Dash but it was so
much more interesting to run. Give me a
trail race like this over a road race any
day. To top it all off we were greeted by a
marshal who is an ex-Kippax Harriers
legend, Andy ‘the whippet’ Settle. As ever,
Andy was offering kind words of
encouragement (none of which I could
decipher) and had a big smile on his face to
help us all round. Towards the end of the
The Harriers were out in force with almost
as many men as women. Even little Ewan
Kelly was there, wearing his trainee Kippax
Harriers
t-shirt
(complete
with
sunglasses!). Whilst Uncle Jay and I
chewed the fat outside the club house I
was already beginning to think that the
surrounding
countryside
was
quite
picturesque. Steph and Ewan waved us off
onto the playing fields to start the race.
Off we went around the field and down
some nice easy hills. The surrounding woods
and little hidden lanes were a surprising
feature considering we were not far from
race there was a ridiculous cliff face type
climb. As runners approached it you could
physically see the thought bubbles rising
up, I can’t repeat the words here! A couple
of minutes later you were through the
finish line and handed a bottle of beer
along with a big pat on the back.
In conclusion, this is a very well organised
Newsletter editor: Craig Worley. Go to www.kippaxharriers.org.uk
event, with a great route and encouraging
marshals – good job Valley Striders (…but
don’t steal any more of our runners or
else!). You can’t expect a PB from this
event, but you can expect a properly varied
terrain and great prep to run a flatter race
in the future. Well done to all the Harriers
who took part and, to those who didn’t –
you really missed out.
Kippax Harriers
Pos Name
59 – Martyn Hewitt
62 – Nigel Mckaine
94 – Rob Kelly
125 – Jay Kitchen
164 – Wendy Chapman
172 – Kate Kidd
179 – Alison Hunter
192 – Tracey Mckaine
205 – Ann Martin
211– Catherine Jones
212 – James Jones
253 – Kelly Palmer
Actual Time
55:31
55:54
59:20
1:03:11
1:07:25
1:08:20
1:10:19
1:11:32
1:13:07
1:14:49
1:14:49
1:26:47
Handicap Handicap time
31.1%
38:15
38.4%
34:26
36.2%
37:51
43.7%
35:34
47.7%
35.16
50.6%
33:45
48.7%
36:04
47.7%
37:25
50.2%
36:25
52.0%
52:0%
56.4%
35:55
35:55
37:50
Handicap points
9
19
10
17
18
20
14
12
13
16
16
11
Hyde Park Time Trials – 6th June 2009 (Martyn Hewitt)
(Ed (Craig): Let me set the scene. Our two fastest runners decide to have an unofficial race.
Who is the quickest? After the Rothwell 10k there seemed to be no contest – Karen Hallas
37:18, Martyn Hewitt 38:37. So I’ll let Martyn pick up the story.)
It was a wet Saturday morning as I picked up my fellow Kippax Harrier at her house in
Garforth. Like a spring lamb she bounded over to the car with a cheery smile and a bright
'Good Morning'. It was pouring down but optimism was in our hearts....a bit too much red vino
for me the night before but that's normal preparation for me so I wasn't too worried!
It was suggested that we should race each other round but I wasn't looking forward to that
considering her fast time at Rothwell but I put on a brave face and said I would do my best.
Still raining, the hooter sounded and we were off.....like the Grand National ....5 k's are
always rather frantic affairs and it was nice to have the cooling rain on our faces. Just
Newsletter editor: Craig Worley. Go to www.kippaxharriers.org.uk
before 1k I passed my fellow Kippax Harrier and gave her some words of encouragement '
come on,,,, pull your finger out' - no response but I find that's the normal reaction nowadays!
(Apologies but I am working on my motivational speaking)
Marshalls were in abundance and there was no chance of taking a wrong turn Into the last k
and I expected my colleague to be breathing down my neck....a cheeky look behind when I
turned the penultimate corner and I was a good 15 secs ahead,,,,,one last push and onto the
finish. A quick warm down, some running round the park singing 'we are the champions',
strong coffee and a most entertaining drive home....with me grinning like a Cheshire cat!
Martyn
Karen
18:52
19.03
The enduring memory from the race....seeing the somewhat bedraggled spring lamb which I
picked up earlier that morning walking off with her tail between her legs.
(Ed: Martyn, I’m not sure how well that report’s going to go down with the judges of this
year’s “Most Gracious Sportsman Award”. Hope you’re not going to take that lying down
Karen. In the interests of balance, I feel I should point out that Karen won the women’s race
easily, beating her nearest rival by a whopping 77 seconds and is mentioned in the race
report on the official time trial website. Martyn on the other hand was only 7th in the men’s
race.
Interestingly, these two were both out racing again a few days later. Martyn posted an
impressive 1:06:55 at the hilly Otley 10. But that was surely eclipsed by Karen’s performance
the same evening in the Greenway 10k where she finished in 37:21, first placed lady and 9 th
overall.
So when is the rematch……..Martyn vs. Karen part II? Let us know because I think I and a
few others will be there to watch. Or is it tickets only with television rights sold to Sky?
Who’s running the book? I’m placing a fiver on the spring lamb to gain her revenge.)
Newsletter editor: Craig Worley. Go to www.kippaxharriers.org.uk
The Fellsman – 8th and 9th May 2010 by Craig Worley
Martyn had been badgering me for years
was due to run two weeks before.
to join him on the Fellsman, a 61-mile
Fortunately (or unfortunately as it turned
hike/run over some of the toughest
out on the 3 Peaks) I recovered fairly
mountains and fells in the Yorkshire Dales.
quickly from the injury and was fit enough
I had previously managed to resist all his
for both events.
attempts at persuasion but then at the
And so the day dawned, a cold but dry
beginning of this year I finally relented.
morning with gusty northerly winds for
The route includes over 11,000ft of ascent
accompaniment. This was still better than
taking in climbs up Ingleborough,
the forecasted heavy rain of a few days
Whernside, Gargareth, Blea Moor, Great
before and even more so than the scorcher
Knoutberry, Dodd Fell, Buckden Pike and
that Leanne and I experienced on 3 Peaks
Great Whernside amongst others. Much of
day.
the traverse across this rugged terrain is
We were to be joined by Martyn’s friend
over privately owned land, does not follow
and fellow Fellsman veteran, Phil. At 6am
well-defined footpaths and is not
we parked up at the finishing point, Upper
accessible to the public at other times. As
Wharfedale School in Threshfield for
such opportunities to recce are limited and
registration and were then whisked off by
much emphasis is placed on your ability to
bus to the start, which was in Ingleton.
navigate with a map and compass.
There we had to undergo a fairly rigorous
I didn’t want to go into something like this
kit check by the organisers. After
without sufficient training. I also knew
successfully passing this, everybody
from past experience that Martyn
mingled in the hall, drank tea, carbopossesses super human qualities on long
loaded, re-organised rucksacks and
distance events and doesn’t ever seem to
engaged in nervous chatter. Fellsman old
tire. So over the winter months, I steadily
hands told tales of the horrors to come
upped my mileage and hill climbing. “Are
including the infamously boggy Fleet Moss.
you going to run off and leave me…..I don’t
“We need to get over Fleet Moss while it’s
know the way?” I enquired of Martyn a few
still light,” declared Martyn as if to
weeks before (knowing him as I do).
confirm the point.
“Would I do that?” came the indignant
Finally at just after 9am we were sent on
reply. “We’ll do this together”.
our way to tackle the first climb, which
In early April came a setback when tripping
was Ingleborough. Martyn held to his
over a tussock I fell flat on my ribs,
promise to ”do this together” for a
bruising them in the process. This
fraction of a nano-second and then he was
threatened to put me out of not only the
off. It wasn’t until nearly two and a half
Fellsman but also the 3 Peaks race, which I
hours later that I was to see him and Phil
Newsletter editor: Craig Worley. Go to www.kippaxharriers.org.uk
again on the descent of Whernside. “Oh
it’s always madcap like this for the first 20
miles,” Martyn explained cheerily in
response to my grumbling. “It’ll settle down
after Dent, you’ll see”.
After a road checkpoint stop at Kingsdale
where we refuelled with flapjack, the
steep climb up the Lancashire fell of
Gargareth came next. We duly got our tags
clipped at the exposed checkpoint at the
summit by some very wind swept marshals.
Then it was off on a rough ridge path,
which would take us virtually all the way to
Dent. I was still struggling to keep up with
Martyn and Phil. Feeling nauseous and
miserable, I secretly entertained dark
thoughts about throwing in the towel. The
path down into the village of Dent was long,
steep and rocky and my quads were taking
a fearful battering. How would I be able to
continue like this for another 40 miles?
But then a strange thing happened, after
having a feed and drink at the checkpoint,
on the climb out of the village I began to
feel much better. Instead of a steady
stream of fellow hikers passing us we
began to claw back a few places. Although
I wasn’t to know it then, my lowest point
had already been and gone and I wasn’t to
feel as rough again. At the top of Blea
Moor I felt like I could run once more and
we scampered over the coarse scrub down
the fell.
A bowl of pasta was the treat in store for
us at the Stonehouse checkpoint and very
welcome it was too. A nice bottle of red to
accompany it wouldn’t have gone amiss but
you can’t have everything I suppose. It was
now four in the afternoon and we had
completed nearly half of the Fellsman.
As we embarked on the ascent of Great
Knoutberry, I began to get butterflies in
my stomach as thoughts began to turn to
another important event that was
happening that day. Only a win by Leeds
United would ensure their promotion from
League 1. When Martyn told me he had
heard some news, I just had to know. But it
wasn’t good….a sending off and down to 10
men! So I was Mr Grumpy again until at a
checkpoint about an hour later somebody
put me out of my misery by announcing we
had won 2-1 and “the mighty Whites” were
Championship bound. Just a shame we won’t
be playing Sheffield Wednesday next
season following their unfortunate
relegation. Never mind Seedy, enjoy
League 1!
With spirits lifted not even Fleet Moss was
going to be an obstacle, bogs or no bogs! In
the event, I don’t know what all the fuss
was about. Thanks to a dry April, the
ground was spongy at worst although it was
still very uneven and rough going. We
successfully negotiated this notorious
stretch of the route in the light and got to
the checkpoint at Cray just as darkness
was falling. “Sit yourselves down lads,”
commanded one of the volunteers
cheerfully. “Do you want a cup of tea,
cheese sandwich?” That was just what the
doctor ordered although I’m not so sure
about the cold rice pudding (yuk! Mrs Ed)
Newsletter editor: Craig Worley. Go to www.kippaxharriers.org.uk
It was at this point that we were
“grouped”. Fellsman rules mean that for
safety reasons competitors have to stay
together in a party of at least four for the
night section. We were grouped with Mark
and Danny, a couple of amiable lads from
Ripon. I’d wondered beforehand how easy
it would be to navigate from this point on
since I often use surrounding landmarks,
which obviously wouldn’t be visible now. But
I needn’t have worried. A steady head
torch procession could be seen ahead
snaking up Buckden Pike. And the GPS’s
that some of us had done the rest. This
was demonstrated just before the ascent
of Great Whernside, the last climb. We
came across another party at a small
ravine. They seemed adamant that the
correct path was to turn right and down
but our devices indicated we should go left
and up the hill. We agreed to differ and
went our separate ways. About twenty
minutes later when we were on a clear and
distinct path we noticed the head torches
of the other party perhaps half a mile
behind us. Ok, I admit we felt pretty smug
about that!
By now all thoughts of running had long
since ceased. My shin had started to hurt
making the descents particularly painful.
Martyn was not without problems of his
own having fallen into a hole and strained
his groin. It was just a case of slogging it
out through the cold night (by this time I
was wearing three long-sleeved base layers
and my Cag.)
Eventually we reached the last checkpoint
of Yarnbury where we were “ungrouped.”
There were only two miles left and it would
be all on the road. Phil seemed the
freshest of any of us and he set off down
the lane with Martyn in hot pursuit. I did
my best to keep up; at first shuffling, then
into a slow jog and finally to my great
surprise managed to break into a steady
run. We arrived in Grassington and I have
to say it was one of the most surreal
experiences of my life running through
that quaint village at 3.30 in the morning.
On we went, over the bridge and picking up
the back end of the Trollers Trot route.
Then up the little hill into Threshfield and
there a sight for sore eyes was Upper
Wharfedale School again.
We had done it, in 18 and a half hours. Our
time was nothing to write home about
especially compared to the winner who
finished in 11 hours and was probably long
since tucked up in bed. But it was an
exhilarating feeling just to complete the
Fellsman even though we were all
exhausted. Only the one-hour drive home
now stood between our beds and us but we
couldn’t even manage that. We’d been on
the go for over 24 hours and realising that
driving was pretty dangerous, we stopped
in a lay-by somewhere between Skipton and
Ilkley for an hour’s nap before finally
finishing our journey.
Newsletter editor: Craig Worley. Go to www.kippaxharriers.org.uk
The Wessex 100 – Focus on Ann Bath
I’d heard last winter that Ann was
struggling with injury, bumped into her at
the club a couple of times, had a quick chat
and discovered that she was having
problems with her knees. It seemed that
surgery was the only answer and I’d
thought sympathetically that a long lay-off
worst. But having completed a recce of the
Wessex 100 over Easter, the left knee was
now giving the most trouble. An
examination by the doctor whereupon
applying pressure to the knee Ann hit the
roof, revealed that surgery on the left
knee was the most pressing. The back of
probably ensued. Were all those 100’s and
other ultra events over the years finally
taking their toll?
her knee was worn and there was a big
tear. The damaged tissues needed to be
removed.
Then recently, I heard a rumour that
having had surgery, a mere five weeks
before, Ann was still going ahead with this
year’s 100. It was true. I decided to
investigate and do some research, a) to
find out more and b) to scotch any rumours
Operation duly completed, Ann didn’t waste
much time and a mere three weeks
afterwards she completed a 47 mile
weekend recce of the night time route.
Then, only five weeks after surgery on her
knee, Ann undertook the Wessex 100 in its
that I make up this Rat Mag as I go along.
entirety. Speaking to her, I got the
impression that she had loved every
minute. A warm Saturday gave way to a
sultry evening trekking through forests
and then a scorcher on the Sunday often
out in the open. Some of us were doing the
Ilkley Trail Race that day, approximately
seven miles in very warm conditions.
Imagine if you had 100 miles of it!
So here are the bald facts. Ann finished
the Wessex 100 in 33 hours and 50
minutes over the weekend 23rd and 24th
May. The latter was a baking hot day. It
was Ann’s 21st consecutive 100 miler. She
finished 131st out of 488 starters and 116
of those failed even to finish. Of the so
called “elite” 28 runners, 14 had to retire
before the end.
I decided to give Ann a call. How bad had
the injury been? Well it seems that both
knees had been giving Ann trouble since
last November’s Burley Bridge Hike. Since
that time Ann had tried to keep fit by
walking, biking and swimming. Initially it
appeared that the right knee was the
So how does Ann do it? Well a strong
mental attitude certainly helps. She also
gets great support from husband Dave. But
what other tips does she have for us
aspiring distance runners – refuelling for
instance? Well, it seems that Ann fills up
at checkpoints on warm sweet tea and jam
on bread. At roughly half way she goes into
a pub and has a pint or two of Guinness.
Newsletter editor: Craig Worley. Go to www.kippaxharriers.org.uk
Then at the end she downs another five
pints for recovery. I’m sure the
manufacturers would be gratified to learn
that Guinness is good for you after all!
How did her doctor react I wondered.
Picture the scene. Ann goes into the
surgery six weeks after her op. “How is it
going?” asks the doctor “I hope you’ve been
resting”. “Yes”, says Ann, “I’ve been taking
it very carefully. I just did a steady 47
miles three weeks after the op and then
my 100 miler a couple of weeks later. I
didn’t want to push it”. In fact Ann told me
that she informed the doctor that she’d
put her knee “to the test and that it had
passed”. I bet he was delighted! There
can’t be many of his patients that test his
work in quite that way.
What else is there to say about our very
own Joss Naylor?
Ann Bath – Kippax Harrier and living
legend.
Blast from the past by Craig Worley (June 2009)
Early last week during my lunch break I was perusing the Otley AC website and
contemplating whether to do the Otley 10 or not. In the end, I didn’t as I couldn’t be
bothered but I did clink on a link to the archived results for this race which went right back
to 1989.
Being the “anorak” that I am, I decided to look at each year and see who if anybody was
representing Kippax Harriers. Entry levels varied from year to year but in 1990 it may well
have been a club championship race because there were 28 runners from the club (if only we
could manage a turnout like that these days for club races). Some of the names are familiar
still now but some of the others will be recognisable only to more established members. So
to create some nostalgia for the Kippax stalwarts in our ranks I’ve reproduced the Otley 10
results for Kippax Harriers from 1990.
20
32
47
68
69
75
92
99
Neil
Michael
Richard
Gerry
Martin
Joseph
David
Geoffrey
Stoddard
Allcock
Harris
Symes
Schofield
Tunstall
Rayner
Bell
00:57:37
00:58:18
00:59:49
01:01:35
01:01:37
01:02:03
01:03:06
01:03:37
Newsletter editor: Craig Worley. Go to www.kippaxharriers.org.uk
112
120
146
184
204
220
224
246
Eric
Neil
John
Geoffrey
Don
Andrew
Robin
Kenneth
Burnell
Ibbotson
Messenger
Kent
Waring
Burns
Seddon
Denham
01:04:31
01:04:58
01:06:35
01:08:36
01:09:28
01:10:29
01:10:50
01:11:41
257
282
289
296
367
374
380
397
410
411
Malcom
David
Paul
Chris
Carole
Geoffrey
Sandra
Ann
Marie
Hilary
Marshall
Bath
Ash
Gill
Seddon
Gibson
Daniels
Bath
Hughes
Campbell – McLean
01:12:28
01:13:38
01:14:08
01:14:30
01:20:19
01:21:09
01:21:52
01:24:46
01:26:48
01:27:05
Toft
Burns
01:31:11
01:34:01
420 Sandra
425 Grace
If the turnout is impressive, some of the performances are quite staggering. This is a hilly
10 miler remember. Given that the race probably took place in either a heat wave or a
blizzard, as most races did in those days (or so I’m told), the times are even better.
Sigh! Where did they go?
Newsletter editor: Craig Worley. Go to www.kippaxharriers.org.uk
Editorial by Helen Cowley
Ending on that nostalgic note, I would like to say thank you to Craig for supplying me with all
this wonderful material, and I hope you have all enjoyed a little trip down memory lane.
The last few years have seen many successful events for Kippax Harriers, with our Temple
Newsam Peco Race currently holding the record for the highest attendance. Let’s hope we
can continue that success in the coming season, as we
have been asked to host a race at Temple Newsam again.
Speaking of Peco, how could I forget? Kippax Harriers
won the Colin Morath Memorial Trophy last season, an
award given to the most improved club compared to the
previous year. Fantastic attendance levels, with full
teams in every race helped us to achieve this. Brilliant
work Kippax!
We also had a great response from our Temple Newsam parkrun takeover, which I know we
all enjoyed, and showed everyone what a great club we are.
Even as you read this, Kippax Harrier Matt Hallam is competing in Ottowa in the World
Duathlon Championships, representing Great Britain. I am sure that I speak for all of us at
Kippax in saying how proud we are of his remarkable achievement, and wish him all the best in
his event. We wait with baited breath to hear how he has got on!
Upcoming events
Burnsall Feast Sports – on the 24th August the club is putting on a bus to go to Burnsall,
where there will be the classic Burnsall Fell Race, as well as a 10 mile road race. There will
also be plenty of activities during the day (as well as a couple of nice pubs!). There are a few
seats left on the bus, so please let me know if you require a place.
Leeds Country Way Relay – Sunday 1st September. This year, there looks likely to be a record
amount of teams entering, which should make for a great race day. For this reason, we need
all hands on deck, so if you are able to marshal, or help out in any way, please let me know.
There will be a marshals meeting in the next week or so.
I hope to see everyone in The Podger after the race to celebrate another successful event.
Christmas Party – this will be held at Scarthingwell Golf course, as in previous years, on
Saturday 7th December. Hope to see you all there!
Newsletter editor: Craig Worley. Go to www.kippaxharriers.org.uk