This short and very “runnable” North Yorkshire Moor race was the first event in this years North East Hill Running championship. Like everywhere else in the last nine months it was very muddy, even more so than usual.

126 runners lined up on a beautifully sunny but still cold winter’s day.  The NFR contingent was quite small consisting of Will Horsley, Chris Sanderson, Lawrence Johnson, Dave Johnson and the evergreen Joe Garbarino, but it was bolstered by Lisa and Jason Taylor making their first appearances for the club.

Jason and Lisa had their debut enlivened and their visit to Commondale considerably extended, by the failure of their car’s clutch. In fact this was how I met them because I was one of the unlucky few who pushed their car up the hill to the car park. At least it made for a good warm up!

I wasn’t expecting great things personally and I did struggle a bit after the only real climb of the race, the road section at the start. I wasn’t too surprised then, when some of my usual rivals passed me on the long undulating climb to the top of the moor. On the other hand I was very surprised to come in ahead of Will! A sane state of affairs was resumed when it was explained that unfortunately Will, along with Phil Sanderson, Lee Bennett and half a dozen others had taken a wrong turning earlier on in the race.

NFR were 5th team home with Chris Sanderson finishing in a highly creditable 9th place with Lawrence Johnson in 18th, followed by Dave, Will, Jason, Lisa and Joe.

Dave Johnson

results on EVFC website