Calderdale Way Relay

[Pike]

As the event is now in May, and the emphasis on having fun, perhaps we can have a bouncy castle at the finish?

[offcumdun]

Think thats probably the 22nd time I've run the Calderdale Way and I've goda say i'ts a shadow of the event it used to be. December was right for this event, it was like a full stop at the end of the year, May just dont work.
Where were all the big runners? British Champs & Fairfield......sorry but the top end was sadly lackin on Sun and if Halifax want to be this race to have any cred. then December its got to be. So it snows one year?........for god sake don't panic,if you tell people it's a Dec. event then tighten up on entries.
Not doin this again...........awaiting flack.

Not flack, because you do have a fair point and there are less destractions in December. That said, Leeds City AC are one of the strongest athletics clubs in the country. This is their team who turned out on Sunday, with some PBs:

		5K	10K
Leg 1	Ben Dyson	16:12	35.11
	Steve Body	14:36
Leg 2	Chris Birchall	14:47	29.59
	Tom Edwards	16:23	34.42
Leg 3	Trevor Wilks	16:07	33.52
	Martin Horbury	17:43	35.43
Leg 4	Adam Osborne	15:23	31.12
	James Smith	14:23	30.07
Leg 5	Leon Foster	16:10	33.53
	Pete Branney	16:07	33.43
Leg 6	Chris Needham	16:20	32.51
	Chris Wright	15:20	31.36

I'd would say this is one of the strongest teams ever to turn out for the CWR ...and Wharfedale beat 'em!

[johnmc]

As the event is now in May, and the emphasis on having fun, perhaps we can have a bouncy castle at the finish?

Well there is plenty of room for a bouncy castle at the rugby club, but hasn't the emphasis always been "having fun"? Granted, us fell runners have a peculiar approach to fun

[compo]

I totally agree with dnf's post - this event has lost its way (so to speak). Obviously, well done to Wharfedale on their win and thanks to all at Halifax Harriers for putting on a big event which seemed to be very proficiently organised.

However, the standard of competition wasn't a patch on what it used to be in December. Last time it was run in December we (Holmfirth) came third in 6.03 (ish) and I'm pretty sure the top 2 teams (Salford and Dark Peak) were comfortably under 6 hours. This year in better conditions the winning time was 6.18 and Holmfirth's superannuated team managed 5th in 6.39!

Now I realise the event isn't just about the race at the sharp end but I do think that the deterioration in the standard does somehow diminish the whole event. In the December slot lots of top runners from a variety of running "disciplines" all turned out for their respective clubs. This will not happen in May.

And finally... every runner I spoke to on Sunday thought the event had lost some of its "essential character" moving to May.

Back to December please Halifax.

[wharfeego]

I totally agree with dnf's post - this event has lost its way...
Now I realise the event isn't just about the race at the sharp end but I do think that the deterioration in the standard does somehow diminish the whole event....
Back to December please Halifax.

I'm sure that the top teams last Sunday won't imagine that their standards were any less great than previous years' winning teams.
It's not about elite runners and fast times.
The teams that did make the effort to turn out this time should get all the credit they deserve.
Elitism should be kept for the road and track fairies.
I do agree that December is the time for this relay but only because I'm an old dried up prune who doesn't like change.

[crowhill]

I totally agree with dnf's post - this event has lost its way (so to speak). Obviously, well done to Wharfedale on their win and thanks to all at Halifax Harriers for putting on a big event which seemed to be very proficiently organised.

However, the standard of competition wasn't a patch on what it used to be in December. Last time it was run in December we (Holmfirth) came third in 6.03 (ish) and I'm pretty sure the top 2 teams (Salford and Dark Peak) were comfortably under 6 hours. This year in better conditions the winning time was 6.18 and Holmfirth's superannuated team managed 5th in 6.39!

Now I realise the event isn't just about the race at the sharp end but I do think that the deterioration in the standard does somehow diminish the whole event. In the December slot lots of top runners from a variety of running "disciplines" all turned out for their respective clubs. This will not happen in May.

And finally... every runner I spoke to on Sunday thought the event had lost some of its "essential character" moving to May.

Back to December please Halifax.

Totally agree. Runners setting off at dawn, a good reason to delay the christmas paunch, top mountain runners/roadrunners/triathletes turning out in strong teams, standing around at Blackshawhead and having to frantically derobe when your leg 3 runners arrive, more mud, (...jumpers for goalposts). As a Calderdale based runner this event used to be the highlight of the year, but the summer slot puts it low on club's and runner's priorities. I do fear, though, that even if it went back to December it might not recover its previous status.

[dominion]

I'm sure that the top teams last Sunday won't imagine that their standards were any less great than previous years' winning teams.
It's not about elite runners and fast times.
The teams that did make the effort to turn out this time should get all the credit they deserve.
Elitism should be kept for the road and track fairies.
I do agree that December is the time for this relay but only because I'm an old dried up prune who doesn't like change.

Can't it be about elite runners running fast times as well as everyone else running to be part of their team? Given the woeful state of road running in this country I'd hardly call that elitist!

[fozzy]

I agree with the comments about moving it from December. Even as a reasonably sized club, Abbey struggle to field a decent Men's team in May - we have people concentrating on spring marathons (or recovering from them), or the 3 Peaks or other similar ventures. And I should know, I'm the men's captain! (although saying this, we did have a good ladies team in this year - we've got a strong offroad running ladies contingent!)

Also having it the same day as the Leeds Half marathon is ludicrous! We had about a dozen runners running in that who would normally have been persuaded to do Calderdale, plus we marshal the start & finish of the race, so we have another 15 people doing that job - again some of which would run Calderdale.

In December, we never had trouble raising a team!

[threerock]

Well speaking for one of the smallest clubs in the race - Idle AC, with 42 members - we fielded a team - 3 of whom had run the Manchester Marathon 2 weeks before. If people want to run this type of race, they will, and sometimes they will prioritise it over other more individualistic races if the club pitches it as a big and fun endeavour, not just a chore that one has to do out of a sense of duty to club and country. Yes you may lose some top end in May, but also bring in some other novice fell runners who might find a December race more intimidating. So swings and rotary playground devices really.

[Paul]

Dave & Eileen's photos from leg 4 here http://woodentops.org.uk/index.php?t...pic=morephotos