THE WEST YORKSHIRE FIREFIGHTER 5 – SUNDAY 8TH AUGUST 2021

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Back to back races this weekend for Annie Kisluk culminated with the Firefighters 5 mile race.  Joining Annie in the blue and white was Sarah Rawlings. 

Whilst the world around us has changed much over the last 18 months, some things have remained the same. That can be said for the 5 mile undulating course of the Firefighter Five, hosted by West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service at Birkenshaw and the Bradford Airedale Athletics Club. It’s one of the longest established events in the racing calendar (nearly 40 years). For a lot of years the race was only open to Fire Service personnel, but in the late 80’s the race was opened up to anyone and everyone. The route isn’t going to help break any PB’s as its got lots of climbing involved, the first hill is nice and gentle and lasts one and a quarter miles from the start. Then you get nearly two miles of downhill, with the final sting in the tail going upwards all the way to the finish with the exception of the last 300 metres. Today the weather was overcast with a breeze making for perfect running conditions. 

A little piece of history;

The 2008 race was the 33rd time the race had been run and unfortunately was going to be the last for a number of years. The race made a triumphant return to the race calendar in 2013 and grew larger in 2014, the 35th time the race has been hosted. In 2018 the race once again established itself as a favourite of the local clubs, with many perennial returnees.  The course was changed very slightly in this year, due to the sale of some land around the Fire Service HQ and the new course re-measured and certified as 5 miles by Course Certificate 18/362.

Annie finished the race in 44:49, closely followed by Sarah in 48:13. Well done ladies!