OTLEY 10 MILE – WEDNESDAY 8TH JUNE 2022

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Hosted by Otley Athletics Club, the Otley 10 mile race was a welcome return to the racing Calendar. This year boasting a new route, this tough 10 miler attracted a plethora of local clubs to the start line including Ilkley, Harrogate, Nidd Valley, Saltaire, Bingley, Horsforth, Airecentre, Halifax, Baildon, Hyde Park and Abbey to name but a few! Of course our very own blue and whites were also present on the start line at Otley Cricket and Rugby Club. The new route was apparently instigated to avoid runners having to negotiate the busy town centre. Always a hill race, there were though, mixed views on the changes, some describing it as having two Carr Lanes in the middle! The start and finish remained the same with a stretch at the start out along Pool Road for 3 miles to the first water station, over the busy bridge and the rive Wharf and the usual left turn towards Leathley and then the uphill climbs began! The reward of the views over the Washburn Valley at the top are splendid along with the fast downhill sections to make up for some lost time! A warm evening made conditions quite tough for running but the fantastic marshals on the course lending their support quite possibly eased the suffering!! A big well done to each and every one of them. Leading the team home was Gillian Jago in a course PB of 1:27:50 followed by Garry Ellison in 1:31:53, Sarah Rawlings 1:35:05, Julie Steele 1:39:12, Claire Tailford 1:40:19, Jayne Robinson 1:47:49 and Sarah Myers 1:55:26. Finishers were rewarded with a bottle of Saltaire Blonde ale, a buff (if you were quick enough!) and of course a fabulous barbecue of burgers and sausages awaited.

A big well done Team and massive thanks to our support crew around the course!