ILKLEY 8 MILER REVISITED

Apologies for the quality of today's photo but then again it is from the Telegraph & Argus dated April 9th 1984.  The eagle eyed reader may perhaps spot that the building top left is in the grounds of the Ilkley Lido and more mature readers will recognise the event starting ............the ILKLEY 8 MILE road race. I think this was the second running of the event initiated by Ilkley Round Table.  They had originally talked about an all age Fun Run but when I pointed out to them that club runners couldn't and wouldn't run against children it agreed that it would be best to have a properly registered A.A.A. race and a separate fun run, mainly for kids.  The route for the 8 miler was, from the Lido left to Carter's Lane,  up Carter's Lane,  across onto Slates Lane, towards the monastery, left down the steep Langbar Road,  Denton Road back to the Lido........and repeat! Nice one!   By the early '90s the event became the ILKLEY 10K..........same start but up to Askwith and back...........but that eventually proved unpopular with Ilkley churchgoers apparently.............now we have the ILKLEY TRAIL RACE. The involvement of the Round table is no more.
          All this came to mind on today's run.   I decided to incorporate 3 long hill efforts into an 8 miler and Carter's Lane was the first of them followed by two efforts on Hardings Lane up towards a very cold and windy Langbar. Hence memories of the ILKLEY 8.  Coming down Hardings Lane I ran past the point where the Trail Race crosses the road and enters the field.  At the moment the stile is blocked by a pile of cleared snow 10 feet high!  Sure race organiser Lawrence B. needed worry!
         Could you spot the winner of the 1984 race?  Not Guiseley English international, David Slater leading here, but the Liverpool Harrier,  John Kelly, next to him. He ran the tough 8 miler in 38.30.  Me? Just behind him on the photo........5th in 41.34.   John is still running with Penny Lane Striders. But whereas I have retained my svelte figure (OK!) he has filled out somewhat.  Unlike Dave Slater, John to his credit is still competing and happy to finish down the field at my level now.  He still enjoys coming over from Merseyside to Yorkshire, running the Arncliffe Fete 4 regularly.  Reader Martin Lister will have spotted himself....number 296.....20th. in 43.57 just behind Brian Miller, still turning out for Harrogate.