OTLEY 10 MILE......NO SWEAT

  No danger of heat exhaustion for the 335 runners in the latest version of the long established OTLEY 10 mile road race hosted by the local club. Yet another damp, cool evening with that strong north easterly I suffered earlier in the day still prevalent and adding no doubt to the times.  The race at the sharp had come down to a head to head between TIM MIDGLEY of BINGLEY and GARY DUNN (M40)of THIRSK as they passed through at 3.5 miles but last year's female winner, JOSIE HODGETTS of the host club had already established a significant lead over PAULINE MUNRO (f45)
( Bingley).  She would have to fold significantly over the very hilly middle part of the race to not repeat her 2009 win; but the duel between the two men was another matter altogether.

 With the evening closing in and the light fading, as they passed the 8 mile point Gary looked to be forcing the pace with Tim on his shoulder, well clear of the rest of the field.  Question was with Edinburgh marathon from last month and a recent
10K in his legs could he break down the younger man.

  Having successfully covered the hardest section of the course with just 2 downhill and flat miles left and under no threat from behind, a smiling, happy Josie H. sped past at 8 mile going on to finish in 64.29 followed by Pauline Munro 65.53 and Racheal Bamford (Otley) 66.38. 
  Another female "master" running away from younger rivals on the very tough middle section was my friend SALLY MALIR (Ilkley H.) seen below pulling a group through at 3.5 miles and at 8 miles, having run away from them on the hills.  No wonder she's smiling as well.......

Gary's aggressive downhill surge appeared to have paid off with his younger Bingley rival broken,  but "terminator" Tim came back in the last half mile, surging past to take the win.  Done and dusted as they say, (sorry, Gary!). So Tim M. (56.30) nudged ahead of  the battling Gary D. (56.38) to add to last month's win over 5K down at Esholt.  So coincidently, victories for 28 year male and females on the new slightly rearranged course, being credited with new records, albeit significantly slowly than those on the "old" course.     But perhaps the outstanding achievement of the night was that of local Skyrac AC runner, Roger Dawson who was presented with a certificate for having run the race for 25 continuous years.  I ran in that 1985 race, 9th (!) in 53.27 and said "never again", although I did do in 1990,  so to maintain his sequence is admirable. Well done, Roger.

Sadly a significant absentee last night was OTLEYclub stalwart, Julian Mawson,  hospitalised since the weekend.   Good news today from Julian was that he is hoping to be let out tomorrow.  I'm sure we all wish him the very best for a speedy recovery.