BURNSALL CLASSIC FELL RACE.....the main feature.

  There was a time, before I started shaving, when the programme at the "pictures" (aka the cinema) would consist of a "B" movie, Pathe News,  trailers for forthcoming films and finally the long awaited main feature film.
  It was a bit like that on Saturday at Burnsall Feast Sports. Following the "B" feature of the 10 mile road race,all the talk was about the "Classic" fell race.  With specially printed t-shirts starting to appear depicting the legendary E.H. Dalzell, how would today's times compare with his longstanding 1910 record of 12mins 59.8?  His descent time of 2 mins 42 secs. raised a few eyebrows on Saturday but records state his downhill ability was mesmerising and had to be seen to be believed.   His time did after all stand until 1977 when top fell "pro" FRED REEVES  one of the sport's "greats" ran 12:48 to better it.  But how many fell aficianados could name the other man to better Dalzell's 1910 time?

  I witnessed fellow Mancunian RICKY WILDE  win the "Classic" race in 1977 in a close 12:50.2,
some  weeks after Reeves,but Wilde  did beat Dalzell's time later in 1983 running 12:48.   Fell "specialists" please note.....RICKY WILDE ran 7:47 when breaking the world indoor 3K record,   was 6th in the 1970 National cross country and to further demonstrate  his versatility ran a 2:14 marathon....as you do!

 So under the gaze of the wickerman and with the children's races on the green and junior fell races acting
as prelude it was time for the main feature.  Bingley's  super vet IAN HOLMES  was carrying No.1 on his vest and  he set off with the intention of making that his finishing position with Pudsey's ROB HOPE and Ilkley's  top man TOM ADAMS for company across the first field.
  However, M40 winner, Holmes could not hold on to the younger man who won clocking 13:59 to Ian's 14:11.  Tom was a clear third in 14:42 with everpresent Ted Mason 4th in 15:09.  

  First lady was HELEN GLOVER of Keighley in 18:45, another club stalwart who is happy to turn out in road races, road relays and on the country.

  It will be interesting to see how many of the 145 competitors who took part, including 21 women, will be back for the BOFRA version of the Burnsall fell race later in September.

But I'm sure they'll agree that the "Classic" version is THE event!