Elvet Striders

For some of us Sunday means cutting a few extra zzzzzz’s, others a nice cuppa and the newspaper in bed, and others it could be something else (naughty). For four striders (Jan, Mike, Shaun, and I) it meant a rendezvous in an open field just south of Carlton-in-Cleveland by the Lordstones cafe (unfortunately closed). I’m starting to see some usual folks at these events, but Jan seems to know everyone (such a social butterfly).

It was a glorious Sunday morning, fresh and clear blue skies, absolutely lovely. For us and one-hundred-and-fourteen others all signed in for the race we headed to the base of Carlton Bank. The usual introduction talk and relaxed start set us free to begin the first of four ascents:

First Carlton Bank (a gentle climb and steep wet steps down), then Cringle Moor (slightly steep climb and a rocket descent), Cold Moor (up and down we go) and finally Clay Bank (protracted climb, a plateau and a heavenly descent). All this took us up and down through horizontally bedded Carboniferous rocks (330 millions years old) of sandstone and shale. After the descent of Clay Bank it was three miles of undulating terrain and plenty of muddy puddles (yielding artistic mud splatters on your shorts!). Mike was first home (very quick), then Shaun (who had decided to take a detour – silly billy) with me a few moments behind. [Your time will come … Ed.] Jan had stopped off for a jam sandwich and still came in to win a prize.

I have to say this was an awesome race/run and I recommend it to all for next year. Less prizes as the much of the race monies went to a good cause – Cleveland Mountain Rescue. But there was chocolate for all at the end of the race 😉

Results

118 finishers.