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| Assortment of colours and characters for the NYD event at Cap'n Cook's as the runners file steadily towards the summit |
For NYD 2014 , Poly forces were split - with Barry Young (with NFR consort Dave Johnson) attending the maritime themed event at Captain Cook's - while the Robson duo sunk their teeth into Hillforts and Headaches up at Rothbury. Captain Cook's is a well supported race run from the birthplace of Captain James Cook at Great Ayton .
Captain Cook was one of the world's greatest navigators who sailed many a sea with compass and quadrant mapping out the world's islands and giving his name to a set of islands in the South Pacific an inlet and a strait .
The Cook monument bears the following inscription:
While the art of navigation shall be cultivated among men...... so long will the name of Captain Cook stand out amongst the most celebrated and most admired benefactors of the human race
Or so they thought. Nowadays navigation, according to some is no longer dependent on the map and compass or the skills of a Cook .
Depending on the attendant weather and prevailing runners - the Wooler vest apparently provides a good reference point in bad weather , for some at least. While in good conditions it is left to the benighted 'Garmin' - an electronic global positioning instrument dependent on the reliability of United States satellites spinning many thousands of miles away in space whose signal is warped by the magnetic field and infra structure .
Garmin never had any islands, bays or inlets named after him because he didn't find any from his dry lined and double glazed /solar paneled office with the water cooler and crisps. Nor does Garmin have a monument to his credit - if he did it would be some kind of box giving out a bleep (and rather prone to battery failure and weather) rather than a sandstone obelisk !
Nevertheless some pay homage to the god of Garmin.
To the race - and this year we had warmish conditions with lots of mud. The drive down had been eventful given that we arrived far too early with 7 minutes to spare to the start . This caused the inevitable apoplexy and road rage from DJ who had spent New Year's Eve fretting over the travel arrangements . With bad judgment , parking on a busy day could be arrnaged no closer than 5 metres from the start line - generating further pre race worry - as we lined up with the competition with 2 1/2 half minutes to spare.
The field was a mixed bag with a chance to meet up with a few regulars from the southern half of the region such as Steve Small from Middlesbrough & Cleveland Harriers ( our friends form the T & F league and doing rather well these days); Elvets had a big grouping with Mike Bennett and there was a squad from our friends at South Shields Harriers including Mick Jones and Kevin Ayre. Jonny Malley - a strong fellrunner - had made the Xmas trip north from the Dark Peak and grabbed 3rd spot overall.
A congested start as the 280 runners headed out of town and towards the farms at the lower slopes. On the climb it became quite apparent that the heavy rains were going to make this heavy going. Last year if you could avoid the ice - it was firm and fast. It is a hard slog through the pines and onto the moors with a tough section of travesing exposed roots. The summit provides flat running round the Cook monument as we then head outback through the forest before a sharp scarp off the top. This stretch proved tricky. Having passed Kevin and Mike over the tops - I found my way hindered by a couple of runners in flats screech sliding their way down . Kevin used the chance to flip by and he was away. No hangover excuses and I wasn't about to let him lose - and at the next climb I drew level and eased away from him.
The descent down to the village and the sprint through the muddy holloway saw me extend the lead as I crossed the line at 69th in 41m 24s . Kevin was in next 30 seconds or so back . Then Mike Bennett eased in at 77 th , followed by Dave at about 45 mins . A good start to the year and reversing last year's defeat to Kevin.
A fine commemoration for Capt Cook. No doubt some await the name Garmin commemorating a race. Maybe for a breeze block alley run round Sacramento, Gateshead or somewhere else that's featureless.
Not to be outdone , the Robsons were flying the flag at the sharp end of the field in the other traditional NYD race at Rothbury: Hillforts and Headaches. This is more of a hill climb blast as once you make the Simonside Ridge the race stops. Nevertheless despite it's shortness - it is virtually ascent all the way. Gary notched up 7th place in 25 mins with William a few places back in 13th in 27m 29s .
Thanks respectively go to Esk Valley and NFR for getting up early and organising the events.
Season up and running !
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