Yorkshire CCA X-C Championships Millnerfield farm - Bingley - 23rd January 1993

Just a week after the Northern Championships the hardcore of the Spenborough cross country squad were back in action in the Yorkshire Team Championships. With the dismal weather turning the four laps of farmers fields into a 7 mile mud bath, incorporating long hills, ditches and a great pile of festering manure to run through, the course was a real treat!.

With none of our ‘big guns’ competing, the opportunity to be the first Spen runner home was there for the taking and this turned into a fierce three way battle between Darren Hanson, Alf Wolfenden and Dave Sunderland, who all excelled to place in the top 45 of 248 finishers. Longwood International Andrew Pearson eased round the difficult course to win in a time of 36.12.

Dave Sunderland stormed through as usual, but Darren Hanson and Alf Wolfenden responded with Alf pulling away until the treacherous downhill section took his leg from under him leaving him rolling about in the freezing mud, winded and gasping for air for a few vital seconds. This was enough for Darren to pull away and hold his advantage to the finish with Alf’s brave attempt to pull him back failing by just one second.

Darren was 37th in 40.51, Alf was 38th in 40.52, Dave Sunderland was 44th in 41.07 and Mick Dransfield had another superb run to come 59th in 41.58. After dropping out last week Myles Chandler just wanted to finish in the scoring team but Frank Reddington was having a blinding run and he was drawn into a last lap battle with the former veteran ace just beating him inti 91st place (43.24), Myles Chandler was 90th in 43.18.

Other Spenborough finishers were:- Last minute entry using Ray Padgett’s number, Kevin Bentley (196th in 48.09) and bringing up the rear ‘father to be’ Alan Whittaker (230th in 52.27) perhaps suffering the effects of a phantom pregnancy? However, credit must go to him for finishing because Dave Baskerville-’fear of injury’, Tony Patchett-’I just felt nothing in my legs’














and Graham Pearson-’I never really expected to finish anyway’ all found the going too tough. What was almost a Spenborough ’B’ team did well to place 6th of 48 complete teams.

Ranking scorers at Bingley

1.Darren Hanson (37th) 20pts
2.Alf Wolfenden (38th) 15pts
3.Dave Sunderland (44th) 12pts
4.Mick Dransfield (59th) 10pts
5.Myles Chandler (90th) 8pts
6.Frank Reddington (91st) 6pts
7.Kevin Bentley (196th) 4pts
8.Alan Whittaker (230th) 3pts

Northern X-C Championships Pontefract Racecourse – 16.1.93

By the time the ‘Northerns’ came around the sharp end of the Spenborough squad had been hit hard with injuries. Out of action on the day were Paul Dobson (stress fracture), Lee Warburton (bad knee injury) and Gary Damiani (knee injury). All three would have scored highly in the team but their absence provided a chance for some of the lesser lights (including me) to stake their claim for a National team place as Spenborough still turned out the full quota of ten starters.

The Pontefract racecourse was exposed to the gale force winds which battered the North of England all weekend, making the muddy 7 mile, 3 lap course very tough indeed. Despite the injuries the Spen team still performed with the scoring six packing into the top third of the 970 finishers to give Spenborough A.C. 20th place out of 101 clubs. Club star Jeff Hornby displayed his best form of the season so far with an excellent 17th place in a time of 36.02 (Stockport’s Bashir Hussain beat Longwood’s Andrew Pearson by one second to win in 34.39). Jeff himself was disappointed as he was in the top ten on the second lap but this performance gave a good indication that better things might come in the National Championships on the 27th of February in London.

The next four Spenborough runners finished within 30 seconds of each other as ever improving Dave Sunderland stormed through the field into 191st (39.05). Super vet Ray Padgett had a good run in 206th (39.13), while Darren Hanson got to grips with the mud in only his second cross country race ever as he came 215th (39.21) just ahead of consistent Alf Wolfenden in 227th (39.29).

The team was completed by Mick Dransfield (327th in 40.31) whose increasing fitness level this winter has seen him lose almost all of his ’five bellies’. Tony Patchett (388th in 41.11) and Frank Reddington (457th) were next, both still with hopes of getting into the National squad, but ‘prize hunting’ Richard Lee (575th) was just using this race as a warm up for the much more important Woodkirk Valley 10k ’Invitation International’ road race the day after was ’overwhelmed’ to receive a commemorative centenary championship medal given to all finishers, and described by Richard as “rather gorgeous”.

Missing from the list of finishers and without a gorgeous medal was your flagging reporter Myles Chandler with a sad excuse about a shoe coming off in the mud. But coming in behind ’former veteran ace’ Frank Reddington has signalled the end of many a running career before now. A special mention must be made of Jamie Warburton’s stupendous 9th place in the junior men’s race as it was probably the best Spen performance of the day. Next year he will be a senior and could combine with brother Lee, Paul Dobson and Jeff Hornby to make Spenborough a team to fear.


Ranking scorers at Pontefract

1.Jeff Hornby (17th) 20pts
2.Dave Sunderland (191st) 15pts
3.Ray Padgett (206th) 12pts
4.Darren Hanson (215th) 10pts
5.Alf Wolfenden (227th) 8pts
6.Mick Dransfield (327th) 6pts
7.Tony Patchett (388th) 4pts
8.Frank Reddington (457th) 3pts
9.Richard Lee (575th) 2pts

Christmas Handicap 1992

The handicap was an interesting but not altogether accurate mid-season form guide with race starved Lee Warburton giving us a taste of what we had been missing by hammering a not too bothered Jeff Hornby (both on ‘scratch’) and setting a new course record of 32.28. Lee did not dare to venture onto the country (due to a dodgy knee) for most of the season but came good just in time for an amazing run in the ‘National’ where once again he hammered Jeff Hornby, this time Jeff was bothered.

Top 25 fastest times

1. Lee Warburton 32.28 # course record
2. Jeff Hornby 33.35
3. Ray Padgett 33.47
4. Alf Wolfenden 34.23
5. Dave Baskerville 34.35
6. Richard Lee 35.39
8. Carl Wolfenden 36.27
9. Frank Reddington 37.24
10. Kevin Ogden 37.32
11. Dave Sunderland 37.44
12. Graham Gray 38.49
13. Keith McGhie 38.51
14. Alan Whittaker 38.55
15. John Swinden 38.58
16. Peter Ogden 39.47
17. Simon Brooksbank 39.57
18. Harry Smith 40.28
19. Michael Whitlock 40.30
20. Melvyn Radford 40.35 # handicap ‘winner’
21. Cath Gowland 41.32
22. Clive Westley 42.10
23. Myles Chandler 42.46
24. Victor Lomax 43.20
25. Ray Causton 43.21

View from the middle - W.Y.X-C.L. (meeting 2) Sat 7th Nov. 1992 Northcliffe Park, Shipley

View from the middle - W.Y.X-C.L. (meeting 2) Sat 7th Nov. 1992 Northcliffe Park, Shipley

The second ‘Complete Runner West Yorkshire Cross County League’ was held at Northcliffe park, Shipley on Saturday 7th of November.

The two lap course (about 5 ½ miles in total) included dangerous woodland paths which were steep , narrow and heavily rooted, I slid down a banking and I’m sure there were many more victims.

Once again the senior mens race had a good turn out with 261 finishers, 13 of them coming from Spenborough A.C.. Fell running international John Taylor from Holmfirth Harriers found the undulating course much to his liking and romped home to victory in 27:29 mins.

Also at the sharp end of the race glorious Spenborough packed three runners into the top ten with Jeff Hornby in 7th (28:32) exacting sweet revenge over Paul Dobson (8th in 28:38) and Jamie Warburton (10th in 28:41) who had both taken turns at beating him in his last two races.

The rest of the team scorers performed well with Gary Damiani (who managed to make the start this time) coming home in 28th (30:16), yours truly with a better run in 47th (31:13) and new ‘supervet’ Ray Padgett (53rd in 31:23) bringing the team a superb third place behind Leeds and Rowntrees but ahead of ‘Super Harriers’ Bingley and Longwood Harriers, our nearest and most bitter rivals.

Dave Sunderland had a good run in 68th (31:53) followed by Tony Patchett (80th in 32:08), back to normal after a good run in the first meeting. A tremendous sprint finish took place between Frank Reddington and Mick Dransfield with Mick having to use his famous kick to come home in 94th (32:30), four seconds ahead of veteran Reddington in 95th (32:34).
Other Spenborough finishers were ‘marathon man’ John Swindon (149th in 34:27), ‘erratic’ Graham Pierson (174th in 35:07) and ‘battling’ Derek Robinson (222nd in 37:24). Kevin Ogden disappointed by dropping out after some rather extravagant pre-race boasts.

A very good team effort leaves Spenborough 4th overall in the League with one fixture to go. Individual honours could also be won by club stars Jeff Hornby (4th overall) and Paul Dobson (5th overall) at the last meeting in Nunroyd Park (Guiseley) on December the 5th.

View from the back – W.Y.X-C.L. (meeting 1) Sat 17th Oct. 1992 Carnegie, Leeds

View from the back – W.Y.X-C.L. (meeting 1) Sat 17th Oct. 1992 Carnegie, Leeds

The 1992/3 cross country kicked off for most local runners on Saturday 17th October at Carnegie College playing fields, Leeds.

The meeting was a big success due mainly to the bright Autumn weather and the inclusion of female races for the first time in these ‘Complete Runner West Yorkshire Cross Country League’ events. This year was the last season in which the league comprised of just three races all held before Christmas and provided many runners with an ideal start to the season.

Spenborough had some good performances in the younger age groups, but the main event was the senior men’s race (incorporating vets and juniors) which had 291 finishers, 15 of them coming from Spenborough A.C.

One entrant missing from the starting line up as the gun went was Gary Damiani, out on his warm up, he would have probably been our third counting team member but his costly mistake did not surprise anybody as he has built up a glowing reputation for doing this sort of thing on a regular basis.

Pre-race tension does different things to different people.

The course comprised two laps of three miles and was dry and flat for a West Yorkshire League race, flat apart from the infamous Becketts Bank which seemed much longer and steeper on the second lap (it caused yours truly to lose many a place second time up !).

At the front the in form Darren Spawforth had broken away after one mile and came home a clear winner for local rivals Wakefield, but Spenborough placed two athletes in the top ten, with the ‘emerging’ Paul Dobson beating club star Jeff Hornby for the first time in placing 7th . Jeff came in one place behind (8th) to make this the second race in succession that another Spen athlete has beaten him (Jamie Warburton beat him in the last track meeting of the season). Is Jeff losing it ? I don’t think so yet, he will be back to claim more honours before this winter is over I’m sure.

Solid runs were produced by road men Ray Padgett and Keith Miller who came 42nd and 45th respectively. At the blunt end of the field Spenborough produced a string of placings, Tont Patchett’s 65th was a good run for a near vet., firmly beating yours truly into 87th which was a disgrace. Then came Mick Dransfield (97th), still on the comeback trail (two years is a long time for a comeback).

Just outside the top hundred came newlywed Dave Sunderland (101st) and hardened campaigner Frank Reddington (104th). Other Spenborough runners to get round the tough six mile course were coaching guru Alan Whittaker (123rd), comeback man Dave Baskerville, Kevin ‘the grafter’ Bentley who just made it home before collapsing in the finishing funnel, Geoff Pierce and Harry Machin also finished but first year junior Carl Wolfenden dropped out due to fatigue from lack of sleep (working commitments). Overall it was a good turn out with some encouraging runs at this early season stage. Sceptical road runners and even some of our track stars should try cross country running as it is good and it is hard.

Ranking scorers at Leeds (and overall after 1 race)

1.Paul Dobson (7th) 20pts
2.Jeff Hornby (8th) 15pts
3.Ray Padgett (42nd) 12pts
4.Keith Miller (45th) 10pts
5.Tony Patchett (65th) 8pts
6.Myles Chandler (87th) 6pts
7.Mick Dransfield (97th) 4pts
8.Dave Sunderland (101st) 3pts
9.Frank Reddington (104th) 2pts
10.Alan Whittaker (123rd) 1pt

The Glory Years - Northern Six Stage

‘A funny thing happened on the way’

It’s not uncommon for a driver to exit a motorway at the wrong junction. A car load of Spen runners managed to come off at the right junction but on the wrong motorway, taking the M1 to Knutsford resulted in three team members arriving half an hour after the start of the race on a rain soaked Tatton Park course. It was a case of last shall be first and Ray Padgett stepped forward at twenty minutes notice to start the usually high standard first leg. Michael Sykes gained eight places on the second leg, but Keith Miller found the third leg pace fast and lost four places. By this time the Motorway hoppers were seen hot footing across the park and Alf Wolfenden regained the four places, with Richard Lee gaining one more. On the last leg the runners are spread over a greater distance and Gary Damiani’s run, the fastest of the team and gaining four places, was a fine performance. The team was not at full strength due to returns to universities, holidays and injury. 67 teams finished, fastest leg = David Lewis, Rossendale (17:42).

Ray Padgett 54th 20:27
Michael Sykes 46th 20:03
Keith Miller 50th 21:13
Alf Wolfenden 46th 20:43
Richard Lee 45th 20:40
Gary Damiani 41st 19:57

The Glory Years - 1992 Yorkshire Six Stage Relay

1992 Six Stage Road Relay Season (By Frank Reddington)

Yorkshire Six Stage Road Relays – 12.9.92 – Thornes Park, Wakefield
Senior Men – 6 x 3.8 miles

While our senior track men were competing for promotion to Northern Mens Division One at Oldham, the road men turned out for the traditional opening of the road relay season at Wakefield. Despite fielding a vitual ‘B’ team we finished a creditable 14th, with a second team finishing 31st out of 47 complete teams. Star performer was Darren Hansen, a fireman from Huddersfield, who gained ten places on the second leg and recorded the 34th fastest time overall behind Darren Spawforth of Wakefield Harriers who had the fastest leg of the day with 17:54.

‘A’ Team – 14th

Ray Padgett 20:09
Darren Hansen 19:30
Richard Lee 20:09
Alf Wolfenden 20:12
Robert Moon 21:47
Kevin Bentley 20:52

‘B’ Team – 31st
Kevin Ogden 23:15
Carl Wolfenden 22:26
Alan Whittaker 21:10
Keith Miller 20:44
Tony Patchett 21:22
Frank Reddington 21:50


cc

Y.X-C.L.(meeting 3) - 5.12.92 –Nunroyd park (Guiseley)

The third and final ‘Complete Runner West Yorkshire Cross Country League’ took place at a rain soaked Nunroyd Park, Guiseley on December 5th. The course was three laps of just under two miles and although quite flat, proved to be very testing due to the ankle deep quagmire on most of the course and a dangerous plunge into the parks’ fast flowing brook.

The cross country season is now in full swing and the major championships take place in the next few months (Northern in January, National in February). This meant that the competition between Spenborough runners to establish themselves in the squad for these races was intense.

At the front of the race, Batley based Andrew Pearson of Longwood Harriers made light work of the mud and won easily, while Spenboroughs’ top man Jeff Hornby continued his return to form with an excellent fourth place – this run lifted him to 3rd place overall in the league and gave him his first trophy of the season. Paul Dobson was the second Spen runner home in 11th place and would have had a third consecutive top ten placing but for a recurring stitch problem which forced him to stop with the finish just 400 yards away.


Further down the field, Spenborough runners produced some tremendous packing as less than a minute covered the next nine scorers. Improving Dave Sunderland stormed through the field into 31st, just beating Dave Baskerville who came 33rd and is almost back to his best after a long spell out injured.

Promising Junior Robert Moon in 35th and Alf Wolfenden in 39th had good runs to bring the Spenborough ‘A’ team into a brilliant 2nd place on the day and 3rd overall in the league behind Leeds and Rowntrees, but once again ahead of Longwood.

The Spenborough ‘B’ team which finished 9th on the day, was lead home by Myles Chandler in 46th (your man at the race and in it), then came ‘supervet’ Ray Padgett in 49th and road running ‘ace’ Darren Hanson in 50th, who found it hard to come to grips with the mud on his cross country debut.

Mick Dransfield showed that he is back to form in 55th place by beating below par Gary Damiani into 62nd place, whilst Tony Patchett (90th) and Frank Reddington (94th) don’t look like making the team for the Northern Championships, unless someone drops out between now and January 16th.

Other Spenborough finishers in the field of 238 runners included recently ill Kevin Bentley (174th), Graham Pearce (193rd), Derek Robinson (209th) and Harry Machin (237th). Once again Carl Wolfenden dropped out and needs to finish some races to regain his confidence.