Buzzard Dodging Harriers Face the Heat at Garburn
31st May 2008
THE GARBURN trail race has been voted one of the most scenic
race in the UK.
Last weekend several
members of Rochdale Harriers travelled to the Lake District
to compete in this
event.
The race turned out to be unusually tough. A pair of nesting buzzards caused
re-routing, extending the course to a gruelling 14.9 miles. In 2001 the aggressive
birds attacked
several competitors, with some requiring hospital treatment.
The first 8 miles included ascents of 500ft,
200ft and 950ft. Overall the ascent was
2000ft. Climbs of this magnitude are normally found only in fell races.
While the temperatures in Rochdale were pleasant, up in the
Lakes it was a scorcher. The geography dictated that water stations be placed
very early and late along the
route, when what the competitors needed was
fluids around the mid-point. As a
result several runners required rehydration drips from the medics.
Endurance training for the Three Peaks race helped Paul
Leary finish first for
Rochdale and 55th overall, clocking an
impressive 2hr 04 min 06 sec.
Kris Robinson was second for the Club, posting
2hr 24 min 03 sec.
Next home was Mark
Catherall in 2hr 29 min 45 sec.
Rochdale’s only lady entrant, Brenda Robinson, improved on her 2007 performance, finishing in 3 hr 20 min 47 sec, ahead of
other runners 20 years her junior.
Full results for Rochdale were
as follows: Paul Leary, 2:04:06; Kris Robinson, 2:24:03; Mark Catherall,
2:29:45; Mark Walker, 2:33:41; Andrew Tomkinson, 2:40:06; and
Brenda Robinson, 3:20:47.
Picture Paul Leary, first Rochdale finisher at Graburn, kindly provided by flamingphotography.co.uk
Full results and race picures