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The Great Bakewell
Pudding Race
Bakewell Pudding
Race Report 2012

The Great Bakewell Pudding Race 1st July 2012

This year’s Great Bakewell Pudding Race took place on Sunday 1 July, with an excellent turn-out despite the mixed weather conditions.  After several years of very good weather, we had a very cloudy day with some drizzle, with this following several rainy days – so the course was wet and the river was high!  Whilst the temperature was ideal for running, it was muddy underfoot, particularly where tree-felling works have disturbed the ground on parts of the course.  We also had a route finding problem because of someone altering the directional signs on the morning of the run and removing sections of tape – we will review how we avoid this next year. As a result 21 senior runners missed a section of the course over Ballcross.  These are shown in a separate results table.  Fortunately some runners who know the course realised that this had happened and a marshal directed the majority of runners onto the correct route.

The turn out was good, almost exactly on our target of 250 in total for the two runs.  There were 172 participants in the senior fell run, many of them experienced club runners.  The Senior Fell Run is 10.4 km (approximately 6.25 m) and follows paths up through the woods to Ballcross, to the top of Coombs Road, down to the river and then through the showground and back into the Recreation Ground.  As with the last two years we took runners across the River Wye at the “big bend”.  Last year this was welcome refreshing dip because of the heat – this year it was an opportunity to wash off the mud!  All runners see this as a welcome addition to the route, reducing the amount of road running to a minimum – we have now made it a permanent part of the course, depending on weather and river conditions.

The Junior/Fun run had 70 entrants, with a wide range in age and many family entries.  This run is 4.2km (approx 2.5 miles) and follows part of the Monsal Trail before coming back along the river to the Recreation Ground.

The Senior Run was won by Mick Stenton of Dark Peak Fell Runners in a time of 46.05, a good time given the route problems and poor conditions.  Mick was also first to the “top of the hill” and beat Matt Jones (Ripley AC) and Craig Jeffrey (Staffordshire Moorlands AC) into 2nd and 3rd.   The first woman was Abbie Hull of Quakers RC in a time of 49.34, just beating Liz Wild of Hallamshire Harriers, with a time of 50.34.  

Tamsin Boam won the intermediate girls for the second year in succession, this time with new course record of 16.53.Lauren McNeil came in second overall and first junor girl, in a time of 17.06.  Seb Cooke was third overall and first intermediate boy (18.51) and Lucas Parker first junior boy (19.05) and forth overall.  All the runners in the Junior/Fun run chose to come through the river – a brave decision as it was higher and faster flowing than in recent years – it is well marshalled and everyone seemed to enjoy it!

All entrants received an excellent Bakewell Pudding from the Original Bakewell Pudding Shop. A big “thank you” to the shop, which is now the sponsor of the race. We are also very grateful to the local businessman who sponsored the trophies, but wishes to remain anonymous.  Thanks also go to Up and Running and Oldfield Design for their sponsorship.

Once again, the organisers, John Scott and Joe Oldfield, would like to thank all those helpers who make it work on the day – without you it wouldn’t happen.  A particular mention to the ladies on the desks, plus all marshals and helpers, many from Bakewell Mannerians Rugby Club.  A final thanks to Bakewell Carnival Committee for their assistance and St John Ambulance for attending.

A sad note to finish on was that we observed a minute’s silence in memory of the Norman Taylor, who has provided a running (no pun intended Norman) commentary for many years. Sadly Norman died this year and will be missed by many. I have described him as “incomparable and entertaining” in previous reports – he is certainly irreplaceable.

If you represent a local organisation that requires funds, please contact John Scott.  We currently have some money to donate to worthy local causes, so please write or call.

For details please see the pudding race website at “www.puddingrace.org.uk” or contact John Scott on jrsco@btinternet.com (new address) or 01629 814217.