Nick Cousins and Andy Harvey put in fine displays for Pickering Running Club at the Commondale Clart race, in which muddy conditions made the 5.5 miles and 700 feet of ascent seem much longer.
This event is normally a grassroots affair in the Cleveland Winter Fell Race Series but this year was also the first event in the North East Championships, which meant a posse of fell racing aces descended on the tiny moors village. Cousins and Harvey finished in the middle of the large, strong field of 150. Cousins, like a staying chaser, was stronger in the closing stages to finish in 46 minutes 22 seconds, claiming 12th in category. The less experienced but much younger Harvey clocked 46-59.
Mike Hetherton finished in 48-15 and Graham Harrison was the fourth Pickering man back, after an ankle injury during the race. There were also good performances from the Pickering women. Tess Roebuck claimed third in category in 52-30 – despite the stress of a car breakdown on the way to the event. Philly Hare timed 62-13 to be fourth in category.
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