Report By: Adam McAuley

Race Date: 11^th September 2021

Jack Swindells has been a busy man of late. Not satisfied with successfully completing a Bob Graham Round in June, he’s also organised the Worrall Carnival Chase. My understanding is that this is the revival of a long dormant event, and based on this year’s experience it’s a really welcome return.

The field of about 50 runners, including a handful of Striders, assembled shortly before 1pm in Worrall’s Sycamore Park. As is traditional, we completed a lap of the park before climbing across the fields, towards Kirk Edge Road and the Carmelite Convent, before turning right across fields (including one that had been freshly ploughed). From there it was a fairly technical descent through Coumes Wood, before undertaking a final climb towards Worrall from Oughtibridge – a steep section, that folk who have completed Leg 2 of the Sheffield Way Relays will know all too well. Although the whole course was only 7km, the chat after the race seemed to suggest that it was a decent challenge. The course was well marked out, and there were plenty of marshals on the route too, mostly courtesy of HRRC.

All finishers received a festival plastic ‘glass’ and a beer token, which most of us wasted no time in redeeming at the festival’s small but perfectly formed real ale bar (the Abbeydale Heathen was on fine form) – all for a fiver. Events like this have a rich history, but they are always vulnerable – even some of the classic Lakeland carnival events have seen dwindling attendances and events like the one at Stocksbridge have disappeared altogether. I hope this event returns next year; I’ll certainly aim to be back, and it would be great to see more Striders next year too.

The race was won by Joe Sweetnam-Powell of SRC, in a time of 31.08. The first Strider home was Seth Kirby, in a time of 33.09, securing 4^th place overall and continuing his fine form of late. The first women home was Penistone’s Julia Cobham in 38.52, with our own Cara Hanson securing a prize for third female in a time of 42.12.

Strider’s Results: