Race Date: Sunday 20th March 2022

Race Report by Helen Royles-Jones

Just 3 Striders headed up Loxley Road for the return of the Bradfield Bash 5 mile trail race organised by Rivelin Running Events. A mild and misty Low Bradfield awaited us as we collected race numbers and discussed whether we should have worn trail or fell shoes.

The route was clockwise this time, starting en masse in the car park next to the cricket pavilion. Out of the car park, a right turn up a sharp hill and along Windy Bank. We turned right again off the road and headed along the trail next to Agden dam, descending for a short time towards the tip of the water. Usually when walking the dogs I would stay on the flat trail, but not this time! We turned left off the trail and up what felt like a cliff edge for several minutes. On reaching the top there were some lovely views and a brief respite of flat-ish terrain, crossing a road and a field towards the next hill.

If the previous hill was brutal, the next one was purely sadistic and saw everyone needing to walk. Eventually we reached the crags at the top and some more stunning views of the reservoirs were the reward for what was now a 200+ heart rate. The next section was a technical descent, a few more uphill bumps before dropping down to the road above Agden for a calm tarmac section, heading down the narrow path to bring us back on the cricket pitch for a grass sprint finish with slightly wobbly legs.

We rewarded ourselves with coffee and cake from the School Rooms. The staff looked shocked when a large group of us infiltrated the café requesting 30-ish hot drinks!

The first man home was Scott Wilson of HRRC in 36:42, with the first woman, Jenny Cartmell, crossing the line 44:28, also running for HRRC. Both setting the male and female course records for the clockwise route.

Striders Results: