Free Places in the Muddy Woody 6 25th Anniversary Race 2023

MUDDY WOODY 6 2023 FREE PLACES

We are aware some people are having to prioritise their spending and perhaps choosing not to join us in Haugh Woods in Feb next year.

Wye Valley Runners are offering up 10 free places to those who would like to join us on the 12th of February 2023 but are finding times tough and can’t afford the race place.

If you would like to apply please follow the guidelines below:

  1. Send an email to wyevalleyracing@gmail.com before 1 Dec with the information below

  2. Your full name, address, gender, date of birth, running club name and URN number if you have one - or tell us you are unattached to a club

  3. Tell us in one paragraph why you feel you need a free place - we are trusting people to be honest. As a small community club, we can’t afford to give away places to anyone unless they deserve it and are genuine. Please respect this position.

  4. Once that date has passed the club committee will consider all applications and confirm entry to the successful applicants.

  5. There is no guarantee that you will be successful, you will not receive feedback as to why you were not successful.

  6. There is no right of appeal.

  7. No one will know to who the free places have been allocated. Your details are sent to us in confidence - you will be treated in the same way as the rest of the runners. You will still get a T Shirt and you will get covered in mud like the rest of them.

  8. Wye Valley Runners reserve the right to close this offer at any time, without warning and without any obligation

  9. The Muddy is tough - only enter if you are fit enough to run the race - if you don’t think you are fit enough you probably aren’t. That said if you are in reasonable shape it’ a fab event.

Bench in memory of Jan Edwards - informal unveil - run, walk, coffee. Sun 27 November

Join us on Sunday 27th November as we formally (in an informal way) unveil the bench bought by our community in memory of Jan. All welcome

Here is the plan:

Option 1 runners meet at 9.00 am for a 9.15 start from Burghill Valley Golf Club Tillington Rd, Hereford HR4 7RW. Run to the bench on Tillington Common led by Brian - pause for the unveil at 10.00 am then run back to the golf club for coffee. Around 6 miles - but feel free to stretch the distance.Nice n steady pace

Option 2 - as above - but walk to the bench and back following road - led by Dave - about 4 ish miles in total - then back to the golf club for coffee

Option 3. Arrive at Tillington Common HR4 8LX or W3W remain.lizards.newlyweds before 10 a.m Parking is almost non-existent so please bike, walk or skateboard. Short unveil then back to the golf club for coffee.

Thanks, Wye Valley Runners

Little Peterstow Orchards - Cross Country Sunday 20th November 2022 Hosted by Monross-Trailblazers Parking is incredibly limited at this fixture.

Full details here gang - but you really must car share and you really must follow the instructions as to where Wye Valley should park at the event. Please meet B and Q car park at 9.30 to car share with our Club and all Hereford Clubs. Please help the team at Monross to make sure we all have a safe and happy race day. Big thanks to Monross for organising

Jan Edward’s Bench unveil. Sunday 27 Nov 10.00. Tillington Common

View from the Top Of Tillington Common

Following a very successful Crowdfunding appeal, Wye Valley Runners are delighted that the bench in memory of Jan is now installed on Tillington Common near Hereford for all to enjoy.

To thank our community, we will be holding a short and very informal unveiling ceremony on Sunday 27th November at 10.00 on Tillington Common (HR4 8LX). Everyone is welcome - parking is rubbish so please car share, cycle, walk or hang glide. Unfortunately, we can’t do much about that as adjoining fields are too wet to use.

For runners, there is of course an option to join us for a run - meet at Burghill Valley Golf Club at 9.15.

Brian will then lead a gentle run to the bench - then pause for the unveiling - then run back to the golf club - between 5 and 6 miles ish - we think. Options to stretch it out on the way back if you are that way inclined.

For non-runners, there will be an option for a walk in the vicinity led by a few members of the club. We might even find a stove and offer tea!

Please do join us to celebrate Jan’s life - deep in the Herefordshire countryside she loved so much.

Bearwood Cross Country - Wye Valley Runners and Marshall Final Briefing

Well done all - we have 49 people registered to run in the winter series. Of course not everyone can make every race - but either way this is an amazing response. Go Wye Valley

Runners - a reminder to car share, please. Location, course map etc all here

Car share from John Wood Tyres at 9.15 a.m. Next door to fire station

Numbers are available on the day only - see Laura or Jeremy.

Please wear a club vest and bring some pins.

Team photo on the start line at 10.45 a.m.

Ralph, Harry and Laura E will be handing our tea and donuts in the shed after the run.

Marshalls

Car park marshalls on site by 9.30, please

Course marshalls by 10 ish if poss - map of the course and marshall position below


Jan Edward's Bench

We are delighted to announce that following our Crowdfunder Appeal, a beautiful handmade Oak Bench in memory of Jan Edwards has now been installed on Tillington Common.

The appeal to install a bench in Jan’s memory had a fantastic response - rasing £1,680 in a few short weeks. Dave Sherwood, Club Treasurer organised the project and club members Paul Davies and Shaun Hoyes helped Brian install the bench in one of Jan’s favourite spots on the Common. The hand-engraved bench has words chosen carefully by Jan’s family - we hope they are pleased with the final result

Brian hopes the bench will bring much happiness to passing walkers, runners and cyclists for many years.

The club will soon be organising an informal unveiling ceremony to which everyone will be invited including members of Burghill Parish Council who were very supportive and permitted the scheme.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone that donated from all over the county and beyond. We had donations large and small and significant donations from our friends in the local running and Triathlon community. THANK YOU

When all the bills are paid we expect there to be a small surplus which will be donated to Jan’s chosen charity - St Michael’s Hospice - details to follow.

HEREFORDSHIRE & BORDERS CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE.Bearwood Farm. Race One Sunday 30 Oct.

Wye Valley Runners look forward to welcoming you all to Bearwood Farm, Pembridge for the first race of the winter season.

Our thanks to Ed Collins for making us so welcome at his home.

Please follow this link for directions and a course map. Please car share as parking is limited. Your sat nav will lie about the farm entrance - please check the map and follow the signs.

The race starts at 11.00 prompt as usual. Tea and doughnuts afterwards.

The course is new for the league and is a mixed route of trail, farmland and woodland. Two laps = 10k - we think it’s a great course and expect some fast times.

Baggage and parking plan is here As usual we will have first aid cover and portaloos handy. Hereford AC is planning junior races - more of that later.

Look forward to welcoming you all on the day - if any clubs have supporters that would like to help with marshalling please shout

Wye Valley Runners

Simon Oliver - London Marathon Race Report

What an amazing day, the other runners I met , the staff on the train stations herding the throng of humanity to its correct platform using megaphones whilst being VERY patient with the odd cretin. And random strangers TALKING to each other ON THE TUBE .

Was this camaraderie or the free travel that made us all happy ? Seeing Mr Motivator still jumping and thrusting at that age . The moment when virtually the entire place stopped as the national anthem was played with the picture of Queen Elizabeth the second was displayed. The toilet queues, no names but certain club members YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED .

Many , many high and low fives with the nippers . All sorts of music , Bagpipes , Bangra , jazz . Oompah my personal favourite was the Japanese drums under a bridge with incredible volume . Some huge stacks on peoples balconies playing reggae of different sorts , some of the lyrics made my teeth itch . The golden long wheelbase landie looked swish .

The fancy dress Scooby Doo , Paddington, Darth Vader , Bobafett Father Christmas, the kids were screaming at that one. The barefoot runners , serious stuff especially when you pass the Lucazde stands and you can feel your running shoes sticking to the road , Outside a couple of pubs , people with a big sign with FREE BEER , they had some takers too A lady who shouted “ ooh go Wye valley , running for Wiltshire “ THAT one kept me chuntering for a couple of miles . The American lady , oh yes she was bloody Diamond . I didn’t realise I could ignore someone so successfully . The signs , Your running better than the government. If you run a bit faster, you’ll catch my gas bill .

The portaloos, ok it’s not all good but now I know why as a rule I go before I go . Someone,posting on the event site saying they had been scared for life by the experience. I’ll leave that one there.

The friendship of like minded souls . At the Expo when I came to pay for my (£2.50 ) can of coke and the stall holder said card only , the lady in front paid as I was ferreting about trying to find my card and refused my money. Queuing for our numbers . After hearing stories of waiting hours and huge queues it was a doddle . 10 mins tops , part of me thinks it’s a ruse to get us all into the Excel all happy so we will spend more on the shiny, shiny . I know , so cynical for one so young but £4.20 for a piece of flapjack For the first time in my life seeing tower bridge in the raw . To my mechanical based mind it was beautiful , however this was where the guy with the washing machine on his back passed me .Which leads me on to this . Which is hopefully my first WVR claim to fame , am I the first one to get the name on the screen??

One photo taken by a family friend shows a good view of my left wrist wearing a Buff that was one of Jan Edwards favourites and which I wore at CWR after I asked Brian if this was ok .. This was one of the things that kept me going .

This is the hard bit . My time . For anyone following my training you’ll know I’ve been heading for 4.5 hours . On Sunday I went to a place that I NEVER want to go again . Inside the first mile the sciatic pain on my right started , meaning no proper forward swing . Basically I was going backwards the entire race . Any other event And I would have bailed out at 5k . The thought of all that I have raised kept me going , the thought of all the people who will benefit from that day . The thought that I was NOT going to let the months of training that Anne and I did go to waste . The thought of Mel whom some of you knew and who Anne Pritchard was running in memory of and raising for St Michaels . The thought of not fulfilling a dream of more than a decade , the thought of the two wasted club spaces . The other Buff which I have carried for nearly ten years and comes out as I finish a big race in memory of a good friend . The thought of my club mates and family thinking about me and maybe tracking me . All this took me through every single emotion from shouting at the sky to a sobbing wreck . BUT , I have done it , I’m a London Marathon finisher . Well done to the Cardiff crew and to Billy in Loch Ness .

See you all soon Simon . ◦

Summer Cross Country - race report

As the Summer Herefordshire and Borders Cross Country League ( aka The cross country) drew to a close Wye Valley Runners did themselves proud with a solid turnout throughout the season with some tip top personal performances. Some fab new courses in some of the County’s finest spots - finished off with Cider at Westons - what more can you ask for.

Lorna Shaw brought it home with the Gold Medal in the FV60 Category, Amelia Louth in her first season in a Blue vest finishing 4th overall in the senior women’s cat ,Jeremy Jehan picking up silver in the MV50 cat ,James Vidler silver in the MV60 only just behind Dave Williams from our neighbours, Lynne Compton silver in the FV55 cat, second claimer Jo Marriott gold in Fv50 cat,Niall Consadine in his first season with us 12th in the senior M cat, Rob Gilligan 7th in the MV55 cat, life member Mike Shaw in his HTC vest bronze in the MV70 cat, Ralph Lloyd 4th in the MV60’s , Jo Ellis 7th in the highly competitive FV40 cat, Emily Davies breathing down Jo’s neck in 8th, Gordon Truluck 4th in the MV65 cat with Mark Dempsey just behind Gordon . Other club members had some great performances through the season but didn’t manage to race three races to qualify for an overall placing.

Our thanks to the organising committee for all their hard work,to Ready Set Go Timing for the chip timed results, to Ludlow, Builth,Couriers and Ledbury for hosting the series - and we look forward to returning the favour in the winter series.


Costwold Way Relay Final Instructions

Costwold Way Relay 2022 Final Instructions -

Please download maprun6 from the relevant app store and your own name and other user details (see example below). You should enter your team number and name in the ‘club or team’ field. Please check what team you are in and enter either:

95 Wye Valley Runners Team 1

96 Wye Valley Runners Team 2

If you are signed up and haven’t yet paid the £8 fee to the club, then please do to secure your place. The bank transfer details are:

WYE VALLEY ROAD RUNNING CLUB

Sort Code 20-39-64

Account No 10993867

Please see further race instructions are attached below.

Berrington Hall Cross Country Report. Wed 1 June

Seventeen Wye Valley Runners along with their support team headed off to Berrington Hall for the first race in the 2022 Summer Off Road league. On a perfect summer evening, 216 runners from all over the county and beyond were treated to private access to the Berrington Hall Estate courtesy of the National Trust and hosted by Ludlow Runners.

We welcomed Amelia, Leah and Gordon to their first Cross Country Race in a Wye Valley Vest - well done you lot and thanks for turning out to support the club.

The new course led the team over a two-lap course around the estate with enough ups and downs to challenge most people -about 4 and a bit miles depending on how expensive your Garmin is.

A gentle downhill start meant everyone started too quickly but soon the course took its revenge with a steady climb uphill before dropping down to the lake then up again and back around to do another lap.

Jeremy seemed to be relishing his new vet 50 Category romping home as the first WVR male and first overall male vet 50 and led the first Wye Valley team home in 9th position overall. The rest of the team scoring points to claim the 9th slot were Peter F, Niall, Amelia, Lynne and Jane - well done all. Amelia was the first of the Wye Valley women to finish in an impressive time of 37 mins and 6th place in the senior women’s category.

By the time we jumped back int he van to head back home the reusts were there for all - technology has arrived . Full results here

Great to see friends old and new enjoying racing, eating doughnuts and making the most of the fantastic countryside. Next event is Wed June 22 - Fforest Farm - details to follow.


Jan's Bench Appeal

Help us pay for a fitting memorial for Jan Edwards, a much loved and greatly missed mother, partner and member of our running community.

As a lasting tribute to Jan, we would like to commission a personalised oak bench which, with kind permission from Burghill and Tillington Parish Council, will be sited on Tillington Common – an area that Jan knew so well.

Click here to donate

A Shropshire company benchmemorials.co.uk can provide a high-quality bench to meet our requirements, and we will ask Jan’s family to provide a fitting inscription. We hope that we can create a happy place where anyone who was touched by Jan’s life can remember her with affection. 

Help us make this a reality and donate now. Please note you can amend the amount to date to any round £ and the options “tip” to Crowdfunder can be changed to 0% at your discretion

Cotswold Relay 2022. Saturday July 2nd

Cotswold Way Relay Saturday 2nd July 2022

This year things are a bit different and we ask that you help us make it simple and manageable.

You should read the event website carefully and please sure you are aware of the start time and location of your selected leg. If you get injured or scared - please try and find a replacement.

It is each runner’s responsibility to work out their own logistics and obviously share travel arrangements.

Note the organiser’s requirement to use the Maprun6 App for the duration of the event - this is the only way you will get a time

The organisers have also asked us to supply a couple of volunteer stewards - all offers welcome.

The club have entered 2 mixed teams for this years race and have subsidised the entry fee for each runner.

Please use this editable link and put your name down for a leg in either team. This is a first come first served basis. The £8 entry fee will need to be paid via bank transfer to

WYE VALLEY ROAD RUNNING CLUB

Sort Code 20-39-64

Account No 10993867

Please note that your place will not be confirmed until we have received payment of the £8 entry fee.

AGM News

  • Harry Franklin our President thanked everyone for their continued fantastic support for our club

  • Martin Flowers reflected on the club’s progress over the past year and paid respect to our dear friend Jan. The Muddy Woody and Caplor Hill race were both big successes.

  • Martin stepped down as Chair after four years of leadership of the club. Jeremy thanked Martin in the traditional way with a crate of beer.

  • Paddy Nugent was elected as our new Chair

  • Jeremy Jehan was elected as the new Vice-Chair

  • Becki Ansfield was elected Welfare Officer and joins the committee

  • Laura Tootell, Peter Smith, Dave Sherwood, Ward Linney, Peter Nugent, Martin Flowers and Marc Kendrick continue on the club committee

  • The trophies outstanding from the 2020 awards were handed out to Dan, Becky, Ian and Paddy

  • The 2021 most Improved Female Runner - Lorna Shaw

  • The 2021 most Improved Male Runner - Paul Davies

  • The Muddy Woody 6 Shield - Ian Whistance

  • The Jim Gray Trophy - Shaun Hoyes

  • Lots of new and exciting ideas from the open forum - watch this space for more news soon

Jan Edwards

Wye Valley Runners Announcement.

Wye Valley Runners and the whole of the Herefordshire running community are devastated to learn of the untimely death of our much-loved friend and colleague Jan Edwards.

Jan has always been at the centre of our Club. She was everyone’s friend, a shoulder to lean on and the life and soul of our club.

Jan excelled at her sport and won numerous awards in races across the UK and Europe. Along with her partner Brian, Jan was a fantastic ambassador for our sport. She will be hugely missed by all of us.

In Jan’s honour, the club plans to send a donation to Missing People the charity dedicated to helping families of missing persons. We send our love and condolences to Brian and all of Jan’s family.

We also pass on our sincere thanks to the Herefordshire community for their amazing support in our search for Jan.

RIP Jan.

Wye Valley Runners. 11 March 2022

Club Race Report - Muddy Woody 2022

For a club the size of ours, we should all be hugely proud of pulling off another highly successful Muddy Woody. The logistics of this event would be enough to put off most experienced event organisers. Take for example the lack of any internal dry and warm registration space, no electricity, a risk assessment with a raft of mad risks, ecological sensitivities in beautiful public woodland, no parking except potholed tracks and tight lanes, weather that pleases itself, no changing except Nigel Jones bespoke farm trailer to drop bags, and a marshal requirement that needs an army of volunteers. Not to mention Covid. But…we did it. Peter Nugent with the support of a core of volunteers from the committee and beyond worked hard for the best part of the last 12 months to make the race happen.

And off they go - Matt James positions himself perfectly to storm home to win

Race day dawned and the forecasted harsh weather was all it promised to be - harsh. But the runners loved it and the marshals smiled, and the doughnuts were devoured and we all lived happily ever after.

In the end, 100 runners chose to stay away - and 300 hardy soles set off on the new route. The course was especially pulled together at the last minute by Peter following a series of concerns from Forestry England about potential environmental damage to sensitive areas of the woods. The new course proved to be extremely popular with many experienced Muudy runners claiming the course as the “best so far”. That’s some accolade in a race that celebrates 25 years next year.

Peter Flyn tries to confuse the opposition by running the course in reverse- nice one Peter

As the race unfolded Wye Valley Runners headed off into the unknown. We didn’t have too long to wait - 47 minutes later the man from the Mountains - Ian Whistance was the first club member home. Ian crossed the line in 15th position and grabbed first prize in the Male vet 50 Cat - well done Whiz!

The blooded man from the mountains pushing hard for the finish

3 minutes later the improving Lea Wood cruised over the line with Paul Kemp just 50 seconds behind

The man can fly!

Paul smiling through it all

A minute later up pops David Klotz - great to see long time member David back in racing form - great running David

Go David go

In a great time of just over 53 minutes, Peter Flynn crosses the line next - apparently after having been temporarily blinded in one eye after losing an argument with a tree branch - much to the amusement of tail runner Simon who helped out in the traditional way - by taking a photo.

New gloves for Christmas Peter?

Laura Tootell, despite recent injury, turned on the taps to take first Vet 45 in a cracking time of 54.10 just 30 seconds ahead of Paul Davies

Laura flying past the dismayed men

Lean in to it Paul - you’ve got him

A few minute s later up pops Shaun Hoyes on his way to claim the first vet 60 Category prize in a time of 56 mins followed two minutes later by Becki Ansfield

Victory is almost yours Shaun

Happy in the mud Becki

Amela Louth then appears on the finish line looking as fresh as a daisy in a time of 1.01

Amelia cruising along nicely

Jo in her happy place - with Steve Herrington in her shadow….

Second claimer Jo Marriot - a regular face at training nights crosses the line next followed by mud queen Jane Hayde just a couple of mins later.

Jane taking the Muddy theme seriously

Ricardo Martins soon catches up with the pack finishing in 1.04 with Jo Ellis back to racing just a minute later . Second claimer Nicola Goodwin then follows with Sian Champken in 1.14 and Brent Lowson breathing down Sian’s neck 26 seconds later.

Nicola being her usual shy retiring self

Ricardo just manages to stay on his feet as he poses for the camera

Croft Ambrey accept defeat as Jo approches

So relaxed Sian

Brent in the zone

Still more Wye Valley to cross the line - next up Lindsey Flowers in 1.19, then sister in law Louise Ainger in 1.21 (no photo that we can see Louise - sorry!) followed by Jeni Whistance in 1.23 . Fantastic running by everyone.

Lindsey somehow mud free

Jen enjoying the air in the low country

Job done - tail runner Simon wraps it up again in style.

As the gear got packed away and the prizes were handed out, the club was able to show a small surplus on the day - meaning we can donate something to Missing People - the charity that specialises in looking after friends and family of missing individuals.

Congratulations Wye Valley runners on a Muddy Woody to remember - less than a year to go until our 25th-anniversary event and more to come in the summer with the Caplor Hill Race

Race report- final cross country league and series

The last race in the winter series took us to the familiar venue of Nash Woods near Presteigne. The fine weather deserted us for the first time and it was cool and pretty wet to begin with. I didn’t see much of the new course, as I was helping at the finish, but by all accounts, it was pretty challenging, if a little shorter than the old course.

The ladies were led home by team captain Laura Tootell in an excellent 8th place, despite nursing an injury. With Becki Ansfield unable to run through injury, we were delighted to welcome back Jane Hayde, who finished a creditable 24th, in her first race in WVR colours for a while. Not far behind in 27th was 3rd counter Lorna Shaw, having another brilliant run in her comeback season. Closing the team this time was Sian Champken in 48th, with yet another stirling effort to ensure a scoring team. On the day, the ladies were 5th again, but unfortunately we did not have a full team in the first race, so could not feature in the series team rankings.

The men were a bit thin on the ground also. Christian Jones led the team home in 18th, closely followed by Steven Flowers in 25th. Next in 49th was another on the comeback trail in Dave Klotz. Paddy Nugent completed the team in 56th. Further down the field in 71st and also nursing an injury was Tony Champken. Given probably our lowest turnout, the men could only finish 7th on the day.

Moving onto the series results, there were some great individual performances, by both the women and the men. With the best three performances to count, Emily Davies Finished 5th FV 40, Laura Tootell was 2nd in in the FV45 category, with Becki Ansfield just missing out in 4th. Sian Champken was equal 6th in the FV50s and Lorna Shaw won the FV60 category with three straight wins. Amazing running Lorna.

In the mens, Steven Flowers finished 5th in a very competitive M35 category. Christian Jones was 2nd in the MV50s and Mark Dunn, in his first season for us, was 6th in the MV55 category. Paddy Nugent also with three straight wins, took the MV60 prize. Tony Champken just missed out on first place in the MV65s on countback.

Despite a slightly below par performance in the last race, the men did well to secure 5th place overall in the team competition.

The final award of the day was for the club with the best age graded performance over the series. This counted every performance by every runner against an age standard, with the highest overall aggregate % determining the winner. Proving that there is no runner like an old runner, Wye Valley Runners comfortably won this award with an overall score of just under 70%. A fantastic result, to which everyone who turned out for the club contributed.

So, in conclusion, a difficult season, but everyone performed incredibly well and hopefully we can get a few more out for the next series.

Wye Valley Runners