Are you interested in taking part in Endure24 2019 at Bramham Park?
If so, it’s time to sign-up as entries are already three-quarters full!
We had an incredible time at Endure24 this year, and there were a lot of members interested in taking part in the 2019 edition. There’s more information below if you’re not quite up-to-speed on what the event is. In 2019 the event takes place between Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th June.
You might be wanting to enter the Solo or Duo categories – which some Striders have – in which case you can arrange your own entry at: Solo and Duo entries
However… if it’s a team effort you want, James Wright is once again organising the Striders’ effort. We expect to enter several teams of 6 runners this time around. That means that you’re likely to be allocated around 5 or 6 laps of the 5-mile course during the 24 hours. With places going fast, James is entering a team every time we have enough runners. It is literally on a first-come-first served basis, with your payment securing your place. Cost for the weekend is £72.10 for the 2019 edition, which includes family/supporter camping, parking and your tech race t-shirt.
Contact James directly via jameswright12002@yahoo.co.uk or message him via Facebook.
2018 Report:
Endure 24 2018, Saturday 30th June – Sunday 1st July
Endure24 is a unique event in the running calendar, mixing serious ultra-running with a 24-hour team relay race. Virtually anyone of any ability level can take part and enjoy a challenging but rewarding weekend of trail running, and so it was with our own Striders! The five-mile woodland and trail routes which undulate around Bramham Park are incredibly scenic and the start/finish adjacent to the race village guarantees awesome support from fellow runners. The heatwave ensured that it was to be a dry event this year, but did add a sapping challenge, with competitors almost relishing those dark stints in the eerie and misty middle of the night.
Solos: We had three brave souls taking on the ‘Solo’ category, with competitors invited to run as many laps as they can (or wish) in the 24 hours. Some with sense have regular stops and even a night of sleep, whilst others grind on throughout the night. Gemma Harding put in some ‘blistering’ laps during the daylight hours, clocking 6 laps (30miles), whilst the recovering Jonny Chadwick adopted a walk/jog approach to clock up a fine 50miles (10 laps). Jason Green used his recent experience of sleepless nights to great effect, not to mention frequent visits to the club camp for cups of tea, clocking-up 55miles.
Teams: We had also entered three teams in the ‘Mixed 6-8’ category. Spreadsheet-master James Wright had balanced out the entries based on the expected times that each entrant had declared, and it proved to be very balanced indeed, with the three teams swapping positions throughout the 24 hours and all three separated by just one lap at the conclusion. As the clock ticked over to noon on Sunday, there was still uncertainty as we waited to see which team would cross the line first! The final lap is the only one where the whole team can join the course for the final crossing-of-the-line and the great photo opportunity! It was Team 2 who narrowly triumphed, finishing 21st overall with 32laps completed. Ryan Middleton completed a great performance, flying across the finish chased (literally) across the line by his teammates Jo Gray, Steve Morland, Natalie Hale, Nicola Carter, Sarah Hill and our guests from Nidd Valley, Steff Quin and Sam Fugill. Also completing 32laps and crossing the line 23rd place was ‘Team 3’, with final leg runner Clare Rogers being joined by Mark Shelton, Sian Lowery, Edna Wood, Gareth Conkleton, Craig Mitchell, Chris Umpleby and Nidd’s Andy Harris. Only one lap behind, with 31laps completed in 28th place overall, was Team 3. Nidd’s Martin Lofthouse completed the proceedings hand-in-hand with Clare from Team 2, joined across the line by his teammates Claire Killingworth, Gary Wilkinson, Martin Lofthouse, Annika McDonald, Kathryn Pickles, Emma Hall, Charlotte Hines and James Wright.
That wasn’t the end of things for Striders through, as we had some representation in other teams. Ted Welton, part of Team Happy Feet, finished 31st in the team section, with Lisa Harrison and Deborah Goldfield running in the ‘Aspin Avengers’ and clocking up a very creditable 25 laps.
As the dust settled (and there was a lot of dust) on a successful event, our members reflected on an incredible weekend and one which many will certainly repeat in future. Interest across the club seems really high for the 2019 event when we expect we will be back – quite possibly in even greater numbers!
