Thank you to Graham, our roving reporter for this evening:
Our Roving Reporter
No Haile Gebrselassie ( -spell that without Google!), no Ron Hill, no Roberto Buntingo, no Paula R (she told us the lack of course toilets prevented an appearance this year) – no matter – 80 of the region’s best runners (and me) lined up for the annual Parwich Hill Race this evening.
The weather was warm and sticky but much more pleasant than last years deluge.
Even if I wasn’t a keen runner (enthusiasm here being a definite talent substitute), the Hill Race night would be one of my favourites of Wakes week. With the fair in full swing, and crowds congregating on the streets around the pub and the green, it tends to maintain a good natured carnival atmosphere which is starting to be lost on the evening of Wakes Saturday, (which I find is becoming sadly marred by the intimidating groups of marauding binge drinking youth’s largely from outside the village smashing glass, throwing firework’s and racing cars).
The evening kicked off with the Local Mothers Race for the Paula Lynam Trophy. The winner was Sue Purvis, with second place going to Janice Wigley. Sandra Chadfield (who managed to lose Jasper some way around) was third.
The Junior Race starting line
An enthusiastic field of youngsters did battle in The Junior Hill Race with Harry Stafford crossing the line in first place. Second place went to Rannoch Linnel. With third going to William Beasley.
And they're off
And so to the Senior Event. Every year I attempt this run, the hill seems to get steeper, and it is definitely the feature of the race which sets it apart from many similar events. As I am never close enough to the front at this stage (well, at any stage really), I haven’t a clue as to whether the front runners actually run up the hill, but I can tell you from my position in mid-race obscurity, that it’s as much as most can do to stay upright, without resorting to a scramble up on all fours!
Once at the top, with your lungs bursting and your heart racing, there is an uneven stretch across the field to the road, which bring yet another (albeit less steep) incline up to the high point of the course. From that point it’s pretty much all downhill mostly on tarmac, with the challenge being to protect your knees and ankles (especially on the tricky stretch around Dodd’s Hill).
Paul Mannion comes in first
For the all the runners there is always an enthusiastic crowd cheering them in outside The Sycamore, and if you’re lucky and have efficient race control personnel (and mine is highly trained in this particular task) – a pint of amber nectar. Very rarely does a pint of beer taste this good.
The Overall winner of The Harley Lowndes Cup was Paul Mannion in an excellent time.
Click here for the winners of all categories and here for this year’s time sheets.
PARWICH.ORG 
Well everyone was standing around chatting for ages, and no one told me the race was about to start. So I didn’t.
A very well done to all who took part in last nights hill race. Even just thinking of walking up our hill brings me out in a sweat, let alone running up it in and in those temperatures. Well done.
And wasn’t it nice, quiet and peaceful in the village last night, with the music at the fair turned down and the absence of rowdy loud drunken behaviour. I for one felt quite intimidated by saturday nights events. I hope this doesn’t become a regular occurrence on wakes saturday.
Guys its Paul Mannion not Robert Mannion !!!
He’s my younger faster cousin 🙂
Thanks for another great race ….
Paul.
Paul, my sincere apologies – not only am I an amateur runner, but an amateur reporter too! I did spot the error first thing this morning, and hopefully the correction will be made shortly.
Congratulations on your acheivement – I can only marvel at the way you demolished our Hill yet again.
Well done – hopefully see you next year to defend your title once again.
Graham.
Oh – and probably best not mention the race to your brother…….
Sorry Paul. I was so very careful we did not get your surname misspelt after the error last year, that when proof reading I completely missed that you had been given the wrong Christian name.
Well at least we shouldn’t make any more mistakes when you win again next year.