Beverley AC Members Take Part In Smugglers Trod Challenge

Members of Beverley Athletic Club enjoyed an energetic bank holiday weekend taking part in the Smugglers Trod challenge event on the North Yorkshire Moors.

Organised by the Yorkshire Coast branch of the Long Distance Walkers Association, Smugglers Trod is a popular event which attracts several hundred people each year. It starts and finishes in Robin Hood’s Bay and competitors navigate their way over challenging terrain, allegedly used by smugglers in centuries past, and choose either the 17 or 25 mile route.

Members of Beverley Athletic Club have been participating in Smugglers Trod for about 14 years. The course provides an excellent alternative to road running and competitors can choose to run or walk. The route follows footpaths across the moors with spectacular rural scenery and wonderful views of the coast, weather permitting.

Unfortunately low cloud hid the views this year but it stayed dry and mild for the duration of the event. Competitors were pleased that the rain that was forecast did not appear as conditions underfoot were already boggy and slippery in places.

The first members of Beverley AC to complete the 25 mile course were Ian Boardley and Tony Hunter. They finished together in 11th and 12th places in an excellent time of 4:50. They were followed 10 minutes later by Pete Watkinson. Frank Harrison and Pete McNally completed the short course last year but this year chose to tackle the long route. They finished in 7:14 and 8:10 respectively.

Mike Atkins was the first member of Beverley AC to complete the short route. He finished in 32nd place in a commendable 4:20. Dianne Coleman, Denise Thompson and Jacqui Dickinson tackled the short course together. Jacqui said: “It’s a fantastic and friendly event allowing you to meet lots of competitors and the helpers along the course are brilliant.”

With plentiful supplies of cake at the checkpoints and a pie and pea meal at the finish, competitors were well looked after by the organisers.
Smugglers veteran Ivor Roberts was unable to take part in the event this year after recent knee surgery but cheered on his club mates as they tackled the steep hill from the harbour to the finish in the village hall and took the photographs.

The first competitor to finish the long route was Chris Davies in 3:52 and the first lady was Kathryn Finn in 5:00. There were 123 finishers in the short route. The first to finish was Gareth Wilson in 2:51 and the first lady was Julie Barley in 3:27.

Beverley AC finishing times
Long route: Ian Boardley 4:50; Tony Hunter 4:50; Pete Watkinson 5:00; Pete Myers 6:36; Brian Richardson 6:59; John Fewings 7:14; Frank Harrison 7:14; Pete McNally 8:10.

Reported by Kay Farrow | Photos by Ivor Roberts of Beverley AC