Meltham Tough 10k,
Sunday, 28 January, 2018.
Ploughing a lone furrow at the Meltham Tough 10k on Sunday was Pumas’ very own Jude Roberts. He was a brave man, indeed, for Meltham Harriers, who stage the race, pride themselves in calling it “the toughest 10k in town”. It’s one not for the faint-hearted, as it incorporates quite a few challenging hills, and situated out in the sticks, is susceptible to the elements. In 2014 they had two cases of hypothermia!
Indeed, high winds and pelting rain were a feature of this race and if that wasn’t enough to contend with, there’s always the odd injury that might get you. True; one female runner was reliant on the Colne Valley Mountain Rescue team to get her back to base after her calf muscle gave out shortly into the race.
Happily for Jude, he had no such problems and ran a strong race, no doubt spurred on by his two girls who’d made him feel extra special by making their own banner just for dad. How could he not run well when they’d gone to so much trouble?!
The rain and sleet arrived just in time for the 9.30am start, but Jude was soon amongst the front runners as the field left the Meltham Community Sports Centre for the initial downhill stretch which helped break the runners in. In essence, the route circumnavigates the Blackmoorfoot Reservoir, starting by heading up Broadlands Road to Helm Road, then taking up in Harrison Lane, Arborary Lane and Nopper Lane before taking a sharp left turn into Blackmoorfoot Road. This runs into Holt Head Road then the route swings around into Varley Road, then onto B6107 Slaithwaite Road for a long stretch that climbs to the highest point at 951 feet before the steep drop of about a mile towards the roundabout close to Morrisons supermarket. Here, you could see the runners – Jude amongst them – going hell for leather as they charged downhill, but then there’s one final climb to make, up the appropriately named Mean Lane which heads back towards the finish line at the Community Centre.
The race was won by Scott Hinchcliffe of the Penistone Footpath Runners in 35:16, although Jude wasn’t too far behind, coming home in 42:52 to finish 28th out of 327 finishers. “Got to be happy with that,” he beamed afterwards, and the general feeling amongst others was that so he should be!