The Bradford Millenium Way is a 46 mile circular footpath around north Bradford taking in Bingley, Oxenhope, Laycock, Silsden, and Ilkley. As a running relay it is split into 5 legs ranging between 8 and 11 miles, and you run in pairs. The route is waymarked (mostly!) but not marshalled so you are expected to know your way, and the pre-race recces are usually great outings discovering paths off the edge of your normal running patch.
Bingley Harriers had three teams (30 runners) out this year – two Men’s teams and a Ladies team. Thanks to Greg Trusselle for stepping in at the last minute to organise the Men’s B team when Andy Jebb was up in the Lake District with no phone or internet connection.
It was great to welcome a number of runners into their first Bingley BMWay team – Adam Smallwood, James Hargreaves, Paul Kehoe, Helder Goncalves, Simon Blake, Kathryn Sutcliffe (Holt), Caren Crabtree (no van break down this year 😉), and Trish Gavins.
On top of that we had extra support from reserve Viki Markwell who kept herself available should that last minute step in be needed, and lifts and transport from Nicola Jones and Jenni Boocock which really made the logistics of the day much easier for many runners – being dropped off at the start and / or picked up at the end of their legs. Thanks to all, and Greg for our lift to Silsden for Leg 4.
A bright breezy day, mostly sunny, warm at times, but sometimes cloudy and cooler with a few spots of rain.
So how did we do :
Leg Miles Bingley Men A (5th)
L1 10.4 Adam Worallo 01:39:50 17
Bingley Reuben Mantle 01:39:50 17
L2 9.4 Adam Smallwood 01:01:48 1
Haworth Ian Holmes 02:41:38 5
L3 8 Ged Callan 01:05:22 6
Laycock Colin Walker 03:47:00 6
L4 8.5 Paul Crabtree 01:12:58 3
Silsden Tom Gomersall 04:59:58 5
L5 10.7 Andrew Jebb 01:22:36 7
Ilkley James Hargreaves 06:22:34 5

Leg Miles Bingley Men B (14th)
L1 10.4 Josh Spencer 01:39:20 15
Bingley Robert Williams 01:39:20 15
L2 9.4 Callum Imeson 01:36:37 25
Haworth Paul Spencer 03:15:57 21
L3 8 Paul Kehoe 01:10:27 12
Laycock Will Duggan 04:26:24 18
L4 8.5 Greg Trusselle 01:26:28 13
Silsden Helder Goncalves 05:52:52 17
L5 10.7 Kevin Garlick 01:31:18 13
Ilkley Simon Blake 07:24:10 14

Leg Miles Bingley Ladies (18th, 2nd Ladies)
L1 10.4 Ruth Thrackray 01:33:58 11
Bingley Sarah Flaherty 01:33:58 11
L2 9.4 Kathryn Sutcliffe 01:31:50 21
Haworth Joanne Henry 03:05:48 17
L3 8 Caroline Francis 01:25:10 22
Laycock Caren Crabtree 04:30:58 21
L4 8.5 Patricia Gavins 01:31:10 21
Silsden Rebecca Weight 06:02:08 20
L5 10.7 Lesley Watson 01:37:00 17
Ilkley Shona Stone 07:39:08 18

37 teams ran on the day. Bingley Men A were 5th, Bingley B 14th and Bingley Ladies 18th overall and 2nd Ladies team.
Diving down into those results, Ladies Ruth and Sarah were flying on Leg 1, 11th overall, Fastest Ladies on L1 and first Bingley team by a good margin. For the Men there is often a bit of a tussle between A & B teams, and this time the Men’s B team pipped the A team on leg 1 – leaving the A team’s Ian and Adam waiting another 30 seconds for their team to arrive.
They then took the bit between their teeth on Leg 2 to run the Fastest on that leg bringing the A team up to 5th overall. Kathryn & Joanne had a good run for the Ladies team fighting for the lead with Valley Stiders ladies, while Callum, despite not feeling his best, held on gamely to Paul S to keep the B team in the mix.
At the end of Leg 3 A team Colin was very definite that he ‘hadn’t enjoyed’ his run but the wry smile in his eyes told me he wouldn’t have been anywhere else. B team Paul K and Will were happy and looked like they had had a good run coming in 12th on their leg. On the same score Trish’s (Patricia) comments about me by the end of Leg 4 are probably unprintable. If you watch and listen carefully to Jenni Boocock’s videos (See BH Facebook and search for JB posts) you may find out what she said! I think I have been forgiven – and no damage was done 😉.
On Leg 5 James, new to off-road relays, had a baptism of fire trying to hold onto Andy’s more experienced legs, while Shona and Lesley ran their legs off to make up time and were Fastest Ladies on L5 bringing us to within 5 minutes of the winning Valley Striders team. A great result for our Ladies team to be in striking distance of a win – especially with me, as a V60, in the team. While I love to be part of the team, I always hope to have younger faster legs running.
Full results on https://saltairestriders.org.uk/site/bmw-relay-results/
I will put a selection of photos on the Team App Gallery https://bingleyharriers.teamapp.com/photos?_list=v1. There are lots more great photos about – Woodentops (Dave & Eileen Woodhead) http://woodentops.org.uk/index.php?topic=home&subtopic=morephotos&photoyear=2022. And Jenni Boocock took some great ‘hand-over videos’ and posted them on the Bingley Harriers Facebook site.
Interestingly a lower number of teams ran the event this year (37). Usually there are 50-60, last year a record 65 ran, and the maximum number of 70 entries is usually reached. Talking to a few neighbouring clubs they had not been able to get as many teams out as usual, or a Ladies team. So we did well to field a Ladies team (Thankyou all); we have managed two on occasion. I think two years of Covid lockdowns on activity, the associated lack of opportunity and experience, and the race environment still being uncertain at the beginning of 2022 all contributed. Many runners had made their own plans for the year and already had other targets in their diaries.
Thanks from your Team Managers myself (Becky Weight), Andy Jebb and Greg Trusselle for putting yourself forward for the team and / or being available to help and support on the day. From what I saw everyone, runners and supporters, had a great day out.
I can’t see a date for 2023 yet – but I will try and publicise it as soon as it is available so you can block it out in your 2023 diary.