“Run, wade and crawl, 8 miles of off-road challenge – Have you got what it takes?”

This was the taunt sent out to the Halterworth Harriers by the organisers of The 2010 Grim Challenge, which was postponed from early December to this weekend, 15 and 16 January.

Without hesitation 12 Harriers – 5 ladies and 7 men - signed up to take on the hills, the camouflage netting, the ravines and the puddle strewn paths, but that was way back in the summer.  Would the intrepid athletes be so keen on a cold, sodden morning in January? It was eagerly awaited and billed as The Harriers’ toughest race of the year (apart from the Marathons and various ultra-marathons of course!). 

The early part of the race lulled the runners into a false sense of security, with just a few gentle hills and a relatively flat path. However, just a mile or so later, the real battle of wits began. A fiendish, mile long stretch of ravines and gullies, carved by years of pounding from tank tracks and now filled with either ice cold water or a glutinous yellow mud greeted the hardy souls.

After nearly 9 miles of action packed slipping and sliding, the Harriers triumphantly waded through the final lake before crossing the finish line.  First man home (and first Harrier overall) was Mark Sills, who completed the race in 1 hour 2 minutes and was 5^th man overall in his age category.  He was followed by Dave Kenyon (also 3^rd in his age category),  Kris Reilly, Dave Arnott (another 3^rd place in age category!) Jon Vamplew, Martin Rosell and Tom Buller. First lady Harrier home was Rachel Shimell (1 hour 17 minutes) who was delighted to shave 5 minutes off her previous time and to finish third overall in her age category!).  She was very closely followed by Jane Heyer (who’d fallen in one of the lakes and been helped to safety - to come in an incredible 3^rd overall in her category too!), Ann Bartholomew (who was racing for the first time after a few weeks off with flu and managed to come in 2^nd in her category!), Debbie Sims and Becky Bellworthy. 

Reflecting on her very first Grim, Ann Bartholomew said; ‘After seeing the course and hearing about it from seasoned Grimmers I was incredibly nervous.  I found it very tough going and easily the most challenging run I’ve attempted!  But, I’m determined to be back for more next time round!’