Course Best Time Tumbles

Records were well and truly shattered at the seventh annual BeckBusters race held in the village on Sunday 29th September, with villagers themselves registering several of the best times.

For the second year in a row, the fastest time on the 2km run was Isabelle (Izzy) Forsythe, who lives in the village and is a pupil at Ripon Grammar School. She recorded a time of 6 minutes 35 seconds, breaking the course record by four seconds. Also from the village, and also a pupil at Ripon Grammar School, Will Edmondson finished in second place in his age category (boys), completing the course in 7:35. Remarkable achievements and very well done.

Not to be outdone, Izzy's Dad, Ed, came second in the 10km race with a time of 34:30 helping to blow apart the previous course record. The three fastest runners of the day (winning time 33:19) all individually broke the standing record of 35.05 which was set in 2022. Ed also won the Fastest Villager Category (male)

Any doubts about the weather, after heavy rain earlier in the week, soon dissipated as the day dawned bright, but cold, with no unwanted precipitation and so, to the claps, shouts and hollers of support from friends, families, team-mates, villagers, sponsors and passers-by, this increasingly popular race got underway.

Starting and finishing at the school, and organised by the Friends of Bishop Monkton School (FOBMS), there were 236 registrations for the 10km race (38 more than last year), with 187 runners successfully completing the course. A total of 141 junior competitors ran over a shorter distance of 2 km.

The senior race set off at 11 a.m. heading out of the village, cross country, to follow the River Ure and Ripon Canal, running on through Littlethorpe, before turning back again across the fields to Bishop Monkton. Runners were given the option of splashing through the beck as they came through the village on the home stretch, or diverting slightly to go over the bridge to miss the ford. The loudest applause, it has to be said, was reserved for those competitors who did run through the beck, an accolade afforded to the first runner home, who “braved” the beck only about 32 minutes after the race had started.

In the Women's race, spectators enthusiastically cheered on some very familiar faces as staff from Bishop Monkton Primary School showed their talent with Sarah Worthington, School Administrator, again being awarded Fastest Villager (Female) in a time of 48:54.

Back on the school playing field there was plenty happening to keep spectators, as well as post race runners, fed, watered and entertained. A bacon sandwich and hot dog stall did a roaring trade, there was a constant queue at the tombola and hard decisions as to what to buy were made at the cake stall.

The ambulance service were in attendance, just in case, marshals lined the route to encourage runners and point out the way and bicycle outriders monitored the race, not to mention numerous car parking attendants, stall assistants, cake-bakers, barbecue cooks and ambassadors all helping to ensure the day went well.

A passer by, who stopped to watch, was heard to remark “I never knew this event was so large or so well organised”. It was indeed, a huge credit to everyone involved with many congratulations due to everyone who took part.

On behalf of the FOBMS, chair, Vic Porter, enthused “We would like to thank all our runners, sponsors, helpers, and marshals, without you all we really couldn't make this happen. We would also like to thank everyone in the village for being so supportive and understanding of any disruption which we cause in the village. This year the money raised will go towards upgrading the equipment in the classrooms in our school”.

The Team are very grateful to local landowners who allow the race to pass over their land as well as village landowners who kindly allow their fields to be used for car parking.

Further detailed results of the race can be found by clicking here

More pictures and times for male and female winners, plus team results can be found here