Runners' risk

As the start marshal for the last 17 years to the Lyke Wake Race, I have never had a bad report from any of the competitors. They have always congratulated us on the way it has been run. Clearly she and her party have not read their copy of the letter they received with their start details.

It clearly stated that the race is run on a time of 12 hours, eg "if any competitors are looking doubtful about doing this, the marshals, will, at their discretion, ask you to retire and to hand your race tally card in. If you insist on continuing, you do so at your own risk due to your irresponsible attitude. All competitors must finish before 17.00 hours unless agreed with race marshals".

It also states that anyone retiring from the race can request transport to the finish at Ravenscar. As they had given their race cards in at checkpoint six, Ellerbeck, they were no longer in the race. If they then continued, they did so at their own discretion, and were no longer part of the race. Therefore not under our responsibility.

Did they really expect someone to sit at the finish waiting for them at 19.00 hours when they were no longer in the race?

No-one else has ever had this problem. As start marshal and recovery driver for retired and injured runners, my day starts at 3.30am at Sheep Wash car park, where all competitors are accounted for at checkpoint one. I then proceed to checkpoint three, where again I stay until all competitors are accounted for. This is normally where we start getting people injured or retiring and needing transport to the finish. I have then to go to checkpoint six and repeat my recoveries until all runners are accounted for. I then return to the finish, usually at about 4.45pm, so my total day is about 14 hours long.

All I would like to say is, in future Margaret Land and her friends must read the rules more carefully and plan their day and back-up team carefully. Here's to a great organised race with the help of Raynet Radio Cars. Next year's date is July 9.

K L METCALFE

Lyke Wake Race start marshall,

Nunnington,

York

Race rebuke

Sir, - I write with reference to the Lyke Wake Race and Margaret Land's letter published last Friday.

It is "thanks" to Margaret Land spotting an advert in her local paper, encouraging walkers and runners to participate this year, that I and other friends rallied to support this Yorkshire event.

I concur with the points raised by Margaret Land. Though I enjoyed the walk, the scenery and indeed the challenge of completing it in very poor conditions underfoot, I was disappointed with the standard of race organisation.

I have completed many arduous fell running and walking events of this type and have always admired the strong sense of duty of the organisers particularly with regards to safety aspects.

I specifically asked the race official who removed our race cards at the penultimate checkpoint if we were required to book in at the final checkpoint. He replied "yes, for safety reasons". Upon arrival at the final checkpoint, the marshals were disengaged, disinterested and showed no concern whatsoever for our safety or welfare (by this stage we had covered about 40 of the 42 miles).

Had we not pro-actively located the marshals at the checkpoint they would never have known that we had passed through! Indeed had we taken a wrong turn and then incurred an injury, the organisers would simply never have known.

It was also difficult not to notice how many of the participants were inadequately dressed and kitted out. The weather was not good and if someone wearing a cotton t-shirt and carrying no spare kit had fallen somewhere between checkpoints they could have been in serious trouble. I am simply amazed that there was no kit check and no thorough accounting of competitors.

Walking 42 miles from 4am in the morning is no mean feat and I take my hat off to absolutely everyone who completes it. A simple word of congratulations and a hot drink at the end is the very least that I expected from such an established and major Yorkshire event - even if outside the 12 hour race cut-off time.

Given that we as a group had rallied hard among family and friends to support this event following the request for more participants, it does beg the question as to whether there is some correlation between the diminishing race numbers and the standard of race organisation.

As sponsors of this event, I do feel that the D&S has been badly represented and I sincerely hope that matters are significantly improved for next year.

CHRISTINE HALL

Bridge Avenue,

Otley.

Our wonderful van

Sir, - I would like to say a very big thank you to North Yorkshire County Council for ensuring that our mobile library visits have continued this year on route seven.

We would be lost without the appearance of the lilac and white van appearing over the brow of the Clack Bank and into Osmotherley.

The horn announces the arrival and many of the residents arrive with armfuls of books ready to choose a new selection. The driver and staff assist in all manner of ways; nothing is too much trouble.

There are brightly-coloured children's books, books with big print - much sought after by elderly readers - and a selection of videos to choose from, as well as a large, well-informed choice of biography and fiction, which is always up to date and changed regularly.

If a particular item is required it will be sought out and brought on the next visit. If a visit is to be missed, all the regular users are informed of the change of date. It is true, I'm sure, that there is enormous pleasure to be derived from simple pastimes.

We would be grateful if, through the medium of the D&S, we could voice our appreciation for a much-valued service in these stringent times and to all who have a part in administering that service.

TERIE HIGGS

North End,

Osmotherley.