Cumbria County Cross-Country Champinships 2014

The 2014 Cumbria Athletic Association County Cross-Country Championships are this Saturday, 4th January, with entry on the day.

The Cumbria County Championships are without doubt one of the highlights of the local distance running calendar. The incentive of being selected to turn out in a Cumbria vest and represent the county (the Cumbria Champs incorporates selection of the Cumbria teams for the Inter Counties XC in Birmingham) always makes for a competitive race. 

Cumbria County Champs 2012
photo courtesy of Steve Angus @athletesinaction.co.uk

This year's Championships, on Saturday, are at Cockermouth, on the fields off the Embleton Road, just a short distance past Cockermouth School.

Note that medals will be awarded to the first team of three, and club vests must be worn.

Timetable & approximate distances

12.00 Under 11 Boys & Girls (1500m)

12.20 Under 13 Boys & Girls (2300m)
12.40 Under 15 Boys & Girls (3000m)
13.10 Under 17 Men & Women (5000m)

13.30 Under 20 Men & Women (7500m)

13.30 Senior Men & Women (8000m)

All ages except for U11s as on 31.08.2013. U11s must be at least 9 years old on the day of the race.
 

Medals & teams

Medals will be awarded to the first 3 in each race, and first team of 3 in each age category – subject to sufficient entries. Please note that club vests MUST be worn.

Entry fees (entry on race day accepted)

Seniors & Under 20’s - £7.50

Unattached seniors - £9.50

All other age groups - £5.50

Registration is at the venue on Championship Day. Please bring your own safety pins. To save time on the day, you can print off and fill in this entry form here.

Please note that on your entry form you will be asked to indicate whether you wish, if selected, to represent Cumbria AA at the UK CAU Inter-County Championships, being held at Cofton Park, Birmingham on 8th March 2014. You must enter the Cumbria AA County Championships to qualify for selection. If you cant run on Saturday and would like to be considered for the County team, please let Noel Hakeman know asap - email noelh@cybermoor.org.uk

New Year's Day Round the Lake Run

At the moment - Monday - it looks as though the route across the duckboards & over the Chinese Bridge may be impassable on Wednesday (unless you want swim!). So, if the weather doesn't improve, bring your start time forward to allow for a couple of extra miles via Grange. Say: 11:10 - Social Group, 11:25 - Steady Group, 11:40 - Fast Group, going up onto the road to Grange after Abbots Bay. The route via Grange is roughly the same as an eleven mile trail run.

Kendal Winter League 2014

The dates are out for Helm Hill's winter league. Quality friendly races for juniors and seniors alike.

http://www.helmhill.co.uk/pdfs/formsdocs/KWL_2014_fixturelist.pdf

10 currys, 12 pints, 3 fights and a kiss from John Nicoll...

I've booked 'Lakeland Spice' in Keswick for a cheeky curry social after training on Thursday.  Booked for 8pm.  Can you let me know if you're intending to come.  Please do come, as I don't want it to be just me and John.  Call/text/message/Facebook/email or whatever others means you wish to contact me.  I will check on here and the Facebook page as well.  Good grief, I'm sounding desperate for you to come.  Oh, and we don't just want the 'Stallions' of the club, it would be spiffing for some of the fairer sex to attend.  Promise to leave the farting and burping at the door!

Northern and National Cross Country Championships 2014 pre entries

The Northern XC Champs (Knowsley, Sat 25th Jan) and National XC Champs (Nottingham, Sat 22nd Feb) are pre entry only again.

These events have proved to be highlights of the racing calendar (see HERE for a report of Keswick AC at the 2013 National), and promise to be great events again this year. The team competition at each is the first six accross the line to count (for senior men) and four to count (for senior women) so we want as many club members involved as possible.

Closing dates for pre entry are January 8th (National) and 10th (Northerns) -please get yourself entered now to avoid missing the deadlines. There should be plenty of options for car sharing.

Northern XC Champs (details on NOEAA website) -online entries here.
National XC Champs (details on ECCA website) -online entries here. 

For any assistance with entries or for further infomation, please contact Steve Hebblethwaite.

Another interesting date - The British Masters Athletic Federation Road Relay Champs

The details are here: http://www.bmaf.org.uk/fix/fix.asp   there are national medals in all 5 year age groups from 35 upwards to W65 and M75.  KAC could be very competitive in quite few of the age groups.

Dates for your 2014 diary

Quite a number of fixtures are available for 2014 already. Have a look and see if you can get involved with any of the following...

Jan 4th - Cumbria County XC Champs, Cockermouth - entry form here
Jan 25th - Keswick AC Annual Dinner - tickets here
Jan 25th - Northen XC Champs, Knowsley -details here
Feb 22nd - National XC Champs, Nottingham -details here
March 8th - Inter Counties XC, Birmingham -selection based on Cumbria County Champs
March 15th - Northern 12 & 6 Stage Road Relays, Manchester -details here

English Fell Running Championship races 2014

Sat 5th April - Pendle (S)
Sat 3rd May - Coniston (M)
Sat 7th June - Ennerdale Horseshoe (L)
Sun 20th July - Kentmere Horseshoe (M)
Sun 17th Aug - Sedbergh Hills (L)
Sat 13th Sept - Hodder Valley (S)

British Fell Running Championship races 2014

Sat 29th March - Donard Challenge (S)
Sat 7th June - Ennerdale Horseshoe (L)
Sat 28th June - Dollar (M)
Sat 30th Aug - Maesgwm Muddle (M)

A note from the men's captain...

Just a short note to let you know that I will be your men's captain this year. In the last couple of years we've had teams in the Six Stage Road Relays, the Northern and National XC and had some of our best team results in English and British Fell Running Championship races for some years.

There is plenty to get stuck into in 2014 with lots of competitions and outings for all to be involved in.

Should you have any questions, or suggestions regarding racing, training, or indeed the wider running of the club in the forthcoming year, please feel free to contact me using the details below, and I will do my best to help.

In anticipation of a great year for the club,

Steve Hebblethwaite

stevenhebblethwaite @ hotmail.com
01900 821501
or facebook

30th Anniversary Dentdale Run 2014

The organiser of the Dentdale Run has asked me to make our members aware of the 2014 event which will be the race's 30th Anniversary.  The race will be taking place on Saturday 8th March 2014.

The below is from the organiser:

The Dentdale Run has a lot to offer as a fixture in your club calendar. If you have not run the Dentdale before I am sure you would be amazed at the breathtaking scenery surrounding the dale. It is along the small lanes amongst this scenery that the run is staged. We offer many facilities to our competitors including free car parking, shower facilities, male and female changing rooms, free post race refreshments, prizes and trophies as well as almost instantaneous results posting. A number of runners have commented on the speed with which we post our results.

We have recently built a website (www.dentdalerun.com) and Facebook page (www.facebook.co.uk/dentdalerun) which is where we post all our news, photos, results and anything else to do with the race.
Entry forms are available from the website.

Brampton - Carlisle 10 Sun 17th Dec

A good turnout at the penultimate road champs event. The race was won by Andrew Wiles of New Marske in 50:50 ahead of a field of 543 in perfect conditions. The newly vet40 Russ Maddams set the pace for the men in 54:15 with Rachel Mellor heading the ladies in 1:14:25.

The teams did fantastically well with the Men Open team finishing 4th, the Vet Men 2nd and Ladies Open 11th.

Spare a thought for Chris Brewer, great run but how agonisingly close is that?

1. Andrew Wiles - New Marske- 50:50
7. Russ Maddams V40 - Keswick - 54:15
24. Marc Brown - Keswick - 57:49
55. Chris Brewer V40 - Keswick - 1:00:10
70. Rob Wynne V50 - Keswick - 1:01:14
89. Andrew Slattery V45 - Keswick - 1:02:43
96. Adam Campion V40- Keswick - 1:03:08
133. Dave Burton V50 - Keswick - 1:05:53
142. Simon Jackson - Keswick - 1:06:35
182. Duncan Overton V65 - Keswick - 1:09:03
267. Rachel Mellor - Keswick - 1:14:25
332. Juliet Grieves L45 - Keswick- 1:18:45
420. Kate Johnstone L55 - Keswick -1:23:48
421. James Johnstone V60 - Keswick - 1:23:49

Full results HERE

Photos HERE

Buttermere Shepherd's Meet 1.6m 1300' Sat 26th October

Forget Inov-8 Mudclaws, the new must have fellrunning kit is the Adidas Samba disco shoes as sported by Chris Edis. Having forgotten his fell shoes Chris opted to run in his flat soled casual shoes and was first to the top in this all out 1.6m sprint. Descending was a different matter and he slipped (literally) back to third spot. Pretty impressive all the same.



1. Lee Amor - u/a 20:28
2. Mike Robinson - Dark Peak 20:49
3= Chris Edis - Keswick - 20:59
3= Oscar Meanwell - Borrowdale (son) 20:59
5. Anton Meanwell - Borrowdale (dad) 21:34
6. Craig Smith - Keswick 22:21
8. Lewis Taylor - Keswick 22:33
9. Andrew Slattery - Keswick 22:41
18. Catherine Spurden - Keswick 23:56 - 1st Lady
21. Helen Winskill - Keswick 24:48 - 2nd Lady
22. Keith Loan - Keswick 24:52
26. Jo Gillyon - Keswick 27:01 - 3rd Lady

Full results HERE

Langdale Horseshoe 12th October - Keswick ladies retain their title.

Decent conditions for this year's Langdale Horseshoe with strong winds on the tops but dry rocks for a change. Ben Abdelnoor won ahead of a 398 strong field including a strong Keswick contingent. The men were outnumbered by our ladies who put in a fantastic performance to retain the ladies team title.

1. Ben Abdelnoor    Ambleside   2:07:00 2. Adam Perry          Pennine       2:13:19 3. Tim Ellis                Calder          2:13:24
50. Andrew Slattery     Keswick      2:35:23 115. Adam Jackson      Keswick     2:48:44 139. Colin Valentine    Keswick     2:53:45 153. Rick Cooper          Keswick     2:58:28 165. Cath Spurden       Keswick     3:00:42 185. Julie Carter           Keswick     3:04:35 224. Victoria Haworth Keswick     3:12:09 249. Richard Unwin     Keswick     3:15:39 255. Sam Ayers             Keswick     3:17:32 296. Lesley Malarkey   Keswick     3:27:21 336. Siobhan Brewer  Keswick     3:44:06
Ladies Team 1st Keswick 12,15,26,29 82 points   2nd Ambleside 4,19,40,44 107 points 3rd Ilkley 5,17,52,53 127 points

Full race report and results HERE

Loch Ness Marathon -Sat 29th Sept, 2013

Well done to Rachel Mellor (3:25:48), and Caz Lyall-Ford (3:28:30) for excellent performances both at the Loch Ness Marathon last week.

It was Rachel's first attempt at the marathon, and a pb for Caz in her second marathon after a 3:33 in Edinburgh earlier this year.

Baxters Loch Ness Marathon (including Scottish Champs), Sun 28th Sept

1. Tarus Elly -Salford Harriers- 2:27:21
2. Patryk Gierjatowicz -Endinburgh Uni Hare & Hounds- 2:30:49
3. Ross Clark -Hunters Bog Trotters- 2:36:05

14. Megan Crawford -Fife- 2:46:35
21. Alina Nituleasa - 2:50:21
26. Lisa Finlay -Dumfries- 2:52:22

Keswick AC:
321. Rachel Mellor - 3:25:48
353. Caz Lyall-Ford - 3:28:30

Rob Wynne's Bob Graham Round report

Rob Wynne's Bob Graham Report

Rob has done a great write-up of his & Neil's successful BG Round.  Rather than edit it down to fit in Pacemaker, we have linked to the full report from the Club website.  Link here: >>>>>

Something a little different...

The race organiser of "The Skeleton Run" has asked me to let you know about a run taking place in Whinlatter on the 2nd November:

I organise a number of events and wondered if you'd be able to add one of my new events to your club calendar? The Hope Northern Skeleton Run is a 5 mile night trail run set within the grounds of Whinlatter Forest near Keswick. The event is the 'Northern' version of the original Skeleton Run which has been running very successfully for 5 years in the Midlands.

The Northern Skeleton Run will take place a week after the Midlands version on Saturday 2nd November, and is open to runners of all abilities and nordic walkers. Being the Saturday after Halloween, fancy dress isn't compulsory but definitely encouraged! Check out www.theskeletonrun.co.uk for more information and photos of past Skeleton Runs.

Why not dust off your wigs and break out the fake blood and come and join us!

 

It looks like a lot of fun but perhaps not the best idea if you're doing the DW10 the following day! 

Keswick AC road running ranking lists 2013

A club road-running ranking list for 2013 has been pubished, and is online at the club website HERE.

As usual, should anyone be aware of results that are unlikely to have come to our attention or have been missed from the ranking, please submit them to stevenhebblethwaite@hotmail.com

Well done to those currently topping the categories, and best of luck to those who might aim to do so before the end of the year!

Jenn Mattinson at Moorclose 10K 2013

Three Peaks Cyclocross 38miles 5000' Sunday 30th September

After last year's hurricane and floods things looked a lot more promising in the Dales for this edition. 600 riders milled around at Helwith Bridge trying to work out how much to wear, how much to carry and where to put the mandatory orange polythene survival bag.

The sight of a 600 strong group rolling over the bridge in Horton is spectacular but the route really begins with the carry up Simon Fell. Colin Valentine was out on the fell cheering us along. Rob Jebb was on for a 10th win and didn't disappoint with a big lead already established on the first climb.

The wind on Ingleborough brought many riders to a standstill before the long, fast, tricky descent to Cold Cotes. A few miles of peloton riding back up the road to Chapel Le Dale took us to the bottom of the steep carry to the summit of Whernside where many riders were blown off or over in severe gales. I opted for running the first part of the descent and made up 23 places before the fast blast to the spectators at Ribblehead. Ahead of me Phil Winskill had a bit of bad luck with two punctures coming off Whernside.

A bit of solo time trialling delivered me to Pen-y-ghent lane where the crowds were big and noisy. Amongst them was Toby Cushion with cowbell giving much needed encouragement.

Much of this climb is rideable, if slow and steep, with the added complication of the leaders hurtling back down the lane towards you. The final carry to the summit becomes a death march of  silent exhausted riders shouldering increasingly heavy bikes. Phil passed me coming off the summit but I was too tired to respond to his shout. Rounding the summit and heading down should've been a relief but agonising cramp set in and just getting back on took ages

Descending the steep rocky track at speed on narrow tyres and drop handlebars isn't easy and plenty of punctured riders had to stop and suppress the desire to burst out crying. Colin was there again cheering us on as we clattered back down.

A short spell on mercifully smooth tarmac leads back to Helwith Bridge and the finish. Just getting back with bike and body intact feels like a massive achievement but I managed to knock 45 mins off last year's time so was fairly happy.

This is a highlight of the year for me and I can't wait to do it again even though it hurts like hell.

1. Rob Jebb - Hope Factory Racing - 3:05:14
2. Ian Taylor - Jedi Cycle Sport - 3:12:39
3. Dave Collins - Hope Factory Racing - 3:14:05
152. Phil Winskill - Beacon Wheelers - 4:11:04
232. Andrew Slattery - Wheelbase - 4:25:00

Apologies if I've missed any other Keswick AC riders.

Full results  HERE

Blog with links to photos/video HERE

Three Shires 21st September - results out

Results out HERE for the Three Shires which was a bit of an epic in very poor visibility.

Ben Abdelnoor won but not everybody finished............

1

Ben Abdelnoor

Ambleside

2:05:11

 2 David Wilby      Ilkley 2:05:46
3 Jim Davies          Borrowdale 2:07:12

26 Andrew Slattery     Keswick 2:23:44
111 Victoria Haworth Keswick 2:56:11
152 Lesley Malarkey  Keswick 3:13:15
166 Siobhan Brewer   Keswick 3:21:47
206 Richard Unwin    Keswick 3:47:18

Cross country fixtures announced!

Most of the fixtures for the coming 2013-14 season have now been released, including the dates for the Cumbria, and Mid Lancs Leagues, and the Northern and National Cross Country.

Cumbria League:
A friendly league with a number of low key races suited to all standards. All senior races start 1.10pm, junior races at all fixtures start from 12 noon.

Sept 28th: Cockermouth, just past school on Embleton road
Oct 12th: Maryport, Netherhall
*Nov 9th: Carlisle, Sheepmount* (TBC)
Nov 30th: Penrith, Frenchfields School
Dec 7th: Keswick, Fitz Park (incorporates Cumbria AA Vets Championship)

Cumbria County Champs 2012
photo courtesy of Steve Angus @athletesinaction.co.uk

Cumbria AA County Championships:
Jan 4th: Cockermouth -see Keswick AC website where entry form will appear in advance of the event

Mid Lancs League:
Bigger fields than Cumbria League, and a better standard of competition, well worth the extra drive.

Oct 26th: Townley Park, Burnley
Nov 23rd: Sefton Park, Liverpool (Incorporates McCain Cross Challenge and Euro Trials)
Dec 14th: Wilson Playing Fields, Hyndburn
Jan 11th: Thorncliffe, Barrow-in-Furness
Feb 8th: Lancaster University 
Mar 1st: Crooklands, Kendal

More details at http://midlancs.org.uk/ 

Northern XC Champs 2013, photo courtesy of Dave Pinnington

Northern Championships:
The championships will be held on January 25th 2014. The club will be looking to finish strong teams again, no limit to number of runners. These championships are usually pre-entry only with closing date at end of December -contact stevenhebblethwaite @ hotmail.com.

More details at http://www.noeaa-athletics.org.uk/

National XC Champs 2013, photo courtesy of Adi Royle

English National Championships:
Self explanatory. The most prestigious event in the domestic cross country calendar, which lists the greats of the sport amongst the previous winners in its long history.

Feb 22nd: Wollaton Park, Nottingham

More details at http://www.englishcrosscountry.co.uk/

CAU Inter Counties Championships:
Selection for the Cumbria team for the Inter Counties is usually based on results from Cumbria County Championship (see above).

Mar 8th: Cofton Park, Birmingham

Details at http://www.ukcau.co.uk/

Ring O Fire race report

Just finished my race report on the Ring O Fire 135 mile ultra race round the coastal path of Anglesey. Go get a cuppa and some biscuits!!

http://fromrecoverytobeyond.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/burn-burn-burn-ring-o-fire.html

Grand Tour of Skiddaw 45miles 7,200' Saturday 24th August

This is a new event run by Gaynor Prior from Pure Outdoors. Having done the BG and Old County Tops this year I realised that doing this event would complete the necessary qualifying points for the Ultra Tour of Mont Blanc next year so I contacted Steve Angus who was in a similar position and we both entered.

Based at Limehouse School Dalston the route follows the River Caldew and the Cald Beck to the first feed stop at Caldbeck village hall. The next leg gets onto the fell at Nether Row and climbs High Pike before dropping to Lingy Hut and Mosedale before passing Skiddaw House to the next feed at Latrigg car park. Skiddaw summit is reached at approximately half way before descending Longside Edge. a series of bridleways are followed through Fellside and back to Nether Row and the last feed back at Caldbeck.

For a brilliant HD video including aerial footage see
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXmeMADPuKY

The organisation of the whole event was first rate from the event centre facilities and feed stations to the marshalling and friendly atmosphere. For me it was my first experience of a trail Ultra Race and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Not being used to running 45 mile races I found myself on the front from the start but maintained a good pace through the first feed stop where Dave Troman was serving drinks. At Nether Row I was in the leading group of three and still first solo after a couple of others went astray. I managed to run strongly over High Pike and arrived at Latrigg in third place. Steve wasn't far behind and caught and passed me descending Longside Edge before I caught him again in the bridleways below. We ran together for a short time before he pulled away from me leaving Fellside and I settled in for fourth spot. The last 11 miles back through the riverside fields and tracks felt very long but I maintained a decent shuffling pace and caught Steve again half a mile from the finish. A truce was agreed and we crossed the line together in joint third place in 8hrs and 28 mins.

The final runner completed the event in over 15 hrs and received a warm welcome from those camping overnight. The prizes were presented by Billy Bland the following day.

Solo
1   Ken Sutor 7:42
2   James Harris 7:45
3= Andrew Slattery/Steve Angus 8:28

Teams
1   Tim Higginbottom & Chris Near 7:53
2   Kevin Smith & Peter Murphy 9:55
3   Keith & Tom Sherrington 10:23

Ladies
1  Tanya Coates 10:41
2   Rachael Atkinson 11:43
3   Alexia Melling 12:09

This is a fantastic event and certainly deserves a much bigger field next year.

The event website is  www.pureoutdoorsevents.co.uk

Event photographs by Sportsunday see HERE

Friday Night Birthday Drink

Hello All,

Just a quick message to say it would be nice to see a few of you out on Friday night for a drink in Keswick. Dog and Gun from 8pm. Hope every one is doing well and hope to catch up at running sometime soon when I feel fit enough if I don't see you Friday Night.

Thanks Carl

40th Birthday day bash many thanks to all the Keswick members who turned out last Thursday at the Lakeland Pedlar it was great evening and made my 40th Birthday a memorable one. Here's to many more years of happy run with the club Russ Maddams

Road Races in September

Quite a few road races coming up next month.  Check out John Schofield's website for full details. 

http://www.ukresults.net

Some on offer include:

Ulverston Charter 5K - 1st September
Gosforth 10K - 3rd September
Dumfries 10K - 4th September (pre-entry only by the 30th August)
Cumberland Ale 10 Mile - 8th September (CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP RACE)
Whitehaven 5K - 14th September
Great Langdale Marathon/Half Marathon - 21st September
Lancaster 5K - 28th September

Borrowdale

A great run for Peter Harrison  finishing 9th in a time of 3.13.32. Well done.

Upcoming Races

Ellenborough 10K

Start 7:15 pm Wednesday 7th August 2013

Start, finish, registration and changing at Netherhall Rugby Club, Maryport

Grasmere Sports

Grasmere Lakeland Sports & Shows - Sunday 25th August 2013

Senior Guide Race, £900 in prize money, start approx. 16:10

Whitehaven Harbour 5K

5k Road Race

Saturday 14 September 2013

Race starts @ 6:00pm from Harbour-side end near Tesco

Out and back course along the harbour to the Beacon and Haig Pit

Registration to take place at Waterfront Restaurant and Bar 

Plenty more races in August, especially on the fells:

Date	Race	Category
Sat 03/08/13	Borrowdale	AL
Sun 04/08/13	Farlton Knott ( B O F R A )	AS
Wed 07/08/13	Steel Fell	AS
Sat 10/08/13	Turner Landscape	AM
Sun 11/08/13	Lowther Trail	CL
Sun 11/08/13	World Mountain Running Championship Trial Races	Unknown
Sat 17/08/13	Howtown	AL
Sat 17/08/13	Rusland 5	BS
Sun 18/08/13	Lakeland Country Fair	AM
Tue 20/08/13	Shipman Knotts	AS
Wed 21/08/13	Round Latrigg	BS
Sat 24/08/13	Arnison Crag Horseshoe	AS
Sun 25/08/13	Grasmere Senior Guides Race	AS
Wed 28/08/13	Ennerdale Show	AS

Bob Graham Round 20/21st July

While I am temporarily unable to walk I thought I'd better write my report up.

Doing the BGR has been an ambition of mine since I first joined Keswick AC as a teenager and a couple of years ago I thought I'd better get on and do it while I still can. Everything was going well until my Langdale accident meant a year off from all running. Things got back on track over the brilliant winter weather and long races at Three Peaks and Old County Tops put me on great form.

Pacing Steve Angus on Legs 3,4, & 5 of his 19:43 round in early June made me realise I could do it so a date was set for 21st June. Inevitably injury struck and shin splints put me out of action for another 4 weeks until Rob Wynne suggested a simultaneous round and with the offer of a Broad Stand rope I couldn't refuse. Rob was a great help over the last couple of weeks as we traded details of our preparations.

Leg1
By 10pm I was itching to get away after weeks of anticipation and as soon as the hour struck I set off like a scalded cat through the town with my pacer Chris Newman and didn't slow down until half way up Latrigg. A fantastic clear sky meant we didn't put headtorches on until the summit which came at 65mins. After meeting Richard Mavin on the summit we dropped down into the cloud inversion and thick mist. After Hare Crag we met John Sealby who provided hot coffee along with his partner Debbie and Richard's wife Helen. The mist persisted up and over Gt Calva but I did manage to keep dry feet even over the Caldew (without a piggy-back). Richard Unwin kindly met us on Mungrisedale Common to ensure we stayed on track onto Blencathra and after a quickish descent of Hall's Fell we got to Threlkeld 11mins up.

Leg 2
Rachel provided rice pudding and banana with a welcome cup of tea but we were off again within 5 mins. Craig Smith and Steve Bennett were the pacers loaded down with too much food and drink but they were excellent company and their experience of that leg in particular put me at ease in very poor conditions and they did a fantastic job of navigating the leg in thick mist. Great Dodd and Helvellyn summits saw us briefly above the cloud and into the bright moonlight and the lightening sky to the East. This was an extraordinary sight that I will never forget. Daylight came as we climbed Fairfield I began to feel a little less chirpy as I toiled up the climb. The lads kept me going but this bad feeling continued as we dropped to the road still on schedule.

Leg 3
Tea and porridge at Dunmail was wolfed down before meeting up with Steve Angus, Steve Murdoch and Simon Gray for the long leg. By this time I was experiencing flickering vision which bothered me at the time and persisted for the next couple of hours. In hindsight this was probably due to staring at the glare of my Hope light reflected back by the mist for hours on end. I started to feel sick at this stage too and by the time we got over to the Langdales I felt absolutely awful. Simon did a fantastic job of pestering me with food and drink throughout the leg which is exactly what you need. Steve Murdoch navigated flawlessly through the mist until we eventually emerged into sunshine on Bowfell which lifted my spirits and the clouds began to lift literally and metaphorically. Great End to Broad Stand seemed to fly by and Andy Williamson was ready and waiting with a rope which saved the time and effort of alternative routes. On the descent I opted to use the scree descent at Rakehead Crag which I hadn't done before but was great. The final few hundred metres into the valley were like going into an oven but we arrived at the car park 17 minutes ahead of schedule.

Leg 4
Rachel provided the macaroni cheese and coca cola while I changed socks with the assistance of my new pacers. Fell running legend Jackie Winn and all-round nice guy Nick Ray were my company along with Colin Murrell who had travelled all the way from Down South to help me out. I could tell that I'd blistered my feet coming off Scafell and temperatures were rising as we headed up Yewbarrow. Having dreaded this bit I found it went ok as I chatted to my pacers and took in the fantastic view. The climb up Red Pike was a different matter, the breeze disappeared and the sun beat down. My Suunto gadget recorded the maximum temperature at this point as being in the mid 80's. Jackie keep me topped up with water and Nick supplied white capsules (legal obviously) to ward off cramp and they worked.
Somewhere between Steeple and Pillar I hurt my left calf and on the long descent to Black Sail I was in considerable pain with this, blistered feet and my old Langdale war wound. The gully to Kirk Fell was purgatory and I was well into a bad patch again. Colin miraculously produced an instant ice pack which was applied to the leg along with a dip in the tarn. Great Gable was the first point at which I thought I was actually going to be able to get round and my spirits lifted again. I jogged into Honister an incredible 46 minutes ahead of schedule.

Leg 5
Rachel and Nina Walkingshaw applied ibuprofen gel to my legs while Nick very kindly helped sort my wrecked feet out. A few spoonfuls of rice pudding and we were off again with Nina joining the Leg 4 boys. I was chasing two other teams from Bingley who were just ahead of us and this helped spur me on. Dale Head was not too bad and I actually ran most of Hindscarth with the Ellenborough boys pushing me on for a sub-20hr time. On Robinson I started to believe that was achievable but as soon as I headed downhill I was in pain again. My pacing crew urged me on though Newlands after a shoe change but I just couldn't do it. As I started up Main Street I was elated and sprinted to the Moot Hall to be met by family and friends to finish. Finish time: 20hrs and 12 mins

Stats
63.91 miles
Average pace 3.2mph
Ascent 25,948ft
Running time 19hrs 54mins
Resting time 18mins
Max temp 87f
Min temp 53f

Acknowledgements

Running a Bob Graham Round is without doubt a team effort and it feels like our round rather than my round. I am humbled by the willingness of so many people to put themselves out on my behalf. Without the constant feeding, watering, guiding and generally looking after me that all these people did then I wouldn't have got round. Without the support and encouragement of lots of other people who weren't there on the day I wouldn't have believed that I could do it at all.

Thank you all.

Finally Congratulations to Rob and Neil on their round in 23:20 with the additional pressures of fundraising for a noble cause, well done.


Andy Slattery