Darwen Dashers
Summer Fell Races
|
Summer Fell Races |
|
|
Diary Archive July - December 2005 Saturday 31st December 2005 - Auld Lang Syne Fell Race
Sunday 13th November - Kelbrook Fell Race
Saturday 5th November 2005 - Dunnerdale Fell Race Horrible conditions again for this wonderful short fell race in the South Lakes, with cold, rain and low cloud leading to real difficulty in finding the way round the route. I would not have been surprised to be disqualified because I never saw the marshals at the second checkpoint but the organisers seem to have overlooked the error because I have made it in to the official results. Perhaps the marshals were slightly out of place, or perhaps there were just too many people off course to bother with. Anyway, it was a good run and a great atmosphere as always. Three Dashers finished, as follows -
Sunday 23rd October 2005 - Withins Skyline The Dashers Fell Championship drew to a close in truly horrible conditions on Oxenhope Stoop, with none of the top three turning out. This left the field open to me to get my first maximum since the first race in the series, to finish a respectable fourth. Gary Mitchell finished just behind Jamie Dowdall on the day to clinch fifth in the overall table, and Jacqui Shaw made sure of the Ladies title, finishing a little in front of Jim Taylor in the race. It was horrible, but we loved it. I don't know why, I just know that we did. After the race I bathed in a grey puddle in the car park, but I will never wash my car again because when I got back there, there were two lady fell runners perched on the bonnet changing their shoes, leaving the muddy prints of their lycra clad behinds.
Sunday 16th October 2005 - FRA Relay, Alva We had a less than spectacular result at the FRA relay at Alva this year but our vets team did at least get round the event and we did experience the best in Karaoke in Stirling the night before the race. There are some pictures of the event on the FRA website - here is Dave Naughton making the best of a bad job on the first leg http://www.fellrunner.org.uk/gallery/displayimage.php?album=39&pos=25 and Dashers Fell Champion Mark France supporting his team mate Simon Fox in characteristic fashion (Simon is the tiny yellow spec over the shoulder of the runner in the background) http://www.fellrunner.org.uk/gallery/displayimage.php?album=39&pos=103 We couldn't have had a nicer day for it though, and what a great area, as you can see from the pictures. Luckily the photographer couldn't have known where the navigation leg was going to to take us so there are no shots of me or Gary Mitchell. The fact is, the only time Gary and I went fast over the whole weekend resulted in three points and a sixty pound fine for me doing 86 on the M6 near Penrith. The best run in Dashers colours came from the trip organiser and ad hoc Fell Captain Nigel Barnes so well done and thanks to him on both counts. Saturday 24th September 2005 - Thieveley Pike Lovely to return to racing after a few weeks out with back trouble. Gardening is really not good training for runners so I was really pleased to get round this in one piece, having been completely immobile six weeks ago.
Saturday 17th September 2005 - Three Shires
27th August 2005 - Pendleton Fell Race
Saturday 20th August 2005 - Darwen Gala Due to the clash with the Championship Race at Whittle Pike, we had a predictably small field of 38 competitors, but the day was perfect and I hope that all the runners had a good time and will return with their club-mates next year. I hope that all the juniors also enjoyed their run and that we can turn this into a bigger event next year to. Thanks to BS Stainless for your sponsorship of the race once again. Wednesday 10th August 2005 - Pilgrims Cross
Sunday 17th July 2005- Kentmere Horseshoe No report for this race due to a clash with my family holiday, cycling in Holland. I am told that it was a hot and dry day for the race so navigation was not an issue, thirst and heat exhaustion were. Two Dashers in the top 20 at this classic event is a great result for the club, here are the details of our runners -
Thursday 14th July 2005 - Bull Hill Fell Race Has the balance of power shifted? Dave Naughton took the maximum points in this race after swapping position with Mark France for most of the route. With Dave still in touch at the top of the second climb, there was only ever going to be one winner. Nigel Barnes came through the field in his customary manner to take third Dasher and I was beaten into sixth by Gary Taylor and new boy Danny Headifen, who both came past just before Pilgrims' Cross. I struggled desperately on the last mile to the finish and I am sure that If Simon Fox had been aware of the state I was in, he would have come past too. Vince Brookes returned from a long absence from Fell Running, just beating Gary Mitchell. Here is the full list of Dashers with their positions, full results courtesy of John Schofield are here
Saturday 2nd July 2005 - Tockholes "No Gala" Fell Race The event went well despite the lack of a Gala this year, so we intend to put on the race again next year, Gala or none - look out for us on the first Saturday in July, 2006. 2005 Race Report Weather conditions were fine, if a little too warm for the 49 runners who took part, despite the lack of a Gala this year. The race registration and prize giving were moved to the Rock Inn, which proved to be a great success, thanks to the welcome we received from the landlord and staff as well as the fine ale and chip barms. The race was won by Brian Cole of Blackburn, with Dave Parkington of Preston following less than a minute behind. One competitor did not complete the route following a nasty fall early on in the race but he returned to the start (like any good fell runner would) and after a check over by the mountain rescue volunteers in attendance, he made his way home. Hope to see you at our next event Ian, and better luck in your next race.
Winner Brian Cole a mile from home, with Dave Parkington just behind
Click on the thumbnails for pictures of the next few runners, 2nd, David Parkington, 3rd, Glyn Kay, 4th Mark Boardman, and first Dasher Nigel Barnes in fifth.
|
