Darwen Dashers
Summer Fell Races
|
Summer Fell Races |
|
|
Diary Archive: January - June 2007 Aggies Staircase - Tursday 28th June 2007 The new start was generally well received by the runners, many saying that they preferred it to the old route, although the sharp turn coming into the finishing straight seemed to catch out one or two. Ostrich enclosures are one of the many features Darwen has in common with the Great Karoo, rainfall is one of the differences, and the soggy conditions gave our humble little fell race the feel of a real classic. Thanks as usual to all those involved in the flagging, marshalling and timekeeping - may I pass on the compliments of may of the runners through this paragraph. Here are the results. Two Lads Fell Race - 21st June 2007 A slightly uncomfortable start to this race meant that I soon lost touch with the leading Dashers and had to work my way through from further back in the field than usual. The route was very congested early on, with 225 competitors in the event, and we had to queue for a short time to get through a narrow section of path before the woods on the first climb. Stuart took what I can best describe as a measured approach and Jamie battled gamely on his road back to full fitness. I spent most of the race watching the hard fought battle between Duncan and Jonathan which lasted until the last bit of climb before the cairn at Two Lads. Jonathan held the lead over Duncan all the way through but didn't manage to really shake him off until the descent to Pike Cottage. I put in the effort to catch Jonathan at that point a passed with a burst of energy between there and the top of Wilders Wood, but it was not enough to upset Jonathan's rhythm as he wound me back in and finished stronger to equal his best championship score for the season. Mark comprehensively beat all the other Dashers and Simon scored his best result so far, holding off Gary Taylor in the race for second. Just as Mark climbs to the top of the table, poised to win the Fell title for the third time in succession, so Jacqui looks poised to equal the feat in the ladies competition. She beat newcomer to the fell scene Angela Hutchinson by five seconds and only needs a couple more victories to take control of the table. This will almost certainly turn out to be a ten pointer for Rebecca, as it did for me, but only time will tell whether those bonuses will be enough to win the title for either of us.
William Fox Productions: Two Lads Part 1 and Part 2 Lostock Walsh Henderson’s End - 7th June 2007 Report by Jonathan Stubbs 6 miles(approx), 800ft ascent. BS Sixteen Dashers (more than any other club) turned out for this inaugural charity fell race. Starting from Rivington Hall, the run climbed the rough stone track up to the Pigeon Loft with most runners choosing to run along the thin strip of grass instead of the stones. I caught up with Simon as we started the climb up to the top of Winter Hill and Chris & Linda weren't too far behind. On the climb, Simon pulled away from me and had a good lead as we approached the masts.
Due to nesting birds, or maybe fire risks, we had to run along the tarmac road towards the next peak (maybe Crooked Edge Hill). I was wearing yet another new pair of shoes, Puma TrailFox this time, that were easier than fell shoes on the road so I managed to pass Simon, but knew that Linda would be catching up on the flat tarmac.
By this time I could see no runners in front and I was relying on marshals for directions. At Crooked Edge Hill , the marshals gave me some words of encouragement but didn't direct me until I asked! The descent was quick and I managed to pull out a lead over Simon, but I wasn't expecting the climb back up to The Pike. I really struggled here and Simon & Linda were hot on my heels. Marshal problems again at The Pike meant that Simon and I were together as we descended. Again I pulled out a lead and I really thought I might be 1st Dasher but with no runners in front I was reliant on the marshals. Simon & Linda were closing on me and I was struggling to keep going. Near to the end there was an un-marshalled left turn that I missed. When I realised that I couldn't hear Simon's footsteps I knew I'd gone wrong, but it was all too late. I turned back to see Simon & Linda heading towards the finish. I tried to sprint back, but I knew I couldn't manage it and I came in after them both.
After the prize giving, most of us retired to the Black Dog in Belmont where we watched Linda & Gary eat their packed lunch of butties and pasta salad. It all looked very nice, but they'd only made enough for the two of them. Shame.
Videos of this race are on Youtube, courtesy of William Fox, Part 1 and Part 2
Blencathra - 6th June 2007 This is a fantastic mid-week race for those who can get away early enough to make the 7:00pm start from Mungrisdale. The 8 mile, 2700' route is nearly all on runnable grassy paths, though there were sections of the climb where I slowed to a walk. The were a number of top runners from the local clubs, the winner was Ben Bardsley of Borrowdale, and here's the good bit - I managed to get past Gavin Bland on the final descent. I don't know what went wrong there but I am sure that it's never happened before in real life.
Pen y Ghent - 2nd June 2007 No Naughton-in-Ribblesdale - Report by Simon Fox
A summer gala on a village green in the Yorkshire Dales.
A quintessential English scene. However, a brooding behemoth loomed, causing
pause for thought from those present clad in vest and shorts. Standing in
the Gala field your eye was unconsciously drawn again and again to the
stepped mass of Pen Y Ghent.
Once the important business of judging the fancy dress competition was out of the way the fell race could commence. We set off across the field and then the air was filled with that unique sound of studded fell shoes on tarmac as we reached the road. Mark France, no doubt buoyed by the absence of Dave Naughton, was trotting ahead with the leaders. In the next group was Julian and Gary Taylor, who’s washed out club colours have not been seen for a while. The rest of us (and a decent turn out it was for a race a distance from home – Jim Taylor taking the prize for turning up from a break in Blackpool) followed on as, unfortunately, the race took us along the road through the village. I say unfortunately for two reasons – one being that the map of the event had us going not along the road but up Pen Y Ghent Lane and I had positioned William and his video camera here to film us as we went by. The other reason? It was bloody hard work! On reaching the track up to the summit Mark disappeared and Julian and Gary T became dots in the distance. I was caught and passed by Duncan and thoroughly expected Jonathan to go by, too. Mentally I could picture the Championship points slipping away. As the route became steeper, perversely I began to feel happier and re-passed Dunc. There was a guy in a Mercia vest who I now set my sights on and in racing him I began to gain on Gary and Julian. A quick look back showed that Duncan had been dropped. By the time we reached the rocky scramble I was right behind Gary and I could see Julian looking back only a few places ahead. I made my move past with a quick comment to Gary about his coming out of retirement and then, as it levelled before the summit, caught Julian. I knew that as soon as we headed down he would streak away so I contented myself with the brief victory of reaching the top first. I ran past with arms aloft and noticed Julian’s wife Karen and Luke looking on, bemused. As expected Julian stormed away on the descent and I stumbled my way inelegantly down the slope and waited for Gary to pass, which he did as we headed towards the Pot Hole. Gritting my teeth I made some ground back and managed to regain my position on the next climb. I could almost feel Gary breathing down my neck now and, as one runner tripped and did a spectacular tumble down the hillside, Gary’s stronger descending saw him go by again. The Gala field was now visible below us but I knew we still had a way to go before we reached it. Hitting the tarmac after a nasty rocky track I could feel the strength in my legs sapping. Gary had a few looks back to make sure I wasn’t coming back at him but in the end he beat me by a good seven seconds. Duncan had a bit of a disappointment at the finish when he realised that Mark, incognito in his white T shirt, had actually taken part and he had lost another place. Nigel Barnes who turned up to spectate and photograph just missed out on snapping Jonathon taking one of his now traditional finishing tumbles. Jacqui Shaw lead home a contingent of 4 Lady Dashers including my wife, Cath, who has now hopefully seen the light as to what constitutes ‘proper running’... Simon Fox
Claire enjoys a drink as Rebecca cruises into the finish.
Hutton Roof - 26th May 2007 Just time to get an extra race in between the championship events. A bit of an upside down fell race, with a lot of steady climb in the second half of the race but still a decent challenge. It has the benefit that I can bore the kids every time we go past on the M6 by telling them that I've done a fell race up there (It's the big lump with the scree slope opposite to the Kendal junction).
Blackstone Edge - 16th May 2007 The Blackstone Edge Fell Race was a thrillingly close run contest between the three runners challenging for top spot in the Dashers Championship and I was genuinely excited to take part, even though the result didn't go my way. I was unusually nervous before the race because I thought that, given the nature of the course and the wet and windy conditions, I might have half a chance of winning our little race within a race for the first time. Mark set off at full throttle as usual, taking an early lead on the initial climb up the path from the village. I warmed up over that early section and freewheeled down into the boggy stream bed, closing the gap so that I could keep an eye on Mark during the big climb and across the summit ridge. Dave had started further back on the grid but had obviously been watching me on the climb because he caught me just as we turned down into the long, rough descent. We both worked hard to compete with each other and in doing that we both closed the gap on Mark, so that we all re-entered the boggy section within five yards of the others. Mark used up his final reserves of fuel on the last little bit of climb, and managed to begin the final descent a few yards ahead, but Dave's turbo finally kicked in as he broke away towards the chequered flag. My all terrain capabilities proved worthless as we hit the tarmac and I had to be content myself with third place and the thrill of taking part.
|
