Saturday 4th May 2002 - 8m/3500'
I only just made it in time as the race was due to start at
11:15 rather than the 11:30 I had in my brain. That coffee stop
on the M6 was maybe not a good idea with the level of Bank Holiday
traffic along Ullswater and going round and round the one-way
race track that makes up Ambleside. The man collecting money
at the alternative car-park at Coniston Junior School put me
right (went there as I thought that one would avoid the £1
at John Ruskin School). He told me the route to the registration
(although the route in descent of the Old Man would have been
more useful) and that I better get a move on 'as it always starts
early'. Luckily it wasn't a 'no safety-pin' event so the Committee
for Restoration of Safety Pins in Fell Races won't be seeking
a boycott next year. The first person I met in the start field
was an old rival, Rod Pilbeam, younger than me and long since
retired from running, but keen 'to see what fools still were'.
Well this fool was and enjoyed it. A few other fools from NFR
were there as well. It was, after all, number 3 and the first
medium race of our 2002 Club Championships.
The start was fast and furious but soon came to a stop as the
large field squeezed through a narrow gate out onto the road.
Then it was just up and up - not a clue where we went although
the organiser's map showed a route up Mouldry Bank and the Furness
Fells, until eventually the summit cairn of Wetherlam hove into
view. We had climbed 700m in about 2 miles and I think I was
flying. The ridge to Swirl How was a delight and I even sneaked
a quick look around at the views to convince myself that I wasn't
dreaming this fell race. The map in the bum bag wasn't necessary
on such a clear day - although Dexter told me that his first
run there had included an extra hill. Due south along the prominent
ridge of Swirl Band and Levers Hawse takes you straight to The
Old Man - a route of good running with suprisingly little rock
underfoot. A Kendal runner seemed to know all the little short
cuts below the ridge but following him on the way down was a
mistake. My prime rule is never to follow a Bingley runner even
if that's all you can see, but a Kendal should be safe on his
home ground.
At the summit (803m) a gap had developed and I only had the
one person to follow. Everyone else had disappeared down the
screes to the east staying near the path. Our route was mainly
on vegetation but with some awkward gully negotiation necessary
further down near the Scraw Beck. Selwyn Wright (Ambleside) told
me afterwards that there is a good route that way but as the
grass was wet he stuck to the path. The map would have been useless
anyway as the flanks of The Old Man have been drawn on by a host
of inky Ordnance Survey spiders and it would take far too long
to navigate even if I could work out exactly where I was. Earlier
I had caught up with an old friend, John Marsh (Teviotdale) and
had a short chat before passing him on one of the climbs. He
ended up only just behind me on the road above the village. It
was a warm day and I was very grateful for the stream crossing
and quick drink before the fast run in to the Coniston field
and more (bottled) water. This was a race in a million. I hadn't
realised how much I was missing the Lakeland Fells. Only 30 minutes
behind the winner and just in the top half of the field too.
I was back again last Sunday for the Buttermere Sailbeck Horseshoe
but fear I was even further adrift. Report to follow unless someone
else wants to write one.
| 1 |
Ian Holmes |
Bingley |
|
66:02 |
| 2 |
Simon Booth |
Borrowdale |
|
66:36 |
| 3 |
Mark Roberts |
Borrowdale |
M40 |
67:55 |
| 4 |
Robb Jebb |
Bingley |
|
68:05 |
| 5 |
John Taylor |
Bingley |
|
68:08 |
| 6 |
Andy Peace |
Bingley |
|
68:38 |
| 7 |
Ben Bardsley |
Borrowdale |
|
68:59 |
| 8 |
Colin Donnelly |
Eryri |
M40 |
69:11 |
| |
| 56 |
Jeff Winder |
Calder Valley |
M50 |
80:17 |
| 64 |
Andrea Priestley |
Ilkley |
L |
81:01 |
| |
| 67 |
David Armstrong |
NFR |
M40 |
82:18 |
| 102 |
Charlie Stead |
NFR |
|
84:59 |
| 161 |
Mike Jeffrey |
NFR |
M40 |
91:45 |
| 196 |
Andy Curtis |
NFR |
M40 |
96:04 |
| 305 |
Steven Walker |
NFR |
M40 |
108:45 |
| 358 |
Ken Turnbull |
NFR |
M50 |
117:18 |
| 390 |
Joe Potts |
NFR |
M50 |
122:58 |
| 402 |
Eddie Watson |
NFR |
M50 |
125:35 |
418 finishers
Andy Curtis
