Guisborough Woods Race
30th December 2003
The results of the Guisborough Woods race show Phillip Addyman
as counting for Claremont rather than NFR, otherwise we would
have been second male team. It would be great if we could get
more NFR runners at these Mandale / Middlesborough races (or
North Yorks Moors AC races? - Ed); I'm sure we could give them
a run for their money in respect of the team prize. The race
was unusual in that the first ten runners were all seniors! This
doesn't happen too often these days even in national championship
races.
Guisborough
Woods race results
Geoff Davis
Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay
5th October 2003
With acknowledgements to Borrowdale
Fellrunners for providing the images.
And remember, if you build on the solid platform of the first
three legs, run all the way up Red Screes, and slip a fiver
to the marshal at the end, you’re bound to finish in
the top ten. With these and many other improbable words
of encouragement from the NFR team, myself and Mike Jeffrey
set off on the fourth and last leg of the Ian Hodgson Mountain
Relay. The cloud was closing in, the rain threatening,
and the 1,100 ft climb of Red Screes towering ominously above
us. A top ten finish looked a tad unlikely.
The relay had started in beautiful weather; the autumnal chill
dissipating once the sun climbed over the peaks. Starting
and finishing at Brothers Water, this 25 mile race includes
8,500 ft of climbing and is run in pairs for each of the four
legs. After assembling for the start at the campsite,
those not running the first leg were able to enjoy the tea
and cakes on offer at the marquee.
The first leg is the toughest, the 7 mile route climbing over
Fairfield and St Sunday Crag. There were about 60 teams
entered, and David Armstrong our team captain and David Atkinson
joined the mass-start on the climb up Hart Crag. The
rest of us jumped into Pete Scott’s van and drove to
Patterdale to watch the runners arrive. At just past
the hour, tiny figures started to appear high on the crags
above. NFR arrived at 1 hr 24 mins in 33rd place.
Pete and John Humble took over for the second leg. John
led the way on the climb up to Angle Tarn, before giving way
to Pete who led the charge down to Hartsop. There John
Dallinson and Paul Hainsworth took over the baton (actually
the map), and followed the steady stream of runners up The
Knott. Aided by a good line off High Street, they arrived
at Kirkstone Pass about 1 hour 30 minutes later.
On the fourth leg Red Screes passed in a blur of rocky srambling,
before a swift descent to Scandale Pass and then climb over
Dove Crag. As we looked for the ‘dibber’ [cunning
electronic device worn on wrist] checkpoint at the top of Dovedale,
Mike spotted another red ring on the map at the top of Red
Screes.
Mike J do you think we were supposed to ‘dib’ on
Red Screes too?
John D looks like it.
Mike J (rough paraphrase) Oh dear me.
Spurred on by this disappointment, Mike hurtled off downhill
and I did my best to follow. We actually managed to overtake
a few teams, though the top ten finish will have to wait till
next year. As we had gained no advantage by omitting
to ‘#dib’ on Red Screes, the scorer told us off
but took no further action. In the end the team finished
34th in a time of 4 hours 45 minutes.
All in all, a great day out, and thanks are due to our captain
and organiser David Armstrong. Next year I’ll definitely run up
Red Screes.
John Duff
KIMM successes
Some useful performances in the Karrimor
International Mountain Marathon set in the Langholm hills
in calm conditions.
Steve Birkinshaw and Morgan Donnelly were winners in the Elite
Class. A wonderful performance.
Jane and Lewis Grundy finished the Elite class too, managing
even to win the Mixed prize, finishing 16th out of 30 pairs.
They thought it was a good event and a good course - not too
much navigation choice, but hard work all the same. Watching
Steve and Morgan run past on the Saturday was quite inspiring
to them! They were 20 mins down overnight on the leading mixed
pair, but navigated well and held it together on Day 2. They
knew they were the first mixed pair in on the Sunday, and had
a 20 minute wait to see if the leaders (mixed) had held onto
their lead. It turned out that they had pulled out with injury
and the third mixed pair was way down in 28th place. It was a
little bit of a lifetime ambition for them, and although it had
a element of good luck (their words) in it ( and no Angela Mudge!)
they were very pleased with their run and very happy all the
same!
Other NFR competitors with more modest ambitions included Kath
and John Dallinson, Jane Saul and the writer, Paul Jameson whose
training for the event began on Friday evening when he got the
call from Jane Saul - who needs enemies? Fortunately the event
was the Short Score. Having done the Long Score class previously
I imagined the Short Score to be easier. In terms of physical
effort that is possibly true but in terms of decision making
and navigation there is no margin for errors; we were 16 minutes
late on the first day as a consequence of a decision made within
the first two hours. I would certainly recommend it for the challenge;
a smaller proportion achieved gold standard than in the other
score classes. You get the pick of pitches on the camp site and
score courses offer lots of discussion opportunities of possible
route choices with your geeky orienteering friends long after
the event.
Paul Jameson
Saltwell Harriers Fell Race
1st July 2003
At this race NFR continued their dominance of North East fell
racing. In a race run in poor conditions (heavy showers, strong
winds and misty) NFR won both the men's and women's team prizes
and provided the overall winner, 4 of the first 10 home and the
first 3 ladies home. NFR members were also prominent at the aprés-race
prize giving and celebration in the Moorcock.
Paul Jameson
Skiddaw Fell Race
6th July 2003
As well as an NFR championship race this was also part of the
British and English Championship. It therefore had a large field
of over 350 runners. 13 NFR members ran (8 men and 5 women) with
two of our finest finishing in the top 30 of a field that looked
like a who's who of British fell running. NFR fielded teams in
the senior men's competition, the VET 40 men's, the senior women's
and were one of only two clubs fielding a women's Vet 40 team
- well done the women!
Although conditions were more or less ideal this was a very
tough race with a very steep descent over rough ground. I know
this was a new experience for one or two of our runners, although
everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. I hope they will be back
to the lakes to sample a few more of these classic races.
Skiddaw
Fell race results
Geoff Davis
Windy Gyle Fell Race
29th June 2003
This third running of the Windy Gyle Fell Race was a record
turnout with forty two runners taking part. (40 in 2000, 31 in
2002). This was despite a number of other events taking place
on the same day. All finished and the times were generally faster
than previous years.
As previous years there was a minimalist approach to course
marking. Considering the conditions that were encountered route
finding was always going to be a problem to those unfamiliar
with the course. As it turned out even those familiar with the
route went wrong. Garry Owens (NFR) and his party approached
Russell's Cairn on Windy Gyle summit from an unconventionally
North Easterly direction. It is tricky to find the summit when
the visibility is down to a few meters but all got there in the
end.
Adam Fletcher (Berwick Harriers), leading the field took a roundabout
route to Plea Knowe which he approached from the north but he
held onto the lead to finish first in 1.05.04.
Gary Owens was lying tenth at Plea Knowe but ran strongly down
The Street to finish second overall and first vet 40 in 1.08.21.
He was followed closely by Ben Abdelnoor (St Bede's) who has
recently returned to the area and looks set to do well in local
races.
Despite being one of those to go adrift on Windy Gyle Karen
Robertson (NFR) finished strongly in eleventh place (1.10.45)
to become first senior lady. Jane Walker, whose reconnaissance
of the route earlier in the week paid off, was first FV 40 in
1.21.41.
John Humble (1st MV50) put in a fast time of 1.10.40 to finish
tenth, two minutes faster than last year. Kath Dallinson was
first lady vet 50. NFR took first men's and ladies team prizes.
Thanks to Tony and Helen who did a great job on registration
and finish, to Ray Scott and Alan Walker for marshalling and
to the members of The North of Tyne Search and Rescue Team and
the National Park Wardens SRT for their assistance in both marshalling,
the provision of emergency cover and communications between check
points. In these current days of risk assessment you can believe
me that their presence was a great reassurance on the day, particularly
when you consider the weather conditions and the scope for something
to go wrong, like getting lost with no map, compass, waterproof
etc and then twisting an ankle?
Windy
Gyle fell race results
Keith Cooper
Alwinton Fell Races
17th May 2003
Marking the course in the mist and rain of Friday evening I
must admit I thought that it was going to be a bit on the poor
side for weather on Saturday. As it happened the 0600 weather
forecast predicted a break in the weather around mid day and
they got it spot on. As a result, apart from being wet under
foot, conditions were good (some would even say too warm and
humid) for this the seventeenth running of the race.
Gavin Bayne and Steve Beattie (both Morpeth vets) led up to
the open fell. There Gary Owens(NFR) V40, was able to use his
fell running experience to gain the lead after Bloodybush. This
was the position he held for the rest of the race despite experiencing
cramp on the run down the track from Cushat Law and after the
struggle up The Racks. On the run down to Alwinton Jeff Ross(NFR)
very nearly caught Garry and they finished with only 11 seconds
separating them in a time of 1:46. 03 and 1.46 14.
Karen Robertson (NFR) led the ladies all the way around the
course to finish tenth overall in a time of 1.57.36. She had,
she said, struggled that day but this may be due to her finishing
10 minutes 42 seconds faster than last year. Second lady, Louise
Wilkinson finished in 2.07.34, almost a minute faster than Karen’s
previous year's time.
The race attracted forty vets of the fifty eight entrants. Phil
Lancaster (NSP) V60 was exactly a minute behind Karen in eleventh
place. John Dallinson and John Humble, V50’s finished 15th
and 16th and Claire Bagness (Wooler) was first lady vet.
The short course race attracted only three entrants and the
junior course only two (only one of which was a volunteer). Local
Shepherd David Milburn, who works around Wholehope, completed
the course in a fast time of 44:04.
Richard Cooper and Grace Johnson (the volunteer) enjoyed the
junior race which they ran in waterproof jackets as an extra
challenge.
We were lucky to be able to have North of Tyne Search and Rescue
Team in attendance and marshalling despite a heavy commitment
and factors which led to the Alwinton round being held on a separate
day this year. Unfortunately there are a lot of fell races in
June and it is difficult to come up with a suitable common date.
This may mean yet another change of date next year.
The race was well supported and I would like to thank all those
who helped on the day. Also; Alan Walker, Sally Welsh and Susan
Jeffries for their invaluable assistance in marking the course
on Friday.
See you at Windy Gyle.
Alwinton
Fell Races results
Keith Cooper
Cronkley Fell Race
4th May 2003
Look at the results from the Cronkley Fell race held on the
4th May 2003. It is part of the Durham Fell Challenge series
run by Quakers Running Club. NFR men made up three of the first
seven runners home (including first V50 & 2nd V40) and NFR
women made up half of the Ladies field including 1st Lady senior
and 2nd Lady V40.
Cronkley
Fell race results
Paul Jameson |
