Pennine
Fellrunners
Oh how time passes so quickly. Summer is upon us and I hope you are all
having a good year running wise. There has been some fantastic all round
performances up to now. Lots to come though. The Pennine championship is
shaping up very nicely and I cannot believe how quickly the races come round.
The fell racing calendar is a full one. Probably some of you like me get the
FRA calendar and think hmmm I will do that, this, that, and that as well. But
in reality trying to fit everything in never works. Injuries also play a part
and one of the ways I get round it is to not take it all too seriously.
I went along and watched a local road race a week or so back and I had
forgotten how serious everyone takes it.
So good luck for the rest of the season but don’t worry if you don’t quite
manage to do everything you set out to do at the start of the year.
Daz
IROC report
by Lucy
Iroc
April the 18th and 19th was my 1st adventure race, the Iroc in the Durham Dales. It
was excellent weather which made the event the best it could be, and it was an
awesome weekend!
The Iroc consisted of 6 races taking in fell running, orienteering and mountain biking.
As an orienteer and fell runner I didn't quite know how the mountain biking would go
but was up for giving it a shot!
The 1st race was a 14km fell race with 620m of climb. It incorporated as much
varied terrain as possible, starting off through some good mud then off up a track
before heading onto the tussocky fell. There were generally steady climbs (which
meant I suppose I should run them) followed by a ridge and then steep descending!!
PArt of the old quarry was also taken in before hitting a second loop which took in
more climb, then the mountain bike single track course through the forest.
The pace of this race was a little faster than I was planning considering what was still
to come so I held back a little and ran in as 8th woman (92/153 competitors).
After this there was a couple of hours until the 10.5km orienteering (that is of course
measured straight line, not as I run) which started in the hot afternoon sun! After
opening the map there was a moment’s confusion as I read 1/8 as 18 and couldn't
find 1 on the map, but then I was off swiftly after Dan Halliday - a target that
disappeared over the hill soon after the 2nd control...
This was technically an easy course however the climb in the open was draining in
the heat. I ran the 1st 3 loops smoothly however the 4th loop was another uphill
open section and I lost time through being a bit dehydrated here, finishing as 3rd
woman in 61st/134.
Another few hours past and then the evening’s activity began! This is where it got
very difficult, there was very little time for rest and refueling!
At 19:30 we set off on the night orienteering score course. I missed a couple I could
easily have got on the way to the 1st control I chose as I didn't look at the 1:5000
section of map very well but non the less ran through a technical forest section
smoothly with plenty of time to head out onto the fell for some top value points! It
was so nice once the suns heat had gone. Having done the forest section 1st I found
it possible to finish the event without needing a torch. I collected 400 points but was
back 5 mins early as I underestimated how well my legs were doing. Would have
been easy to pick up another 60points that I left in order to play it safe...
Never mind, I was 3rd woman again and 40/128.
Next was my first mountain biking race....ever...a night time mountain bike time
trial.
I'm not sure exactly how far this was, it started off along the muddy track from the
event centre (which I would come to hate by mid morning Sunday!) then there was
some road riding up the hill into the forest before meeting a track. There was then
an undulating off road section ending in 'the wall of death' (great fun btw) before the
course headed into the forest for a single track adventure!
I lost time in the forest as I was riding my 9yr old Giant Boulder, bought when I was
11 when we thought I might grow...as I haven't it's a little on the large side so steep
descents mean handle bar jumping if I'm not careful! (However I seemed to find
climbing on it ok which was a miracle considering the weight!)
I finished in my lowest position of the day, 9th woman and 100/130.
Just when the legs were wanting to sit down we set off on the final race of Saturday,
a night fell race! This had been shortened from 9km to 7.5km and I am so happy
that it was!! The start was the same as the morning's fell race however we cut back
through the quarry and down the hill, through the event centre before heading out
on the 2nd loop (similar to the morning). At the top of the final climb I bonked! Tried
running but felt too sick to manage it. I walked around to the forest before managing
a jog down to the finish having reached my limit! 8th woman and 63/105 showed I
was not the only one struggling by this point!
Over night Team inov8 stood in 3rd team position, 2nd Mixed team, and I was 1st
U23 Female, 5th woman overall.
I crawled into my tent at about 1am having managed a bit of snack food and water.
At 7am I woke up again, as I could feel my legs hurt without standing I didn't want
to know how they would feel when I did! As it happened it was possible to walk ok
and once I got on my bike again and cycled around the tents a bit the legs felt much
better...
I had typical me problems with eating enough in the morning but got as much in me
as I could!
The final race of the weekend was a 4hr mountain bike enduro race. This was
worrying for me as the team were doing so well and I had no clue what to expect of
myself on this one! The enduro consisted of 2 loops, the 1st had a road section
followed by a long but steady track climb, then a fast descent! The second was the
same as the MTB TT the night before.
My first lap was quite slow as I think I was still warming up, however I learnt within
500m of the start that it hurt more to push the bike up a hill than it did to ride it so I
steadily started gaining places. I also found my least favourite part of the courses
was the bit going to/from the event centre, sadly this had to be done before/after
each lap!
I decided one way to judge how well I was going was by checking whether I was
riding with people confident enough to clip into cleats or not. I was soon around a
group who were obviously much more confident about their ability to stay on a bike
than me and so assumed I couldn't be doing that badly!
Surprisingly I seemed to be overtaking a lot on the uphill! I didn't expect this as my
bike is not really one for being speedy uphill!
I completed 4 laps in 3hrs 40ish so set off on a 5th feeling very tired! Much as it hurt
I didn't loose much time on this lap compared to the other laps and looking at the
results now I'm very happy I did that last lap!
I really enjoyed the weekend and am excited about my next adventure race already!
Thinking about investing in a new bike now that I have a use for it! (including
mountain bike orienteering which I hope to do more of this year!)
Overall results were calculated with Morgan Donnelly winning the men's event and
Nicola MacLeod winning the female event.
Team Inov8 held onto the 2nd Mixed team position and I finished 5th woman overall,
1st FU23 and 3rd U23 altogether!
The 1st team overall was DPFR, will pennine be fielding a team to take them on for
the title next year??
Full results and photos etc can be found at http://www.iroc-race.com
Thanks
A nice report from Lucy
TIGERS TODGER FELL RACE
Okay so probably not the best fell race I have ever done but I decided last
minute to make the trip up the motorway for this one anyway. The course
proved a little bit non fell for most of our merry band and certainly there
must have been about two miles of road involved. The start was very quick
indeed and straight downhill as was the run in to the finish field. Possibly not
the best race in the world to have put in our championship but it wasn’t too
bad overall.
Results
http://www.totleyac.org.uk/
3 peaks race in shades
Helen really showing the lads how to descend at the three peaks race
No report for this one but results here
http://www.fellrunner.org.uk/results.htm
More pictures available here.
http://www.sleepmonsters.co.uk/photoshop_digital.php?basket_ID=1242736
914&event_id=7467&gallery_id=7319&photo_id=9
Bollington Festival Race
Bollington Festival 3 Peaks Fell Race 2009
11 May 2009 5.6 miles 1200 ft ascent (1300 ft
descent) (BS)
Pos Forename
1
Michael
2
Tim
3
Ian
4
5
Martin
Mark
6
John
7
John
8 James
9 Marcus
10 Dale
11 Andy
13 Joe
20 Robert
Actual
stopwatch
Age
Time:
Surname
Club/Team
Comments (counted
Category
h:m:s
down from
10 hrs)
Salt
Cambridge 0:40:13 1st overall 9
19
47
& Course
record
Taylor
V40
Macclesfield 0:40:14 1st V40 & 9
19
46
Harriers
2nd
overall
Symington
Macclesfield 0:41:33 3rd
9
18
27
Harriers
overall
Cliffe
Unattached 0:42:32
9
17 28
Messenger
V40
Macclesfield 0:42:40 2nd V40 9
17
20
Harriers
Hewitt
V40
Glossopdale 0:42:45 3rd V40 9
17
15
Harriers
Mooney
V40
Macclesfield 0:43:55
9
16
5
Harriers
Noakes
V40
Unattached 0:43:57
9
16 3
Hughes
Unattached 0:44:06
9
15 54
Reynolds
V40
Newburgh 0:44:39
9
15
21
Nomads
Butler
Nuttall
Taylor
V50
V50
Pennine
Pennine
Pennine
0:44:48 1st V50
0:44:59
0:46:33 3rd V50
9
9
9
15 12
15 1
13 27
A close finish here with Andy Butler just managing to pip Joe Nuttall for
first runner back for Pennine.
Cressbrook Crawl Race
http://www.fellrunner.org.uk/results/race09/09_cressbrook.html
This race was on my to do list but alas I couldn’t make it.
Nice to see Robin back and putting in a great performance against very stiff
opposition.
I think he was the only runner there which is definitely unusual for a local race
nowadays. Robin had a bad fall on the Downfall race but just shows you cannot keep
a good runner down.
Well done Robin
Rainow 5
http://www.fellrunner.org.uk/results/race09/09_rainow.html
Andy Butler coming home first at this one with Alan B
and Mike Noble just behind. Good runs by Alison and
Alexis as well.
Good effort guys
gusDentdale Fell Race
29th August 2009 - A Hell of a Rise Hill
As the external work at Shoolbred is almost finished, the landowner has
kindly agreed Reccis is now possible with the exception of one field which is
in the high level Environmental Stewardship Scheme.
To Recci', go up the lane to the house, passing the house on your right, go
round the back, through the gate and then left up the track to a wooden
gate. Go through this gate and head straight forward to a stile. Under no
circumstances go through the metal gate to the left. This is the
Schemefield.
Go over the stile and up the reedy field with the wall on your left to another
stile then head diagonally left to the lone tree. Go through the gate and up
the long allotment to the wall, turn right to the trig point.
From here you can do a visual Reccis of the whole of the Whernside Race
(26 September) The track to the TV mast is clearly visible continuing up
Whernside's summit, descend right across the head of Deepdale before
climbing again to Great Coum and returning to Dent. A great 12 miler.
The return for your Reccis is by the same route avoiding the Schemefield.
Please leave all gates as you find them.
A full Reccis may be possible late July and August once the meadow has been
cut. Watch out for further updates. In the meantime, please respect the
permission outlined above.
Safety Note. Billy the bull maybe in the long allotment or the field below. He
is quite placid, but you should beware, although any self respecting fit fell
runner should be able to outpace Billy
So please take note Pennnnnnnniners
Buttermere Sailbeck
http://www.fellrunner.org.uk/results/race09/09_buttermere_sailbeck.html
Looks like the four musketeers travelled up for this one
Muir Morton coming home first with George, Bill and Mr Jodrell also placing
very well.
May Queen Race
http://www.fellrunner.org.uk/results/race09/09_hayfield_may_queen.html
gazelles
These two are having some great races for us. Simon and Nick really are flying and produced
some excellent performances in the 3 days in May.
Thanks to Richard Seipp for the pictures
C’mon Dad
I’ve already finished my race
Not seen Richard for a while, hopefully the injury has gone away and your
back fit.
Crowden
Horseshoe
One of Des Gibbons specials and it really is a
great horseshoe route offering a bit of everything. Up to the
soldiers lump and back.
Quite a few of our runners entered with Geoff Briggs first back
for us.
http://www.fellrunner.org.uk/results/race09/09_crowden_horseshoe.html
I recced this course the day before as I could not do the race
and was surprised to find two lots of flags. Oh and there
seemed to be a new fence erected since I was last up that way.
Well done to all and thanks to Des & Co for the organization.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tL5R9HBfvc number 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc6urBD4UW8 number 2
Videos of the event courtesy of Richard Asquith
Shutlingsloe Race
Or commonly known as the Matterhorn of the peak.
Joe Nuttall was our sole runner here at this race which is usually won by
Simon Bailey in a crazily fast time.
Anyway well done to Joe who incidentally I passed on my bike on the
Tissington Trail the other day . He was getting in some secret training.
Well done Joe
An old photo here of him about to pass me on Kinder a year or two back.
Both at the time in strange vests.
BG Success
A few of us travelled up to the lakes for ex
penniner Toby Cushion’s Bob Graham attempt.
He flew round in 21hrs 05 on a perfect day.
Andy Butler, John Doyle, Geoff and Myself helping Toby with many others
involved as well.
Hopefully in a couple of weeks we can have more success when we pace a few
more contenders round.
KINDER TROG
Front runner Darren Dunn showing why
he is one of Pennine’s most consistent performers. He has a fantastic
record at fell races but I notice here he has his new go faster TALONS on. I
must get some but I doubt they will help me go any faster.
Well done to Darren . First runner back for us at this one.
Dave Bowen looking in fine fettle
My sources tell me that the race was a hot affair with runners
consuming lots of liquid en route.
Thanks to Dan A for the pictures.
Number 145 looking very good
indeed
cameraman !!!!!.
oh eck this one is growling at the
Right that’s it for a bit
Please if you can send me as many reports as you can as I can
only ramble on for so long. Hopefully in next months newsletter
there will be some BG success to report on.
I am trying to get a report on Ian and Geoff’s 50 at 50 epic as
well.
The championship is hotting up with Dave Soles on the top of
the pile. Please if you can if you have not already done so let it
be known if your available for any of the fell relays.
I will leave you with this picture which just sums up the lakes for
me
Thanks
Darren
Oh PS I forgot
http://www.wharfedalemarathonevents.com/resources/2009%20Results%20
Marathon%20p1.pdf
Check out the 2nd Lady in the Off Road Marathon
Helen Alison with a fine fine fine result
Helen is always wearing shades