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Please tell me if you’re travelling to an event – don’t go by yourself – people will fill up a car if they know there’s a lift going – some of the away races are only viable with a full car. email Phone – 01943 464032.
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Monday – Trunce (9)
Wednesday – Ilkley Incline. One mile uphill, usually needing a fast start to get away from the midges..
Gouffre Berger. With the Peak being also a potholing area, this may be of interest, and a privilege to mention Alan Brentnall’s trip. Lots of photos. like this.
“Lots of hard work, but we eventually set up Camp 1 at -500m and rigged to the bottom of the cave. 18 expedition members got to the bottom plus about half a dozen who only intended travelling to Camp 1 (once rigged, it took around 20hrs for a bottoming trip, 8 hours for a camp 1 trip) plus we supported a photographic team who were using our rigging to get illustrations for a new guide book.”
Two Inns Race:- Tony Heron sends this:- “Managed to squeeze this in while holidaying in NW Scotland with Jon Ascroft (former Dark Peaker, now running for Carnethy) and family. The Two Inns Race is a new addition to the Scottish calendar, taking a fairly direct line from Creagan on the west coast (about 15 miles north of Oban), to the Clachaig Inn in Glencoe, involving 24 km (15 miles) of running and 1700m of ascent. The first half was reminiscent of a Dark Peak race over wild, boggy and pathless terrain among fantastic scenery, climbing progressively bigger hills and culminating in a steep ascent of Fraochaidh (879m); after a short, technical descent the route then offered superb ridge running to the impressive peak of Sgorr a’ Choise (663m), followed by a long, punishing descent through steep bracken all the way to the valley. At this point, the organizers had decided to bypass the busy A82 for the last mile of the race by contriving a route through virtually unrunnable marshland adjacent to the road – a worse finish to a long fell race cannot be imagined! No matter, the misery of the last mile was soon forgotten with beer and sandwiches in the Clachaig, a generous prize list and a few hundred quid raised for the Oban and Glen Coe Mountain Rescue Teams. The race was won by Manny Gorman of Westies in 3.04.44, with Jon 3rd in 3.14.53, Adam Perry (now running for Pennine) 5th in 3.18.32 and me 8th in 3.22.11. 37 runners completed the race. Results .”
Grasmere Guides – results
Eyam – results
Dentdale – results. – a travelling Stuart Bond first, 26.35mins.
BOFRA – Kilnsey – results . Rob Hope first, again, following on from his win at Grasmere Sports, and Burnsall…Matt was 10th, 9mins 46 secs. Video to come…,another of Wharfee’s classics we expect…
World Masters – Korbielow, Poland . Results – they need a lot of wading through…
Ultra Tour of Mont Blanc – another one to look out for results… but…”all races abandoned and those who started bussed back to Chamonix. Heavy rain, landslides and avalanches!!”
Fell Running in Somerset:- Yes, it does exist, wherever Somerset may be…Martyn Goodwin found it:- “I was in the area last week so I thought it rude not to represent DPFR at the Crook Peak Fell Race in Axebridge Somerset. A cracking little cat A, 3mile 800ft route held in the Mendip Hills. Torrential rain before and after the race, but dry in between. Cakes and beer at the pub afterwards.”
BOFRA - Hebden (Grassington) . We managed a team here, Matt, Mark Salkild and Carshare, ably spectated by Ashley, watching his wife running. A typically BOFRA race, run hard out of the field, over the stream, wobble up the hill, along the top and over two huge walls, then shift back down again…video
Unfortunately our Tug of War entrant had to heave on a decidedly uphill slope, but Matt seems to be trying hard….
BOFRA Halton Gill (Top end of Wharfedale) . Never mind the final episode of “Last of the Summer Wine”, our three old codgers were out today : Mark Salkild looking keen and lean , Carshare propping up the rear of the field, and Mike Wynne organising us into a team. (incidentally 3 of the Vets Team at Alva FRA Relays from 1999.)
Pendleton- results . Greg visiting again, 49th in 44.16.
Bradbourne – results
Dufton –
Friday – Great Longstone
Adidas Terrex Adventure Race This is in Keswick all weekend, and involves a lot of everything. Nick Wallis asks:- “Strong team needs an extra man for this adventure race in the Lakes this weekend, 26th – 30th August. Running, biking, paddling. 11 sections, no sleep!. contact Ben Bardsley by e-mail.”
Chunal – results Shelf Moor Recce – Wednesday. was very pleasant, send through if there’s anything you need to know. Those moors across from Shelf Moor trig point have a decently developed trod…Does anyone know if the top of James’ Thorn is actually a checkpoint? – or should we cut across direct from a stile beneath the top? Summer Series Finale . Crookstone Special …. Series final positions Ian Winterburn was first, just ahead of Keith. Taddington lanes.
Sedbergh – results. Jon Morgan helps out:- “set off chasing Phil Sanderson (Northumberland FR) who has beaten me a few times this year. Luckily neither his descending nor his navigation matched his ability to run up almost any slope. He would get a lead on every climb then I would go past on every descent. He blew it going too high between checkpoint 3 and 4 and I didn’t see him again. But at that point Jim Davies caught me, who had taken a completely different col to the south from checkpoint 3 and gained loads of time and we ran together till halfway up the Calf. I felt pretty bad but evidently he felt worse and dropped back. Eventually Ben Abdelnoor was 2nd but luckily not in sight, so avoiding a grim sprint, which is always bad news. Karen comfortably got the ladies win, despite making the exact mistake I made 2 years ago coming off Winder in a straight line to the finishing field, through really rough ground 500m to the left. She was
also our 3rd counter with Mike Robinson for the 2nd team prize. “ video.
Elidir Fawr – And Nick Kirk was in Wales:- “"Great weather in Snowdonia for the Elidir Fawr race. Only 3 Dark Peakers in attendance, Lloyd mentioned that I was the third team member, no pressure on me to perform and not let the team down! Lloyd won by a clear margin followed by Es in fifth. This was first my proper mountain race of the year following an injury earlier in the year and I was pleased with my performance. The route is straight up Elidir Fawr followed by a steady decent back into the valley, great route and one not to miss. My kids took part in the junior race, with William winning a prize for the U8 and Iona winning the 12yrs category. Full results at here. “
Osmotherley Show results from ages ago…when Joe won…
Hollinsclough Trophy:- Nick Swift “ still has the Hollinsclough fell race trophy from last year, 2009. I missed the race this year and have been unable to find out who won but would really like to pass the trophy onto the winner. I am moving abroad to live in Spain from September 1st so passing it on will have to be soon! Maybe someone can help? e-mail
Help Needed Please! - Richard Wheeler has been in touch, “I’m really interested in joining the Dark Peak club. The only problem is that I don’t have a car, so the only training runs I can feasibly get to are the ones leaving from the Sportsman. I work at Sheffield University. Do you know if there is anyone who lives/works nearby or generally travels past the university who would be willing to car share? My mobile number is 07920772164 or e-mail “
DT – please can anyone reply to Richard with any offers of help etc? Next Monday’s Crashout Finale?
Trunce (8) – results
Belper Rugby Rover – results
Eccles Pike. – results
Denis Stitt Memorial. – results
Lakeland Country Fair – results. “Ashley (1st V50) and I (Dave Sykes) were the Dark Peak travellers for this one. Ash finished 15th (1st MV50) and I finished 24ish. I had been severely poisoned by a stag night in Keswick the night before but even on form would have struggled to keep up with Ash. Carl Bell ( Howgill H’s) won, pipping record holder Ben Abdelnoor. With one more runner we may have featured in the team prizes!”
Arncliffe – scenically far up Wharfedale, Joe was 5th, 12.09mins.
Worsthorne Moor – (Burnley) - a guest appearance from Greg to make our team of two. A good race indeed for the locals, but wouldn’t justify a long journey. A long trail climb out from the village, then some good moorland running around the top, returning on roads and tracks, past a typically dried out reservoir somewhere. Results .
Tanky’s Trog – 5th December. If you’re in a rush to get an entry form, the organiser could send out a form, e-mail. Things will get sorted out gradually….
FRA Relays – Photos some photos of Leg 1 – long, pairs. Not that much use really, but enough to emphasize the worth of having a look round on the Saturday…
The Great Urban Fell Race
With the public sector bracing itself for the cuts one interesting way balancing the books came to light recently when a newly elected tory MP spilled the beans on her former employers, Kensington and Chelsea primary care trust, who had hired out a hospital ward for a porn film. Rather than taking credit for such ‘blue sky’ thinking the spokesman for the hospital managers was keen to distance them from it.
Sorry I don’t have a link to the film , so if you want a bit of medical titillation you will have to be satisfied with the X-ray pin up calendar.
Alport
Ricky’s Race – results
Bransdale:- (Tuesday) – is tucked away in the middle of the N Y Moors. “The event was won by a now fit and back to form Joe Blackett of DPFR…”
Steel Fell Results
Lakeland Classics - after Borrowdale. Simon Booth wins the series. We have John Hunt (4th) : Rhys (5th) : Mike (6th) : and completions by Craig Mattocks : Dave Sykes : Greg : Dicky : and Nicky (2nd Lady and 1st LV40).
Our 1st Team is done and dusted.
Summer Series (11) – from Fairholmes. Results. “All down to the last race in two weeks " Crookstone Special" at the earlier start time of 6.30pm.”
Sierre-Zinal Results – anyone running?
Borrowdale – results. “ It was claggy and very wet / slippery underfoot. Another race where map and compass (or local knowledge played a part). Apart from the obvious positions shown on the results the Men’s team were 3rd and Ladies Team were 1st.”
Long Tour of Bradwell. “was overcast and warm till noon then hot and sunny. Very well organised and lots of tapes meant that finding the checkpoints /route was easy. A lovely route and well suited to fell runners with a lack of flat running! Jon Morgan excelled himself by being 25 minutes in front of 2nd man finishing in 4.54. I (Nicky) was 1st Lady in 6.03 (narrowly beaten by Greg Rimmer). results
DT – that means Nicky doubled up this weekend….
Snowdon – World Championship Trial:- Rob Little was there, 9th position…
Osmotherley Show:- was a good course, but hardly worth a long travel. A typical country show on offer, then up through the private grounds of this big hall, and enough hard work to a trig point on the moors. A good finish, rather like that classic Baslow finish in Chatsworth Park. Qualifying for first local, Joe was first home.
This race had the ultimate answer to the traditional starting chaos. We lined up outside the electronic gates to this stately home, and the start was when the gates were opened. Perhaps the FRA needs to invest in some portable electronic gates?
Teggs Nose. – results
Provisional British Positions.
Senior Ladies :- Judith – 9th.
V40 Ladies:- Judith – 1st . Liz – 3rd.
U23 Ladies:- Zanthe – 3rd=
Senior Men:- Lloyd – 4th
V40 Men:- Lloyd – 1st : John Hunt – 7th.
V50 Men:- Roy – 13th= : Keith – 16=
V60 Men DT – 8th
Ladies Senior Team:- 3rd
Senior Men’s Team:- 3rd –
V40 Men’s Team – 2nd (we were 2nd at Dollar, Borrowdale had their 4 high counters..)
All now depends on the final compulsory event, Black Mountains. Hopefully someone will take steps to get their respective teams out in Wales. Regrettably no V50 Team category. I can’t help with any Route Notes – can anyone help out, please?
Bradwell – results
Parwich – results .Lots there in deepest White Peak….
Cracken Edge – results
Chevin Hill – results
Summer Series (10) – from Deepcar. results
Dollar. British Championship Medium. Results. A very good, hard grassy course, a big climb to start and a final steep drop, with lots of hard work throughout. Lloyd 3rd, and 1st V40, Judith – 1st LV40, Liz – 3rd V40.. But a Championship event – and no Seniors? Travel a problem? Or the doubling up with Ireland? Or is nobody really bothered about the British Championships? Or the three out of four format? Any Comments?
Senior Men was won decisively by Pudsey. Lloyd, John Hunt, Mike and Steve Bell took 2nd V40. Only two Ladies….with team points there for the taking, Judith and Liz being so well placed. Our unofficial MV50 Team got round, with Carshare cementing his un-place in the V50 Relay Team as Definite Reserve, hoping not to be called upon to run…
Thinking about the travelling strength at Dollar, full credit to Pudsey, who were out in full force. But DPFR were weak, no Bingley runners……….
So who’s going to the Black Mountains?
Totley Series – the results so far….
We have received this email, if anyone can help please email Suzy
“I run for North Derbyshire RC but Fliss Milner suggested contacting you as I might be running the Mccain Mountain Race in Llamberis on 8th Aug. I wondered if anyone from your club was going as I’d be interested in car sharing.
Many thanks
Suzy Sharman