A little knowledge is dangerous, particularly if it is medical knowledge and is combined with limited manipulative skills put into practice in a remote valley behind Pike Lowe. I blame Dave Moseley and Pete Dyke for passing on the knowledge and also Andy Harmer for giving permission to have his finger straightened. On the steep descent into this remote valley Andy held himself back by grabbing the bracken or whatever and as we (Dave Hall, Phil Crowson, Andy and myself) started the climb to Pike Low Andy muttered something about his finger. So we stopped to admire his right-angled finger. "It's broken", said Andy. At this point it reminded me of my dislocated finger and what I imagined Pete Dyke's dislocated finger looked like. Dave Moseley had apparently clicked that back into place. If Andy's finger was broken and we straightened it, his eyes might water a little. On the other hand, if it was dislocated, well why not use the Dave Moseley method. Dave Hall watched, Phil Crowson held Andy's hand (to stop it moving you understand) and I tweaked the finger. Click, back it went into place (I hoped). Andy was greatly relieved that he could continue his decorating at home and did not have to think of any excuses to tell Jenny.
The race continued. It had started with the surprise arrival of a Lake District star, Dave Hall, who was working with Matt Simms in Sheffield. He and Tim Tett set the pace at the start although Dave followed Tim up the old route to the fence so that Phil, Mike Meysner, Andy and I passed Dave but not Tim. Phil pulled away from Andy and I but we caught him again on the summit of Lost Lad. The three of us watched Tim (from a distance) run round al1 the rocks at Cakes of Bread. Despite this, Tim stayed well ahead on the descent. Dave caught us up and muttered that the golden rule is always to follow the organiser of the race. The four of us ran together, sorted out the finger, and arrived at the summit of Pike Low which was marshalled by Dave Sant. The race to the finish was 'competitive'. Andy pulled away and Dave, Phil and I finished within seconds of each other with Mike not far behind.
Another good race, thanks to Andy and to Colin Henson who braved the midges to take the times.
Graham Berry

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