Two factors combined to create this race: the change of AGM venue away from the cafe and never being able to quite work out how we should award the silver trophy donated by Phil who owns the cafe. Roy Small set the course, a score event for fell runners; controls in (fairly) obvious and familiar places but lots of route choice. The aim; to collect as many points as possible in 75 minutes. Starts were at least one minute apart and runners were encouraged to use environmentally friendly transport to the event. Several came by train and several by bike. I was almost embarrassed to rum up in a car.

Of the 11 controls, 4 clustered invitingly on Burbage Moor with another two on the way; 200 points potentially accessible to everyone in the time available. But the real prize lay far to the south, a massive 80 points available for a visit to Froggat Stone Circle. One control disappeared from Mother Cap quarry, which lost several people time looking for it. Other time losses were down to individual miscalculations or navigation.


Had Tim Tett decided to complete the course he could have collected all the controls in the time available. However, he was saving himself for a race later in the weekend, which left the door open for others. I opted for the same tactic as Tim and, were it not for a meandering and hesitant direct descent from Froggat stone circle (well, you try it with a photocopied map and limited local knowledge), I might have collected a full set. As it was only 10 of the 350 points were missed and I finished with seconds to spare [thanks to Roy\'s generous watch!] to claim the trophy.


The successful tactic on the night seemed to be to get onto Burbage Moor first. With almost all the climbing done by Winyards Nick (3rd control) the remainder could be collected in surprisingly little time. Others decided on alternative approaches including getting all the controls at whatever the cost in time penalties or going for a run and punching the odd control if they happened along.
Afterwards there was much eating and drinking on a warm summer like evening. A successful first try at a Friday night race+social with special thanks to Roy for an interesting challenge.
Mike Pedley

29 starters