Wansfell - The Return of the Jebi

Rob Jebb at Wansfell

Rob Jebb made a popular move by returning to fell racing today at the Wansfell Race in Ambleside.

He returned after a five month break following a fall at the English Championship race at Whittle Pike, where he dislocated his shoulder.

But a classy turn out meant that Rob could have been in for a tough test. Also lining up with him were Carl Bell, Phil Davies and Mark Addison.

Ben said 'Go' and Star Wars broke out
Phil Davies and Carl Bell set the pace, but half way up the road to the fell, Rob and Mark Addison cruised past them. Rob and Mark then led all the way to the top of Wansfell Pike. Phil was next to the top, followed by Tour of Helvellyn winner, long distance specialist, Kim Collison. Carl dropped off the pace a bit, as it was Mike Fanning next to turn, followed by Carl.

Rob made light work of the slippery descent  and he finished a 'considerable distance' in front of Kim Collison, who must have taken some great lines to pass Mark Addison and Phil Davies down the fell.

Kim Collison

Don't underestimate the force of the weather
The weather was perfect for dissolving results sheets, so race organiser Ben Abdelnoor may struggle to put times to the runners' names.

Results - Top Ten (plus 1)

1. Rob Jebb - Bingley
2. Kim Collison - Eden Runners
3. Mark Addison - Helm Hill
4. Phil Davies - Borrowdale
5. Carl Bell - Howgill
6. Mike Fanning - Borrowdale
7. Alistair Dunn - Helm Hill
8. Sam Watson - Wharfedale
9. Darren Holloway - Pennine
10. Chris Edis - Keswick
11. Mike Robinson - Dark Peak


Ladies
1. Sarah McCormack - Moor Foot
2. Lindsey Brindle - Horwich
3. Hazel Robinson - Ambleside
4. Sharon Taylor - Bingley

Sarah finished in the top 20, but reached the top before 11th man Mike Robinson. Well done Sarah, work on your treacherous and slippy descents and you'll beat Mike next time!

It was great to see lots of popular runners, some hopefully confirming their return to running and racing, not only Phil Davies, but team mate Gavin Bland.

Phil Davies (right) with former British Champion Gavin Bland (left) 

And also Sharon Taylor who is seen here discussing techniques with Wendy Dodds.

Wendy Dodds (left) and Sharon Taylor (right)

The Pennine Strikes Back
And Darren Holloway proved again to FRB that he can get into the top ten, even in a classy field.

Darren Holloway (right) with Stanners from Rossendale

Winter Bob Graham Success

Andrew Graham and Mike Park by Stuart Holmes

Mike Park (MBE) Team Leader at Cockermouth Mountain Rescue and Team Member Andrew Graham touched the green door of the Keswick Moot Hall at 8pm on December 21, 2011 and set off for a run.
The pair navigated themselves around the full Bob Graham Round (72 miles, 42 mountain tops and 27,000ft) with the help of other team members and friends in support (as pacers, bag carriers, trail breakers through the snow). Stuart Holmes from Lakes Panorama was with us at the Moot Hall between 7:30 and 8pm on 22 December to see them return. He took these pictures. Stuart is not just a photographer, he was one of their Leg 1 helpers.

Andrew Graham by Stuart Holmes

Andrew Graham was cheered in by quite a large crowd at around 7:35. He had just 25 minutes to spare to complete the Bob Graham Round in the permitted 24 hours. The crowd congratulated him and friends brought him extra coats and a flask of something warm to drink. 

Andrew Graham by Stuart Holmes  

The crowd then waited with baited breath for Mike who was about 20 minutes behind when they came off Robinson, the last mountain. How would he cope with the '10k road challenge' that makes a lovely finish to the Bob Graham!? At 7:56, lights were seen at the start of the high street and a big cheer went up. Mike, leading twenty to thirty support runners, was storming over the cobbles focusing on that green door of the Moot Hall. 

Mike Park by Stuart Holmes

He touched the green door again at 7:57. 

Most around here know that Mike was awarded the MBE for services to Mountain Rescue in particular during the Cumbrian floods of 2009. Like all rescue teams, Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team are a charity and are financed totally by voluntary donations. You can find out more about them here. 

Mike in action clearing a tree from the Cocker Bridge - Cockermouth Mountain Rescue

Why not consider giving a donation! It is Christmas!!

The idiot's guide to the Bob Graham Round

Who is Bob Graham?
Back in 1932, Bob Graham was a hotel owner who liked walking on the fells around his hotel in the heart of the beautiful English Lake District. 

Bob Graham's hotel - Image by  http://www.thorneyhow.org.uk/?p=249 

Where did he walk?
Bob Graham's hotel is now the Derwent Water Youth Hostel in Borrowdale near Keswick. One summer's day Bob set out from his hotel and walked all day and all night to break a record. He covered 72 miles and 42 mountain tops in that twenty four hours as he was 42. This walk has become known as the Bob Graham Round. Many English Fellrunners now consider the Bob Graham Round to be the ultimate distance challenge that everyone needs to have a go at. And now even the new breed of Ultra Runner is starting to claim the Bob Graham Round as a challenge..
What is it?

• 42 mountain tops in twenty four hours.
• you must do a certain set of 42 mountain tops, the same ones as Bob Graham did in 1932
• it's roughly 72 miles and involves 27,000ft of ascent.

When?
It can be done at any time of the year but most like to have a go in the May/June months as these have the  longest daylight hours (more than 16 hours of daylight on the longest day) but having a go in the winter is a different matter. There are only 7 and a quarter hours of daylight on the shortest day (21 December) and conditions on the fells can be very difficult. The record for a summer 'Bob Graham' or 'BG' is 13 hours and 53 minutes (by the great Borrowdale runner Billy Bland in the 1980s). The record for a Winter Solstice BG (accepted as two weeks either side of 21 December) is 22 hours and 8 minutes.

Conditions in the Lake District on Saturday were quite wintery.

Why?
Because it's there!


The clockwise route
These timings are for a 23 hour completion setting off at 3am.

Leg 1 - Keswick to Threlkeld	Time
Depart Keswick	03:00hrs
Skiddaw	04:15hrs
Great Calva	04:55hrs
Belencathra	06:05hrs
Arrive Threlkeld	06:35hrs

Leg 2 Threlkeld to Dunmail Raise	Time
Depart Threlkeld	06:50hrs
Clough Head	07:34hrs
Great Dodd	08:02hrs
Watson Dodd	08:12hrs
Stybarrow Dodd	08:23hrs
Raise	08:37hrs
White Side	08:45hrs
Low Man	08:58hrs
Helvellyn	09:03hrs
Dollywaggon Pike	09:24hrs
Fairfield	10:00hrs
Seat Sandle	10:21hrs
Arrive Dunmail	10:41hrs

Leg 3 Dunmail to Wasdale	Time
Depart Dunmail Raise	10:56hrs
Steel Fell	11:28hrs
Calf Crag	11:50hrs
Sergeant Man	12:23hrs
High Raise	12:38hrs
Thurnacar Knott	12:52hrs
Harrison Stickle	13:00hrs
Pike O Stickle	13:14hrs
Rossett Pike	14:05hrs
Bowfell	14:38hrs
Esk Pike	14:59hrs
Great End	15:29hrs
Ill Crag	15:44hrs
Broad Crag	15:54hrs
Scafell Pike	16:06hrs
Scafell	16:31hrs
Arrive Wasdale	17:17hrs

Leg 4 Wasdale to Honister	Time
Depart Wasdale	17:31hrs
Yewbarrow	18:19hrs
Red Pike	19:05hrs
Steeple	19:25hrs
Pillar	19:57hrs
Kirk Fell	20:47hrs
Great Gable	21:30hrs
Green Gable	21:45hrs
Brandreth	22:05hrs
Grey Knotts	22:15hrs
Arrive Honister	22:35hrs

Leg 5 Honister to Keswick	Time
Depart Honister	22:55hrs
Dale Head	23:30hrs
Hindsgarth	23:50hrs
Robinson	00:20hrs
Finish at Keswick	02:00hrs

If you want to know more....visit the Bob Graham club's website

The Fell Running Briefs Christmas Pantomime

Jack looked out of the office window again, he'd arrived in the dark and would go home in the dark, yet outside the sun was rising on another beautiful winter's day, perfect for running on the fells. If only he could afford that expensive head torch, not being able to run in the daylight would be a thing of the past.

"Have you got those figures yet Jack?" bellowed the Ogre "I need them as I'm having a Christmas lunch with the Head of Division today and I don't want to look stupid if he asks me about them"
"I need to do a bit more work on the formulas but I should have them ready before noon"
"I want them on my desk by eleven"

Jack turned back to the window, 'one last look' he thought 'before I plunge into excel spreadsheets for the next two hours', only something caught his eye.....there was a figure dragging itself across the football field the other side of the bypass. The figure looked like he was a runner, but he was kind of translucent, with long heavy running trousers weighing him down and great big boots hobbling him. Jack could hear an awful wailing coming from the man who seemed to be beckoning him to come out to talk to him.

Jack grabbed his jacket and ran out of the office 'just for a minute' he thought, 'just to see what this chap wants'. Jack fled down the three flights of stairs, two steps at a time, brushing past a woman carrying a mug of tea, shouting 'Sorry!' already from the stairs below, through the double doors and out on to the road. He sprinted as fast as he could to the flyover and up and over and two thirds of the way down again with one hand on the barrier jumped clean over and dropped the 6 feet or so into the football field.

The figure moved towards him, but Jack was scared and cried out to him before he could get too close. "Who are you?.....What do you want?"

The figure replied "I am the ghost of Ernest Dalzell, winner of the the Burnsall Classic in 12:58 in 1910, I am come to tell you Jack, you will be visited by three spirits today who will lead you to a secret cave, in a secret gully, in a secret valley. If you do what they say and find the secret cave, in it you will discover a magic lamp. And if you make a wish holding this lamp, you will receive the special gift of perfect fell running ability. With that Jack, I'm sure I don't need to tell you, you could go on to be next year's British Champion, just like Morgan Donnelly" 

"A secret cave, in a secret gully, in a secret valley, where? How do I find it? Please tell me?"

A thunderous noise came from behind Jack and he span around to see what it was. It was just a lorry on the road, but when he looked back, the figure was gone, the football field was empty apart from a confused Jack and a man painting white lines in the mud.

Jack decided to head back to the office, thinking that perhaps he had just imagined what had just happened. He walked up the flyover ramp and as he reached the top, he could see a man jogging from the other side towards him. The man was smiling right at him, he was young, tall and strong, he had dark hair and was dressed in a royal blue top and black running tights.

"Hi Jack" the man shouted cheerily.  Jack recognised the man but wasn't sure who he was or what his name was "Er hi there, erm, erm"
"Rob, I'm Rob, Prince Charming of the Kingdom of Bingley, you've probably seen me in Runners Weekly, I advertise a refreshing drink I particularly like. I thought you might want to go for a run Jack and I could tell you what I know about the secret of the special gift of perfect fell running ability"
"Oh yes, wow for sure" and Jack turned round and jogged back along the flyover with Prince Rob Charming.

They ran over the football fields and out past the golf courses beyond and reached the edge of the moors.

As they ran, Prince Rob described to Jack what it was like winning the Skyrunning World Series, how important cycling is to him and how much he loves his young family and the fell running Princess of Bingley, Sharonella. Prince Rob is one the fell running's best up hill runners and as they climbed up on to the moors Prince Rob shared a few tips with Jack about how to get up hill quickly. Jack couldn't believe how lucky he was, but knew that he needed to ask Prince Rob about the magic lamp in the secret cave, in the secret gully, in the secret valley.

They ran for miles and miles, sharing some of Prince Rob's special drink and then they ran for a few miles more. Then Prince Rob slowed up and pointed in the direction of a town in the valley below. 

"Now Jack you must go on alone, you must go to the train station in the town down there"
"But Prince Rob can't you come with me I want to ask you about the secret valley."
"There's no time to tell you now Jack, I must go back." he replied.
"Why Prince Rob, is it that your spiritly powers will fade if you leave the domain of the Kingdom of Bingley?"
"Nah, it's 'cos I promised to meet Sharonella at The Eagle and Child and she'll kill me if I'm late, gotta go!" and with that Prince Rob ran off, calling behind him "Go to the train station Jack, the train station"

Photo by Steve Thomas

Jack headed down to the town thinking how amazing that was, running with Prince Rob, but annoyed with himself for not asking him about the secret valley earlier but before Jack knew it, he was at the train station.

Picture by urban75.org

"Ah yes, Jack isnt it?" said a loud confident voice behind him "I've been waiting for you, what kept you, oh and you haven't seen Watson anywhere have you?
"Watson?" said Jack, not a little puzzled.
"Yes, stout chap in tweeds, whiskers, never mind he'll turn up, I'm Holmes, Sherlock Ian Holmes of 221b Baker Street, Howarth, you may have heard of me. I'm a legend you know."
"Oh yes Mr Holmes of course I've heard of you, I've downloaded all your cds."
"What? er never mind, come on we've got a train to catch"

A steam train pulled in to the station and Jack and Sherlock Ian climbed aboard. They sat down in a compartment and Sherlock Ian started to point out a few interesting features out of the window.

picture by world wonder photos

"See that hill with the snow on it Jack, that's Penyghent, that the first of the Three Peaks, I won the Three Peaks Race  in 1997 you know, but it's a roadrunner's race. Now the Paps of Jura, that's a real race, I've won that six times you know and an excellent whisky too. Of course I solved the curious case of the missing night, at Jura."

Sherlock Ian pointed out all hills they passed, as the steam train surged along the track, over Ribblehead Viaduct and through the Blea Moor tunnel and on to Dentdale and Langstrathdale. Sherlock Ian had a story of a race or a mystery solved for every hill and village they passed, and the stories were fascinating. But Jack knew he needed to ask Sherlock Ian about the secret valley where he would be able to find the special gift of perfect fell running ability. He was just about to raise the topic when the door was flung open by a large man with red hair dressed in tweeds.

"Ah Sam, sit down, this is Jack, Jack this is Dr Sam Watson, an excellent young runner, a rough down hiller just like me, he'll win the Paps of Jura one day, mark my words."

"I will take the weight of my feet Holmes yes, but we need to make sure Jack gets off the train shortly." said Dr Watson (Sam).

"You're absolutely right Watson, Jack we bid you farewell and good luck with the rest of your journey, in a moment or two you will be leaving the train in perhaps an unconventional manner, are you ready, you’ll need to jump!”

The train started to slow and Jack just had enough time to look once more at Sherlock Ian and Dr Watson (Sam) and say goodbye before they bundled him out the carriage door.
Jack must have jumped six feet off the train, he was jumping straight down on to the fell side and he wasn't sure where he was, or where he had to go next, but a loud, sharp, ear-piercing whistle brought him to his senses.


He span round to see three police officers running towards him. Jack didnt realise it was none other than Jon Wright, Chris Newman and Christine Howard, the fastest fellrunners in the force! Jack smiled at the police officers wondering where they were going to take him now. But they didn’t smile back, they were frowning and waving their truncheons in a very threatening manner and Jack distinctly heard Jon shout “There he is, get him Christine” and Christine reply “I’m on him, call for the dogs Chris”


Jack didn’t hang around for another moment, but turned tail and ran, and ran like he’d never run before. He ran through peat hags and streams and instead of picking his way around the bogs as he normally would, he ran straight through them. He had no time to think how a couple of hours before he had been enjoying a run in the sun with Prince Rob, now the sky was blackening and he was running for his life.


It got colder and the ground got harder, he could see high ground in the distance and it was covered with snow. He hadn’t heard Jon, Chris and Christine running behind him for a while, but didn’t dare look behind.

A few miles later Jack ran under a rocky outcrop and dared to stop for a moment. He peered back from behind the cover of the crag to see Jon, Chris and Christine look confused and decide to give up the chase. He leant back on the crag and closed his eyes with utter relief.

“Open your eyes Jack” said a lovely voice from above him. Before he opened his eyes Jack thought to himself ‘what wondrous spirit will guide me now, wondrous she must be as her voice is like that of an angel’ the voice then said “Come up here Jack, I am Natalia the Snow Queen and I'd like to take you to my land” 

Jack opened his eyes slowly and realised it had begun to snow and as he climbed up on to the crag above he saw the Snow Queen standing in front of him. He thought she looked a bit like 2008 English Fellrunning Champion Natalie White, but knew that nothing was really quite what it seemed today.

Pic by Poutfashion

Natalia the Snow Queen and Jack put on some cross country skis and they slid over the snow covered land towards the mountains effortlessly. Queen Natalia told Jack about her beautiful land and all about the famous poets that had lived there.

“Now I’m going to set you a riddle Jack and if you can solve it I’ll take you right to the secret valley, but also the spell that was cast on me a thousand years ago will be broken and I will be free to leave the boundaries of my icy kingdom”

 Here’s the riddle Queen Natalia set Jack.

'She wore her yellow sun-bonnet,
She wore her greenest gown;
She turned to the south wind
And curtsied up and down.
She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbour:
"Winter is dead."

Who is she?' 

"Er is it Kate Middleton?"  "No!" "Kate Winslet?" "No!" "Is she Judi Dench?" "No Jack!".
Queen Natalia laughed but inside she was sad, as with each stupid answer she  realised  Jack was a complete idiot and she would be condemned to live in her icy kingdom for another thousand years.


Jack begged Queen Natalia to tell him where the secret cave was, but she said she was bound by the laws of the kingdom and he must solve the riddle before she could tell him. As they approached the edge of the mountains, Queen Natalia said she could go no further with him. Jack understood and said how sorry he was to say goodbye but that he understood the laws of the kingdom must be obeyed.

Poutfashion

“It’s not that Jack, you plank! My ITB band is playing up again, I can’t run uphill and you'd never get up there on skis, you're not Ben Bardsley you know! Look if you know the answer to the riddle, you can send me a message via twitter I’m @nataliathesnowqueen. Ciao Jack, good luck” And Queen Natalia gave Jack a wave goodbye. 

Jack climbed the mountain ahead of him alone, but his mind was on women in green dresses and yellow hats. 

At the top of the mountain he looked down into a multitude of valleys, he must have been able to see six valleys spanning out from him like the spokes on a wheel. 'Which one will it be' he thought.


Then a dove landed right next to him and flew down in the direction of the most westerly of the six valleys. Well I may not be able to solve the riddle Queen Natalia set me but I can follow this dove. Jack shouted "Take me to the secret cave oh dove from above!” and with this Jack bounded down the snowy slope of the mountain after the dove.


He passed two men running up the hill as he descended, there were talking to each other in a dialect he didn’t understand, but we have translated it for you “Gavin, will you please keep your sheep out of my land” (sheep farmer runner 1) "Look Johnny they are your fences and you need to maintain them” (sheep farmer runner 2).


Jack said ‘how do’ (as he thought that was the sort of phrase sheep farmers would say to each other) and carried on down the hill after the dove who was starting to get away from him. The dove led him into a side valley which seemed to appear from nowhere, then he flew up the fell side to what looked like avalanche debris, he wasn't sure, Jack climbed up and it turned into a gully and hauled himself up the snow covered rocks to follow the dove to a small area of flat land surrounded by crags. The dove stood and waited for Jack patiently as only a dove can do.

Picturia of Weybridge

The dove pointed with his beak (as only a dove can do) to a crack in the crags. Jack peered into this crack and inside could see the brightest light he had ever seen in his life, it was out of this world, golden and warm. The light lit up a cave and on the wall he could see the shadows of a man and a woman. He was so happy just looking at the scene inside this cave that he forgot all about the magic lamp and the special gift of perfect fell running ability.


But then it all suddenly began to fall into place, the three wise men, Prince Rob, Sherlock Ian and Dr Watson (Sam) that had led him there, the angel Natalia the Snow Queen and Johnny and Gavin the shepherds, he had stumbled upon the real nativity and was truly astounded. Jack felt weak and sick and almost like he was going to faint, he could feel his heart beating through his jacket, it all felt very similar to waiting for the starting pistol to go off at the beginning of a cross country race (only worse - if you can possible imagine anything worse). 

A typical cross country race (ugh) - wikipedia

Jack did not want to intrude on such an amazing moment of history to go hunting for the special gift of perfect fell running ability, he thought that perhaps that wouldn't be within the true spirit of Christmas. He looked back to the dove for advice, but the dove looked back blankly, as only a dove can do.


So Jack had to think for himself, he thought about all the fantastic things that had happened today, from meeting Prince Rob and Sherlock Ian and Dr Watson (Sam), to the police chase, Natalia the Snow Queen, to finding himself here with a dove for company. He can't turn back now! He must go into the cave.


So Jack squeezed himself through the gap in the rock and into the cave, and moved towards the source of the light. The light was so bright that soon he couldn't see anything at all. But he could just make out that the light appeared to be coming from a flat rock a little way in front of him. He edged forward, put out his hand and grabbed the light source, which felt like a jumble of wires and bands. He picked it up and moved it about and as a result, the cave was lit up, revealing it to be almost like a cathedral,  the shadows of the man and woman turned out to be fantastically shaped stalagmites coming from the floor for the cave. Jack felt relieved and set about looking for the magic lamp.


And then, in one of the dark recesses of the cave, he found a wooden box on a shelf. On the wooden box was a brass plaque with "The Magic Lamp" inscribed on it. Jack was very excited and opened the box, but as he shone his light into it he could see there was nothing in there. Nothing except a small folded up piece of paper. Jack took out the piece of paper and unfolded it. On it was written just four words......"Carl Bell Wos 'ere"

The note Jack found

"Here, here he is" said the receptionist."Jack what are you doing with those figures I'm still waiting for them, and it's nearly noon?" shouted the Ogre.

Jack suddenly found himself back in the office. Stumbling over the words to excuse himself to his boss, he couldn't believe he was back here. He sorted out the formulas with eyes that kept blurring with exhaustion, he could still feel the snow in his shoes, it can't have all been a daydream can it. He handed the figures to the ogre, mumbling a 'sorry they're late' and went to his locker to get some money for lunch. When he opened the locker door what should he find inside?......the jumble of wires and bands with the lamp attached......"My headtorch from the cave" Jack exclaimed.

Jack's locker

"This is my magic lamp! This is going to give me the best chance I'll ever have of learning the special gift of fell running ability, the hard way, the best way, through long days out on the fell!"


And so we have come to the end of our story, Jack lived happily ever after of course, running to work every day and running home again too and then going out training every evening with his magic 'head' lamp. Prince Rob, Sherlock Ian and Dr Sam went on to have excellent 2012 seasons, as did the police officers who were all picked to represent GB in the Police Olympics in Staylybridge. And Queen Natalia, she is still waiting for someone to solve the riddle, but actually she quite likes training in the snow and ice. And that just leaves the dove, well he can be spotted in a park near you.......

Our story is all done

You know it's all true

There's nothing else to say

But Merry Christmas to you!

A very Merry Christmas from all at Fell Running Briefs.

It's beginning to look a lot like winter

Snow on the Pentlands this morning by Davie Bell - East Kip, Scald Law and Carnethy from West Kip

It's beginning to look a lot like winter........and there's fell (and hill) races everywhere you go. Whilst our American 'ultra' running cousins were cracking out 50 miles in the one race ('The North Face Fifty') under the Californian sun on the Marin headlands, we've had over 40 miles (and 6820ft) of races in all shades of wintry weather.

The Angus Tait Hexham Hobble

The Hexham Hobble 2011 - all rights reserved - balaz_s

10.5miles and 1220ft, some of it in a blizzard!
1. Andy Blackett - 1:11:39
2. Duncan Archer - 1:12:23
3. Phil Sanderson - 1:12:50
4. Stanley Charles - 1:12:57
5. Richard Park - 1:13:11
6. Conrad Franks - 1:14:21

7. Rhys Findlay Robinson - 1:15:48 

8. Paul Turner  - 1:16:09 

9. Chris Winter - 1:17:43 

10.Gareth Huxley - 1:18:20

More pics by Balaz_s of the Hexham Hobble here.

Eskdale Eureka

5miles and 1000ft

Remember 16 year old Cameron Taylor who came 4th behind Mike Fanning, Charlie Stead and Matt Hayes at the previous race in the Eskdale series, well today he won the race outright, beating Nic Barber from the acclaimed Sheffield University Orienteering school of running and fell running veteran Jim Bulman winner of a Wasdale back in the 90's.

1. Cameron Taylor

2. Nicholas Barber

3. Jim Bulman

Bolton by Bowland

8miles and 800ft

Tom Cornthwaite at Bolton by Bowland today - by SportSunday

The snow hasn't quite reached the Forest of Bowland.....yet

1. Tom Cornthwaite - Northumberland Fellrunners - 48:30

2. Josh Tighe - Northumberland Fellrunners - 49:05

3. Grant Cunliffe - Rossendale - 50:03

4. Ted Mason - Wharfedale - 51:54

5. B Johnson - Southport - 52:44

6. David Kirkham - Wharfedale - 52:51

7. Lucas Payne - Wharfedale - 53:15

8. A Lawrence - My Vet - 53:52

9. Christian Holmes - Wharfedale - 54:20

10. P Stevenson - Pudsey and Bramley - 54:49

Ladies

1. Tara Kryzwicku

2. Deborah Gowans

Socks Away! - Hurricane Ted Mason showing the good folk of Bowland how to get over a fence - Andy Holden

• More pictures by SportSunday available here
• And pictures by Andy Holden here
• Full results here

Gravy Pud 5 (and cake competition)

5miles and 1000ft

1. Carl Hardman - Salford Harriers - 37:23

2. Richard Anderson - Holmfirth Harriers - 38:19

3. Colin Bishop - Saddleworth - 38:45

4. Darren Holloway - Pennine - 38:56

5. Howard Mead - Salford Harriers - 39:19

6. Martin Cain - GMFRS - 39:31

7. Tom Bush - Altrincham - 39:33

8. Ryan Ganose - Altrincham - 39:34

9. Chris Barnes - Blackburn Harriers - 39:38

10. Olivia Walwyn Bush - Altrincham - 40:20 **NEW RECORD**

Ladies
1. Olivia Walwyn Bush - 40:20
2. Emma Gregory - 48:59
3. Rachel Nolan - 49:07

• The Gravy Pud race this year saw 169 runners set off in a heavy downpour of rain.
• Carl Hardman of Salford Harriers was first and first lady Olivia Walwyn of Altrincham broke Christine Howard's record from 2006.
• Full results - results sheet disintegrated in the rain but I'm sure the gravy boys won't have made any serious errors!

The winning cake - you can see a runner running up a hill with the finish at the top of the cake! Winner - Paul's sister.

Cardington Cracker

9miles and 2600ft

• Mercia's Steve Cale was seen flying up Caradoc and may have have gone on to win
• But team mate Andy Davies may have put paid to that notion.....and indeed he did.

1. Andy Davies - 1.11.28

2. Steven Cale - 1.12.37

3. Paul Jones - 1.17.45

4. Ian Grindley - 1.18.19

5. Ed Gamble - 1.19.27

6. Martin Humphreys - 1.19.58

7. Jamie Loxam - 1.20.56

8. Jez Brown - 1.21.06

9. Martin Cliffe - 1.21.57

10. Daniel Young - 1.22.00

Results

Thanks to @nbaba88, @adyinaccy, Dominion, @fellrunner1975 and @davethefell for the information and results for today's races and @dingdongrun for the wintry pictures.

East Cairn Hill in the Pentlands by Davie Bell

Gravy Pud 5 - Running doesn't get tougher than this

The Fell Running Briefs team were lucky enough to be in London this week, and you'll never guess who we bumped into....No you'll never guess so here's a picture.

Yes we ran into none other than Monica and Greg from BBC Masterchef! We were having our evening jog along the embankment and there they were, jogging in front of us. We jogged behind them for a while (we had to slow the pace down a touch so not to overtake) and here's what we heard......

Greg - "Well Monica, have you got your tickets to Tintwistle yet?" 

Monica - "Yes - not that I'd show them to my boss" 

Greg - "It's alright M, it's all above board you know - Andi Jones is a very reputable person, he came an impressive tenth in the London marathon last year - which means he beat Gordon Ramsey" 

Monica "Oh - I see....well as long as these runners can cook at the highest level - I don't want to be seeing ten of the same pudding"

Cue intro music
"Only an elite group of running chefs hold two gold sticker stars for running and cooking. Andi Jones is one of them and he, along with Monica Galetti and Greg Wallace, is on the hunt for the next culinary superstar at the Gravy Pud 5 Fell Race and Cake Competition this Sunday."

Andi Jones running in London, his best marathon time is 2:15:20 

The Race

• 5 miles (1000ft)
• Start 11am - entries from 10am
• Sunday 4 December
• The Bulls Head, Old Road, Tintwistle, nr Glossop, Derbyshire
• £5 - money to charity - this year to the Seashell Trust - who work with able bodied and disabled children to help them participate in sports
• More info at www.nblg.co.uk

Course Records

• Men - Gareth Raven – 33:59 – 2008
• Ladies - Christine Howard – 41:08 – 2006

The Winners

• Last year it was won by Gareth Raven of Sale Harriers with Andi's wife Donna 6th overall (because of heavy snow the route was changed)
• Gareth Raven also won in 2009 (ahead of Dark Peak Light's John Rocke and Sheffield Orienteer Kris Jones)
• Gareth Raven also won in 2008 (ahead of Dark Peak Light's John Rocke and Robert Little)

2008 - John Rocke in Dark Peak brown and Gareth Raven in Sale green - pic by Bryan Mills

Cooking doesn't get tougher than this
Andi loves cakes and needs to run so he can support his cake eating hobby without growing out of his clothes. He runs so much that he has become rather good at it and has represented England and Great Britain loads of times. He won the International Snowdon Race four times in a row between 2006 and 2009 and again in 2011 by 6 seconds over Scotland's Murray Strain. Andi has run the London marathon in 2:15:20 (2009) and came tenth last year and second placed Brit (2010) in 2:16:38 (although I think I can eat a marathon a fair bit quicker than two hours).

FRB sources have revealed that Andi's first fell race was the trial for the World Mountain Running Trophy at Whinlatter near Keswick in 2003, Andi won the trial race and went on to finish 4th in Alaska at the World Mountain Running Race! You'll find a reference to this in Richard Asquith's cult fell running book 'Feet in the Clouds' (on page 235).

Andi and his northern gravy loving friends decided to introduce a baking element into the Gravy Pudding Race in 2005 and it's going from strength to strength.

"It doesn't matter how fast you can run, all welcome to run this race. Get a few of your club over and try your hand at the cake competition."

"Free entry if you bring a cake!!! Just bring your cake to the registration desk and you will get a free entry in return." - Although Andi may want to barter with you if you turn up with a fairy cake!

Another Bryan Mills picture - the cake entries

There's a rumour that Michel Roux Junior may be at the top of Lees Hill with an culinary invention test for the runners.

Tour of Pendle 19 November 2011

Bell runs rings around Pendle

Carl Bell - after descending Geronimo going up Ogden Clough

Top Ten
1. Carl Bell - 2:21:48
2. James Logue - 2:24:06
3. Andy Brown - 2:26:31
4. Darren Holloway - 2:27:12
5. Tom Brunt- 2:32:01
6. Matthew John - 2:32:11
7. Scott Hitchen - 2:35:31
8. Paul Thompson - 2:36:24
9. Mark Ollerenshaw - 2:36:46
10. Jason Stevens - 2:37:50

Ladies
1. Lindsey Brindle - 2:46:44
2. Anne Johnson - 3:01:16
3. Renee Saxton - 3:05:43

From the start Carl Bell and James Logue were conjoined, with Tom Brunt a few paces back. That was pretty much the story of the first half, but things changed at 'Geronimo' where Andy Brown brought Daz H (Darren Holloway) down an obviously better line, putting them in touch with the leading pair of Carl and James, relegating Tom a close fifth.

Paul Thompson, Matt John and Daz H on the first climb.

FRB's roving reporter next caught the action on the first of the three climbs of the second half, where Carl and James had extended their lead, with both looking very strong.

On the second half's second climb, Pete Hartley reported that Carl had taken a decisive lead. Speaking to Carl after the race, he told us he was too unsure of the route to make a break allowing James to get back to him.

In fact, he wasn't sufficiently confident to make a dash for the line until he could see "Geronimo" ahead of him, guiding him to the final checkpoint.

Carl told FRB that at this point he put his foot down as he did not want a sprint finish with James down the final road.

That Carl pulled out over two minutes over James in the last 2 and half miles, shows that he really was in charge of the race.

Carl Bell - The Interview

FRB - "So Carl, how was it today - another win!"

Carl - "Yeah - I woke up this morning and thought it's a nice day, I think I'll go and do a race"

Holmfirth's Tom Brunt interjected at this point "Don't you Cumbrians know the rule, you're not allowed to run outside the boundary of Cumbria!"

Clayton's Andy Brown then said - "what are you doing over here then Tom, you're from Yorkshire!"

FRB - "Oy you lot - clear off I'm talking to Carl here. Er sorry Carl where were we....oh yes - how did you find the route today, you can't be familiar with Pendle Hill?"

Carl - "It looked a bit confusing on the map, I thought we would be retracing our steps all the time, but it was interesting all the way. There were a few odd Deja Vu moments where you'd see the same spectators who seemed to be miles away from where you last saw them......but apparently they weren't!"

FRB - "Would you come again to Pendle?"

Carl - "Definitely, it was an amazing course. I found it very runnable and I loved it."

First lady today, Lindsey Brindle from Horwich who won by over 15 minutes and  was 32nd overall.

More photos are here (Sport Sunday)