Borrowdale Fell Race 2011 – As it happened

The players line up

• Ricky Lightfoot (world class mountain runner)
• Simon Booth (former British champion and 12 times winner of the Borrowdale Fell Race)
• Ben Bardsley (British Ski mountaineer and 2007 winner and runner up in 2009 and 2010)
• Ian Holmes (legend)
• Ben Abdelnoor (winner of the Wasdale Fell race four weeks ago)
• Notable missing Rob Jebb (fell at Whittle Pike last week and dislocated shoulder)

The weather

The forecast is heavy showers and torrential rain is pouring down on the competitors as they get ready for the off. I see Ben Bardsley looking absolutely drenched and ask him where he’s been. I expect him to say “I’ve just taken a dip in the river to make sure I stay cool” instead he answers “I’ve just been to the bog!”

The race – evidence by photograph and comment!

Evidence Item 1 - Paul Dobson‘s photos at the fell gate below Bessy Boot with record holder Billy Bland watching.

1	2	3	4
Pete Vale	Ben Bardsley	Carl Bell	Ricky Lightfoot

Then a gap and

5	6	7	8	9
Simon Booth	Ian Holmes	Gary Jones	Ben Abdelnoor	Jim Davies

Evidence Item 2 – Hearsay – Simon Booth catches the front group up on the scree run off Sca Fell Pike.

Evidence Item 3 – Photos from Wharfego on the corridor route

These photos show Simon leading Ricky, Carl Bell, Ben A and Jim Davies. Ian Holmes has dropped back to about 20^th place having suffered an injury. Ben Bardsley isn’t captured by Wharfego, perhaps he knows another way down the Sca Fell Great Gable corridor?

Evidence Item 4 – Sunday Sport‘s photos at Honister Slate Mine – (this follows a often confusing traverse from Green Gable to the mine – Simon knows the best way well I understand…..)

1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Simon	Ben A	Ricky	Carl	Jim	Ben B	Pete V

Ben Abdlenoor apparently winks at Billy as he crosses the road as if to say ‘I’ve got plenty in the bag Mr Bland’ or maybe Ben A’s beautiful girlfriend Britta was standing behind Billy?

Evidence Item 5 – Sunday Sport – Approaching the top of Dale Head, the last climb.

1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Ricky	Ben A	Carl	Jim	Si	Ben B	Pete V

Evidence Item 6 – Paul Dobson – Dale Head Slate mine, the final descent.

1	2	3	4	5	6	7?	8?	9?
Ben A	Ricky	Carl	Jim	Ben B	Si	Ted Mason	Martin Mikkelson Barron	Pete V
See top three and distance between them						Although I think the photos aren’t in order!

The finish

02:52:37 Ben Abdelnoor Ambleside Athletic Club M

02:52:56 Ricky Lightfoot Ellenborough Athletic Club M

02:53:43 Carl Bell Howgill Harriers M

02:58:28 Jim Davies Borrowdale Fell Runners M45

03:00:38 Ben Bardsley Borrowdale Fell Runners M40

03:02:17 Simon Booth Borrowdale Fell Runners M40

03:03:05 Pete Vale Mercia Fell Runners   M

03:06:26 Martin Mikkelsen-Barron Borrowdale Fell Runners M

03:12:43 Simon Harding Macclesfield Harriers M pictured here just behind Jim at the first fell gate! Chapeau!

03:13:45 Ted Mason Wharfedale Harriers M

And the weather stayed clear, bright and dry throughout the race.

With thanks to all photographers that publicised their photographs on the fellrunner forum – full credit to you! And apologies to Daz H, Watdog and Goldie for not giving you a mention – you’ll all make the top ten next year I’m sure!

@Daleside_