Great Whernside Fell Race 29 October 2011 (incorporating the Yorkshire Fell Championships)

Chocolates, Trophies and Jonny Brownlee

The race involved a well fought out climb, the lead changing hands several times with Leeds City's Chris Birchall turning first at the summit. Ian Holmes took the visiting Cumbrians Carl Bell and Mike Fanning on the 'directissimo' across the tussocks, the others (mainly from Pudsey and Bramley and Calder Valley) took the same path that they had used on the ascent, now full of ascending runners. As they came towards the finish, Ian Holmes and Carl Bell were running down the final steep fields together, until Ian stumbled with about 20 yards to the line, otherwise Pete Jebb said "I'm sure it would have been a dead heat"

Carl Bell from Howgill Harriers

Results

1 Carl Bell (Howgill Harriers) 31:06

2 Ian Holmes (Bingley) 31:13

3 Chris Birchall (Leeds) 31:39

4 Mike Fanning (Borrowdale) 31:42

5 Gav Mullholland (CVFR) 31:46

6 Karl Gray (CVFR) 31:47

7 Fred Slemeck (Pudsey and Bramley) 32:12

8 Alex Bellew (Leeds Uni) 32:16

9 Matt Lockyer (P&B) 32:23

10 James Logue (CVFR) 32:28

Ladies

1 Sarah Ridgway (Eryri) 36:33

2 Jo Waites (CVFR) 39:10

3 Sharon Taylor (Bingley) 39:40

Sarah's time was only 23 seconds outside the record - while the men ran 1 and a half minutes outside the record - Sarah told us she was travelling south after flying into Glasgow airport last night and thought she would break up her journey back to Snowdonia, "I really enjoyed the running here at the fell relays two weeks ago and thought it would be really nice to come back." 

We're sure, had Sarah known how close to the record she was, she may have been able to go a bit faster.

Full Results

Yorkshire Fell Championships - (Sponsored by Up & Running and 'The Wharfedale Clinic')
The Return of (Ian) Holmes

The Yorkshire Fell Championships trophy table

Gold - Ian Holmes

Silver - Chris Birchall

Bronze - Gav Mullholland

Mike Fanning (4th today) tries to say "thank you very much" to Ian Holmes (Yorkshire Championship Trophy holder)

Team Gold - Calder Valley Fell Runners

Ladies

Gold - Jo Waites

Silver - Sharon Taylor

Bronze - Gill Myers

Team Gold - Wharfedale Harriers

Under 23s

It was a real battle between Leeds Uni mates Fred Slemeck (on the left) and Alex Bellew (on the right). Just 4 seconds separated them at the line, Fred having the advantage. Alex said "it's because he's a lanky bugger so he was able to leap over the bogs better than me." When Fell Running Briefs approached these two promising fellrunners, they were still fighting for the trophy. 3rd U23 was Todmorden's Sean Carey.

And Jonny Brownlee you ask? What about his appearance? We know you are dying to know........Dave Woodhead kindly handed out at the prizegiving, to anyone who wanted one, a signed postcard of Jonny (in his tri suit) with his bike!

Great Whernside Summit - Bog Crisis Averted

Bingley leaders, headed up by Prime Minster Jebb, met yesterday at the Brussels Tavern to seek out a resolution to the Great Whernside Bog Crisis.

Prime Minster Jebb laid out the priorities "We need to solve this crisis in time for the Great Whernside Fell Race this Saturday, incorporating the Yorkshire Fell Championships"

Bingley's Ian Holmes, last year's winner - pic Andy Holden

President Woodhead of Keighley (France) said "We can't let the banks [of the River Wharfe] dry out and become runnable, someone from outside the York Zone may capitalise". President Woodhead called for a bail out package, asking all FRA member states to visit the banks of the Wharfe, up to the summit of Whernside with 440 billion plastic cups of water.

Fortunately today (Thursday) it rained all day, averting the Bog Crisis for now.

Wharfedale's Mark McGoldrick at last year's race (pre 2011 Bog  Crisis) - pic Andy Holden

Holmfirth's Jose Manuel Barroso said "This is a marathon not a sprint" at which Prime Minister Jebb interjected "actually Jose, the race is only 4 miles"

Devine intervention ?
Devine intervention may have averted the Bog Crisis but will it have the last word on Saturday? Gary Devine's over from his Pyrenees-Haven and a 3rd place at last Sunday's Withins Skyline (behind Ian Holmes' 2nd and Helm Hill's Tom Addison's 1st) showed he's open for business. He'll definitely be useful for bolstering the Pudsey and Bramley team campaign - P&B won the team prize on Sunday at Withins.

Gary Devine followed by Matt Lockyer at Withins  Skyline. Matt finished just 8 seconds behind Gary.
Pic by Paul Wood.

The Great Whernside race starts from Kettlewell in Wharfedale at 11:30 on Saturday 29 October 2011. It's 4miles and 1555ft. Simon Bailey has the record with 28:38 (when it was an English Championship race in 2007) and Candice Leah has the ladies record with 36:10 (also 2007). It's just £4.50 on the day, why not come along (don't forget full kit may be needed) - if you can't make it FRB will be bringing you the news on the day via twitter. Here's how to sign up and follow us!

The sun shone but Darkness reigned in Kettlewell

Dark Peak Fell Runners were the winners of the 23rd UKA British Fell and Hill Relay championships. Not the Dark Peak runners we are normally used to seeing on the fells, week in, week out, but a younger, faster breed of Dark Peaker; a kind of 'Dark Peak Light'.

Rob Little Dark Peak Light's Leg 1 - (KH pictures)

Dark Peak Light

Name, Year of Birth, Previous Fell Convictions

• Leg 1 - Rob Little (1984) - 16th at the Stretton Hills English Championship Race in 2009. 
• Leg 2 - Rob Baker (1978) and Oli Johnson (1978) - Rob was 10th at the Stretton Hills race in 2009 and 7th at this year's Snowdon Race, Oli was 2nd at Langdale Horseshoe last weekend.
• Leg 3 - John Rocke (1988) and Rhys Findlay-Robinson (1986) - John was 2nd at Andi Jones' Gravy Pud race in 2009, Rhys has been a regular feature in Lakeland Classics and Fell Championships now living in Cumbria.
• Leg 4 - Lloyd Taggart, this year's English Open and V40 Champion and 2nd in the British Open and V40 champion.

Didn't they do well?

Dark Peak Light won fastest leg times on all but one of the four legs of the relay.

Leg 3 John Rocke and Rhys Findlay-Robinson (picture by Chris Needham)

• Leg 1 - Rob Little was 7 seconds ahead of Mercia's Tim Davies (last year's British Champion) in 33:45.
• Leg 2 - Rob Baker and Oli Johnson were 11 seconds ahead of Shettleston's Tom Owens and Jethro Lennox (International Mountain Runners) in 1:08:31
• Leg 3 - John Rocke and Rhys Findlay-Robinson were 1 minute and 10 seconds faster than Borrowdale's Jim Davies and Chris Steele (winners of the Ian Hodgson relay earlier this month) in 1:02:29
• Leg 4 - Lloyd Taggart was joint 3rd fastest with Mercia's Simon Bailey with 39:16 behind Murray Strain (Hunter's Bog Trotters) 37:43 and Morgan Donnelly (Borrowdale) 38:05.

What's their secret?

Is it that Dark Peak Light train harder, are fitter or were simply better runners than the rest of the field on Saturday?

A quiet pub in Kettlewell

FRB spoke to the winning team in a quiet pub in Kettlewell on Saturday night and asked them "What's your secret?" 

• DPL "Well it's all in the act of the 'dib'."
• FRB "Really - the dib?"
• DPL " Yes, that's what I said. Look how many times you had to 'dib' in this race, you had to dib once in Leg 1, three times in Leg 2, God knows how many times in Leg 3 and once in Leg 4. You even had to dib to get into the starting pen. We're all orienteers, and we've built dibbing practise into our everyday training regime.
• FRB "So you can dib quicker than the fell runners because of your orienteering backgrounds?"
• DPL " Yes - really, are you stupid or something? We can dib on average five seconds quicker than a fell runner; look at the stats; Leg 1, 7 seconds ahead (one dib) Leg 2, 11 seconds ahead (three dibs) Leg 3 well there were so many dibs we lost count but you can see what an advantage we got over the others so there must have been loads of dibs."
• FRB "But Lloyd isn't an orienteer."
• DPL "Well none of the others wanted Lloydy on their team, so we agreed to have him on ours and tried to teach him how to dib, only he didn't get the hang of it, so we put him on the last leg where we thought he could do the least damage - fortunately he didnt mess it up too much for us."
• FRB "Well thanks for that boys, that's really interesting - do you mind if I publish it?"
• DPL "No you can't."

A typical dibber yesterday

Could FRB just add that no Dark Peak Runners were harmed or even consulted in the making of this article and it has all been completely made up by Fell Running Briefs.

The 23rd UKA British Fell and Hill Relay Championships

It's Now or Never!

Jack Ross of Staffordshire Moorlands at the Great Whernside Fell Race last October - by Andy Holden

This weekend, fell and hill runners from all over the country will invade Kettlewell in Wharfedale to compete in the best one day fell competition of the year, the UKA British Fell and Hill Relay Championships.

The Course
Kettlewell's twin peaks of  Great Whernside (704m or 2,310ft) and Buckden Pike (702m or 2,303ft) feature in Leg 4 and Leg 2 of the race, Leg 1 will go on to the Western Bank (or Rive Gauche as they say in Grassington) and, well no-one knows where Leg 3 is going.
Leg 1 - Solo, 4.5m, 1100’ ascent, flagged all the way (Moor End)
Leg 2 - Pairs, 9m, 2500’ ascent, partly flagged (Starbotton and Buckden Pike)
Leg 3 - Pairs, navigation, 7m (pairs will be given a map on the startline)
Leg 4 - Solo, 5.5m, 1600’ ascent, partly flagged ( Great Whernside)
You can find out more about the routes on the Bingley (this year's organiser) website.

The Weather

The teams will be hoping for good clear weather not 'the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness' we've been 'enjoying' this week. Why? because you can't afford to lose your way in this race. Remember Ennerdale 2009?....when the first, second and third team's Leg 4 runners (Bingley's Ali Brownlee, Mercia's Tim Davies and Pudsey and Bramley's Rob Hope) couldn't find the first checkpoint, leading all three to be disqualified and the back door open for fourth placed Borrowdale to steal, not borrow, first place.

The Race
Leg 1 is too short to allow a large lead to build up but according to the route marker "it's a reet good climb and fast descent", Leg 2 with its long runnable climbs will favour those who have more leg speed than technical downhill skills, Leg 3 could be the crucial leg, with those teams with orienteers in their ranks looking to maximise profits to set up their Leg 4s who'll run up and down Whernside. Bingley's route marker tells us "at the summit of Whernside you run along the top for about 200 meters then descend, this is to prevent the leaders crashing into climbing runners. It's a brilliant bit of running and brings you back out at the sheep pens at hag dyke, then there's a fast descent into the finish with a little sting before you're done." It should be really exciting as the runners themselves will get a glimpse of how close the competition is.

The Teams
190 teams of six runners, from all parts of the country but mainly from the North of England are entered. Entry list here.

The A-Z of the FRA Relay Teams

A is for Ambleside. They wear dark blue vests with a green stripe and have some great runners including Ben Abdelnoor winner of this year's Borrowdale Fell Race who finished 4th in this year's English Championship. (Picture by Andy Holden from Sedbergh)

B is for Bingley who wear Blue and White stripes.

Here's Ian Holmes (pic by Andy Holden) in his Blue and White vest on Great Whernside - Ian was part of the winning team the last time the UKA Fell Relays were held in Kettlewell in 1991 - twenty years ago.  Ian won the Great Whernside race last year, I wonder if we will see him on Leg 4 on Saturday?

B is also for Borrowdale who wear purple vests. Borrowdale FR have had a fine harvest this year, winning four gold medals in the Open and Vets,  English and British Championships.

Pictured is Morgan Donnelly, this year's British Champion, Morgz is rumoured to be Borrowdale's anchorman this weekend. Borrowdale won the Ian Hodgson relay two weeks ago on rough lake district terrain in heavy mists, but can 'The Valley Boys' finish a perfect season off, on terrain that perhaps doesn't lend itself to their strengths?

C  is for Calder Valley

Steve Smithies on Gt Whernside in Calder Valley's Red and White stripes (by Andy Holden). Stagger told the FRA Forum that "James Logue is going well. They may just creep in to the top three."

D is for Dark Peak - Here's Lloyd Taggart in arguably Fell Running's worst vest colour combination of brown, purple and yellow, leading Mercia's Tim Davies at Sedbergh this year (by Andy Holden). Lloyd is this year's double individual champion, Open and Vet 40.

L is for Leeds City - FRB can tell you they wear blue and yellow but we can't really tell you much more than that - but we're sure they are all nice guys and if any of them win anything on Saturday, we'll be the first to go up and ask who they are and how it was for them. Here's Simon Deakin (apparently) who won the Malham race this summer. (Andy Holden again)

M is for Mercia - Mercia wear yellow, see the picture of Tim Davies with Lloyd Taggart above. Eryri's Iain R told the Fell Runner's Forum

"My Money's on Mercia - Steve Cale, Andy and Tim Davies, the Nav guy, then Pete Vale and Simon Bailey? A lot of strength though with Roland, Werret et al who also run well......"

P is for Pudsey and Bramley who wear Maroon and Yellow. A really strong club who haven't really had a very good 2011, (unless your name is Darren and then its been great!) Here's Darren Kay, John Heneghan and Rob Hope at Sedbergh. (Pic Andy Holden)

S is for Shettleston, last year's winners but will their superstars Jethro Lennox and Tom Owens be there? Jethro on Thursday tweeted from Frankfurt where he was attending a book fair. Wharfedale International Airport (often known as Leeds Bradford Airport) is just a few miles down the valley, so anything's possible. However Jethro's luggage went missing last time he flew to a race.... but I'm sure some of the Wharfedale boys will accompany Jethro in 'bare bottom' running. Don't worry ladies - Fell Running Briefs will be there to cover the essentials. This picture of Jethro in his blue and yellow vest is from the INOV8 website.

W is for Wharfedale

Here is Mark McGoldrick from Wharfedale in his white, red and blue vest. These are the local boys and stand a chance of a good placing following their plucky second at the Ian Hodgson Relay two weeks ago.

It's going to be a "relay" exciting weekend in Wharfedale. Apparently the ground is drying out, there are marquees with cakes and other local produce on sale in the start field, the forecast is good and Andy Holden should be there with his camera. What more could you want? See you there?

If you can't make it, follow @Fellrunninbrief on twitter, we'll be bringing you news live from Kettlewell. The tweets will also appear in the top right hand corner of this page.

Langdale Horseshoe Stakes - Live report

Langdale on 8 October 2011 by FenlandFellrunner

11am

And they're off! It's a damp day here outside the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel but these hardy beasts are used to it and some say they actually quite like it. As this is a 104 furlong race (14miles and 4000ft) they're leaving the start field at quite a steady canter, I think when they hit the first climb (Thunacar Knott) we'll be able to sort out who's looking good today. I'd better go in now and finish that pint of Black Velvet.

One hour later

We join the race now at Bowfell, a small group have broken away from the rest of the field, it looks like The Noor, Orient Express (trained by Oli Johnson) and Avon's Calling (trainer Carl Bell) are showing their worth. But I can see Purple Power, looking resplendent in his purple silks (ridden well by Mark Roberts), is leading a chasing pack including Captain Jack (John Helme), Black Mountain (Mark Palmer) and Robinson's Crusoe (Rhys Findlay-Robinson).

Pennine's Dave Ward (Running Back Wards) by FenlandFellrunner 

At Crinkle Crags it looks like The Noor, Orient Express and Avon's Calling are running wide, perhaps distracted by that tasty patch of green grass just next to the Bad Step, Purple Power obeying a firm hand on the reigns, moves into the lead. 

And Purple Power is doing magnificently as he climbs up Pike O Blisco, can he hold on to this lead? The trio that went on the detour, now back by the rails, are forging up Pike O Blisco with what can only be described as a 'new vengeance'. At the top it's still Purple Power's, but it's a rough and tricky descent and I think Purple Power will not like this.

And here they come up to the finishing post. It's Avon's Calling winning by a nose from Orient Express followed by The Noor. The wise old stallion Purple Power comes through next leading Captain Jack and Black Mountain.

Sadly Snow Queen retired leaving it open for Slide by Hazel Covers (trainer Hazel Robinson) winner of the Three Shires Hurdle and the Wasdale Handicap making it three classics this year for this well regarded chestnut.

Results

1 - Carl Bell - Howgill Harriers - 2.09.13

2 - Oli Johnson - Dark Peak - 2.10.45

3 - Ben Abdelnoor – Ambleside -2.11.34

4 - Mark Roberts – Borrowdale -2.12.38

5 - John Helme – Ambleside - 2.14.45

6 - Mark Palmer – Mynydd Du - 2.15.44

7 - Hugh O'Donnell – Ambleside - 2.15.52

8 - Andy Brown – Clayton - 2.15.59

9 - Steve  Birkinshaw – Borrowdale - 2.17.05

10 - Dave Wilby – Ilkley - 2.17.14

11 - Darren Holloway – Pennine - 2.17.23

12 - Paul Cornforth – Borrowdale - 2.18.37

13 - Kim Collison - Eden Runners - 2.20.25

14 - Rhys Findlay-Robinson - Dark Peak - 2.22.52

15 - Mike Robinson - Dark Peak - 2.23.56

16 - Andrew Jebb – Bingley - 2.25.48

17 - John Hunt - Dark Peak - 2.25.55

18 - Brian Stevenson - Pudsey & Bramley - 2.26.00

19 - Mike Johnson – Bowland - 2.26.18

20 - Paul Thompson – Clayton - 2.26.32

Mike Robinson - Best turned out - photo by FenlandFellrunner

Ladies

1 Hazel Robinson - Ambleside - 2:36:57

2 Renee Saxton - Otley - 2:45:33

3 Natasha Fellows - Chorley - 2:58:26

11am Langdale Horseshoe Stakes

Racing from Langdale has just started and the going is 'heavy'. Bets will be taken right up until the Bow Fell (64th furlong point).


11am Horseshoe Stakes (£100,104 furlongs, 4000ft)


Betting odds
The Noor - 2:1 Joint Favourite - winner of the Borrowdale Handicap  - Trainer B Abdelnoor
Avon's Calling - 2:1 Joint Favourite - winner of  Three Shires Hurdle - Trainer C Bell
Black Mountain - 7:1 - he's a dark horse - Trainer M Palmer
Robinson's Crusoe - 7:1 - faded at the last hurdle in the Three Shires - Trainer R F Robinson
Purple Power - 7:1 - prefers good to firm ground - Trainer Mrs Lou Roberts, (Rider) M Roberts
The Yellow Peril - 7:1 - great navigator in rough weather - Trainer T Brunt
The Orient Express - 10:1 - a promising colt - Trainer Oli Johnson
Guten Morgan - 10:1 - needs blinkers to stay on course - Trainer J Morgan
The Deer Hunter - 12:1 - worth a punt? - Trainer Mr J Hunt
Glam Rocker - 25:1 - best turned out with mane newly plaited -Trainer M Robinson
Simply Red  - 25:1- riding in and black and yellow silks today - Trainer D Holloway
Snow Queen - 25:1 - a nimble filly returning to racing - Trainer Miss N White
Running Back Wards - 25:1 - showing some form in his new Pennine stables - Trainer Mr D Ward


£100 prize to any horse breaking the course record of 1:55:03

A Day at the Races

Fell Running Briefs trialled a new photographer on Sunday at the Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay. We think you'll agree he's got great potential and enthusiasm for the sport of fellrunning and a talent for capturing the atmosphere. We'll forgive him for occasionally forgetting to stand still as he took the pictures!


Here are 11 year old Elliot's Collection;


At Hartsop - Leg 1 - Leg 2 changeover

Borrowdale's Ben Bardsley and Martin Mikkelsen Barron

Dark Peak's Pete Hodges and David Scorah

 Mick Hill from Pudsey and Bramley

 Dark Peak's Leg 2s Robert Little and John Rocke

 Pudsey and Bramley's Nick Leigh and John Heneghan

 Wharfedale's Matt Athersmith and Nick Charlesworth being chased by Calder Valley's Adam Breaks and James Logue

 Kirkstone Pass - Leg 2 - Leg 3 changeover

 Borrowdale's Mike Fanning and Simon Booth waiting for their Leg 1 runners to come in

 Ah here they are! Martin

 And Ben

 and they're off

 Ambleside's Ben Abdelnoor and Tom Gibbs hand over after recording the fastest Leg 2 time 1:08:34 (nearly 3 minutes clear of anyone else)

 Wharfedale's Leg 3 runners get ready Mark McGoldrick and Chris Newman

 "It was a bit misty up there wasn't it Matt"

Leg 3 Changeover at Brotherswater

  Leg 3 runners - Pudsey and Bramley's Darren Kay and Danny Hope with Borrowdale's
Simon Booth and Mike Fanning showing they're all still friends

 The finish field - Patterdale

Borrowdele's anchor men Morgan Donnelly and Jim Davies

  The full Borrowdale team get ready for a photo

 Jim Davies (with baby) Ben Bardsley, founder Billy Bland, Chris Steele Leg 1 Mark Roberts Leg 1, Martin Mikkelsen Barron, Simon Booth, Morgan Donnelly and Mike Fanning.

  Wharfedale finish in 2nd place

Sam Watson and Ted Mason

2nd Team - Wharfedale Harriers Chris Newman, Sam Watson, Ted Mason, Mark McGoldrick, Nick Charlesworth, Paul Crabtree (Leg 1) Matt Athersmith and Christian Holmes (Leg 1)




More pictures posted on to the Fell Runner's Forum are


Hyporunner's pictures
Pike's pictures