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)

Watch out, watch out, there are Pendle witches about!

It's the Full Tour of Pendle on Saturday and the advice from 'the locals', is to bring plenty of spare pins.

Illustration of Pendle Witches from William Harrison Ainsworth's 1849 novel 'The Lancaster Witches'

Here's the sorry tale about a runner from Halifax from a previous 'Full Tour' (circa 1612)

'About twenty minutes before the race, Alizon Device encountered John Law, a runner from Halifax Harriers and asked him for some pins. Safety pins are frequently needed for magical purposes, such as in healing – particularly for treating warts – divination, for love magic, and for attaching numbers to vests, which may have been why Alizon was so keen to get hold of them and why Law was so reluctant to give them to her.

Some pins yesterday

Whether she meant to borrow them, as she claimed, and Law refused to go into his bumbag for such a small transaction, or whether she had no intention of giving them back after the race as John Law's son Abraham claimed, is unclear. Approaching Ogden Clough, Alizon saw Law stumble and fall, he managed to regain his feet and reach a nearby inn.

Initially Law made no accusations against Alizon, but she appears to have been convinced of her own witchcraftly powers; when Abraham Law took her to visit his father a few days after the incident, she reportedly confessed to casting a spell on him and asked for his forgiveness.' [Source - The story of the Pendle Witch Trials]

Pendle Hill by www.mypennines.co.uk

The Race

• It's 16.8 miles and 4830 feet.

• There are 11 checkpoints to visit all over the great brick of a hill that is Pendle. It always amazes the runners, when they get their big band of bread tags (one for each checkpoint) at the beginning of the race, that they are ever going to get shot of them all. But they will. 
• Finish times last year ranged from 2:27 (James Logue from Calder Valley) to 5:10 (I feel I cant name the 'lantern rouge' without permission!)
• Lloyd Taggart has the record at 2:11:00 (2007) and Angela Mudge for the ladies in 2:36:28 (unbeaten since 1997)
• Race starts at 10:30 on Saturday - we'll bring you the results as soon as we can - (via Twitter @fellrunninbrief - which will also appear in the top right hand corner of this page)

Last year's top ten

1. James Logue - Calder VFR - 2:27:34
2. Tom Brunt - Holmfirth H - 2:30:31 64
3. Paul Thompson - CleMH - 2:34:36
4. Matt Nuttall - Blackburn H - 2:36:08
5. Stephen Brock - Keighley & C - 2:44:46
6. Nick Charlesworth - Wharfedale H - 2:45:12
7. Mike Nolan - Dark Peak FR - 2:45:45
8. John Sutton - Blackburn H - 2:45:52
9. Mark Russell  - Salford H & AC - 2:45:52
10. Tim Edward  - CleMH  - 2:46:02

Ladies

1. Lynne Clough - Chorley - 3:07:56

2. Molly Ralphson - Trawden - 3:08:42

3. Tamara Hird - Wharfedale Harriers - 3:11:31

The stars shine brightly on the FRA's biggest night

Getting ready for the party


Dunnerdale Fell Race
Set in the glorious Lake District's high fells, the Broughton Mills Resort and Health Farm played host to some of the runners for an afternoon of relaxation, gentle exercise and nutrition. The Broughton Mills Health Farm have thier own in house dietary expert who advised on the post exercise menu. One of the stars told Fell Running Briefs, "that pie was one of the tastiest I've ever had".

Chris Newman being chased by Gary Devine at Dunnerdale - Picture by  Mrs Thompson

Top Ten
1. Tom Addison - Helm Hill - 39:18
2. Danny Hope - Pudsey and Bramley - 39:41
3. Mark Addison - Helm Hill - 39:48
4. Carl Bell - Howgill - 40:22
5. Ben Abdelnoor - Ambleside - 40:32
6. Jim Davies - Borrowdale - 41:16
7. Mike Robinson - Dark Peak - 42:59
8. Chris Newman - Wharfedale - 43:15
9. Gary Devine - Pudsey and Bramley - 43:18
10. Francis Brunt - 43:21

Ladies
1. Lauren Jeska - Todmorden - 46:15
2. Sharon Taylor - Bingley - 49:13
3. Steph Curtis - Pennine - 49:56
4. Hazel Robinson - Ambleside - 50:23

Full results

The Wadsworth Half Trog
Many other award winners attended the Hebden Bridge Mud Sanctuary and Wellness Centre for their essential pre-dinner spa and treatments. The mud on Wadsworth Moor is reknowned for its extremely good and peaty qualities, and all the runners agreed, the freshwater duoch stream is the best north of Bath.

Shaun Godsman leading the race out, making it look easy. Picture thanks to Tom Rattray.

Top Ten
1. James Logue - CVFR - 1:07:25
1. Lloyd Taggart - Dark Peak - 1:07:25
3. Shaun Godsman - CVFR - 1:09:17
4. Lee Athersmith - Bingley - 1:14:52
5. Tim Black - CVFR - 1:14:57
6. Mark Goldie - CVFR - 1:18:38
7. Steve Smithies - CVFR - 1:18:42
8. Matthew Athersmith - Wharfedale - 1:18:45
9. Ed Gamble - Cheshire Hill Runners - 1:18:49
10. Philip Taylor - Rossendale Harriers - 1:19:32

James Logue broke away with a clever route choice, Lloyd Taggart had it within him to chase him down. Picture Tom Rattray.

Shaun settles for 3rd in the race but winner of the 'Biggest Splash' award. Picture Tom Rattray

Ladies
1. Sarah Ridgway - Eryri - 1:22:27
2. Jackie Lee - Eryri - 1:24:46
3. Anne Johnson - CVFR - 1:24:59
4. Helen Fines - CVFR - 1:29:11
5. Gill Myers - Wharfedale - 1:30:31
Full results and more of Tom's stunning pictures

The evening
Roll out the red carpet

A vision in white - Anna Lupton (2009 and 2010 winner of the Yorkshire Three Peaks Race) looks lovely in this Armani tunic, Erikson Beamon Swarovski crystal necklace, and shoes and handbag by Jimmy Choo.

Lou Roberts looks stunning in this vintage Mary Quant dress and Biba accessories. This year Lou won an individual bronze medal winner in the English and shared a bronze medal in the British Championships. But we can't forget that Lou is a gold medal winner too. She won the English Championship in 2003 and 2004 and the British Championship in 2002 (joint) and 2003.

A chat before dinner

Mrs Tamara Hemsley (Captain of Wharfedale Ladies and bronze medal winner in the Lakeland Classics this year) looks fabulous in this gown by Versace and shoes by Christian Louboatin. Ian Holmes (this year's English Vet 45 Champion but winner of 16 championship gold medals since 1996) is interrupted from giving Mrs Hemsley a few tips about downhill running to share with her ladies. Ian strikes a pose in this season's Tom Ford two piece.

This year's joint British bronze medal winner, and first lady at Wadsworth today, Sarah Ridgway looks perfect in this teal gown by Oscar De La Renta. She shares a joke with Paul Cornforth, captain of Borrowdale Fell Runners. Under Paul's expert leadership Borrowdale have medalled seven times this year (five golds and two bronze).

Come on let's hit the dance floor

Hazel Robinson, this year's winner of the Lakeland Classics, gets into the groove in this Alexander McQueen 'honister slate' gray wrap dress, with shoes and 'bag' by 'Stella' McCartney. 





The FRA's Jeans for Genes Ambassador, and 2007, 2008 and 2009 British Champion and 2005 (joint) and 2010 English Champion, Rob Hope sports a Katherine Hamnet Organic Cotton Tee featuring the legendary Pudsey and Bramley runner Gary Danny Graham-Hope. Rob is a true gentleman as we see him carrying Hazel's handbag for her.

Time to go back to the bar

Black and White - Natalie White (English Champion 2006 and 2008 and British Champion 2006) makes a clear statement and looks great in the classic 'little black dress by Dior'. Mark Roberts (1997 English and British (joint) Champion and 2002 (joint) and 2003 English Veterans Champion) looks dapper with this classic 'shirt and trouser' ensemble.



Fell Running's Bright Young Things - Winner at Dunnerdale today and this year's England Under 23s Champion, Tom Addison in Dolce and Gabbana. Lauren Munro Bennett (who recently represented England in the World Mountain Running Association International Youth Challenge in Slovenia) is wearing a Prada cocktail dress with Miu Miu peep toe heels.

Wow what a great night! - Fell Running Briefs was exhausted by half eleven and had to go home, but the fell runners went on partying until the small hours and still got up in the morning for a run. These guys are something else!

More pictures of the presentation are here.

Shepherding Wild Boars

As we don't have many pictures available to us yet - here are some cute but wild boars waiting to be shepherded - pic by science photo library

Fell Running Briefs reporters did a great job of getting the results out within minutes for the Shepherd's Skyline and the Really Wild Boar races today. Thank you newshounds Kirsty at Street, Tamara at Lumbutts, @TheWrongTrod and @slemeckf. We'll be sending you a "I'm an FRB Newshound" badge this week.

Shepherd's Skyline

• Place and time - The Shepherds Rest Inn, Lumbutts Road, Todmorden, 1pm Saturday 5 November
• Distance - 6.25 miles and 1150ft
• Records -  39:25 - Ian Holmes 2007 - Ladies - 48:23 - Jo Waites 2006 

Yesterday we mentioned;

"Bingley's Ian Holmes won it last year, Ian Holmes has the record and Ian Holmes came away winner of the 2011 Yorkshire Championships last weekend saying "I feel great, I felt very little discomfort today"

and also.....

"Fellrunners are like dogs - they like to go back where they've been before. Last year Tom Adams from Ilkley was 2nd and James Logue of Calder Valley Fell Runners was 3rd." 

Results
1. Ian Holmes - Bingley -  42:24
2. James Logue - Calder Valley Fell Runners - 42:36
3. Chris Birchall - Leeds City - 43:51
4. Fred Slemeck - Pudsey and Bramley - 44:00
5. Sean Carey - Todmorden - 44:12
6. Jon Wright - Todmorden - 45:05
7. Matt John - Otley AC - 45:09
8. Greg Hull - Leeds City - 45:16
9. Sam Watson - Wharfedale Harriers - 45:26
10. Matt Athersmith - Wharfedale Harriers - 45:32

Team - Wharfedale Harriers

Chris Birchall (3rd today) coming off Stoodley Pike  - picture by Sportsunday

Ladies
1. Anne Johnson - Calder Valley Fell Runners - 53:10
2. Steph Curtis - Pennine - 54:28
3. Lucy Crookes - Leeds Uni - 55:19
4. Looie Pickles - Wharfedale Harriers - 57:07

Team - Calder Valley Fell Runners

Full Results

Really Wild Boar

• Place and time - Street on the A683 Sedbergh to Kirkby Stephen road, 12 noon Saturday 5 November
• Distance - 5 miles and 1400ft
• Records -  37:47 - Ian Holmes (that man again!) 2010 - Ladies - 46:47 - Emma Clayton 2010

Yesterday we told you

"we believe that new fellrunning style icon and Howgill Harrier, Carl Bell, hasn't quite won enough chocolates to see him through the winter training season." But........

Results
1. Danny Hope - Pudsey and Bramley - 38:40
2. Tom Addison - Helm Hill - 38:52
3. Carl Bell - Howgill Harriers - 39:00
4. Mark Addison - Helm Hill - 39:10
5. Jim Davies - Borrowdale - 40:11
6. Tom Brunt - Holmfirth - 41:** (not sure - muffled communication!)
7. Gary Devine - Pudsey and Bramley - 41:36
8. Francis Blunt - Northumberland Fell Runners - 42:47
9. Mike Robinson - Dark Peak - 42:52
10. Jon Deegan - Ambleside - 43:08

Team - Helm Hill

Ladies
1. Claire Green - Pudsey and Bramley - 50:10
2. Nicola Davies - Borrowdale - 53:32
3. Jen Mattinson - Howgill Harriers- 53:34

Team - Wharfedale Harriers

Peel Hill - no news yet!

• Place and time - Fenella Beach, Peel, Isle of Man, 13:30 Saturday 5 November
• Distance - 3 miles and 400ft
• Records -  20:25 - Lloyd Taggart 2009 - Ladies - 25:09 - Jackie Lee 2009

You can find out here how to sign up to Twitter and follow @fellrunninbrief

Fellrunning Weekend Preview - 5 and 6 November 2011

It's FRB's annual office outing and this year we've chosen to go to a famous seaside place called Blackpool.



Blackpool Tower - it bears an uncanny resemblance to Todmorden's  Stoodley Pike



But it's business as usual as there's a full weekend of fellrunning ahead of us. So, we've taken time out of our fun packed day, putting down the Blackpool rock as it was making the keyboard sticky, to bring you this weekend's preview.

Shepherd's Skyline

• Place and time - The Shepherds Rest Inn, Lumbutts Road, Todmorden, 1pm Saturday 5 November
• Distance - 6.25 miles and 1150ft
• Records -  39:25 - Ian Holmes 2007 - Ladies - 48:23 - Jo Waites 2006 

This is a great race organised by Mandy and Phil of Todmorden Harriers. Bingley's Ian Holmes won it last year, Ian Holmes has the record and Ian Holmes came away winner of the 2011 Yorkshire Championships last weekend saying "I feel great, I felt very little discomfort today".

Fellrunners are like dogs - they like to go back where they've been before. Last year Tom Adams from Ilkley was 2nd and James Logue of Calder Valley Fell Runners was 3rd. Gavin Mullholland of CVFR is running very well at the moment, he led the pack out of the field at Great Whernside last week.



Ian Holmes leading Tom Adams at Shepherds Skyline last year (pic tod harriers)



Really Wild Boar

• Place and time - Street on the A683 Sedbergh to Kirkby Stephen road, 12 noon Saturday 5 November
• Distance - 5 miles and 1400ft
• Records -  37:47 - Ian Holmes (that man again!) 2010 - Ladies - 46:47 - Emma Clayton 2010

Well even if Mr Holmes could be in two places at the same time, we believe that new fellrunning style icon and Howgill Harrier, Carl Bell, hasn't quite won enough chocolates to see him through the winter training season. This is a fairly new race (first run in 2007 we think) and is organised by Gary and Debbie Devine. Gary Devine was Fellrunning's British Champion in 1990 but it was Debbie that gave FRB a description of the route;

"...from the hamlet of Street follow the bridleway up on to the fell. Follow the bridleway crossing a stream and going through a gate all the way up to the shoulder of Wild Boar. At the top gate go through it and follow the steep climb on the right up onto the summit plateau. Keep the drop on your left hand side and run to the far end of the plateau to a group of cairns. Do not cross the fence but do an almost full about turn to pick a trod up which leads to the summit cairn. At the summit go straight off the front of the fell and return to the stream at and you cossed/went through on your way up the bridleway. Return on the bridleway back to Street."

Debbie warned that full body cover and kit will be required.

The steep climb of the Wild Boar is perhaps a bit like the roller coaster at the Pleasure Beach

Peel Hill
Well this race is in the Isle of Lloyd Taggart. FRB has never had the pleasure of visiting the island of men with three legs and cats with no tails, but as we are in Blackpool, just a beach pebble's throw away, we think we have the right to look up the stats and give it a mention.

• Place and time - Fenella Beach, Peel, Isle of Man, 13:30 Saturday 5 November
• Distance - 3 miles and 400ft
• Records -  20:25 - Lloyd Taggart 2009 - Ladies - 25:09 - Jackie Lee 2009

Right talking of beach  -  We're off to the Pleasure Beach now and then it's Fish n Chips for lunch, the zoo to see Albert and the Lion in the afternoon and then a run to Fleetwood and back along the promenade. Then we are having a beat the lift race in the tower. At 518ft it's actually more climb than Peel Hill. After that we'll bring you news of Sunday's races including Cop Hill and limited edition 'ROAD' feature, the Derwent Water 10.

Sunset on Britain's west coast - roll on le weekend!

If you are racing this weekend, why not tell us who won via Twitter @fellrunninbrief or make a post on the FRA Forum or by commenting on this article and we'll share the news with other fellrunning fans.

You can find out here how to sign up to Twitter and follow @fellrunninbrief