Preston Harriers Fell Section :- fellblog

• Home

juniorfellblog  >>>>>>>>>>>>> Some great talent here.         

Stackstead  

Thanks to Peter Kevan for pictures

Abbie & Nichola at Stackstead

Note from Peter Kevan

I have attached a couple of pictures from the Lancs County fell Champs today 8th June.
The race was held at Stackstead over a 3.5 mile course.
I think Nichola Jackson was 3rd not sure of the age cat, not sure of Abbie's position. Rob was there so can probably give you the details. Andrew Harrison was also racing, obviously too fast for me to take a picture.

One thing Peter hasn't mentioned is that his son James was there & won the race! Well done James and thanks again Peter for the  pictures.

Report & more pictures below from Steve Jackson

Stacksteads Fair Fell Race

Race 3 of 6 - FRA Junior Championship

Sunday 8th June 2008

A warm sunny day and a “true” fell race for the U16s at last, with a good long ascent, with some short, steeper climbs and an equally long downhill for the U16s upwards as they were to run in the senior race, with its 850` over 3 miles.

Stacksteads is in the Rossendale Valley, not too far from Bacup and a local fair with all sorts of stalls and activity was taking place at the same time…seems to be a recurring theme in this years junior championship!

The younger age groups went first and did a series of undulating loops around ground near the starting field, but the U14s did a stiff climb to a promontory overlooking the valley, whereupon, gasping for breath, they had to turn round and run back down!

The senior race was to ascend Top Of Leach, well known to runners on Leg 5 of the Pennine Bridleway. Although the course had arrows and some markers out there was a small section leading away on a shelf towards the previously mentioned promontory that could be missed all together by a crafty short cut by aiming straight down. Nothing wrong with that but clarification was needed!

The marshal here was quizzed as to the route, which was straight up and down, all the way the same, and as he had to disappear up the fell to a higher checkpoint, you`ll never guess who got the job to make sure the route was kept to?  Oh well, marooned on a fell with little water and by the time I`d finished, a burnt neck and arms…

Well done James!        Now do I get a better discount at Sweatshop?

The seniors came up, with James Kevan (Horwich) leading and it was a lead he didn`t relinquish as he broke the old course record of 22.59 held by J. Milliken. On the descent, James was moving extremely rapidly to secure his 22.48. 2nd Joe Gratton of Hallamshire also broke the old record with 22.53.

Our three going up...........

Andrew Harrison, Abi Mackley & Nichola Jackson all ran and Abi did ever so well considering it was her first fell race, she stuck at it. Andrew had his usual look of steely, focused determination both uphill and down and finished in 27.37.

Two of our three coming down..........You're just too fast Andrew!

Nichola, enjoying the descent but not the heat completed in 30.47 and picked up a medal for 3rd U16 for the Lancashire Championships, held as paet of the same race.

Steve Jackson

& Down below is Stackstead..................

You might wish to view the Junior Fell Runners website.

Lots of fell runners break away from their original running clubs, mainly because they have no interest in track & field, fell running being their main interest. The fell running section of our club decided to have their own website, probably for the same reason. Now a V70, George Arnold is our oldest active fell runner. There are a few more of us close behind! One of our top female road runners, whilst marshalling recently at Chipping Show Fell Race commented on just how friendly fell runners are.