Heavy rain whilst heading down the M65 made me question the wisdom of running this event, especially when I had spoken with Pete Carter the night before and he had offered me a lift... I had refused

(politely!) & advised him that my wife Pat and daughter Nichola were going with me, to "make a day of it." Some day was in prospect....!

It was still lashing down as I went to register at the cricket pavilion, at Penistone Country Park, perched high outside Haworth. Later when there was an enormous queue for registration and the rain was still falling, there was the enormous satisfaction of being dry in the car, that was being rocked by the wind. The state of being dry was not to last...

The race start was delayed by 15 minutes because of the numbers wanting to run in this popular event.

Hurrying down to the start in the quarry, the rain eased off a bit and shelter was sought behind a huge rock wall, until organiser Dave Woodhead shouted very loudly at everyone and we shuffled away to the far side of the quarry. 

Lining up were Ash Nixon, Steve Bamber, Pete Carter & I from Preston (apologies if anyone missed - didn`t see anyone else and results not out yet.) Also, numerous participants in fancy dress, Santas, men dressed as women wpcs (one of whom finished 4th!) and a runner in a blow up Sumo Wrestler Costume - needless to say, he beat me! Over 450 took part in what was billed as 6 miles & 900` ascent - bit like cricket scoring, all seemed very approximate.

Off we went, splashing through water and mud - and this was the dominant feature of the day. Picking up the Bronte Way on a good track, heading for the Bronte Bridge, I thought. No, we were not. A steep, muddy, descent took us to South Dean Beck which was deep and fast flowing. A girl just behind me slipped and was soaked from the chest down. Squeals followed from the runners behind who saw what was about to befall them.

Passing Pete and gasping words of encouragement it was up to the flat, boggy expanse of Delf Hill as the wind intensified and a squall hit. Teeth were gritted, and I managed to extricate my right leg that had sunk in to the knee from foul smelling bog. All this in the name of fun. Off away from the trig point at 444m to head quickly down, and I started to pass people on the track once the Pennine Way was rejoined. Oh...rejoined, we`re going back via the Beck aren`t we?

YES! The descent was slimy mud now - I kept my feet, many did not. Some just decided to slide anyway. Back into the water. Photographers know a good location and two had appeared on the return journey to capture some of the good and not so good leaps through the water.

Across the eastern fringe of Haworth Moor where the pools of water and mud were now having a tiring effect. Into the Park, and the home straight, with encouragement from Nichola - "C`mon Dad - the sumo`s finished!"

Steve at the finish, damp but not deterred! Well not too much.

Fantastic - the reward a bottle of Auld Lang Syne beer, but given at registration to stop it getting it muddy. You see, it has a special label on, with last years winners` pictures on it.

Winners 2005 were Ian Holmes and Natalie White. Ash was 100th, Steve I know not where, although he won a pair of shoes at the pub afterwards. I was 59 something and 207th and Pete was 287th. Nichola was hoping to take some pictures of the respective Harriers as they crossed the finish, but she was too wet and cold to operate the camera.

The joy of placing my feet afterwards in a bucket of hot water was sublime - fell runners (even me!) are nothing if not resourceful and a few flasks of hot water work a treat, even in a howling wind. Two runners from Keighley & Craven parked near us managed a full wash but let`s not go there.

The pub was packed afterwards and the prize giving went on and on.

Well done, Dave & Eileen Woodhead - their next race is from the same location, the 23rd Soreen Stanbury Splash (note the word) on 22nd January. You know it makes sense.

Steven Jackson

Thanks Steve for this first report of the year

fellblog