Buckden
Pike 2007 Two
reports, Mick Mack then Karen Nash.
Buckden
Pike
,
AS
, 4m/1500’ 16.6.07
After
all the previous rain it was a fine day as we arrived in
Buckden
Village
for the next race in our championship. Those who had packed water wings to
cross Buckden Beck heaved a sigh of relief when they saw the water had dropped
sufficient to make the crossing safe but interesting. There were nine Harriers
in the pack as we forded the beck and scrambled up the steep climb to reach good
running on boggy paths to the turning point near the summit. From here it was an
excellent down hill dash back to cross the raging beck to the finish line in the
show field. A typical Dales up and down race and the day was nicely finished off
in the Blue Bell, Kettlewell, sampling the highly recommended Copper Dragon
‘Golden Pippin’ bitter.
Results,
1st
Rob Jebb, Bingley, 33.27
43rd
Will Garner,
44.21
44th,
Roger Taylor
, 44.22
54th,
Matthew
Emery, 46.56
58th,
Karen Nash,
47.19
67th,
Mick McLoughlin, 48.06
88th,
Robyn Anderson, 52.31
90th,
Peter Carter
,
52.58
116th,
Joe Howard
,
64.15
121st,
Brian Dearnaley
, 68.20
124 ran.
Buckden Pike
Karen
Oh Dear! A clash. What to do? Go to Clougha with the
family and retain the two trophies I won last year or go to Buckden with a boozy
load in a minibus? Hmmm.
Yes I went to Buckden, although I do have to say perhaps Robyn and I should have
made a pact on the points and stayed local.
It was a good race and the weather was better than expected. Living on the
western edge of
Preston
means I get collected first by the bus. I’m not complaining- thanks for
driving yet again Joe. The we spend a good 40 minutes rounding up others and
eventually we head out to the outskirts of Walton le Dale for the last pick up.
Joe scares a car at a junction – rare, he’s usually fast, confident but
considerate. Pete can’t find Roger and Robyn but then they all appear and we
are off to
Yorkshire
, place of many childhood holidays for me as my mum’s from there.
We spot climbers braving the rain and hiding under the overhang at Kilnsey and
before long we arrive in Buckden. Despite being in the bus we soon find a space
to park in what seems like a full car park. Do I tape my swollen ankle and hate
the restriction or leave it alone and pray? The Saunders is not far off and my
partner will not be happy if I can’t run. It is off to register and then a
short recci of the course. Given that the first few hundred metres sees the
route cross a beck with slabs of slippery limestone it was good to go and check.
The race soon steepens and I despaired of staying with Roger. Up and up over
little crags of limestone and up onto the moor – knowing that you come back
the same way and so are trying to think about the best line for descent. I see a
rival Alison pulling away. Drat, now I really have to dig deep or I have no
chance of ever pulling it back. The final gradual climb along the wall is good
to reach and I make up some distance. I can still see them ahead as we turn. I
shot past Alison and the descent steepens, can I catch the next (much younger)
woman? The answer was yes but at a price. On the final steep descent Alison past
me and there was not quite enough left to go with her (and I care about my
ankle). Now there is the difference. Sally Newman went over on hers but finished
the race and won? I never caught Roger either – but then that is becoming
normal on the shorter races.
A quick strip and wash under the convenient tap and we collected results and a
hot dog. Then it was off to the serious part of the day – the pubs in
Kettlewell. I will never defer to Mick again. Which pub I asked? No, not the
smokey one with the damp tables in the shade. Next time I’ll just head for the
sun! Only joking. A great day out. Thanks
Karen
Like the proverbial London bus, no
report for all this time, then two come along at the same time. What no
pictures?
Now
back to On the Fells 2007
Preston
Harriers Fell Section
:- fellblog