Duddon
Valley 2007
See below Karen's for Mick Mack Report
Duddon
Valley
Fell Race Sat 2 June
Last year this was my first long fell race, ever, and my first outing in
a pair of Inov8s. I enjoyed myself so much I was determined to do it again and
hopefully improve my time. Once I realized it was a championship race I entered
way back in January- nearly missing Edale got me very organized!
It was to be a family outing again but this time Bob was going to run the
shorter course and the boys were seta challenge which involved getting to
various checkpoints and taking photos to prove they had been there. The weather
was great again but not quite so scorching as last year. Having wild camped
above Torver we were third car on the car park and had plenty of time to relax,
register and sip water. Before long the boys announced that they could see the
Tulketh bus and they were amused to see Pete in the front so he didn’t feel
travel sick this year.
The start was moved to a field to cut out some narrow paths and bridges-
it must have shortened the race, but only a little. By
11.00 am
there were masses of us milling around at the start and by 11.10 we were off. I
had been determined not to start to fast but could see Roger and Steve so I just
kept going. Climbing Harter Fell seemed fairly easy and it was good to be off
the narrow path with all the tree roots. The descent to Hardknott is wonderful
and there were crowds at the road to cheer us on.
I was going well to Mosedale beck but found the pull up to Little Srand
just as strength sapping as last year ( and I want to know who named it Little?)
Still, I gel later and I was flying down to Three Shires Stone. I even managed
to overtake 4 people on the descent. John, a friend from Bowland and
orienteering had lined up cups of water at the marshals point and then there
were Philippa and Phil yelling encouragement. It kept me going for a while up
Swirl How. Unfortunately the 4 I had overtaken gradually inched past me and I
never quite got them back. Swirl How to Dow was fine with lots of walkers giving
encouragement but I found the traverse across to White Pike hard going. Not
helped by a throbbing big toe where the nail is now hanging off. I could still
see the group in front of me but could not close the gap. It was back on
familiar territory now as we had raced an orienteering event on the area only a
few weeks ago. Across to Caw we picked off another 3 runners and just as I was
flagging an ‘older’ man came past. Damn, if he can run then so can I!
Suddenly it was the last false summit before Caw and the end. Just enough to
lift your spirits and boost you for one last effort. I got a much better line of
descent this year and overtook people again (last year I only ever had men
overtaking me on the downhill).
I knew there was a lady not far behind and was
determined she would not catch me especially once the boys were cheering me into
the field. I hadn’t managed to catch Steve but was pleased to have cut 34
minutes off last year’s time and sneak under the 4 hour barrier ( no, I did
not get a car ride from Hardknott to 3 shires and the only food secret is
Bob’s good cooking). A great day out and the weather stayed kind so we could
lie in the field and cheer friends home.
Bob was telling me, with some disbelief, how the front runners (Bowland?)
in the short race had led a whole set the wrong way and not turned off the
track. Apparently they went all the way round Caw? They were at least honest and
admitted to missing a checkpoint so Bob got the Vet60 prize. It also made his
day racing with Jos Naylor and being passed on the final descent by the two
flying winners of the long race.
Karen Nash
Well done Karen. Good report as usual! (I'm only
going for teacher's pet!)
Duddon
Fell Race,
AL
, 20m/6000’ 2.6.07 Michael
McLoughlin
British
and English Championship.
On a
glorious day eleven harriers were at Seathwaite in the
Duddon
Valley
for the sixth race in our championship and we picked a tough one, especially
for
Matthew
and Robyn who were doing there first long fell race. There were eight of us in
the long race and three V60’s in the short race, so plenty of competition. The
long race started in the field with the usual stampede to the stony track that
leads towards Grassguards with Steve, Karen and Roger fastest away, the rest
settling in the pack. The first climb to Harter Fell was o.k. and the next
section to the road at
Hard
Knott
Pass
went well with good running and not too many passed me but going up from the
road to Hard Knott Crag I began to wilt in the heat. Steve, Karen and Roger had
long disappeared and I had John and
Matthew
for company as we slowly follow the long snake of runners across the tops and
down the steep descent into Mosedale. As we descended we could see the long line
of runners struggling up the other side to Little Stand and it was a relief when
the three of us reached the c.p on the top. After a good drink of water at the
stream on the descent from Little Stand and an energy gel, we perked up on the
good running down to the Three Shires Stone where encouragement from Philippa
and Phil kept us going on the climb to Swirl How. We walked a bit and ran a bit
until we reached Swirl How, John and I still together with
Matthew
dropping slightly back as we ran on the well worn path to Goat’s Hawse before
climbing the short distance to the c.p at Dow Crag. It was tough going on tired
legs as we ran steadily down to the
Walna Scar Road
and continued to White Pike, the only thought was just to finish. From White
Pike you can see the final summit of Caw in the distance and I tried to up the
pace to no avail but continued to plod over the two small hills to the foot of
Caw. As I slowly climbed I meet Roger on his way down and as I turned at the top
meet John coming up and this spurred me on as I followed the well worn track
through the grass left by the front runners. This was hard work but seeing the
finish field below kept me going and the final run over the line was such a
relief after a very tough race. Those of us who ran last year beat our times
especially Karen who had an inspired and excellent run to get under 4hrs, it
wasn’t until later we found out from Christopher that she had three Wheetabix
for her breakfast. Also, well done
Matthew
and Robyn for completing there first long fell races and still smiling and Pete
who still finished despite feel unwell all the way around. In the short race Bob
Nash was first V60 followed by Joe and Brian with the famous Joss Naylor
finishing between Joe and Brian.
A tough
but great day out in the Lakes.
Results,
Long
Race,
Short Race,
1st
Ian Holmes, Bingley, 2.42.35
1st Jack Simpson, 1.55.53
123rd
Steve Bamber
,
3.44.57
16th Bob Nash,
2.28.09
162nd
Karen Nash
,
3.55.13
25th
Joe Howard
, 2.34.26
195th
Roger Taylor
,
4.06.53
26th Joss Naylor,
2.43.26
213th
Michael McLoughlin, 4.10.45
27th
Brian Dearnaley
, 2.44.58
218th
John Griffiths
,
4.12.08
254th
Matthew
Emery,
4.21.36
37 ran, 32 finished.
284th
Robyn Anderson,
4.36.15
288th
Pete Carter,
4.37.44
373 ran, 349 finished.
Lots
of other photos
Full
Results
You
may like to see a previous Duddon
Now
back to On the Fells 2007
Preston
Harriers Fell Section
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