Preston
Harriers Fell Section
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Helvellyn
Helvellyn
and High Rigg Junior Fell Races Sun 21 May 2006-05-22
We were
few in number this year – few from
Preston
and few in the senior race. This was probably because it followed races at
Sedburgh,
Fairfield
and Old County Tops and clashed with an English Champs race in
Yorkshire
.
It was
dry until we started and I did think I was perhaps over-dressed. The adults were
off first as usual. Only 66 ran so not too bad a squeeze through the narrow
gateway. After a few hundred metres the race turns sharply, straight up the fell
side to Calfhow Pike (500m of climb in just over a km!) It then becomes more
undulating with climbs, and descents at Little Dodd, Watsons Dodd, Stybarrow
Dodd, Raise Whiteside Bank and then Helvellyn itself.
By the time we arrived at
Sticks
Pass
it was raining quite steadily and the wind was getting strong. By the time we
were on Raise it was too late to think about trying to put on a cag.
You
return by the same route, or try to. We took a slight detour on Stybarrow, it
was low cloud by then. The best part for me is the descent from Calfhow- too
steep to run down I claim but amazing to bum slide! I didn’t manage to
overtake anyone this year on the descent but did manage to lose 4 challengers.
The boys
had even left the sanctuary of the car and their PSPs to cheer me in and to take
a photo. Ahh.
Winner 1
hour 42
Slowest
3 hours 13
No
records this year
Karen 2
hours 27 ( 2 mins slower than last year) but I still managed a prize as 3rd
Lady or first lady vet.
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