Preston Harriers' fell & trail running section . Some of our fell runners also do cross country and road running, but fell running is our main activity.Fell Running tends to be a Northern sport, the Lake District being the main centre for fell runners. The Harriers are the organizers of Paddy's Pole Fell Race, which usually takes place in June. Our junior fell runners are in a keen fell running section, you can read about them in juniorfellblog below. Preston Harriers running club was established in 1881. Mick McLoughlin the chairman of fellblog did the Bob Graham Round in 2005. Fell Runners are not as much bothered about PB's as they are about 3B's ( a local brewery).

Preston Harriers Fell Section :- fellblog        

      Relays  2006        Mary Towneley Loop  Relay

          PENNINE BRIDLEWAY RELAY – Sun 5^th Feb 2006

The third running of this popular relay race dividing the 47mile Mary Towneley Loop into five unequal sections to be covered on foot as quickly as possible.

The pain anguish and pressure were difficult to overcome. There was a strong urge to quit – but I knew for the good of the team I had to press on. Then it happened, the goal was reached. I received a message saying there was a 10^th runner to complete my team……..phew !  It was close.

Race day dawned in all its foggy, damp, cold splendour. Great ;- proper fell running conditions. Not for us warm weather training in exotic locations- pah !

Well 57 teams lined up to tackle the 5 sections. Each leg run in pairs. That’s a not inconsiderable 570 runners !

The winners and hats off to them were local team Bowland fellrunners clearly getting ever stronger, in a time of 5: 02:45 just 12 seconds ahead of the next team !

Preston harriers fielded 2 teams. Jim Doherty captaining the B team and me the A team.

There was an interesting mix of management styles – Jim, obviously a delegator stayed in the background (some said with his feet up at home – but I wouldn't hear any of it) and me a more hands on (panicky) approach.

Off first for the A team were Neil Macdonald and Dave Watson. They covered the 8.5 miles 1361ft of climb in a very respectable 1:05:14 and 19^th position. Neil had worked hard but Dave looked unperturbed – like he could do it again ! Both said they were looking forward to next year and are confident they could do even better.

On leg 2 were  the dependable Ash Nixon who always pulls out all the stops for the team and Willie (lets make it quick – I’ve a family do to get back for) Garner. At the end of the leg it was clear Ash had been through relay hell. Even so the pair picked up a place covering the 12.5 miles 1560ft in 1:34:28.

  Leg 3 paired Jason Parker and John ( I’ll let my new fell shoes do the talking) Rainford. They had a fine run 12th quickest on the leg in a time of 1:10:07 gaining 2 more places to put the team in 16th pos.

Leg 4 - “should suit the speed merchants” stated the pre-race blurb. And so it did. Gordon Thompson and Ray Kenny covered the 5.5 miles 753ft in an impressive 40:02. 11^th fastest on leg ( only 7 secs away from 8^th) to move the team up to 14^th pos.

They were so quick, they got to the end of the leg before I could drive there ! In my defence it was Gordon’s car I was driving !!!

Leg 5 saw the reliable Matt Livingstone and relay debutant Dave Barker paired up- both made my job much easier than it might have been- thanks and are very welcome to be involved next year. They covered 11miles 1390ft (plus a little extra) in 1:17:55

dropping a place to bring the team home in 5:47:46 and 15^th place. Very creditable.

Thanks everyone for your efforts. 

The B team got underway with the enthusiastic Steve Jackson and Alan Appleby on leg 1. Contender for Preston Harriers run of the day here from Alan who looked in agony afterwards. He had obviously run in a lot of pain to come home in 1:12:06 an impressive 30^th place.

They handed over to Fell captain Mick Mcloughlin and cousin Nick Conlon, clearly worried about his lack of training prior to the event. A little slower than last year in 1:47:26 dropping 5 places to 35^th overall.

On leg 3 the mixed pairing of Karen Nash and Roy Parkinson both taking a break from child rearing duties ran a solid leg and maintained 35^th pos in 1:20:02. They were also 35^th quickest on leg – nice touch of symmetry there.

Leg 4 – Don’t forget this was the leg for speed merchants and so it proved as the venerable Joe Howard and venerated Brian Dearneley covered the leg in 57.55. A good run to put the team in 38^th pos.

Leg 5 Saw Dave (what's the rush?) Simpson and Pete Carter underestimating Joe and Brian’s speedy arrival. Dave enjoying the minibus heater as Joe and Brian looked in vain for someone to hand over the dibber to at the changeover point !

Nonetheless they finally did get away to  cover the section in 1:34:33 to bring home the team home in 41^st pos overall in a total time of 6:52:02.

Roll on next year and potential organizers please form an orderly queue !

John Griffiths

Thanks John, you're better at writing than running.

  Mary Townley Loop  Relay 2005

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Preston Harriers Fell Section :-  FELLBLOG  is the proud fell running section of the famous Preston Harriers Athletic Club. Our athletic club has been around for 126 years. We like to call it famous because it is what Brendan Foster calls us on BBC athletic programmes. We are well represented in Track & Field presently by our pride & joy, Helen Clitheroe.  We also have some accomplished road runners. Our Fell runners are a mixed bunch of beer drinkers, most fell runners seem to be like that! We do run lots of races, as can be seen in the site itself. We have a world record holder Pete Benson, you can read about his feat inside. We are pleased that you have visited our website, which of course is mainly about fell running. The website is based in Riley Green, where the blogger is also Mayor of Riley Green. If you want to see more about the club, you can visit our main site. Click here