Wrekin

Nichola downhill dashing. Too fast for Colin (background) to even get his camera aiming in the right direction!

Who is this 48 guy? Nichola closely following, and Emily turning her head away from him above!

A short drive to Sunny Shropshire on a Sunday for the second counter in the English Championship was certainly rewarded with three more than satisfactory performances. Ercall Wood School was the start point and the name gave it all away as the run was through the woods.

It certainly was challenging especially for the cameramen having to cope with the differing lighting from dark leafy shadows to bright sunshine. The runners were also set a demanding task on the feet-starting on a playing field then uphill on the road before a steady and never ending incline uphill negotiating fallen trees and mud patches. Then it was round the top of a quarry and straight back down.

Choice of footwear was unanimous as the fell shoes were out in force. Only the hardy Under 14’s made it out Nichola Jackson, Emily Kevan and Andrew Harrison- Amie Kevan was just not well enough to travel so sensibly stayed at home to run another day.

With over 50 runners in this age group it was going to be tough to score points but the tremendous efforts of the trio meant that everybody gained points on the day. Andrew certainly made the descent well and overtook half a dozen to come in 16^th and score 4 points-just 7 places behind Richard Shuttleworth in his new Blackburn colours. Quite his best so far this season-thanks to the aid of medical science-well The Physio Department at Royal Preston Hospital actually.

Nichola was next home as 11^th girl counter with 9 points and has now consolidated her position in the championship to a creditable 8^th. Looks like road running and fell running plus track can go together. The camera crew were also making every effort to catch Nichola in action (See the attached pictures).

Emily was the third contributor to the success of the triumvirate running well to pick up 7 points with a 13^th place finish and a current 18^th place in the Championship with 4 more races to go. S with the next Junior race at High Rigg just up the road in Cumbria on May 22^nd come and run in the English Championship. It is not too late, as you only need 4 races to count. You will get a rare T-Shirt, certificate if you end up in the top 20 and even more if you can gain a top 3 position. Just ask around if transport is a problem as fell runners are the helpful types.

My daughter Nichola ran in the FRA Junior Champs race 2 at Wrekin on Sunday 10th April (see Junior Fell Blog!) and I decided, with 20 minutes left, to have a go at the Wrekin Fell Race of 5.5 miles & 1,700` of climb. This was the 28th running of the event. The start was from Ercall Wood School - some choice graffiti in those toilets!

I had taken my gear with me (just in case) and although not fully fit, as I was coming off the back of medial tibial syndrome (shin splints as the older term!) I thought, I`d regret it if I didn`t have a go.

Although a very moderate road runner, I am a serious hill walker and thought, well I can always walk up the steep bits and I did have a go at the Christmas taster session with the fell runners - Nichola and I really enjoyed that and look at what Nichola is doing now. Well done, guys!

So, with plenty of support from the other runners "what your first one?" "great, go for it!" - off we went.

Round the school field, up the road and then a huge queue to get over the footbridge into the wood. Doing okay so far on the climb and still running, until near the top of The Ercall. The descent to a minor road was steep so off went the brakes... the reward being a very steep climb after Forest Glen (it said steep on the route posters hung up at the venue and they were dead right) up to the Wrekin. A Keswick guy was helping me with words of encouragement as we walked up, almost together to the Wrekin. The lead runners were starting to tear down as flatter ground near Hell Gate was reached and the sun was very warm here.

The view from the top was excellent, but this was a running day! So, back to a run, not quite brain off / brakes off as the outward route was re-traced all the way back. The climb, or walk back up to The Ercall was more than a bit painful, but I was able to run down and managed to avoid gawping walkers and their dogs and tree roots that just seemed to shout, "trip over me". The much faster people had long gone, but my aim was two-fold... not to be last and to complete in under an hour. I wasn`t last although was comfortably in the bottom half with 56-15. No idea as to other times as results to be posted out and the web-site address is not operative.

Enjoyed it.. yes. Do another.. yes. Did it hurt.. well what the **** do you think? But, no pain from my leg! have I discovered the joys of fell running?

NB dodgy looking geezer pic attached

You'd better watch out Steve, when the Senior lads read what you've been up to, they'll be after you!

I asked if there were any reports! Best ever response............This is the beauty of the web site, there is no limit to how much we can put in here.