DARK PEAK NEWS - Dark Peak Fell Runners

Dark Peak News October 2007 page 4next meet them, we can discuss how we can help them to defeat those who are trappingthese birds and destroying their nests. With scores of us out on the hills every week, wecould be powerful potential allies if we keep our eyes and ears open.The best laid plans...When I put the last edition of Dark Peak News to bed in May, I began work immediatelyon the next one, with the aim of getting it out towards the end of July. Hence you willfind the “Adventures in Time” section, written some time ago, focuses on early summereditions from the archives. Then, life kicked in. Two daughters to get through exams,one to be helped out of the nest and in to university. A bundle of urgent maintenancetasks to do on the house, with one involving some substantial and quite worryingstructural work. An inspection looming at my wife’s school. Dark Peak News driftedon to hold, and suddenly summer was over and publication was well overdue. I toldmyself things would be OK, so long as I could liaise with John to get a new calendarup on the web, and then get the mag out reasonably well ahead of the club champs onNovember 17 th . I have to confess I panicked a bit when Andy felt compelled to bringthe champs forward by a month, and since then I’ve been busting a gut to get to pressas quickly as possible. Even so, this edition will at best reach you just days before theevent. You may get it on the morning of the race, in which case you can browse thecourse over breakfast. At worst, and with more postal strikes looming, you may receiveit after the event. Whatever, I apologise for the delay. But it’s reassuring to know that,thanks to John, we now have such a great day-to-day news services on the website thatcan take care of our information needs when the pressure is on. Looking ahead, thingsare calming down considerably now at home, and I’m managing to find time to do halfan hour or so each day on the mag. I’ve even got some ideas for new features that youshould see in the next edition, around the turn of the year. So I hope Dark Peak Newswill be with you sooner rather than later next time.DaveLucozade aid: see Dog’s Diary, page 29

Dark Peak News October 2007 page 10FebSat 2 09:00 DPFR raceMargery Hill. Start from Fairholmes car park,GR 186716.Wed 6 18:30 Club run SportsmanWed 13 18:30 Club run SportsmanWed 13 18:45 Warts run King’s Tree, GR 168939Sun 17 10:00 DPFR raceLoxley International Mountain Marathon.Further details to follow.Wed 20 18:30 Club run SportsmanWed 20 18:45 Warts run Old Horns Inn, High BradfieldWed 27 18:30 Club run SportsmanWed 27 18:45 DPFR raceRivelin Landmarks, start and finish at TheSportsmanMarWed 5 18:30 Club run SportsmanWed 5 18:45 Warts run Monsal Head, GR 186716Fri 7 23:00 Local raceWed 12 18:30 Club run SportsmanSun 16 10:30 Local raceHigh Peak Marathon (Derwent Watershed).See: www.highpeakclub.union.shef.ac.ukDon Morrison Memorial Edale Skyline. See:http://www.dpfr.org.uk/index.php?p=skylineWed 19 18:30 Club run SportsmanWed 19 18:45 Warts run Strines Inn, GR 223907Wed 26 18:30 Club run SportsmanWed 26 18:45 Warts run River Westend, GR 15592740ml21ml/4500’The Dark Peak calendar provides an unofficial service to club members.DPFR carries no responsibility for the details of events staged by otherorganisations. Details of local races are normally taken from the FRACalendar, which costs money to compile and publish. All DPFRmembers are encouraged to pay their FRA subs to help meet thesecosts.Amendments to the calendar can be found on the DPFR websiteat www.dpfr.co.uk Please try to avoid amendments if possible, asmembers may set off for events using the dates and times they haveread here, and may not have had the time or opportunity to check thewebsite for last minute alterations.Race results will normally be published on the website within a fewdays of the event taking place.The next major revision of the club calendar will be in early January,when the new FRA Calendar is published. It would be helpful to havedetails of any new club events by then.

Dark Peak News October 2007 page 11Caption competitionA much stronger response this time. Clearly you found the subject matter to yourliking. The editor’s bottle goes to Chris Brad for “Lateral Stinking”. New memberNeil Osborne pushed him close though, with “Novice time lord fails the parkingelement of the Tardis test”, and “At the annual Portaloo parade, one poor soldieris overcome by a terrible bout of wind”. Club chairman Andrew Moore gets pointsfor crudity with “Now that’s what I call a fart!” Most obscure entry goes to JohnBlair Fish who suggested, (in the aftermath of the Scottish elections), “Is that reallyan appropriate place to put up a Vote Green placard?” And there were numerousalso-rans who came up to me in the pub and suggested the obvious, but nonethelesswitty, “Oh, shit!”.This time? Well, it really has to be another image of the hapless Mick Stenton, resplendentin his blood-soaked finery after his fall at Pendle. I look forward to the e-mails...

Dark Peak News October 2007 page 12Dealing with the cas

Dark Peak News October 2007 page 14It all started in 1998 when Geoff Townsend, a local shepherd, found that the Old Nag’sHead had run out of his favourite tipple. Instead of moving onto something from thetop shelf he, no doubt drunkenly, offered to fetch a barrel of beer from the Snake Inn,some four miles away over a big hill. The landlord agreed that if Geoff and his mateslugged a barrel back they could have it for free.And so the race was born. The Great Kinder Beer Barrel Challenge where teams ofeight would carry a barrel, weighing 54kg, from the Snake Inn over the top of Kinderand down to the Old Nag’s Head in Edale and the winners would get a barrel of beer.Team Gladioli, mainly fell runners from Matlock, won the race every year until 2006,setting a course record of 48mins. This year, Dark Peak decided to challenge them.As last year’s winners the Gladioli set off last, with teams starting at three minuteintervals. It obviously helped entering as Dark Peak because the local prowess got ussecond to last start, with Gladioli chasing us up Kinder. Our team of Oli Johnson, JamesHargreaves, Ben Carter, Neil Northrop, Andy Middleditch, Pete Hodges, Rob Baker andRob Little was well prepared for the race. Rob Davison kindly lent us a ladder, which weattached our barrel to with nothing more than a piece of string and some sticky tape. Aswe watched the other teams run off through the woods towards Gate Side Clough, weknew we could run pretty well but still didn’t have a clue if we could actually get overKinder with a barrel and 16 (mostly) scrawny arms.From the off we were moving at a fair lick, so much so that we had to shout warningslike “boulder”/ “hole”/ “tree” to save the guys behind from going arse over tit. We madelight work of the stretch through the woods and across the river and started the climb uptowards Blackden Moor. This was where it got tough and we slowed to a walk. But itwas a clear day, and ahead we could see three teams stretched across the hillside tryingto reach the top.We got to the plateau and headed along the rim path towards the Three MinuteCrossing, but then things got rather heated with Neil ever so politely asking us: “Wouldyou chaps mind awfully staying on the path and not running in the f***ing heather”.At this point the relentless pace we’d set up the hill took its toll on Andy as he droppedoff the back of the ladder. We wouldn’t see him again until the finish. But with onlythe balls-out descent to come we had to have no mercy and carry on. Things soon wereeven worse as Ben, the muscles of the team – in only his second fell race - also droppedoff the back, as he’d hurt his leg. Thankfully, he gallantly caught up, so we were sevenstrong across the Three Minute Crossing, passing another team just before we droppedlike stones towards Grindsbrook.On the downhill we wasted some time faffing, trying to use the ladder as a sled, but itdidn’t work. Instead we let the back end drag and lifted and ran with the front end. Well,James and Rob Little did a lot of the work while the rest of us attempted to stay out ofthe path of the marauding ladder and barrel combo. We finally met both the path at thebottom of Golden Clough and the crowds who had turned out to watch the nutters withthe barrels. All that was left was a fast last kilometre into Edale and under the finishbanner outside the Old Nag’s Head. We then had to wait to see if the undefeated Gladiolifinished within three minutes of us. They didn’t and we had managed to win and in anew course record of 46:49, three minutes and twenty seconds clear of the field.

Dark Peak News July 2007 page 16THE CENTREAirborne... Mike McIver and Mark Salkild leapacross Burbage Brook before tackling the firstclimb in the Burbage Skyline.

RE SPREADDark Peak News October 2007 page 17

Dark Peak News October 2007 page 18Been there, done that...Highlander Mountain Marathon, Sat. 1st MarchA mountain marathon held in the Highlands of Scotland in March had the air ofuncertainty about it. The organisers tried to entice competitors north by providing foodin a heated marquee at the overnight camp along with a Scottish band to help pass thelong dark evening away. A far cry from camping in some sphagnum bog on a remotewindswept mountainside. Furthermore, no check points would be placed above 700mso hopefully reducing the impact of any late lying snow. Otherwise the HMM followedthe usual MM format - four straight line course A-D and a score - but the A coursecompetitors could take the controls in any order on the first day.Despite all the concerns, 92 teams registered in the village hall in the beautiful GlenStrathconon due west of Inverness. On Saturday the A & C courses took a southern routewhile the B & D and score courses took a northern arc with all courses meeting up atthe head of the glen. Having two starts split up the competitors and reduced crocodilesforming. In fact, we saw very few competitors and hundreds of deer. The weather wasperfect with stunning views of the surrounding snow capped peaks and the terrain wasexcellent, being very runnable for almost the entire course. This resulted in some veryfast times. The courses were well planned, needing accurate navigation but always withcatching features if you overshot and lots of route choice.The overnight camp-site was a flat field bathed in sunshine and free of midges. Thehot food provided was welcomed by all to supplement to the normal MM fair. We allenjoyed the ceilidh and those with enough energy danced the night away. The clearsky meant overnight temperatures fell to -5°C and ensured a cool, very cold or bl**dyfreezing night depending on how competitive you were. Many teams were foundwarmed up in the marquee in the wee hours of the morning and the caterers did a roaringbreakfast trade.The leading teams had a chasing start at 7am just as it was getting light. The coldmorning soon gave way to another stunning day of excellent weather and fast terrainwith the classes switching sides of the glen. There was a good selection of prizesprovided by the main sponsor, Craigdon Mountain Sports, including a full sized broadsword for the winners of the A class, (Chris Near & Tim Higgeronbottom), who put in avery impressive performance. The organisation, location and weather during the HMMwas excellent. BBC Scotland made a 30 minute programme about the event whichconfirmed that those blue skies, snow capped peaks and firm terrain were not a whiskyinduced illusion, especially after experiencing the Edale Skyline in the same month! Idon’t expect the HMM will ever become as popular as the SLMM, OMM or LAMMdue to its location and time of year but that may well become its real appeal.Steve Martin

Dark Peak News October 2007 page 19Ventnor Isle of Wight Series, Sat 22 - Sun 23 Sept.“Ahh, now there’s someone in famous colours” came the call from one of the lads ofLoughton AC. “Yeah and it’s the first time I’ve raced in ‘em,” I replied.Small groups of runners in colourful vests were standing around the entrance to theWinter Gardens, Ventnor, Isle of Wight, having just struggled up and hurtled down thehill on the St Boniface Fell Race, (AS 3m/775ft). It was my first fell race and I waspleased with my time at a shade over 24 minutes. But this was only the start of theweekend’s running. Later we would set off on the Ventnor Horseshoe, (BM 7m/1500),and on the following morning the Wroxall Round, (CL 13/1500).The series was the idea of Eddie Leal, one of the FRA founder members, and has takenplace for the past 10 years. It draws a field of around 100 for each of the races and thisyear 14 women and 66 men completed the entire series. The standard is good and thetimes on each of the runs are very respectable. Most of the clubs were from the south,but there was representation from Glossopdale Harriers, Dewsbury Road Runners,Clayton -Le-Moors and Holme Pierrepoint. Organisation for the event is in the hands ofthe Ventnor Fell Run Association, aided by Ryde Harriers.I was staying in Ventnor, at a BnB, with my training partner Ian Paintin who iscurrently unattached. We had a nice en-suite room with sea view. The trouble is Pax,(his nickname), does a great line in “Jazz” snoring, (you can’t doze off to its’ rhythm). Ihad slept poorly prior to day one and in the time between races I couldn’t doze to recover.My breathing was all wrong and I faced the second race with some nervousness.Back at the Winter Gardens we were soon off on the Ventnor Horseshoe, taking amore circuitous route up onto the Downs, then undulating near Wroxall before a flatsection on the old railway then a brutal climb onto Shanklin Down only to hurtle downSt Boniface again. By the 3pm start the sun was shining and it was warm.I felt OK going up. I fell in behind lines of other runners, walking, jogging and thenfinally breaking out into a run. But I couldn’t find a pace or rhythm and I began tostruggle. It’s at time like these that you fall back on your training, physical and mental.Mine had gone well through the summer and I told myself that all would be fine, justkeep at it. I was just having a bad day. At last the route found the old railway track andI was joined by other runners including Frank Makin of Holme Pierrepoint who was tobeat the M70 record in all three races. He introduced himself with a “Hello Dark Peak”and once again my morale was lifted by wearing the vest. The group of vets M40-70and a few of the girls made our way up the steps onto the Down and headed back toVentnor. We became strung out and I found myself in a little world of my own withrunners about 15 seconds ahead and behind.Back in Ventnor I came home in a disappointing 1:20:07, about 10 minutes downon what I expected. Up front, Dean Lacy of Cambridge Harriers had taken the recordagain, with 52:48, to go with his 17:02 in race one. Pax jogged home in 1:27:16 whichhe was pleased with, and we made our way back to our lodgings. I was shattered and notlooking forward to the next race.

Dark Peak News October 2007 page 20That evening I called home to let them know that all was well. I had to use a pay phoneas I couldn’t get a signal on the mobile on my network. The kids were splashing aroundin the bath and just said a quick hello. During the conversation I began to sweat andbecame really stuffy. The running and lack of sleep were taking their toll. In the MillBay pub we had a meal and two beers (because we were trying to be good). By 8.30 wewere back in the room dozing in front of the TV. We had seen a few other runners outand about but I bet that they were also abed early.Sunday dawned fair, a little humid, but with a gentle breeze. Going downstairs wasa little awkward but I didn’t feel too bad really. The tactics however were going to beconservative - just to get round and finish the series. But I had butterflies, was a littlenervous, which for me is an indicator that I am up for the race. At the Winter Gardensthe scene was as it had been on the previous day with runners chatting about stiffness,injury and their hopes for the Wroxall Round. I decided to carry a bum bag with twogels, some water and a spare top. None of this was necessary as the organisers don’tinsist on full body cover, etc.The undulating sea front start was gentler than the previous races. I could see theleaders hurtling off as the field soon became strung out, but I wasn’t bothered, I wantedto get round. The route was easy to follow being marked and well marshalled whichmade life easier. I strolled onto Stenbury Down with some of the Loughton AC lads thenfound myself adrift, once again, on my own. I did battle with a local club runner who Ibeat on the ups and who beat me on the downs and then he too was gone. Nevertheless Iwas feeling good and really enjoying the scenic race. At half way I sped up a little alongthe railway which was used again. Then turning south for the steep ascent I got the firsthint of cramp. I stretched it off, then ascended quite well.On top of the Downs I could see runners strung out and I overtook two and wasmoving well until just before St Boniface when the cramp hit again. But I was nearlyhome and my time was far better than I thought I would do, in fact I thought I couldhave gone quicker. And so the route came off the Downs for the last time, through thesteep streets of Ventnor and back to the Winter Gardens where runners chatted and toldtheir tales. Heroes all!At 2pm we returned for the presentations. They began with a minutes silence inremembrance of Eddie Leal. Then the top guys and girls got their awards. The racesare also the SEAA Fell Championships, so there are two sets of medals to get through.Dean Lacy of Cambridge Harriers won all three races, but Serpentine Runners took theteam prize for the men. Jenny Moore of Wells City Harriers took the overall prize forthe girls, with no team prize awarded (an appeal was made for more women’s teams toenter). Much applause, good wishes and thanks for a wonderful weekend.Then it was all over. Farewells and handshakes, with promises to meet again nextyear. All the training, planning, tactics and racing were over, gone. The journey hadbeen made.In truth there are no fells on the Isle of Wight. But there are hills and lots of them.St Boniface Down rises 700 ft from sea level and I assure you it is a steep and hardclimb. The steps up onto the Downs in races two and three are to be given respectand the Ventnor Horseshoe is no stroll. Anyone who completes the series has done

Dark Peak News October 2007 page 21well in my book, and it was certainly the hardest challenge I have ever completed.And that is what made it worthwhile and fun. Add to this, new acquaintances made,the scenery and organisation and you have an intense running experience. I woulddefinitely recommend it.For Pax and I there was only one thing to do and that was to hobble like old men downsteep Ventnor streets to the Spyglass Inn and a celebratory meal.The 2008 series takes place on the weekend of 20-21 September. Costs are £5 for eachrace or £12 for the series, (2007), teams free (three to count). Details will be on RydeHarriers website in 2008. There is plenty of accommodation in Ventnor.Note that there is some discussion as to the real distances and ascents for the latter tworaces on the FRA forums at www.fellrunner.org.uk . The Ventnor Horseshoe is nearereight miles with 1800 feet of up and the Wroxall seems to be nearer 12 miles with 2200feet of up. A small point, but it makes me feel better!RatingsCourse Value for money Organisation Overall rating Neil OsborneWinter Fifteen Trigs Round, Weds February 7thSt. Lukes Hospice has recently cared for a dear friend of mine and whilst out on thefollowing adventure, I thought that I would seek retrospective sponsorship to raise moneyfor this excellent centre of care. I appreciate this approach is highly unconventional, i.e.that people normally seek sponsorship for challenges they are going to be taking, notones they have taken! And I also recognise that this is not, in any way, an organisedevent - again unusual. But if you do feel inclined to contribute, any donations will bevery gratefully accepted. All money collected will go directly to St Luke’s Hospice inSheffield. Thank you.IntroductionThis route was first suggested in an article by Tony Wimbush in ‘The Fellrunner’,(Feb. 2006) and was originally conceived as starting and finishing at Hayfield. Theroute represents “a continuous circuit of over 40 miles linking the four county topsof Derbyshire, (Kinder Scout, 636m), South Yorkshire, (High Stones, 548 m), WestYorkshire, (Black Hill, 583 m), and Greater Manchester, (Black Chew Head, 542 m.)”.

Dark Peak News October 2007 page 22The only other stipulation that Wimbush suggested was to cross the A57 Sheffield toManchester road in two particular places, (on the outward and return journeys), one overthe Snake summit and the other crossing near the Snake Inn.My own accountHaving been considering this route for a little while now - ever since two Dark Peakfriends managed a winter traverse - I decided to have a go on May 9 th , but for convenienceand transport purposes chose to start and finish at Fairholmes car park.With daylight justdawning and a chill in the air, I left the car at 5am. I was soon cursing the weight of myrucksack, but realised that it was likely that much of the storehouse of energy-givinggels, sarnies, chocolate bars, and litres of drink was likely to be consumed during theday’s journey. And traversing the route solo, I thought it wise to carry enough warm gearto deal with any unforeseen mishaps.I didn’t see another soul on the fells until I arrived at Black Hill after I had beengoing five hours and 20 minutes. The ascent to the first of the tops unfolded reasonably,interspersed with loo stops, (getting the system going!), and putting on and taking offthe Pertex top to get the temperature right. A slight mist enfolded High Stones as Iarrived, underlining a sense of splendid isolation, (one hour and fifteen minutes). Thebreeze was also decidedly fresh.I then followed the high level route of the Derwent Watershed, taking me via MargeryHill, Outer Edge, Howden Edge and Shepherds Meeting Stone, and descended into theWoodhead Pass via Far Black Clough. The traffic on the Woodhead Pass was horrendous,after having been in silence for several hours.I then took an impure fell running line up the A6024, (well, I am a veteran and 40 milesis still a long way!) I branched west across themoors at Holme Moss mast to Black Hill. Ashort break there of ten minutes and a hamand beetroot sandwich revived my spirits,as did meeting up with a fell runner whotops this particular hill three times a weekin his training schedule. I reached the thirdtop, Black Chew Head, at 11. 15.am.Next came the section that I hadn’t reallybeen looking forward to - the long traverseacross Bleaklow followed by crossing theroad at Snake summit and finally, via MillHill and Kinder Gates, to reach the fourthtop, on Kinder Scout. Climbing up Torside from the Woodhead reservoir was not aspainful as I had expected it to be- probably because I wasn’t under the pressure ofattempting to race up it - as in the Marsden to Edale fell race. This climb set the pace forthe rest of the journey. Slow.Over Bleaklow, I met two walkers bravely setting out on the Pennine Way with largerucksacks and bundles of optimism. I hope the rain that came down later in the daydidn’t dampen their ardour.

Dark Peak News October 2007 page 23Finally, I reached Kinder Low at 4pm, having discovered, whilst putting on a heavieranorak with the approaching rain, that mobile telephone reception was possible atKinder Downfall. I rang home to let them know I was OK.My pace had slowed by now and the trek back to Fairholmes via Edale was beginningto feel a long way. I opted again for the low level, (aging veteran’s), route that promiseda beer stop in Edale, I finally hauled back into Fairholmes via Hope Cross and HaggFarm at 7.35pm.I greedily consumed a hot bath and a good meal when I got home, having completedthe circuit in 14 hours, 35 minutes.If you would like to sponsor this run in the Derbyshire hills, despite its retrospectivenature, then please contact me at: email@colinlago.co.uk All contributions made to St.Luke’s Hospice in Sheffield. Many thanks.Colin LagoSDC Cumbrian Traverse, 23-24 July 2006Late last July, a select little group of friends legged it over a lot of Lake District Hillsfor fun on a route known as the SDC Cumbrian Traverse. The run was devised by Dickand Sue Courchee and includes 21 tops, 46k and 3700ft of ascent (ref: The FellrunnerFeb 2006).Dick Pasley, Alison Shepherd, Alan Yates and me, ably supported at road crossingsby Colin Henson and Alison’s Dad, (Roy), had one hell of a time not only on the route,but also during the more restful pre-event supper, victory dinner and morning-afterdeliberations.In the true spirit of adventure the preparations consisted of the best Cumberlandsausage in the Lakes, (including gravy!), at The Newfield Inn, Seathwaite, several pintsof Hawkshead best bitter, a few hours kip in High Moss, the Rucksack Club hut, andthen up at 4.30am to Dick’s finest hand-made porridge.The start from Broughton Mills at 6.15am was incredible. The Lakes at their best –early morning light, warm breeze and scenery to rival anything I’ve seen anywhere.The Broughton Fells are superb, with grand little summits and grassy paths, and nobodyelse around. In fact we didn’t see anyone else until the Old Man of Coniston. Apartfrom a brief rice pudding stop on Caw we maintained a good pace until finally leavingthe Duddon Valley views at Great Carrs, we turned and skipped gleefully down to theThree Shire Stone at Wrynose Pass. Obvious signs of supporter revelry were evident:Colin and Roy each with a ‘post-fry-up’ grin provided us with cups of tea whilstunsuccessfully trying to conceal a rather large frying pan.The next leg is long – no support until Honister and the day was warming upconsiderably. Alan took a better line than the rest of us to Cold Pike; we unintentionallycircumnavigated Red Tarn but joined him rather embarrassedly to much chortling onthe summit some five minutes later. By Crinkle Crags it was stinking hot and water wasgetting low. A brief stop before Bowfell then on through the rocky ground to Esk Hause,

Dark Peak News October 2007 page 24where Dick left us and went ahead to Great End whilst the rest of us called at Calf Coveto fill water bottles. We reached Styhead at 2.30pm after over eight hours of fun. I domean fun. Although the run is quite demanding, it was obvious from the banter that wewere all enjoying this little ramble. Spirits were good then, but the climb up Great Gableloomed in front. Alison and Alan set off without a stop here;; Dick and I had five minutesfor afternoon tea and scones by the stretcher box before following.Meanwhile back at the ranch, or Keswick in this case, Colin and Roy were wanderingaround pretending to be shopping for the evening meal. Actually they did rather well,especially in the wine department.After the Gables and along the ridge of Brandreth and Grey Knotts we never saw Alan– apparently he had the urge to make haste for his tin and a pipe of sardines, or was itthe other way round? Colin and Roy met us again at Honister, where the ‘flying’ Doctor(Moseley) joined in - at least we would be safe now. We lounged around for 25 minuteswith no sense of urgency, drinking tea and eating Nellie Wytkin’s treacle flapjack. Alandidn’t find his sardines but was contentedly puffing away on his pipe like a WindermereFerry whilst accusing Colin of eating them.With the doc on board, obviously fresh and like a coiled spring, (I do believe in creditwhere it’s due), we set off up Dale Head like loonies, round to High Spy and on toMaiden Moor. The doc’s knee soon had him back to a sensible pace. Cat Bells wasdeserted, the afternoon visitors having gone home - it was fantastic in the evening light.The views and colour layers of the Sailbeck hills to the left were perfect. On our rightwas the full length of Derwent Water with Keswick beckoning across the other side.Through the woods now with Colin, who joined us at the road, for the jog throughPortinscale, and the run up to the Moot Hall. We did it in 12hrs 49mins. We could haveeasily been well under twelve if we hadn’t had the rather unusually relaxed interludes,but so what - it was all part of the fun.The evening meal, in Salving House, Rosthwaite, was prepared, cooked and expertlyserved by Alan. His previously undisclosed culinary skills the envy of fellow hutresidents, and surpassed only by the wine and mirth course which extended into Sundaymorning.So, you may just detect from this brief précis that this modest little tour was fairlyOK, and worth the effort. As we said to each other at the time: “They don’t come muchbetter.”Dave LockwoodBullock Smithy, Saturday September 1stThe Bullock Smithy is another one of those challenge walks/fell runs organised by ascout group (3rd Hazel Grove). The notable others being The Fellsman and The LongMnyd. It started in 1975 and for the past two years it has also been part of the MontrailUltra-running Championship. The first thing to mention is that it is dead easy to get to

Dark Peak News October 2007 page 25and is on a main 192 bus route out of Manchester city centre. It also starts at the verycivilized time of 12.00 noon on Saturday. It is always the first Saturday of September.There is sleeping space available and finishing in just over 12 hours means that I had adecent kip, a bit of breakfast and got back to Nottingham just before lunch on Sunday.The organisation was brilliant, even down to waitress service at the end of the race.There was a lot to eat and drink at the checkpoints with everything from Cliff bars anddoughnuts to hot dogs and soup. I would to say that the scouts run these events reallywell indeed. The course might not suit some fell running purists and you would certainlynot want to run it in a pair of Walshes. It is 56 miles and takes in a real mix of terrainwith quite a lot of extremely hard, rocky tracks. The route goes out from Hazel Grovethrough the Hope Valley to Castleton. From there it is down to Miller’s Dale and EarlSterndale. Then the course heads to the Macclesfield Forest and back to Manchester. Imust say that I found the whole event this year a lot more pleasant than the previous yearand did manage to finish two hours faster. However, this might have had something todo with the group I was with and also the ridiculous quantity of Energy Source Xtremethat I drank.These long races can be very sociable events because you are out for a long time andrunning at a pace that allows you to have a chat. This time I found myself in a groupwith three other runners at Earl Sterndale and I ended up enjoying their company somuch that I stayed with them until the end of the race about four hours later. We goton really well, were spot on with the navigation and really helped each maintain acracking pace right up until we finished. We all came in together at 12.36 am. I wouldcertainly recommend the Bullock Smithy, but choose your shoes carefully. Last year Iwas wearing a pair of Montrail shoes that are almost bomb proof. This year I went outin a pair of much lighter Mizuno shoes that have left most of my toes looking black andfrost-bitten.RatingsCourse (the minus point being the road sections)Value for money (loads of free food and free accomodation)Organisation (really efficent)Overall rating Dominic FletcherLongshaw, Sat September 8thNice weather for running on the hills: no rain, not much wind and a tad cool. No recordstoday though. Unfortunately, about an hour before the race, a helpful soul was walkingthe moors and cleared about a mile of “litter”, i.e. all the tape that the course markershad put out the previous evening! What can you do?!

Dark Peak News October 2007 page 26Simon Harding won for the second year and improved his time. Early leader JonMorgan was just behind him, having been hampered by the wombling activities of thehelpful soul mentioned above. He got the V40 trophy. Jenny Johnson got the cup forfirst lady.Tim Ray won the newly inaugurated prize for first runner who arrived by tractorand Elizabeth Bridgen was awarded the much-coveted and prestigious prize of thePresident’s Spurtle (honestly… it’s not in the Concise Oxford but try Googling it), forthe runner with the muckiest legs.Thanks to all of you who ran and marshalled - hope you enjoyed it. For those of youthat didn’t turn up this year, hope you enjoyed what you were doing half as much as therest of us did. If you see a bloke on the hills with a load of red and white tape stickingout of his rucksack please throttle him with it.See you all next year.Dave MoseleyLake District Mountain Trial, Sun September 9thThe 55th Trial (held at Hartsop Hall, Patterdale) was a cracker. Good weather forrunning, (warm with a fresh wind and some low cloud on the tops in the afternoon). Thecourses were tough but offered good route choices and a lot of climbing.Mens trial ‘ideal’ route was 22.6 km with 2700 meters of ascent. The womens trial was17.5 km with a height gain of 1710m visiting checkpoints two, three, four, six and sevenused in the mens trial. The short course was 14.2km with a height gain of 1450m.Jim Davies of Borrowdale won the mens race in 4hrs 12mins. Dark Peak runners putin some great performances with John Hunt in fourth and seven of us inside the top 35.We were also second team, narrowly losing out to Borrowdale.The womens race was won by Karen Nash of Preston Harriers in 4 hrs 3 mins. Kirstyfinished fourth, ably supported by Nicky, Julia and Jo. Ambleside won the womens teamprize.Ben Stevens of Ilkley Harriers won the short race. A good showing from Dark Peakwith nine finishers.Richard Asquith, author of ‘Feet in the Clouds’, presented the prizes, (after completingthe short race), and the tradition of a free pint for competitors was revived this yearcourtesy of Jennings Brewery.I’ve put the results and prize winners on to the Trial website (www.ldtma.org.uk). I’mhopeful that in the next week the winners’ routes will also be available.Finally, entries were up 40% this year and we reached our limit a week before theclosing date. If you are thinking of competing next year, (and you really should do - thisis a race ALL fell runners should attempt, including our chairman, although tight fittingleopard skin lycra is banned), then make sure you get your entry in early. Entries openin June next year............Simon Patton

Dark Peak News October 2007 page 27The Royal Dungworth, Sat September 29thAutumn is officially here. DPFR’s joyful ritual celebration of mellow fruitfulness waswell attended, (with numbers back to usual levels, thanks to grass-roots resistance torenewed attempts to airbrush our race out of history). We had a good mix of star turns,newcomers and old stagers (including the Harmer/Berry double act of former winners),with a welcome leavening of participants from far afield, upholding the established‘international’ flavour of the event.Well done to Tom Webb who took the coveted Granville Harper Trophy for the secondtime, (previously claiming it in 2005 in a memorable dead heat with Rob Smith),holding off strong contention from Darren, Mick, Gavin, and dark horse John Slate ofHallamshire.The Moose Head went to the first ladies team of Pat and Mandy from Totley AC, anaward greeted with much vociferous approbationControversy surrounds the disqualification of Andy Howie and Ann Watmore. The rolein this scandal of Chris Barber, marshalling at Ughill, will be investigated by officials.Without prejudice to their formal report, Hiro’s Fan, (gross simulacrum of), is now inthe joint custody of Andy and Ann, thus bringing further distinction to the RucksackClub.Andy’s disqualification left the field open to cagey old Phil Wheatcroft to snatch themantle for 2007 as club champion of Knott Fell Runners, (The Royal Dungworth havingbeen since time immemorial their championship event).At the debriefing the matter was raised of placings in the Loxley Valley RoughRunning Series, (of which The Royal Dungworth is the culmination). It remains unclearwhose hands will be on the grotesque neo-fascist Brugarolas Cup this year, but TimRay’s name was mentioned by those in the know, (John Gunnee). Watch the website fora formal announcement.Grateful thanks to all at The Royal Hotel for providing us with such warm hospitality,fine beer and glorious pie. Also to be thanked are Arthur Bright who opens the carparkgates for us, John Edwards who supplied punctilious assistance in marking thecourse, the kind man who strims the footpaths for Bradfield Parish Council and, last butnot least, David Sanderson of Woodside Farm who continues to allow us to invade hisprivacy and trample his fields all the way up to Jones’s Corner.Date for next year (a premptive strike against the would-be saboteurs): Saturday,September 27, at the usual time of 11am.Alan YatesWe’ve ended up with an awkward space at the bottom of this page, sohere, by way of filler material, is a picture of John Keats. If you’d liketo sink deeper into his season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, followthis link:http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/313050.htmlEd

Dark Peak News October 2007 page 28Dark Peak adventures in time...10 years ago...There were tributes to former club chairman TonyTrowbridge, who had died in his sleep from extensive butundiagnosed heart disease, aged 54. Just hours earlier, he hadcompleted a gruelling hill session with Clare Crofts, whohe was coaching at the time. Graham Berry paid tributeat the funeral, praising Tony’s generosity, determination,thoughtfulness and commitment. The AGM approved a TonyTrowbridge Memorial Trophy, which would be awarded tothe first V50 in the Edale Skyline. Howard Swindells stooddown as Equipment Officer. His parting gift to new manRichard Hakes was the “Baumeister Box”, containing thelast remaining DPFR white tracksuit top. The AGM reinstated the Triple Crossing forevery third club championship, with the two intervening years being run as a “mountaintrial”. Colin Lago completed only the fourth DPFR circuit of the “Eleven Trigs” on theHarveys White Peak map. He clocked the second fastest time: 10hrs 40mins.20 years ago...The “slow group” found bullets whistling over their headson a Wednesday night run near the Headstone. The farmerwas shouting that he had shooting rights and had chosen toexercise them. This was the latest of several confrontationsover trespassing around the conduit between Redmires andMoscar. The club decided to run elsewhere pending talksto try to thaw relations. Dark Peak News was just going toprint when news came in of Andy Harmer’s record for the15 Trigs: “On a fine sunny day with a cool breeze and thegoing good-to-firm, Andy stormed around the trigs in 10hours, four minutes and 23 seconds, knocking 54 minutes offBob Berzins’ record.” Andy’s superb run prompted suggestions that a sub ten hourmight be possible. Twenty years on, the record still stands. Will McLewin reported onthe inaugural “Four Corners Race”, in which teams travelled to the four corners of theOS Dark Peak map and then raced to the centre. It was part of the club’s tenth birthdaycelebrations. A re-run was mooted for the twentieth birthday. Did it ever happen?

Dark Peak News October 2007 page 29The Dog’s DiaryPhil Crowson has chalked up a Dark Peak first by managing to get lost betweenregistration and the start of a race. Mike Nolan took pity on the witless Philand gave him detailed instructions for negotiating the half-mile to the start of theMount Famine race. He then rather foolishly let him out of his site, whereupon Philnipped into some woods to lighten his load, lost touch with the rest of the runnersand missed the start after going walkabout. He was later seen trying to regain thequarter-mile he lost on the rest of the field on the first hands-and-knees climb.You’d never catch Kev Saville being so disorganised. He drove up to the Lakes in suchgood time for the Dunmail to Wasdale leg of the Bob Graham Round that he had timeto get his head down in the car for some kip before the runners arrived. Unfortunately,he parked a little too far away from the point where the runners cross the road. Sofar away, in fact, that nobody knew he was there. The runners came through, got fedand watered, changed their supporters and headed off up Steel Fell while Kevin sleptblissfully on before waking alone some hours later.My ear has been bent by club chairman Andrew Moore. He felt - strongly - thatthe reference in the last edition to his reckless custody of the Skyline timekeepingequipment was, to quote, “a pack of lies”. Harsh, and not something I take lightly.I have been back to my sources, (there were several), who insist that my account ofevents was, well, broadly accurate. All I can do really is leave you to make your ownminds up. I do not wish to damage Mr Moore’s reputation, and should probably nowleave him alone for a while. But I can’t resist passing on a snippet that reached merecently about his early career aspirations. It seems he tried to get into the RAF butfailed to pass some key tests. The job he was after? You guessed it... a navigator.Interesting new Bob Graham diet technique from Mark Harvey. I’m told his intakeon the hills was next to nothing, augmented with a chicken curry at Wasdale whilethe other contenders walloped down the traditional stodge. This lack of carbohydrateinduced the mother of all bonks, with Mark simultaneously losing the powers ofmovement, speech and thought. His supporters had to keep themselves amused whileMark ambled aimlessly behind them like a trappist zombie. If you’ve not yet seen thevideo of his trance-like meanderings on the hills, treat yourself now:http://www.youtube.com/user/FellrunnerJimWuffThe Dog’s Diary consists of assorted snippets collected by Chase the dog while out running.Whisper your titbits in his ear, or e-mail him in his kennel: holmesloxley@blueyonder.co.uk

Dark Peak News October 2007 page 30The kit pageWhy go running in your mother’s old swimsuit when you could kit yourself out with allthis excellent Dark Peak gear? For details of latest kit stocks, contact Equipment OfficerRichard Hakes: 0114 2339912; kit@dpfr.org.ukNeoprene socks £12For keeping your tootsieswarm on those cold winternights.30-year t’s £8In a full range ofsizes, from XL toVVVVS.A l u m i n i u msleeping bags£16.00Just what you needif you come acrossa hyperthermic oldman in his mum’sbathing costume.Stick him in oneof these andleave the restto mountainrescue.

Dark Peak News October 2007 page 31The fashion pageHenley, Royal Ascot, Wimbledon, Thornbridge - the social pinnacles of Britishhigh summer. All with an ostensibly sporting theme, but all equally well known fortheir cuisine, their ambience and for their peacock displays from the country’s mosttalked-about socialites. Dark Peak News took its camera to Thornbridge to bring youunparalleled access to the chaps chapeaux making the fashionista pace this summer...

Front cover: A black-eyed and bloody-nosedTim Mackey after falling in the Ben Nevis race.This page: Mick Stenton makes a mess of hisvest after headbutting Pendle Hill in the HalfTour of Pendle.