Burbage Skyline, Scrabble Scramble..! The things we think about when racing. Dot Kesterton explains all… Here

Castleton ‘Monsoon’ Fell Race, in words by Matt Ridge as he tackles his first ever fell race in, quite frankly, rubbish conditions…. Here

It happens, yet as ever the fell running community did what the fell running community always does, just got on with it. Smiling of course.

OK, so things went a little askew, there was a definite moment of confusion for both the runners and for the race organiser. Yet this is fell running. So what happened? Without delving into a public enquiry the lead runners were sent the wrong way on the course by a race marshal. At the top of the first climb the leaders it would appear were directed towards the summit of Win Hill as opposed to dropping down towards Ladybower Reservoir. Oops…  Then a number of runners in the mid pack stopped and questioned the route. I (Stu) appeared over the hill and I was asked the actual route. I agreed that I felt the runners were right, ‘You drop down’. The cry went up from another runner calling everyone back… most did turn back, around the top 20 (estimate) didn’t.
It was a ‘mess of fell runners’ for only a few minutes as runners charged one way, then turned and charged back again. Come on folks, it was verging on the comical and looking back, yes I’m laughing at the memory. To their credit the runners who turned, carried on and raced.  One runner was laughing, ‘Only in fell running, and it’s flippin’ freezing so I’m keeping going’.  Never a truer word.
So now we have two sets of runners, potentially heading around Win Hill towards each other… have to say we did have a laugh at the thought of this one on the side of the hill.  Fortunately, the leaders hit the top of the hill and just turned and ran to the finish.  Although, a couple did try to make amends and cut across the heather to join the route proper.

The Race organiser was contacted.  He was, for a minute, speechless…then, ‘Tell me that again’.  His next words can not be printed…  As to the poor marshal.  Look, we really appreciate you being on the hill, in the horrible weather we had tonight. Stuff happens, everyone was safe and got back to base OK. So have a whiskey, laugh at the confusion of the sight of runners going in a multitude of directions. It’s OK, it’s fell running.  We all had a good time and that’s what matters.
Why didn’t I get the camera out, I have no idea… you just had to be there, definitely potential for a Monty Python sketch.

More Winners than Losers
So here’s what happened with the results.
The leaders of the race who completed, what shall from this point forward, be known as the Hope Wakes Fun Run, all got a prize… As to those that got it right and battled to finish the full course, with a little extra, they took the trophies home.

Fun Run Winners:
Stuart Bond and Helen Thorncliffe
Longer Than Expected Race, Winners:
David Sykes and Anna Hoogkamer  (Yes, Dave we agree you should get a mention in Fell Runner Mag, too.)

As for the Gritstone Series Leader Board… how do we sort this one out?  Well we don’t.  This is ‘the Round That Didn’t Happen’.  It won’t count for the series. We think that is only right.  For having made this decision, you will now only have to complete 3 of the ‘Short’ Series Races, not 4… I’ll amend the website to reflect this in the coming days.

So that’s it folks… a new kind of race format arrived on the scene tonight, albeit vaguely familiar and it became known as the Hope Wakes Fun Run – very much the ‘Round’ that wasn’t.

Ahhh well, All’s Well That Ends Well.

Castleton Fell Race: A Frantic Weekend of Racing Part 1. It was battle royal in the ladies race and a course record for the men.  Full Race Report Here

Accelerate Edale Fell Race: More tactical than super quick, yet the leaders were still forced to earn their positions. Full Race Report Here

Great Hucklow Fell Race: First Time Winner, by Accelerate Supported Runner, Tom Saville. Simply his story on his first senior win. Full Race Report Here

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2010 Race Reports

Wolfs Pit Fell Race: The Series has now received over 100 entries and the ‘Bradda Dads’ who organised the Wolf’s Pit Fell Race Report Here

Burbage Skyline: A record entry, long queues, a delayed start and a dry beer beer cask. It may well have been a chilly evening, but… Report Here

Burbage Skyline, Take 2: For Lucy this was her first ever fell race and for some reason the ‘big yellow flag’ caught here attention….. Report Here

Castleton Fell Race: Once again fell runners came out in force for Round 3 of the Accelerate Gritstone Series. Entries were again way up… Report Here

Accelerate Edale Fell Race: A previous counter in the National Fell Championships this event deserves it’s ‘tough’ reputation… Report Here

Great Hucklow Fell Race: Local races can sometimes be a full gone conclusion when you see the starting line up. This years Great Hucklow Fell Race proved to be an exception… Report Here

Longshaw Fell Race: Our very own Debs has put fingers to keypad to produce this amusing recollection of a great little race… Report Here

Windgather Fell Race: This was Dot’s first ever year of fell racing and this her final run in the Series. An interesting look at the race form a V50…. Report Here

2009 Race Reports

Burbage Skyline: Mark recently moved to Sheffield from the Fens of Lincolnshire and this was only his second ever fell race. Report Here

Castleton Fell Race: Mark couldn’t resist and came back for more. Braving the rain and the mist on the summit of Mam Tor he… Report Here

Accelerate Edale Fell Race:
At last a ladies view. Lucy put fingers to keyboard to send in this report. She reports on the perils of fell racing and the hospitality… Report Here