Calder Valley Fell Runners were once again in action last weekend, with 5 teams competing in the British Fell Running Championship relays at Grasmere, in the Lake District. The event was hosted by Ambleside AC and provided a true test of fell running skill, navigation and endurance; with 4 challenging legs, ultimately deciding who would be crowned the male and female champions of 2018.

Prior to the event, Calder’s potential chances of winning medals were strong, with the A team, Vet 40, Vet 50 and female Vet 40 teams, all amoungst the favorites in their respective categories. However, the most pressure and attention was focused on the former, who had a real chance of winning the overall title for the second time in the last 4 years.

Leg one was an individual race, contested over 5 miles, with 2400ft of climb. ‘The Welsh Wizard’, Math Roberts, gave the team a solid start on leg, finishing in 11^th place overall. Admittedly, he was a little disappointed not to break into the top 5, but it was enough to keep their hopes of a podium finish alive.

Team captain, Ben ‘The Bullet’ Mounsey and partner, Andy ‘The Ginger Wizard’ Swift, took over the reins on leg 2, and quickly set their sights on the leading teams. They had the task of battling over the most extreme mountainous terrain, covering 6.7miles with 2800ft of climb. By the finish, they’d managed to claw their way back into 5^th place and also record the 5^th fastest time of the day, mainly thanks to a combination of superb climbing and descending on the most challenging sections of the course.

Ben Mounsey and Andy Swift on leg 2 at the British Fell Relay 2018

Leg three, arguably the crux of the race, tested the navigation skills of paired runners. Armed with nothing but a map and compass, they had to negotiate their way to five (previously unknown) checkpoints, as quickly as possible. This leg was a job for the most reliable and experienced athletes on the team, Karl ‘The Legend’ Gray and partner Darren ‘Special’ Kay. With little margin for error, they coped with the pressure of the leg brilliantly, guiding the team safely back to the finish and retaining 5^th place, with everything to play for going into the last leg.

Alex ‘The Flying Postman’ Whittem had the honor of the anchor leg, but the mammoth task of trying to break into the top 3, as he tackled the 4.3 mile route with 2000ft of climb. Despite a strong start, Whittem took a poor line and lost his way for some time, before finally getting back on track and finding the race flags. This unfortunate error cost the team a couple of places and although he finished with a flourish on the last descent, it wasn’t enough to improve on a 7^th place finish overall.

The race also ended in heartbreak for Calder Valley’s male Vet 40 and 50 teams. The former, finishing in an agonising 4^th place and narrowly missing out on a bronze team medal. The latter, finished in 5^th place, only 3 minutes behind Clayton Le Moors in third place.

There was however, something to celebrate for at least one of Calder teams, with the female Vet 40 team, managing to secure a well-earned bronze medal for their combined efforts. In arguably, the closest-fought contest of the day, Valley’s Catherine Holden, managed to hold off her Helm Hill rival to claim third place by only 2 seconds!!!

Jo Buckley and Jackie Scarf

The Calder Valley open team finished in 165^th position.

The overall competition was won by Pudsey and Bramley and Helm Hill, who were crowned the male and female champions, respectively.

In other news, professional athlete, Holly Page, continues to make waves on the international scene, as she secured an outstanding victory at the Otter Trail, in South Africa. The Calder Valley runner set another course record and in the process beat a star-studded field, to again demonstrate her dominance on the world long-distance mountain running circuit. This victory coming only a week after Page was crowned the Skyrunning World champion for 2018.

Holly Page at the Otter trial

– Calder Valley News Reporter: Ben Mounsey

The Lakes In A Day is a fifty mile ultra race, starting in the far north of the National Park at Caldew, and finishing beyond the southern boundary in Cartmel. In-between the route visits High Pike, crosses the River Caldew and descends Blencathra by Halls Fell, before a traverse of the Hellvellyn range. The second half is a wooded trail run from Ambleside, along the western shores of Windermere leading to the finish in Cartmel.

Entrants were probably hoping for the benign conditions experienced during last year’s race. Storm Callum had other plans, lashing them with rain, hail and gales for the entirety of the time it took them to finish this epic run.

Dougie Zinnis ran strongly, if not entirely accurately, putting in extra miles in the difficult conditions. However he finished in an excellent 6th place after 10 hours 44 minutes hours. He admitted he suffered from bad chafing from running in sodden clothes. He’ll not forget the Vaseline next time.

Dougie Zinis – Lakes in a day

Calder women Gill Dickson, Stella Cristanthou and Diane Wright committed to running as a group. As the conditions got worse they found themselves fording thigh deep rivers in the middle of the night, but sticking together gave them the strength to carry on. They completed their heroic effort in 22 and a half hours. Over fifty other runners retired. Gill said it was an experience she didn’t want to repeat and promised not to do anything so daft in the future. It’s understood she’s already thinking of applying for next year’s event.

Stella, Di and Gill finish the Lakes in a Day

The race was jointly won by Katie Kaars Sijpesteijn and Clarens Olsson in 10:45:01. Katie also won £500 for breaking the women’s course record.

Rombalds Romp

Named after the legendary giant, Rombald’s Romp held last Sunday is a somewhat shorter 8 mile race, climbing 1200ft over Ilkley Moor. Calder’s tiny giant killer, Lucy Collins was first woman back in 1:03:36 with Jo Buckley in 3rd (and 1st FV40). Rachel Johnston was 1st FV50 and Dan Marsden was 19th in 1:03:50.

1st place for Lucy Collins

– Calder Valley News Reporter: Tim Brooks

Old and young red and white hoops took to the fells last Sunday, dashing across Bronte country at the Withins Skyline fell race. 

Starting from Penistone Hill Country Park and circuiting The Stoop and Top Withens, the 6.2 mile senior race then returns by Bronte Bridge. Paul Haigh, first CV home, completed the course in 48 minutes, 5 minutes faster than last year and finishing an impressive 25th out of 246.

Geneveive Withins Skyline

Meanwhile, on the same day the ‘Hodgson Brothers Mountain Relay’ was happening in the heart of the Lake District. It takes place every year on the first Sunday in October, and attracts around 70 of the top teams from across the country.

The race is a tough one, with 4 legs each throwing up their separate challenges, including hard climbs and steep descents on difficult terrain. As well as challenging terrain, the route requires careful navigation, especially in bad weather.

CVFR Mixed team with Jo Waites and Jo Buckley starting on leg1 at IHB Relay 2018

CV fielded 2 teams this year, a Men’s and a Mixed Team, both of whom did very well. The Men’s Team (Alex Whittem, Gavin Mulholland, Ben Mounsey, Andy Swift, Darren Kay, Tim Ellis, Karl Grey and Matt Roberts) took 3^rd prize and the Mixed Team (Jo Waites, Jo Buckley, Mark Burton, Mark Taylor, Rachel Johnson, Molly Heitz, Martin Howard and Ian Symington) were 5^th.  

– Calder Valley News Reporter:Gill Dickson