CELIA'S BOB GRAHAM

Report and Photos by Allan Greenwood

Calder Valley member Celia Mills achieved a long held ambition on Sunday 10th June when she managed to complete the classic Bob Graham Round route, a circuit of 42 lakeland peaks, running around 70 miles and climbing and descending around 28,000 feet. Despite fantastic weather and a truly great support team, some of whom had travelled up from her home town of Warwick, there was heartbreak in the final mile, when 24 hours expired as Celia emerged onto the road with the finishing point of Keswick Moot Hall in sight. Her final time was 24 hours and 4 minutes.

Celia on Great Calva

Towards the end of leg 4, Celia was around an hour down on her schedule of 23 hour 20 minutes. By Honister Pass, with 60 miles down and with just three peaks to climb, Celia was tired but still hopeful. The support team decided that she wouldn't have time to stop and rest. However, with 40 minutes safety net in the schedule and with the gaining of a further 15 minutes by going straight on, it was still possible to "do it" in the space of a day.

In short, she went into the final section at just 5 mins over 24 hour pace. Despite a tremendous effort, flying down the final descent and flogging herself along the road, to the sound of unrepeatable "encouragement" from her training partner Paul Atkinson, (Calder Valley Kennilworth branch) in was all in vain.

Ascending Yewbarrow

Borrowdale's Andy "Scoffer" Schofield took Celia over the final 3 hills, Dale Head, Hindscarth and Robinson, and commented afterwards that "she's really got some guts". Chris Cripps of Wasdale, navigator on the previous leg (4), was amazed at her strength on the climb of Dale Head. "I stopped to get a drink before carrying on with her for the final section. I looked up and she was half way up the hill!!"

However, Celia completed something that not many people will ever aspire to in their lifetime.

Congratulations Celia on a truly superb effort.