Due North with Mounsey and Spinks

13 CV women swapped racing for a Due North training weekend in Kettlewell recently, determined to pick up new fell running tips and advice.

Calder Valley Ladies on tour wit Nicky Spinks

Photos: CV women at start of a Kettlewell pack run

The weekend featured 2 legendary fell runners; the inspirational Nicky Spinkes (renowned in fell running history as the fastest person to run a Double Bob Graham Round) and the club’s very own hero and national champion Ben Mounsey. The opportunity for hearing about their quests, training programmes and fell running tips was snapped up by the club, with CV making up almost half of the course participants.  

The masterclasses by Ben and Nicky were interspersed with pack runs, mud,food, drink and plenty of smiles and laughter. 

CV with Nicky Spinkes (3rd from left, back row)

Said Gill Dickson: ’It was a great weekend, learning top tips from the experts and being with friends. Spending time with the legendary Nicky Spikes, hearing about her training programmes and uphill techniques, was fantastic. Ben’s descending demonstrations down sheer vertical scree drops was very impressive yet terrifying! I’ve got a long way to go before I can even contemplate running down drops like that!’