Merry Moors for Ed

Calder Valley Fell Runners – 13th December 2021

At first glance this looks like the 2021 version of Moors the Merrier. Don’t be fooled; 21 isn’t a year, it’s the number of miles to go from start to finish of what is a challenging but enjoyable event on the moors, valleys, and trails of the Upper Calder Valley. Entrants can opt to complete the event as a long distance walk or non-competitive runner with an early start time to give everyone a chance of finishing in the light or as a fell race with a slightly later start time and with all the fun of catching the walkers along the way.

Held on Saturday 11th December Moors the Merrier 21 is one of a series of good quality events put on by Craggrunners. Coming in the lead-up to Christmas, there is a definite festive theme to the event and this weekend there was a full complement of 124 walkers and runners with 47 opting for the early 8.00am start and 77 for the full fell race at 9.00am. There were three retirements along the way. 

As well as carrying full waterproof gear to account for the range of weather that can be experienced on open moorland, entrants had to bring two other items – a santa hat and a present for the bran barrel at the finish.

The event starts and finishes at Hebden Bridge Golf Course with the anti-clockwise route taking in Midgley, Wadsworth, Heptonstall and Erringden Moors through four checkpoints with a final big climb out of the valley bottom back to the Golf Club.

Ed emerging out of the mist at High Brown Knoll

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