Angus Munro

Sunday 28/08/05

Angus Munro hill race - 15miles / 1800mtrs
(Scottish hill runners champs race)

6th place - 3hrs 14mins 50secs
SHR report and results link
Carnethy photos

Moel Eilio

Sunday 21/08/05

RHB (section 30B) - Moel Eilio 726mtrs

Had a walk up Moel Eilio this morning to get the legs going and last night's beer and wine sweated out.
The weather was much better than the last time we were up there in driving rain and gale force winds for the British champs in 2003. On that day a good section of the field went walkabout in the mist. We hoped for better on a clearer day, though the view did come and go through the wispy clouds. Suffice it to say, however, that we bodged and missed the last top of the route, but still had a nice walk with some good views of Llanberis, Anglesey, Caenarfon castle and Llyn Cwellyn along the way.

Snowdonia Seven

Saturday 20/08/05

Snowdonia Seven (Saith Eryri) mountain race - 23.5miles / 2240metres
1st place - 5hrs 20mins

RHBs (All in section 30B) -
Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) 1085mtrs
Glyder Fawr 999mtrs
Y Garn 947mtrs
Elidir Fawr 923mtrs

The team was Andy Beaty, James Hyde, Richard Unwin and me.
We also had Kate B join us from Llyn Cwmffynnon onwards, much to the bemusement of the Welsh.
We were cruising until Pen Y Pass when Richard announced what we'd all been dreading "sorry guys, but my calf has gone again". So we loped on from there as the Irish and North Wales teams passed by. It was then nip and tuck along the Glyders until some misty nav fun found us on steep scree coming off Glyder Fawr towards Llyn-Y-Cwn. The Irish followed us as we blasted down the rocks but unfortunately one of them got crocked (resulting in a chopper rescue and ankle in plaster). We finally got on course to see the Welsh ahead of us and looking safe for their second win in a row on the way up Y Garn. Richard was suffering by now so we didn't push it and decided to settle for second. This carried on all the way until the descent off Elidir Fawr when we came out of the mist to see them below us. This coincided with Richard announcing "my calf doesn't stop me descending you know". So we picked up the speed and were surprised at how quickly we caught and passed the Welsh. A crappy bit of the course which was supposed to be taped but wasn't led us to the promised track to the finish through the hydro eletctric plant. The first locked gate was a bad omen and then we came across Fort Knox, complete with razor wire and security cameras. We decided to scramble up the slate to the side to see the Welsh approach and scale the massive gates. A shout of "we wouldn't have caught you, you've won lads" came from them, but we were taking nothing for granted and kept pushing along the road. A skirmish with the security guard who was quickly palmed off got us back on track to enter the field, greeted by yet another locked gate before we finally crossed the line and Richard promptly keeled over. "Get it up ya Taffies" was close to our lips, but they were quite magnanimous in defeat. Well all except one, who has to be an ex-army corporal, the way he was shouting at the other three all the way round. The Irish had a bit of bad luck but if Richard was fit we would have taken a good half hour off that time. If we are struggling for team members next year, Kate has offered to be the (very) part time cleaner at Alston nick to qualify as an employee!
Swowdonia7 site

The left shot is a drinks stop on the way up Y Garn as we waited for Richard - James left, Andy right and Kate in the background

Sedbergh

Sun 14/08/05

Sedbergh HIlls race - 14miles / 1485mtrs
(CFR champs counter)

8th place - 2hrs 30mins 11secs

RHB (section 35A) - The Calf 676mtrs

Either my watch is knacked or the organisers have been a bit over cautious...the FRA calender bills this as 6000ft, which is 1828mts. I only measured 1485mts or 4875ft in old money. Not complaining though.
The reccies paid off, most noticeably at the start where I stole a march on the leaders and got to the shoulder under Winder ahead of the likes of R Jebb and N Sharp. This could of been a bit demoralising but I kept it going as the first few sailed past, keeping the Davies brothers in sight all the way around. The only blunder was coming off the col below Hazelgill where I found the crappy scree and Quentin from Bowland got ahead. This probably cost me getting under 2-30, but am chuffed with it none the less. It was announced at the finish that this will be an English champs race next year. Now there's a dilemma - I was thinking of doing Sierre-Zinal next year, which falls on the same date.
Pictures by Pete Jebb
Whitehaven News article
Results, which are wrong!
2003 results

Latrigg

Sun 07/08/05

Latrigg fell race - 3miles / 290mtrs
13th place - 21mins 29secs

Climbed well, descended like a ninny, not helped by wearing noddy racing flats.
I think Richard Unwin sandbagged me on that one "You can do this race in anything, they'll be fine" qv. (!!!)
The picture (courtesy of Borrowdale FR) says it all.
The Borrowdale contingent must have all been hungover, so we sneaked in to win the team prize (4 cans of ale).
Results
Times and Star article
Whitehaven News article

Borrowdale

Sat 06/08/05

Borrowdale fell race - 17miles / 1980mtrs
(Lakeland classics long counter)

24th place - 3hrs 23mins 42secs

RHBs (all in section 34B) -

Scafell Pike 978mtrs
Great Gable 899mtrs
Dale Head 753mtrs

Needs a reccy next year...
1) Went too far north at Allen Crags.
2) Dropped too low on approach to Styhead Tarn.
3) Best way off Gable to Windy Gap is the tourist path, not Jackie's traverse.
4) Perhaps the line sticking E of Brandreth was OK - needs to be checked out properly.
5) Keep a bit further W on descent off Grey Knotts to avoid craggy bits.
6) Bit further S on descent to Dalehead Tarn, again to keep to grass and off the bluffs.
7) Don't go down Tongue Gill on way out of quarries, go to the hut and pick up the grass/bracken to the gate.

But in the end, I musn't grrumble, even though I think Mike let me get past him.

Results
Westmorland Gazette article

Blencathra

Weds 03/08/05

Training run up Blencathra from Threlkeld.
? miles / 710m - 60mins

RHB (section 34A) - Blencathra 868mtrs

Parked at the P at Kilnhow Beck, up and then east to Gategill.
Ascent via Hall's Fell ridge to summit then back west along the ridge to descend Blease Fell.