18.83 And All That

I didn't know until Saturday that Coope's Dozen is so long. I have always booked 18 miles and as I count half miles I must be about 6 miles short at the moment. Barry Allman verified the distance using the latest equipment

Sorry for the delay in posting this report. Having poor computer skills I have been trying, without success, to post some photos. I will try again today and hope for the best!

Nine of us were ready for photos and the off when Mat turned up. However we did get away by 9.03.

The fast group, this year, was a small one but high calibre in content. FSS and Albert Sunter participated.They sped over the horizon in quick time.

The slow group consisted of NLN (we must change this pseudonym for one more appropriate),TF, Mat, Barry Allman, Barry Tyson and two of his friends, one of which I have down as Peter. EtU didn't start with us because of drainage problems (at home, not personally) but he joined us on Winter Hill Flats.

All went well on the circuit to Hordern Stoops where Joan and Christina met us with refreshments.The climb from Egg Hillock to Counting Hill, which I always detest, was particularly difficult this year in that the vegitation was unusually high, perhaps because of all the recent rain. We reached Hordern Stoops in just under two an a half hours to be told that Ian and Albert had gone through about 50 minutes earlier! Ian subsequently confirmed that his time there was 1.35 and that he and Albert stopped for 4 minutes.

Barry Tyson and one of his friends (not Peter, the other one) had had enough at this point and returned to The Barn. The rest of us eventually got away and were soon toiling to, and from, Old Adam Hill. EtU told me that Paul Murray had suggested that this summit be included in the dozen. I must have a word with him! Spittlers and Great Hill were then attained with some welcome striding out on the flags (over the mud for EtU with his unused legs). Then, with some trying navigational variances, Round Loaf (or Brown Loaf as Mat knows it) was reached, and from there to refreshments again near to Waterman's Cottage. I don't know in what time we reached this point and was probably past caring. Unfortunately, because Joan and Christina's schedule was governed by the time that the slow group left Hordern Stoops, they missed Ian and Albert. Sorry Ian and Albert and sorry Albert that your personal refreshments remained in the car.

The refreshment point was left for the trudge over Healey Nab and to the finish. Whilst everyone was going quite well, my memory is of NLN, who urged us to leave the refreshment point, forging ahead, sometimes into the distance, with Mat occasionally making a vain attempt to stay with her.

Ian and Albert finished in a very impressive 3.28.18 and the rest of us in about five and a half hours.