Thought I'd just share the words of the Organisers following cancellation of the LDMT. David and Miriam were entered as competitors both due to start at 8.30am, but I believe set off earlier to test out conditions.

  2013 Mountain Trial Cancelled

We want to express our apologies that we were not able to stage the Mountain Trial this year. All the key officials were really keen that the Trial should go ahead if at all possible; it has never previously been cancelled simply for bad weather.

As you know, we had several days’ warning of the depression, but the exact timing and intensity are never certain. As it was, the timing could hardly have been worse with the high winds starting at 7 a.m. and heavy rain following a few hours later. It only started to improve in mid-afternoon.

When one set of marshals understandably said that they couldn’t reach the first control, the two of us volunteered to start early and take the SI box. However, reports soon followed of extreme weather conditions and of other marshals who could not reach their positions. It was becoming clear that conditions were too severe, even for the experienced fell runners who enter the trial. So very reluctantly the decision was taken to cancel and we are very grateful for the understanding that you all showed. We know that some people had travelled a long way to compete.

On our trip up the fell, we found that conditions were just about manageable in many places although often it was a battle against the wind and visibility was just a few yards. However, the wind was particularly strong on the high passes and it was obvious that traversing exposed ridges and summits would be out of the question.

We are grateful to those of you who volunteered to run up to some of the checkpoints to inform the marshals of the cancellation. On their return, those runners confirmed that while it was quite enjoyable to nip up and back down, the conditions were not suitable for a long difficult race.

A further factor was that the heavy rain in the late morning was sufficient to put the becks in spate and crossing what are normally minor streams became difficult and dangerous. David had to climb half way back up the hillside he had just descended in order to find a feasible crossing place of a stream at the head of Langstrath.

You will understand that most of the costs of staging the Trial were incurred even though we had to cancel. We have a meeting of the LDMTA committee in two weeks’ time and I will email you again after that to say what we will be doing about the entry fees.

I’m sure you’ll join us in thanking the many helpers and marshals as well as Borrowdale Youth Hostel and Petzl our sponsors.

David & Miriam Rosen Organisers

Gives you a flavour of the dedication of the people organising the events we enjoy so much.

TF