Coope’s Dozen

A fine day for it – many thanks to the support provided by the man himself.  A few more pics here

New toy!

 

 

 

New paint job

Crow or Raven?  Black and white or colour?

The fast lads and lasses heading down

TYC and himself

Familiar views

 

 

 

Coope's Dozen 25th July 2015

I don't know why TYC missed the start, you may pick your explanation from the following options:-

a. He didn't want to spoil the symmetry of twelve folk starting the Dozen.

b. For superstitious reasons he wanted to avoid there being thirteen starters.

c. It was the result of the running equivalent of the young bachelor coming to work from a different direction every day.

d. None of these.

The twelve starters were:-

   

From the left:- FSS, the Kavanagh Twins, TM, Paul S, NLN, Mark, EL (Ed's Lass), Bernie, EtU, YJ, KLM and last, but definitely not least, the eponymous JtE. John, didn't run (see later) but instead generously opted to provide top rate road support and refreshments  From the whole squad - Thank You Very Much, John, you put the icing on the cake of an already promising day.

Of these twelve, I reckon eight were old hands, and four were debutantes, not a bad mix. Just a shame that other than Horwich, Chorley, Bowland and SELOC (or should that be WHO? [sorry, private joke, perhaps KLM will explain]) no other local club was represented, despite at least two having been invited.

I'll not bore you with a step by step account, but suffice to say that after Noon Hill, when we re-grouped and were joined by TYC, we fell into the usual fast, middle and (very) slow groups and we made our various ways to Hordern Stoops, where there was an element of regrouping. YJ and I were last to arrive, just behind the Twins, and we found Paul, Mark and NLN waiting for us, already enjoying the contents of the boot of John's car. Bernie and EL had already left for home, via the mast road as EL had a lunch date with her three sisters and more of her kin. FSS and TM had sprinted through and KLM and TYC had (I think) already left for home and other adventures later in the day.

Paul and Mark (debutante's, you'll remember) were waiting for someone to point them towards Old Adam's Hill, and NLN led them off to point the way. The Twins turned for home and  then YJ and I continued on the route several minutes behind Paul and Mark.

From that point on I continued to slow down, and YJ stayed with me, more avuncular style than that of an elderly brother.

We tried a new route from Round Loaf to Healey Nab, going via Jepson's gate, but this seemed to add not only distance, as expected, but also time. John was waiting at Waterman's Cottage, and after feeding us, went back to the Barn to see folk in in.

After Healey Nab we were met again by John, this on foot, he having run out to meet us, We three most senior members of the cavalcade stumbled along to the finish, with the two Johns finally agreeing to leave me with about a mile to go, so they could at least finish in style. I was last in, in 6:36 to which I notionally add another 5 minutes penalty  for by-passing Counting Hill.

So, another PW to add to my growing collection, but an otherwise great day out, I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did, with, hopefully, a little less pain.

Once again, thank you JtE, and also thank you to YJ for ongoing support throughout.

Please, if you have anything to add to the above, by way of correction, additional information or comment, do so, either by email to me (edswift@btinternet.com) or by the comment facility on this blog.

Coope’s Dozen

Some pictures from yesterday.

 

Before the start:

                                                                                                                                                               

 

The start:

 

Late starter:

 

Hordern Stoops:

 

Near Waterman’s Cottage:

 

At the finish:

A Joss with a Difference

Afternoon tea at Sty Head prepared with love and laughter by Sandra and Carol for Steve on his Joss.  More pics here

Just a reminder……..

Coope’s Dozen this coming Saturday, the 25th. July starting at the Top Barn at 9.00am.

Coope's Dozen

The Lord of Brentford regrets to announce that his knee injury has flared up again, and so he will have to decline the kind invitation to join his friends on Saturday morning.


He hopes they have an enjoyable run.

Saturday run

I won't be UTUPping on Saturday as I am planning a trip to the Langdales as part of my build up for the Langdale Marathon. My plan is to run over into Little Langdale and then over Wrynose and hopefully as far as Hardnot and then return by the same route.

At the moment I have three spare seats in the car so if anyone wants to join me they are most welcome and the road run is not compulsory.  I will be parking at the Old Dungeon Ghyl and expect to be away from the car for about three hours, which would make time for a reasonable fell run for anyone so inclined.

An early start is envisaged.

Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon 4/5th July 2015

The build up to this race had started at Easter when I noted that the only female competitor entered on the Pillar course I had just beaten in a 2 day orienteering event. I hadn't got one of the specific qualifying events listed by the organizers to acquire an entry, (lots of other stuff) but thought I could use this information if I required. So entry applied and accepted, no questions asked.

So the training for 2 long days in the hills started with the GL3D, then Helvellyn & Dodds, Duddon and finally Great Lakes, with a little trip out with YJ for good measure. I also had to practice marking up a map with controls using the provided GR's, something I'd never had to do before for a MM. I'd read plenty horror stories about people plotting controls in the wrong place or missing them off entirely. The Pillar course is a bit of a 'hybrid'. You're provided with a list of controls for the day which you can visit in any order. The pairs courses follow a prescribed order of controls.

I had a 8;25am start, KLM started nearly 30 mins later. I was a complete bundle of nerves, it was just like being back at school doing exams when the teacher says 'you can turn over your paper now'. When I tell you that one of the control descriptions was 'hill' you can imagine that the course planner was probably having a bit of a laugh at our expense. Adding to the fact that visibility was poor, the proverbial 'needle in haystack' came to mind. I spent ages plotting the controls and an equally long time trying to find the first two, and we hadn't got more than 2 miles form the start! I seriously considered throwing in the towel at that point, but thought I'd give finding another one a go. And so it went on until I bumped into KLM on the way to my 7th one. It was heartening to hear he (experienced Saunders competitor) was finding it as tough navigationally as I was. We commiserated with each other and cursed the planner. Without his considerable help I'd have certainly taken a lot longer finding number 7 and 8. Here we parted, dictated by the fact that he had to go and find a control I'd visited earlier in the day.

After 7hr52mins I crossed the finish line for Day1. Epic. At that point I was 8th and the first of the ladies back. By the end of the evening I'd dropped to 9th but still remained 1st Lady with a margin of nearly 40mins. KLM had predicted he'd be out about an hour longer than me, he was nearly right.

The overnight camp was at High Tilberthwaite. A beautiful spot in the sunshine, which we had in abundance for the rest of the evening. However hard a time me and KLM had on our course, it wasn't nearly as bad as those doing Klets or Harter who had to contend with a control that had been nicked. Can't begin to imagine how frustrating that would have been. It left the organizers a tricky conundrum as regards the results for these two courses, especially the Klets who like us on Pillar took their controls in any order.

Day 2 proved to be an easier day all round. We could see where we were going and the distance was shorter. KLM set off first this time. He had a couple of better route choices than me early on and then chose to collect the last 3 controls in a different order to me. He was back at base queuing for his food when I crossed the line, having had a much better 2nd day.  I wasn't allowed to join the food queue but was ushered to one side by the organizers. It was like coming through customs at the airport, there was something to declare and they wanted to look in my bag.

What was there to declare?

I was FIRST LADY!!!!!!!

Results are on SLMM website, and sometime later this week there'll be a photo of me with my prize. I would show it you, but I've drunk it already.

TF

Coope’s Dozen Support Arrangements

As traditionally arranged there will be a support car at the start of the event (9.00am at the Top Barn) carrying drinks and other refreshments to support  points at  Hordern Stoops (GR 655159) and at the top end of Anglezarke reservoir near to Waterman’s Cottage (GR 616179). Anyone wishing to have their particular concoction or kit transported to a support point can hand it over before the start.  If anyone wishes to complete only half the distance transport can be arranged to or from Hordern Stoops which is about the half distance point. The full distance is about 18 miles.

Coope's Dozen - Saturday 25th July 2015

2015 sees the return of our annual running of this social event to its traditional date of the Saturday before the Borrowdale race.

Please feel free, indeed you are encouraged, to promote it to as wide a circle as possible.

Michele’s Joss

Michele got round her JNLC on her 55th birthday on Saturday.  A grand day out with a bit too much drama at the end – full set of pics and story in the usual place

Don’t think Michele stopped smiling all day!

White Bear Way - walk before you run

Just had an enjoyable day doing the 21 mile White Bear Way along with YJ, TM, EtU and Kev. A great event with loads of food and an excellent course. Brilliant value for money (only £10 or £12 on the day - and you know the profits are going to a good cause).
Because of my recent injury I dare not do it as a run so did it as a walk but happy with 21.65 miles (and I didn't go astray) in 6hrs 13.
Suprised not to see Kev pass me en route, after insinuating I was a wimp at registration. Hope you had a good excuse, and weren't just wimping out to do the 10 miler. Okay I think you called me a drama queen rather than a wimp.
Thought YJ had a cracking run, pulling back my 53 minute lead due to my earlier start time by Hordern Stoops. I did manage to finish while YJ and TM were still tucking into their hotpot etc.
Having not done any running and only a little walking in the past three weeks, I can certainly feel my lack of fitness now but at least I seem to have got away with not making the leg worse. Hopefully I can try a run by the middle of the week.

Great Lakes Race

Had I known at 7.00am that the predicted break in the clag wasn't going to arrive until 3pm then I'd have opted for a more social run on Winter Hill. As it was, with the exception of Roger A's company up the first climb to Bowfell, I was on my own until passed by a group of 4 faster runners on the drop to the bottom of Foxes Gully. This was the first indication that at least someone else was having a worse race then me.

A navigational faux pas meant me missing the racing line up to the summit of Bowfell, so probably adding an extra 5-10 mins by following the tourist route. I found Ore Gap, Esk Pike and Esk Hause without too much difficulty by not wandering too far from the main path. It was slow going though. The position of the Marshals on Great End didn't seem familiar to previous years, but what the heck I'd found them and despite the slow pace was on track time-wise to meet the 3hr mid-way cut-off, so wasn't too worried.

I checked the bearing and headed off to rejoin the path to Scafell Pike. Now in the past, there's been a series of cairns showing the way. No cairns, but I reached a path with people on it. First bit of doubt creeping in, I did a bearing check again and all seemed ok for heading to Scafell Pike. Not much after this point seemed familiar. When I think back, it's probably been 4 years since I'd last been this way to Scafell Pike. I avoid it as I don't like the boulders, so wet, slippy boulders in poor visibility is my worse nightmare. 

After what seemed an eternity (in reality only 30mins since Great End) I reached the highest point in England. Now to get off in the right direction! I'd resisted the urge to hug the Marshals on the summit, but it took an even bigger amount of willpower to resist the urge to hug and kiss the stretcher box on Mickledore. Now that would have definitely got me some strange looks!!

Remember those 4 faster runners I'd mentioned? They'd had a trip down towards Wasdale. But despite all this, we all cleared through the cut-off. I much preferred the grassy route by-passing the 2nd part of Foxes Gully, but it'd been taped in the previous years races and I wasn't going to try and replicate this given the conditions, so stuck with the more well worn route. I'd messed up in 2011 coming down off Scafell (taking a few others with me!), so concentrated like mad to stick to the main path. On my approach to Slightside the clag lifted and the first patches of blue sky appeared. At the checkpoint were a set of different runners, a mum and daughter, looking as harassed as I felt. The trip across the Moasdale valley was uneventful, they chose to head up Stonesty Gill, I chose Swinsty Gill. Swinsty Gill won, I reached Red Tarn ahead of them. The sun was out now cracking the flags, flipping typical the only bit I'd bothered to recce!!

Even with a incredibly slow time of 6hrs (my slowest by nearly 30mins) I still had 5 finish behind me, with a further 9 DNF's. Not my happiest day of racing, but I survived. Some definite tales of woe recounted, with much group efforts. My thanks to the RO and all the Marshals for re-instating this race. A proper test of one's mountaincraft. Winner was Simon Booth in a time of 2:48. Provisional results can be found via the thread on the fellrunner forum (or via Ambleside AC facebook page).

TF

African Ladies on Winter Hill

During last night's weekly outing we saw several rather faded and travel weary butterflies on Noon Hill and the Pike. This reminded me of an article that I had seen in my Daily Mail a couple of days ago:- 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3123898/Fluttering-Britain-millions-painted-ladies-Distinctive-orange-black-marked-butterflies-expected-arrive-North-Africa-weeks.html

Although obviously not at their best, they appeared to be in better condition than was I, despite their journey from Africa. Keep your eyes open, it sounds like there's more to come!

A Pat on the Back...

...for the best usable caption that doesn't include the word 'motion':-

Seen parked at Ravenglass.

Buttermere Horseshoe - the shorter one

This race was reinstated as the Darren Holloway Memorial Race in memory of the Pennine runner who sadly died during the Ian Hodgson relays a few years ago. This year an option to do a shorter version was available (as well as doing a 3 person relay of the longer race). This was still a fairly tough option of 12.9m and 5000ft, allowing it to be classified as an 'AL'.

A clash with a British Champ race and another 'AL' in the Lakes meant that the field would be down to a select few. So select that the short race had only 6 starters! The pre-race briefing reminded the runners of the long course not to follow the wrong person off Whiteless (where the 2 routes split), the 'wrong' ones were those wearing a number below 100, 71-76 to be precise.

It became quite apparent early on (within 100m of start) that there would be no danger of anyone in the long course following me down into Buttermere, worryingly it was looking like no-body in the short race would be doing it either, until I remedied that on the first climb and got ahead of 2 Keighley and Craven runners. This was my first visit up onto Whiteside and Hopegill Head. An impressive technical ridge run and just grateful it was dry underfoot as I imagine it would be quite treacherous in the wet.  The next two CPs of Grassmoor (comfortably under the 2hr15 cut-off) and Whiteless were more familiar, as was the lovely descent into Buttermere.

The valley temperature had risen a bit since setting off and conditions were a bit humid. I was seriously tempted by an ice cream, but decided that would just be a bit too 'cheeky' so opted for purchasing a fruit juice with my bus fare instead. Had to get back under my own steam now though!

The final summit of Melbreak at only 512m may not seem much, but it's a definite sting in the tail. The approach from the path along the lake leads you to a steep grassy climb up a fence line until you meet the main path and the gradient then eases somewhat. At Easter I'd reccied this part as far as the drop off the west side. I hadn't carried on as I could see where the path went (or so I thought!) so returned to Buttermere by contouring back round to the main path.

Well I definitely rued that decision on race day. The 'obvious' path petered out into a titchy contouring trod that looked like it was heading back uphill, leaving the option of a dry stream bed or a heather & bracken route downhill. The stream bed did looked promising as it was quite grassy but the sides became more vertical the further down you went and there was a large tree blocking the way half way down the hill. So I opted for the heather/bracken route. Not the efficient route off I was expecting. Given that none of the lead runners of the long race had reached the last CP before me, I decided it would be prudent to run the last 'un-reccied' 2.5k section with map in hand.

Felt like royalty when heading into the village hall for my well earned post-race cuppa. The array of food was staggering. It was lovely to be waited on. Even managed to take a 'goody' bag back to the campsite for later on.

The results are on CFR's website. Winner in the short race finished in 3:19, I finished 4th in 4:09 and third lady (1st LV45) - not often I'll get to write that for a non-navigating race! Lead runner on the long race (Simon Booth) finish just behind me in 4:13.

TF

Update on mi Woodin Leg

Things didn't improve. A further visit to A&E on Wednesday where they put me on additional antibiotics and told me to return on Friday unless I had recovered. I had not so on Friday they did a scan to reveal further woody material somewhere under the skin. I was then given the option of my leg being opened up with no guarantee that the offending matter would be found (notoriously difficult to locate). I wanted a quicker recovery (the option was to leave it in and the body˚s system eventually sorts it out) so had the surgeon hunt for it under local anaesthetic (me not him). He found three shards and I now have them as a souvenir .... and a very sore leg so it will be a while before I am running again. Stitches are removed on the 22nd so my procrastination  in entering White Bear Way Challenge may have been wise.

Thanks to EtU for your concern and hopefully I shall be at quarterly doo in Friday (just me this time).

One out of Three Ain't Good

One of my ambitions on moving back North was to do the three Horwich fell races, Winter Hill, The Pike and Two Lads. The Water Board scuppered  the first, I did the Pike and so turned up at the Bridge last night hoping to do Two Lads.


Unfortunately, fire had broken out on Winter Hill and so the race was cancelled. Lots of disappointed runners then decided to run the route anyway, and I set off with EtU, KLM and Botters. EtU stopped to talk with somebody on Factory Hill and the next time we saw him was in the pub. The rest of us carried on and ran most of the course with a slight diversion on the advice of the fire fighters. It turned out to be quite a pleasant run and a good tester for my injured knee. With immaculate timing, I got back to the Bridge just as SWINW appeared with the car. A pleasant chat and a (not so pleasant) pint with EtU and Botters rounded off the evening.


Spare a thought for the organizer Colin Jones; all that hard work for nothing. However disappointed we felt, it must be much worse for him. I did hear a rumour about a possible new date in early July, so perhaps there will be a happy ending.

Good Packing by the Squad at Henderson's End

This local evening BS fell race was held this year on 4th June. The FRA calendar reports it as 9.4k (5.9 miles) but I'm fairly sure that refers to the old route, which has not been used for several years and it's now a full 7 miles. The weather was fine and the ground conditions, whilst wetter than usual, were not too slippy, due to effect of the drying wind.on the surface.

The race was won by Gary Priestley of Salford (yes Salford!) in a time of 45:23, with Horwich men placing second and third. Lindsey Brindle was first lady, 12th overall in a time of 53:16.

TYC, obviously well recovered from his long day out in the Lakes, was 17th in a time of 55:26.

EYJ was 1st V70 in 72:45.

"What happened to the good packing" do I hear you ask - wait for it!

Back in 99th was Botters in 83:43, then Colin, 100th in 85:30, with yours truly 101st in 86.56 - now that's good packing.

104 finished.

The evening was rounded off with beer in the Bowling Club, also enjoyed by the L & LoB.

t'Y And His Amazing Woodin Leg

Yesterday's squad consisted of KLM, t'Y and self. KLM, presumably as part of his return from injury, fancied doing the Winter Hill Race route and so we set off with that aim, following the route as closely as we could. The always faint, but now virtually invisible, route over to the Shooting Hut was traced, although we had to share the more used section that goes up to the mast with runners taking part in the Winter Hill Marathon.

We stuck to the race route all the way to The Knoll, although t'Y and I lost sight of our navigator down from near to the trig point and approached the Knoll by a less than optimum route.

It was soon after that, that t'Y managed to injure his right lower leg by making contact with something hiding in the undergrowth. We were all running out of time by then, so we turned for home, with t'Y in some pain. We got back to the Barn without completing the race route, but with about ten and a half miles having been covered.

Later in the day I rang the injured man who told me that there was a foreign (even more foreign than being from Yorkshire) body in his wound which his better half could not remove and he was on the point of being rushed to A&E.

Later on he texted me to report that a one cm length of twig had been removed and he was now recovering at home.

That's the first time I've heard of anyone being injured by a Twiglet!