YJ and I are planning an assault on Black Combe. As usual, it may not be easy to find a Saturday that suits all interested parties, but we'll try - so, anyone fancy it?
If you're not familiar with it, just look slightly west of north from the Pike or Winter Hill on a clear day; it's the roundish hill projecting furthest into the Irish Sea, and it's a little less than two hours drive away.
This used to be a regular runout for many of the wfdbwgua members, but as we grow less athletic (some of us including me were never athletic to start with), we see less participation. With the pandemic, it wasn't run in 2021. I walked the 25 mile route in 2020 in 8hrs 45, still recovering from my cruciate ligament injury. Prior to that it looks like my most recent run was 2018 in 7hrs 08.
With my latest spate of injuries my plan had gone from running the 25 mile course down to walking the 16 mile route. Maybe I could have walked the long route but I suspected the lack of fitness would start to tell in the final miles. There were many recognisable faces at the start including Steve Pearson who although at the walkers start, looked dressed for running. As soon as we started, I had a slight concern that I had not got my drinking cup so stopped to check and was re-assured. By the Top Barn I had caught up with Steve and guy from Achilli Ratti who is well acquainted with TLoB. We fast walked up to the Pike and even then I was feeling the pace. The descent of the Pike was run and then along to the first checkpoint at Pike Cottage. The checkpoint had been moved from Winter Hill now that Mast Road is at last closed to unauthorised vehicles by a barrier. I bade my farewell to them heading up to Two Lads as I needed a slower pace. I was also wearing walking shoes rather than fell running shoes.
I reached Winter Hill just inside the hour, well inside my target pace of three miles per hour. On the descent to San Marino, a few more ran past me (walkers start!) and then I chatted to one young lady called Angela who runs for Skelmersdale but is a frequent visitor to the Rivington area. She had caught up with me then decided to go at my pace down the ramp. I thought she was in her 20s or 30s but she assured me she was not far off being able to go for a Joss Naylor Challenge. We encouraged each other to finish in a pleasant decently paced walk to finish in 5hrs 16. I did find it tough climbing Great Hill from Piccadilly and it was quite blustery on top of Great Hill.
Albert and Michelle came past us just after White Coppice having run the 16 mile route on the runners' 9am start. Albert doing the short route? Well he has just completed the Spine Race which he reckons is the hardest event he has ever done - it could well be the toughest event in the UK. There was no usual food at the hall : instead we were given a ticket to take to the Tea Rooms were I enjoyed a very tasty Pea and Ham soup sharing company with that most prolific of fell racers, Darren Fishwick.
As I headed for my car, Tony Varley arrived having run the 16 mile route in around 4hrs 45. I also see. that Mark Sammon completed the long route in 5hrs 35.
If Storm Eunice has passed by tomorrow morning, I may try running the 16 mile route to see if I could potentially take up the offer of a substitute place in t'Hobble.
I will be 70 next Tuesday (18th) and to mark the occasion I am running up Ingleborough from Clapham, starting at 10am. If any wfdbwgua people would like to join me, it would be great to see you.
The New Year is with us so it is time to think about planning for some challenges over the coming 12 months.
I remember we discussed at the Autumn Equinox at the Rivington Bar & Grill about completing the Joss Naylor Challenge. For some of us it would be a first (TLoB, Carl, Lurdes? and me), for others (Ed), a revisit. Was Kev there and expressing an interest?
To my embarrassment, I have never even supported anyone on a JNC or BG, so it is new ground for me and although my limit is now a generous 24 hours, it is still a fair old challenge for someone who has had more than enough injuries over the last few years and is rubbish at descending. I prefer to minimise running in the dark so would want to complete in around 21 hours, a similar time to what I took over the Grand Raid Pyrenees 80k in 2014, which had a similar amount of climb although at higher altitude and with only just over 13 hours daylight.
Ideally I would be looking at a May or early June completion. How does this fit with others? Could we do over successive weekends to enable supporting each other. I know it's not encouraged but as Ed, TLoB have fairly similar pace, that may open up ideas. The same for Carl and Lurdes?
The former Mayoress and I have a week booked in the Newlands Valley in March so I hope to get some decent training in then, although not really close for recce, with a mix of bagging some Wainwrights, another challenge I have set myself. I hope that by then I will have recovered from my current injury (shoulder rotator cuff) which is not stopping me from running but means I am even more hesitant on uneven surfaces so I don't fall.
I have set the ball rolling. Responses please?
The Lord of Brentford and The Lady Anne would like to wish all their friends at WFDBWGUA a very happy Christmas. It would be good to see people (covid permitting) in 2022 and the Settle Seven awaits.
I had hoped to be inviting you all to my 70th birthday party but unfortunately we have decided that in the current circumstances it would be unwise to have a do next month. Perhaps later in the year.....
In the mean time, I hope you all have a good time and stay safe.
PS t'Y and TF, have you changed your email address? I have tried to email you both but the reject message came up with invalid address.
This year's Dozen will be 'run' on Saturday 31st July, starting from the Top Barn at 9:00 hrs.
Email me for further details if required:- edswift@btinternet.com
It had been a long time since we'd had a 'team' outing, so it was good to see seven of us assembled at the northernmost point of the hamlet of Cold Cotes, south of Ingleborough on this warm and sunny morning . Amazingly, we set off just a few minutes after the planned time of 11:00 a.m, although even this prompt(ish) start still was unable to prevent the exchange of details of the most recent ailments suffered by the more elderly members of the squad.
Chris , our designated pathfinder led us off (did he tell you that Brentford are going up? - is the Pope Catholic?), taking Lu (see later) and the Yorkshireman with him. This left Hazel, Kev, his Garstang mate, Paul and yours truly trailing in their wake. At this point I feel that as the slowest member of our little B team I must thank thank my three companions for keeping me company throughout most of this expedition - thank you guys. We did manage one full re-grouping about fifteen minutes after the 'off', but that was the last we were to see of the fast trio, until the pub!
This is two thirds of the fast group hightailing it to the top; photo by the other third of the fast group:-
The top of Ingleborough- 2,373 ft - is unusual for its flatness. There are two large untidy cairns, a fine wall shelter and a trig point, and here is the slow group, wandering and wondering which of these marks the actual top:-
You can see the flatness here, but not the features (photo Hazel). We roamed around the top a bit, so we were fairly confident we had visited the top - but who's to know.
This one seems to be a selfie, taken by Lu with her amazing invisible camera:-
From there we continued northwards, intending to visit Park Fell, but although Hazel and I found ourselves on the wrong side of a wall, Paul and Kev managed to pay their respects - but failed to submit photographic evidence.
We hit the B6255 just yards from the Station Inn - where we found Lu and Gordon; Gordon enjoying a pint and Lu insisting she hadn't. As soon as he had finished, Gordon gave Kev and me lifts back to Cold Cotes to retrieve our cars - a big thank you to Gordon, who had previously finished his run at Ingleton, before legging it back to CC to retrieve his car - well done that man!
Whilst we were on this errand, Hazel had a photoshoot with the viaduct - eat your heart out Glenfinnan:-
As per usual, an elite (!) but predictably small gathering for yesterday's get together, just TF, YJ, Portuguese Lu and yours truly reported to the Bottom Barn at about 8:30. We set off in the general direction of Healey Nab and with a degree of mixing and matching en route and picking up Nic'O we finally regathered back at the Barn for coffee with Mary and latecomer Andy.
A good time was, I believe, had by all.
UTUP - followed by refreshments at the Bottom Barn - bring a friend.
No predetermined run route, and no need to run.
(for the uninitiated - UTUP = Usual Time, Usual Place = Bottom Barn 8:30 a.m)
Hi, long time no speak! I hope you are all well and managing to stay sane during the pandemic.
I just thought I would let you all know that Duncan and I are moving up to Scotland in the near future (no set date yet but our house is sold and the sale is moving very quickly).
As most of you will know, it's something we've wanted to do for years now but, due to lack of jobs up there, have never been able to make the leap. However, the pandemic has brought one silver lining to us in that we are now working permanently from home and have been told that we can continue to do this. We'll be popping back now and again for work meetings and such so hopefully I'll still see you all from time to time. I'll definitely be coming back for Pike Race every year (although not running it of course).
We've not bought a house up there yet but have our eyes on a couple of lovely secluded cottages. You'll all be welcome to stay over if ever you fancy running/walking in the Dumfries and Galloway area.
Hope you all have a lovely Christmas if I don't see you beforehand!
TM
A larger than usual entry this year, probably a record; and, for the first time, including a relay team.
From the left - Liz, John K, Ed, Paul, Mary, Izzy, Martyn, John S and Bob. John S and Bob are my brothers and formed the relay team. John did all the running and Bob swam and cycled.
The morning was bright and a bit chilly.
We set off remarkably close to the planned start time, with Bob driving close to the swim site, having been banned from running, due to a new hip. Mary had probably been banned from running, having two new knees!
I very soon assumed my rightful position - way behind everyone else - which made it a bit difficult to put a comprehensive report together, but here goes:-
Martyn seems to have been first out of the water and started back to the main transition just 37 minutes after the gun. Then it was Paul, Izzy and Mary. However, Mary had lost sight of John and lost time peering into the distance for him, and then, with great relief, dragged him out of the water as he completed his return swim!
Then I think it was Liz, followed by (no wetsuit) Bob. Arriving res-side as most of the field was emerging from the water, I was already beginning to lose heart, and then, stripped for action I got both feet wet and, I'm ashamed to say, decided that enough was enough and awarded myself the white feather!
I saw nothing after that, but Martyn's bike time of just over 44 minutes was probably the fastest of the day.
I've received lots of photos, too many to use in fact, so apologies if I haven't included your best one/s. Most are from the finish, but here's Paul, in full flight,
John K soon after leaving Winter Hill Trig:-
John reports that the water temperature was 11 degrees, which according to BTA regs requires the wearing of wet suits, and is on the very margin of allowing the swim to take place at all!
And here's Paul (in best selfie mode) with the other two podium occupants - well done to all three, in fact to everybody, except me.
Martyn - 2:35
Paul - 2:45
Izzy - 2:52
Liz - 3:09
Mary - 3:12 (ish)
John K - 3:14
John S & Bob - 3:36
Ed - DNF
Well done everyone, and thank you for your support.
Just for completeness, the distant hill in the midst of the wind turbines was (and I suppose still is) Knowl Hill:- http://www.racemaps.org.uk/RTDEDay3.htm
It must have been four weeks to the minute since we lined up at the Top Barn to attempt the full Dozen when we lined up for this, the Northern 'Half'' and the heavens once again opened up in an identical downpour - does someone up there disapprove?
There were just eight of us this time, numbers depleted by holidays and at least one of our number saving herself for today's Horwich (no swim) Tri - is that still a Tri?
After waiting some time for the rain to abate - it didn't - we set off; Martyn and Izzy leading, Paul and his mates, Simon and No Kag Chris in hot pursuit with Gordon, Jim and yours truly trailing in their wake. Gordon and Jim had offered to keep me company at the rear and generously did so until we reached Spitlers Edge when I finally persuaded them to abandon me so Gordon could keep his appointment for a haircut, which he had optimistically made for 1:30.
I met them again at the stile below Great Hill as they headed for Round Loaf and I continued with my ascent.
No further news beyond that, other than to report that the M & I duo returned to the Barn in 2 hours 40, shortly followed by the P,S,C trio.
Gordon and Jim had to give Healey Nab a miss (hair appointment) but I staggered round the full set to arrive home just in time for tea. I was probably the only one who managed to finish in full sunshine - so the sun does shine on the righteous.
I'm told that rather than approach Old Adam's Hill in a north easterly direction, M & I carried on along Spitler's and then went due east - worth a try, as that should avoid what seems like several miles of knee high tussocks - we used to call them Turks' heads, but we're not allowed to any more.
A few piccies from Gordon:-
Great pictures Gordon, can't exactly place the two with Jim and me on, but Belmont reservoir is particularly good and from a viewpoint that few (apart from CDers) will have visited.
Thank you all - what next? - Tri Winter Hill next Saturday, email me on edswift@btinternet.com for details.
YJ and I (and possibly a few others) will set off from the Top Barn at 8:30 on Saturday 22nd August to visit the northern five of this round.
All welcome!
This year's event will be held on Saturday 29th August, starting at 9:00 a.m from Horrocks Fold car park on Scout Road.
Email me on edswift@btinternet.com for details.
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| Looking north from Egg Hillock (apologies for not wiping the lens first) |
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| Looking south from Egg Hillock |
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| Five of the quicker group on the left side of Winter Hill trig point |
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| Dean Black Brook - the weather much improved |
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| Towards White Coppice with Dean Black Brook on the left |
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| A colourful display on the roadside on Charnock Back Lane, opposite Waring's Farm |
