FELL CHAMPIONSHIP SECTION OF THE wrr
SUMMER 2010 MAGAZINE
Fell
Championship Race Report
The first Fell Championship race kicked off at Harrock Hill, it also doubled up as the first of the Inter Club Fell Races for 2010.
The barmy sunny evening brought out a record field, and Wesham contributed to this by bringing
along over 20 members ranging from seasoned campaigners to novices alike to
take on the horrors of Harrock, in
this ever growing popular event.
Make no mistake this is not the toughest of
fell runs in the true context of fell races, but it is still not for the
fainthearted as you continually forge ahead working like a shire-horse up and
down the hills, (note hill, not mountain for that I’m sure you will come to
read of future epic fell races in the magazines to be published later this
year) across the meadows over stiles, concentrate, watch your footing, don’t
forget to breathe – all thoughts continually churning around your head
Harrock, is a well organised event, and
on the surface appears friendly, that is until you meet, all fired up, on the
starting line, you can cut the atmosphere with a knife the closer you get to the
starting gun, the tension mounts and friends amongst all clubs become rivals
all jostling for position to gain the advantage over their fellow running
compatriots.
So, as we gathered on the dirt track
waiting for the gun, seeking your best route from the start all you can see is
one hell of a mountain to climb!
Bang, we’re off! Well, Jason and Gary are,
having started on the front line and sprinting off into the distance. I was a
little more conservative and set off further down the pack, hoping that my
running line will open up, hmm maybe not this time! I looked up hoping for
space but my view was obscured by three bonny fell-ladies, Joanna was in the thick of it battling away right from word go. I
eventually passed by leaving them battling away. Then I found my next target,
By now sweat was pouring off me, I had
fallen behind
A little further down the field several
other battles had developed, Joanna was having a real hum-dinger of battle with
Sue Samme from Lytham, each
not letting go of each other. Bizarrely
when it’s Inter Club day you aim not
to just beat other local clubs but our fellow teammates, this is also true of
the Inter Fell Club days. Stephen Shanks and Mick Edge were also busy challenging each other and behind them
there were three other vests of Wesham
blue vying for position
I love the tree lined section towards the
end of the race, and before the final descent through the field, 
doing his David Bellamy impression through the bushes
Fortunately for me, Gary lost his stride a little at this point I couldn’t afford to
rest on my laurels, two were just behind and Gary was just in front, and then I saw Jason, he was not lost, but at the bottom of the field, I was in
shock! The two runners behind me soon
overtook me and had caught
A mirage appeared for the road runners
amongst us, surely it couldn’t be, yes, it really was, my foot had just landed
on a mix of concrete and tarmac. My
territory, I’ll get those mountain fell goats back on the finish, and then I
found to my delight an up-hill finish, just what I need to beat Gary, (hills are his weakness). The battle was on, and was just able to out
sprint him on the line, the two mountain goats were victorious – this time!
I had busted a gut, but it was all worth it
for the time and finishing position.
Jason, a fell running novice, this,
being his second race, had finished in the top ten, what a great result. By now
Wesham blues were coming in thick
and fast, following me there was Steve
Myerscough, and Richard, next was Gary
Moore, who since turning 50 has hit a purple patch and is turning in some
fantastic performances, tonight was just one of them!
If this race is anything to go by, Wesham will no doubt retain the Fell Interclub Championship, no other
clubs could match us on quantity or quality and we prevailed on all fronts,
open, vets, (various categories), and the ladies.
Thank you all for
turning up lets not make it a one hit wonder!
Who will win this year’s club championship?
The battle has only just started, I believe that it could be even closer than
last year, and that went down to the wire! Let’s see how many Wesham blues we get take to Stoodley Pike 6th July and
onto the next ICFC at Waugh Fell 13th
July.
Written by: Lee Barlow
Submitted: 6th
June 2010
Edited by: Brenda J
Earnshaw WRR Editor
IMPORTANT
Changes to this year’s Fell Championship - Due to the unfortunate cancellation of the Lowther Fell race, I have replaced this
event with the Boulsworth Fell Race
on Sunday 8th August.
REMAINING Fell Races for 2011 - Interclub
events have been highlighted as: ICFC
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Cheers, Lee
Submitted: 6th June 2010