Kendal Winter League 2008 Helm Hill, Oxenholme (6/11) Saturday, 9^th February 2008

Scenery: Gorgeous day - touching 60? Some of the U17’s were running without tops (the boys). Great views towards Kentmere horseshoe 9/10

Atmosphere: Really friendly – even children shouting encouragement. I swear I heard somebody shout “Well done Levon’s Dad”! My son’s more famous than me! 9/10

Organisation: The whole course way-marked with flags – results out following Tuesday 10/10

Value: £2.50 for me, £1 for Levon 10/10

Beginner Friendly: – All standards catered for. No pressure whatsoever. Some of the children looked as young as 6 in the U12 race. One really young boy was easily in the top half of the field. A future Joss Naylor? Some great view points for spectators. 10/10

Do it again: – I’m planning my holidays round it! I want to do 7 out of the 11 races to qualify. (Juniors have to do 5). People were shouting “Well done Wesham” – we must be growing in stature in fell running circles?

Brenda asked me if I had any photos to go with my last KWL report…I didn’t, so its Brenda’s fault I went out and splashed out £100 on a new, (10 million pixel) digital camera on Friday!

I took a few of the course and a couple of Levon and his friend, (Helen’s son), Ellis Jolly – maybe 10 photos and the batteries ran out! The sun was so strong I had to point the camera towards the subject and hoped that I had it framed as I couldn’t see a thing through the viewfinder. Today’s weather was a complete contrast to my first KWL fixture at Scout Scar and last weeks Pennine Bridleway – nice enough for a picnic! This time 2 years ago I ran in a whiteout at Winter Hill!

Helen Jolly drove and we found it easily – down a very narrow lane. I was aghast to find it littered with beer bottles/coke bottles/crisp packets etc. Michaela and I collected them all in an Argos bag, but the stench was so bad that I couldn’t put them in Helen’s car and left them on the side of the road.

Ellis was getting nervous. Levon seemed unperturbed. I waited on top of the first hill poised with my new camera. Ellis came past first (well up). Levon wasn’t too far behind and seemed to be enjoying (If that’s the right word!) it more than the Ulverston fixture……or maybe it was just when his Dad came into view!!!???? (I ran the whole route with him 2 weeks ago at Ulverston). They both seemed to finish with a flurry and Helen ran down with them shouting encouragement. Levon was pleased he appeared to finish above the same crowd as his last race. He wore my watch – finished in 10:17. They had an orange and a drink and then went in search of a flat piece of ground to play football!

We did a bit more of a recce and watched the U17’s struggling up a hill which looked quite moderate/innocuous from above, but when we got on it ourselves, it was a different kettle of fish!

We set off on our two lapper – an official was anxious to let us know, they weren’t joking when they said it was 2 laps! Michaela set off like a proverbial rocket. Took me a bit to catch her and I found myself running next to Pistol Pete. I briefly got in front, but he overtook me again and disappeared into the distance.

I kept picking off the odd runner and was pleased I was more than maintaining my position. The only tricky bit was after you hit the trig point there was a steep zig-zag down a stony path through some gorse bushes – it reminded me of Hutton Roof when I fell into a gorse bush! This time I stayed on my feet and managed to hold off Helm Hill’s Paula Radcliffe (Jenn Dunn) – she’s just had a baby (she didn’t look old enough!!!) – Her first race for 18 months!!!

I got a minor nose bleed in the second half for no apparent reason. Michaela thought I’d fallen – for once I hadn’t!

After the last cruel climb, you can see the finish and a crowd of helpers and spectators. It’s maybe only 250 metres. I swear I could hear someone trying to catch me, so I didn’t hang about. When I got through the finish funnel, I looked round, but there was nobody anywhere near. I stopped my watch……and it started! Argh!!!!

We dragged Ellis and Levon off their football pitch and adjourned to the nearby, (quiet), Crooklands Hotel, (the scene of last Thursday’s Wrinkly run!) for a couple of pints of Black Sheep.

Thanks to Helen for driving and letting herself get talked into a drink – hope Don’s dinner wasn’t late!

U12’s 1^st Ben Johnstone (Wharfedale) 6:40 29^th Ellis Jolly 8:14 43^rd Levon Bates 10:09

Seniors 1^st Alastair Dunn (Helm Hill) 32:12 15^th & 1^st Lady Natalie White (Bingley) 36:25 36^th Peter Cruae (Cruse?!) 41:00 39^th Martin Bates 41:56 62nd Michaela Dempsey (6^th lady) 47:11 72^nd Helen Jolly (12^th) 56:46 75 finishers

Written by: Martin Bates

Submitted on: 10^th February 2008

Edited by: Chris Young.