Whittle Pike Fell Race

4.5 miles – 1400 ft ascent.

Wednesday 20th August 2008

 

Whittle Pike was the fourth and final race in the Rossendale Harriers mid-week fell race series, previous races had been Waugh’s Well, Golf Ball and Pilgrims Cross.

 

A small, select group of five Wesham Road Runners, (plus Chairman Dave, driver and rent-a-marshal), turned up at Waterfoot, Rawtenstall for this WRR Fell Championship Race.

 

Parking was a bit tight, in a residential area down a cul-de-sac but Dave found a suitable spot.  Registration, (entry fee £3) was taking place in a church hall, it was busy with registrations for both senior and junior races and a table where people who had run three out of four races could claim a memento, (Kit Bag and key ring).  As soon as we had registered for the race the weather worsened, the clouds built up and the rain started, nobody seemed in a hurry to leave the hall doorway until the organiser headed up the road to the start about 200 yards away.

 

As we lined up, runners emerged from cars and from under umbrella’s, this included Captain Barlow who had shared Dave’s umbrella up the road.  The organiser shouted out the usual instructions and added, “For those of you that have not done this race before, if you find yourself on a flat bit you are probably lost!”

 

Off we went, splashing up the road for half a mile before reaching the fell, immediately the climbing started with a bang and everyone was reduced to a walk.  The rain over the last month meant that this was going to be WET, and some of the mud was very smelly!  There was no way to tell how deep the puddles were and the terrain was rough, just how I like it, I was hoping to do well in this race but I was going to have to work hard to stay in front of Lee Barlow running in borrowed fell shoes.

 

Part way up the first decent climb Lee tapped me on the back as he passed and left me behind; I thought I was going to have to settle for second WRR tonight.  As the climb eased I could see Lee about 30 yards in the distance and as we started to descend I began to catch him, getting past at the bottom of the hill just before the next climb. 

 

This climb seemed to go on for ever to the top of Whittle Pike I was close on the heels of Neil Worswick from CleM who I always have a good race with and I expected Lee to come past me again at any time.  We turned round the top of the Pike and descended fast to a stream before a short, brutal almost vertical climb, as I clawed my way up using my hands and feet I glanced back looking for Lee but couldn’t see him.  (It turned out he had stopped to tie his laces!!)

 

As we passed the last marshal and headed back over the ascent route I managed to get away from Neil and tried my best to catch Gary Johnston from Blackpool who had passed me on the climb to the Pike but it wasn’t to be.  The run in was hard with the last half mile on road but I was welcomed by Dave’s voice booming, “Mind the corner, it’s slippery” as we turned onto the playing fields to finish, some joker had decided to put the finishing funnel 100 yards away across the field and it was uphill!

 

I was relieved to finish and very pleased to be in front of Lee, he was still smiling though as he came into the finish.

 

Despite the weather and the mud all the WRR contingent admitted to enjoying the run. Shaun Turner fell over about 6 times but loved every minute of it.

 

Results were:

1

Gary Devine

P&B

V40

0:41:57

30

Richard Davies

Wesham RR

V45

0:50:24

51

Lee Barlow

Wesham RR

M

0:53:53

110 (lady 11)

Sarah Sherratt

Wesham RR

L

1:00:53

138

Shaun Turner

Wesham RR

V40

1:06:58

152

Kath Hoyer

Wesham RR

V45

1:11:46

 

To end the evening, after getting dry and changed, we went to the Buck Inn just down the road for the presentations.  Clare Kenny one of the organisers battled to be heard in a packed pub and in common with the other races in the series, prize winners were invited to take their pick of prizes from a table, this soon dissolved into a scene from a jumble sale as runners delved into the heap of prizes, I was pleased and surprised to get 2nd V45 and came back from the table with a map of the South Eastern Lakes, a good prize in my opinion.

 

A good end to the evening was Kath Hoyer winning a pair of Fell Shoes in the draw. Dave drove us back home through torrential rain which only eased as we got to the Fairfield.

 

Put this race series in your diary for next year, it is well worth it.

 

Written by: Richard Davies

Submitted: 21st August 2008

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor

Neither the Editors nor the Wesham Road Runners Club are necessarily in agreement with the opinions expressed in this Newsletter. Such opinions, suggestions and recommendations are entirely the views of the authors.