Chipping Show Fell Race Saturday 26^th August 2006

Not my favourite race in the calendar but it is not often I am able to involve all the family in one of my running trips. The other few exceptions are The Scarecrow at Wray, Hutton Roof and Freckleton. The main requirement is something else going on to amuse them while I am away. Chipping Show is a great day out, a real ‘local’ agricultural show with lots going on and plenty of animals for the kids to see.

The race is advertised as 8 miles with 2600 feet of ascent, an AM grade race in fell running terms so quite tough and the FRA calendar advises local knowledge/navigational skills/and that the course is partially marked. You would normally be required to carry full windproof body cover; map, compass and whistle although the organisers were only insisting you carry a cagoule on this occasion, probably due to the good weather forecast.

This year the show seemed busier than I remembered in previous years; the weather was quite humid with sunny spells and the threat of showers. I bumped into Paul Gardner and Andy Ball while on my way to register for the race. “Fancy running lads, we could have a team?” – No takers but they promised to be there to see me off at 2.30!! Bernie Krawczyk was there as well; if he had not been nursing a nasty blister from Harrock Hill I think he would have been up for the run.

Entry to the race is free, you only have to pay to get on the show field, £6 for adults and £2 for kids so quite good value – if only I could get Mrs. Davies to run as well it would be a bargain!!

Preston Harriers have a little tent in the far corner of the field where they arrange the registration, sticky labels are written out with your entry details, these labels are transferred to a board in order as you finish the race, no danger of this technology breaking down but it does take some time for the results to appear ‘on’t Tinterweb’.

At the appointed time 53 of us lined up in the show ring to start the race, 10 less than last year - this race always has to compete with Pendleton Fell Race which takes place at the same time and is a bit shorter. There are quite a few familiar faces and a bit of banter as we wait for the off. The crowd gave us a cheer as we left. If the commentator did not give the occasional update I am sure they would have forgotten about us after the next feature in the ring.

The run out towards Parlick and the first real climb is across the fields; it is well marked with tape and there are a few stiles and the odd swampy patch and stream crossing. The climb up Parlick is 15 minutes into the race and it is tough, everyone is reduced to walking pace. I am quite pleased because I can still see the leaders - two Bowland runners in their orange and green vests, but not for long as they reach the skyline and disappear at a trot. I was 10^th across the fields but on the climb I slip back and I was 16^th at the top.

We don’t actually reach the top of Parlick on the way out, the path traverses round the summit to the north and the running speeds up. We reach the saddle and, at the checkpoint, get directed downhill to the east. Then more fast running down a quad bike track that gets quite rocky and rough towards the bottom. At the next checkpoint we head back up the hill via a shooting track; I can normally run this in training but after 30 minutes at race pace I am reduced to jogging/ walking.

At the end of the track we are still climbing, back on a narrow path through purple heather following a fence line until we reach the next checkpoint where we turn west. Here it is good running on a gently rising path towards a point on Fairsnape known as ‘1707’, (a spot height). I made up a place here, passing one of the runners who had got me on the climb. I had other runners in my sights but I did not seem to be catching them.

Just before ‘1707’ we were turned south by Preston Harrier, Alan Appleby who seemed to marshal in this spot every year. The run from this point is quite fast, descending gently for about a mile to Blindhurst Fell Saddle before we ascend to the checkpoint at the top of Parlick. The route here is flagged off the top so that we pick up our original ascent route and then return via the same cross country paths that we had come out on. From the top of Parlick you can see the white tents and the cars parked on the show field but it is still quite a long way.

I had a bit of a tussle with another runner on the way back; he passed me descending Parlick. I got him at the bottom of the fell but he passed me again when I went over on my ankle on a rutted field. This was just what I needed to get me to the finish so I pushed hard and got past him again after which he seemed to give up and I stayed clear to the finish. Only the fast lads get to finish in the show ring after that, in case Joe Public get bored. The rest of us are directed down the side of the field to a finish near the registration tent.

I managed my best finish yet 15^th place in 1:18:09, the winner got back in 1:08:55. I don’t know who he was but he ran for the Royal Navy. How do you get that good running round the deck of a ship??

I was very pleased with my time, nearly 6 minutes faster than last year and 11 minutes faster than my first attempt 3 years ago. Keep going like this and I might get to finish in the show ring in a few years time!!

Someone said that they had measured the race at 9.2 miles on their Garmin but it is advertised as 8 miles so that is what I will claim for the competitive miles.

Written by: Richard Davies

Submitted: 27^th August 2006

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor