Saturday 4th May 2002 - 8m/3500'

I only just made it in time as the race was due to start at 11:15 rather than the 11:30 I had in my brain. That coffee stop on the M6 was maybe not a good idea with the level of Bank Holiday traffic along Ullswater and going round and round the one-way race track that makes up Ambleside. The man collecting money at the alternative car-park at Coniston Junior School put me right (went there as I thought that one would avoid the £1 at John Ruskin School). He told me the route to the registration (although the route in descent of the Old Man would have been more useful) and that I better get a move on 'as it always starts early'. Luckily it wasn't a 'no safety-pin' event so the Committee for Restoration of Safety Pins in Fell Races won't be seeking a boycott next year. The first person I met in the start field was an old rival, Rod Pilbeam, younger than me and long since retired from running, but keen 'to see what fools still were'. Well this fool was and enjoyed it. A few other fools from NFR were there as well. It was, after all, number 3 and the first medium race of our 2002 Club Championships.

The start was fast and furious but soon came to a stop as the large field squeezed through a narrow gate out onto the road. Then it was just up and up - not a clue where we went although the organiser's map showed a route up Mouldry Bank and the Furness Fells, until eventually the summit cairn of Wetherlam hove into view. We had climbed 700m in about 2 miles and I think I was flying. The ridge to Swirl How was a delight and I even sneaked a quick look around at the views to convince myself that I wasn't dreaming this fell race. The map in the bum bag wasn't necessary on such a clear day - although Dexter told me that his first run there had included an extra hill. Due south along the prominent ridge of Swirl Band and Levers Hawse takes you straight to The Old Man - a route of good running with suprisingly little rock underfoot. A Kendal runner seemed to know all the little short cuts below the ridge but following him on the way down was a mistake. My prime rule is never to follow a Bingley runner even if that's all you can see, but a Kendal should be safe on his home ground.

At the summit (803m) a gap had developed and I only had the one person to follow. Everyone else had disappeared down the screes to the east staying near the path. Our route was mainly on vegetation but with some awkward gully negotiation necessary further down near the Scraw Beck. Selwyn Wright (Ambleside) told me afterwards that there is a good route that way but as the grass was wet he stuck to the path. The map would have been useless anyway as the flanks of The Old Man have been drawn on by a host of inky Ordnance Survey spiders and it would take far too long to navigate even if I could work out exactly where I was. Earlier I had caught up with an old friend, John Marsh (Teviotdale) and had a short chat before passing him on one of the climbs. He ended up only just behind me on the road above the village. It was a warm day and I was very grateful for the stream crossing and quick drink before the fast run in to the Coniston field and more (bottled) water. This was a race in a million. I hadn't realised how much I was missing the Lakeland Fells. Only 30 minutes behind the winner and just in the top half of the field too. I was back again last Sunday for the Buttermere Sailbeck Horseshoe but fear I was even further adrift. Report to follow unless someone else wants to write one.

1	Ian Holmes	Bingley		66:02
2	Simon Booth	Borrowdale		66:36
3	Mark Roberts	Borrowdale	M40	67:55
4	Robb Jebb	Bingley		68:05
5	John Taylor	Bingley		68:08
6	Andy Peace	Bingley		68:38
7	Ben Bardsley	Borrowdale		68:59
8	Colin Donnelly	Eryri	M40	69:11
56	Jeff Winder	Calder Valley	M50	80:17
64	Andrea Priestley	Ilkley	L	81:01
67	David Armstrong	NFR	M40	82:18
102	Charlie Stead	NFR		84:59
161	Mike Jeffrey	NFR	M40	91:45
196	Andy Curtis	NFR	M40	96:04
305	Steven Walker	NFR	M40	108:45
358	Ken Turnbull	NFR	M50	117:18
390	Joe Potts	NFR	M50	122:58
402	Eddie Watson	NFR	M50	125:35

418 finishers

Andy Curtis