KMC Fell Race

Members (runners): Pete Walker, James Richardson, Andy Grantham, Anna Neubert, Dave Wylie, Robert Clarke, Julie O'Regan, Jim Symonds Michelle Harvie, Mark Garrod, Al Metelko, Dave Bish,

Members (Marshals): Sue Brooks, Joe Flynn, Dave Dillon, Andy Croughton, David Whittingham.

Members (moral support): Neville McMillan, Roger Dyke.

Guests: Kirsten, Ivy Limbrick, Saddleworth Runners Ray Green, John Gomersall, Ossie Kershaw, Colin Bishop, Lee Bowden and Shaun.

This was the fell race that nearly wasn't. Neville felt unable to run the proposed race in the Lake District so I was given the opportunity/co-opted by the committee to be the replacement meet leader just ten days before the event. It all actually worked surprisingly well; so here is my Gwyneth Paltrow moment.

I would very much like to thank all those who gave me support and assistance in making the meet the success it was:-

Al Metelko for advice on what runners might expect, Roy Lee and Heather Brooke for suggesting the course, Neville McMillan for advice on course setting and for the handicapping, those who volunteered at short notice as marshals for the check points, all the runners who took part, catering by the tea van, sound track by Little Axe and weather by Aiolos.

Any mistakes can, of course, be laid firmly at my door, where I will step over them.

I arrived at the car park below Dovestones reservoir dam in the Chew valley shortly after 10.00 to be met by a crowd of eager runners.

Eager and happy, the parking ticket machine was out of order so - free parking. After beating them off I was able to give the marshals the checkpoint locations. Start at the dam, then Broadstones trig point (Sue and Ivy), Ravenstones Trinnacle (Joe and Wavey), Fox Rock above Dovestones (Big Andy) and then back to the dam.

The runners were given the grid references and invited to self-select into three start groups. The Saddleworth boys, being eager, set off early and returned shortly after the last KMC group started. They were spattered with mud, had detoured several miles to make it more interesting and seemed to have had a good time. The weather was not ideal. Hazy sun and light cloud held no promise of rain to make the boggy bits more interesting, but it was blowing a fair hooley. Group one started at 11.00, group two at 11.30 and group three at 12.00.

Having seen them all off I relaxed with a cup of tea and bacon barm (I chose the start point because of the presence of the tea van) whilst watching the dinghy racing on the dam. These dinghies seemed to have only two states; very fast or upside down, great spectator fun!

It seemed no more than a moment when there was the patter of tiny feet as Michelle swept past me and into the middle of the car park, hotly pursued by Kirsten. The rest of the pack arrived in fairly quick succession. The self-selecting seemed to have worked well. I do feel that a special mention should go to James for walking/running the race with a pair of trekking poles in action. Is this a first?

After feeding the raw times through the McMillan megacomputer I am pleased to announce that the winners are:

(Drumroll, trumpet fanfare, fireworks?)

Overall winner on handicap Jim Symon

Fastest man Mark Garrod

Fastest woman Michelle Harvie

Concordia Cup Dave Bish

So some old favourites and some new faces.

Detailed Results

• Group 1, 1100 start: Pete Walker, James Richardson, Andy Grantham, Anna Neubert.

• Group 2, 1130 start: Dave Wylie, Robert Clarke, Julie O'Regan, Jim Symon, Michelle Harvie, Kirsten.

• Group 3, 1200 start: Mark Garrod, Al Metelko, Dave Bish.

Overall Finish Times (in time order, hours and minutes)

Mark Garrod 1.35

Dave Bish 1.36

Al Metelko 1.41

Michelle Harvie 1.48

Robert Clarke 1.57

Jim Symon 2.01

Julie O'Regan 2.02

Dave Wylie 2.05

James Richardson 2.21

Andy Grantham 2.21

Anna Neubert 3.31

Pete Walker DNF (but a valiant effort in map flying)

Corrected Times and Positions

1 Jim Symon 1.19

2 Robert Clarke 1.31

3 Dave Bish 1.36

4 Al Metelko 1.37

5 Mark Garrod 1.38

6 Harvie 1.38

7 Julie O'Regan 1.52

8 Andy Grantham 2.15

9 James Richardson 2.18

10 Dave Wylie 2.26

11 Anna Neubert 3.22

Once more, thanks to everyone for turning out.

David "I counted them all out and I counted them all back" Whittingham.

Dave Whittingham