DARK PEAK NEWS July 2009

l Thornbridge beckons – time to get the tents out

l New whisky stash on K****r S***t

l Kev Saville – why was he furtling in his pants?

l Where is Pig Rock?

WIN A

JURA

BOTTLE OF pic: ©Andy Howie In this edition»

est. 1976 www.dpfr.org.uk  THORNBRIDGE DRAWS NIGH President: Eric Mitchell Just a month to go now before the annual Dark Peak summer gathering at Thornbridge, with the traditional Chairman Secretary Saturday formula of fell race, barbie and beer, and Paul Sanderson, Rob Moore the traditional Sunday formula of hangovers and rest. 27 Milden Road, 2 Kerwen Close, New members and families especially welcome. Wadsley Dore, Sheffield Page 4» S6 4AT S17 3DF 0114 2206353 07766 520741  CAPTION COMPETITION [email protected] [email protected] OK, you've had your fun with Winterburn's waistline. Now it's Treasurer Membership time to get to grips with whatever Lynn Bland, Gavin Williams Kev Saville was getting to grips 51 Hurlfield Ave 41 Frickley Road, Gleadless, Sheffield with in this antique shot from Sheffield, S11 7EX the High Peak Marathon. Plus a bonus prize if you can tell us S12 2TL 0114 2309227 0114 2646409 [email protected] where Pig Rock is. [email protected] Caption competition, page 8»

Clothing and Eqpt. Men’s Captain  PUDDING PERFORMANCE Richard Hakes Lloyd Taggart, 454A Loxley Road 47 Brown Edge Road, ...but we can't yet turn our backs on that famous Loxley Buxton, Winterburn belly. Get the inside story of how he Sheffield SK17 7AG acquired it by finally completing the Bob Graham S6 6RS 07747 610150 Round on a diet of rice pudding. 0114 2339912 [email protected] Features, page 16» [email protected]  PILLAR PILLOCKS Women’s Captain Website Not just an excuse for extended alliterative headlines, Kirsty Bryan-Jones John Dalton 2, Sunnybank Cottages, 1, Cannon Fields, but the lowdown on how two Dark Peakers who Jaggers Lane, Hathersage, should know better cocked up at Ennerdale. Hathersage, Dog's Diary, Page 33» S32 1AZ S32 1AG 01433 650213 01433 659523  SLAINTE MHATH [email protected] [email protected] John Gunnee sets out his strategy as he Dark Peak News settles into his vital new role as Dark David Holmes Peak's first whisky officer. 615, Loxley Road, Tried and tested, page 13» Loxley, Sheffield, S6 6RR 0114 2344186 [email protected] Dark Peak News July 2009 page 3

The bit at the front

Hello again! No, it wasn't the postman who stole it. It has been a long time since we sent you your last edition of Dark Peak News. Far too long. It's a long story, and one I went into at some length at the recent agm, so I won't bore you again with it all here. Suffice to say that the task of keeping the calendar up to date, getting the magazine out, plus dealing with the everyday demands of family life and a busy job were all getting a bit too much. We've been able to get it back on track because there are now two of us working on the magazine. Tim Mackey has volunteered to take on the job of production editor, which leaves me more free to concentrate on the content and the calendar. I'd like to offer heartfelt thanks to Tim for dropping into the role so quickly and dealing with the foibles of the way I put the mag together. As you may know, Tim has a wealth of experience in print production and design, and you can already see his hand in some of the improvements to the layout of this edition. We've tried to get this one out as quickly as possible, and there's been a bit of catching up to do with some of the content. But we now want to put our backlog of printing funds to good use by belting out a few more editions at quite regular intervals. The next edition will feature full reports on the successful BG weekend last month, plus Ian Fitzpatrick's account of his stunning Paddy Buckley performance. It will also feature what you choose to write about or point a camera at. So, please let's have pieces and ideas coming thick and fast. It would be particularly nice to have a few more race reviews coming through, especially from some of the further flung events that fellow Dark Peakers may not have experienced. And is there anybody out there who might fancy sharing the load and taking on the collation of the calendar? The Battle of Wounded Heel It's not just the magazine that has been on the back burner. For months I have been wondering whether I would be able to get back into running after picking up a stubborn injury that left me struggling to do more than go for a short walk. I whacked the base of my heel on a spiky little rock in the Marsden to Edale race, damaging the sensitive heel pad and producing symptoms very much like the dreaded plantar fasciitis. It's taken about six months to shake it off, and now I face the challenge of getting rid of the ring of blubber that seems to have sprouted around my waist without invitation. I draw two lessons from the episode. The first is that Walsh PB racers may be fantastic shoes, but they do cut support to the very minimum. From now on I'll be slipping sorbothane heel pads at the back for extra protection. The second, sadly, is that we may be able to hold on to our fitness as the years advance, but it becomes so much harder to regain it once something goes wrong. Injuries that clear quite quickly in your twenties seem to drag on forever once you reach your ***ties. And as for the fell runner's traditional diet of fish, chips, mushy peas and beer, forget it. If I'm ever going to have a crack at that Paddy Buckley, I think I'm going to have to grow fond of lettuce and water. Dave Dark Peak News July 2009 page 4

News

Thornbridge family camping weekend The annual Dark Peak family camping weekend is now fast approaching. It will be held at the usual Thornbridge venue, from Friday 28th until Sunday 30th August. All club members and their families are welcome, and there is plenty of space for the kids to play safely while you relax or maybe even go for the occasional run. If you haven’t been there before, you will find the camp site just south of Great Longstone village, in the heart of the White Peak, GR SK198710. Drive through the village, over the old railway bridge, and you’ll find the Thornbridge Outdoors centre just on your right, (opposite the old Thornbridge Hall). If you are coming from the south, head north out of Ashford in the Water on the B6465, turn first right and duck and weave along the little road until you see the centre on your left. We will have exclusive use of the secure and sheltered camping field, plus the adjacent camping block containing showers, toilets and a fully equipped kitchen with plenty of fridge space. People are free to arrive any time from 5pm on the Friday, and we need to vacate the site by late Sunday afternoon. The programme includes the Ashford fell race at 11am on Saturday, plus a barbecue from 6pm on Saturday evening – the club will provide the barbecues, several gallons of real ale, bread and soft drinks. You provide the rest of the food, plus any instruments or voices that you want to add to the mix of live music that usually gets going all evening. The site is right next door to the off-road Monsal Trail cycle route, which provides flat, safe bike rides for people of all ages. There is usually a bike ride and a social run on the Sunday morning, plus the legendary “string walk” in the darkened woods at the side of the campsite for kids of all ages, (and all stages of inebriation), towards the end of Saturday night. The cost is £10 per adult per night, with no charge for the kids. No need to book, but contact the organiser Tim Hawley if you need any more information: [email protected] or 0114 2339969. Club dinner moves to Bradfield THE CLUB DINNER is moving to a new home this year, as the Maynard Arms was not available during November. Organiser Chris Barber has booked Bradfield Village Hall, on the outskirts of Sheffield, for Saturday 14th November. The hall, finished a few years ago after a long community fundraising effort, can cater comfortably for up to 200 people and has a large stage and dance floor. It also features a real ale bar provided by Bradfield Brewery, with Farmer's Blonde on tap at just £1.80 a pint. The evening will cost £25 per head, which includes a hot sit-down meal provided by professional caterers. They will offer a choice from a menu of up to four dishes, which Chris will circulate closer to the time. Entertainment and dancing will again be provided by the Rhythm Chaps ceilidh band, who performed for us last year. And if you don't want to drink and drive, there's a regular subsidised local bus service to and from the Hillsborough interchange. Dark Peak News July 2009 page 5

Club champs venue THE DINNER will of course be preceded by the annual club championships race, which is being organised this year by Gavin Williams. Gavin is currently in negotiation with the National Trust and Peak Park about getting exclusive access to a new venue in the upper Derwent Valley. Watch this space for further details, but if in the meantime you want to start familiarising yourself with places like Alport and Grinah Stones, you might find your researches are not entirely wasted. Sealy’s return Former Dark Peaker Al Sealy and his family are now back on these shores after their sojourn in Norway. They seem to have developed a taste for cold, dark, northern places though and have taken up residence in the wilds of Aberdeenshire – at a place called Banchory, to be precise. Al still flies his brown vest with pride, and says it attracted a lot of attention in Norwegian hill races. But he has now forsaken us for Deeside Runners – “a friendly bunch but they don't go to the pub! Cosmics Club do, so I might start training with them.” He says he’s noticed how well Dark Peak have been doing at a national level recently, “a period of success that coincided precisely with my absence from the club”. Joe wins the Chase Dark Peak success in the Chevy Chase, a classic race up in Northumberland which probably doesn’t register very highly on the DPFR radar screen. Joe Blackett won in 2hrs 59:54. John Boyle, a former winner was third in 3hrs 07:49. We hope to have a detailed review in the next edition. Lunge claims another victim Dark Peak chairman Paul Sanderson is likely to be spending more time on club business and less time running over the next few weeks, after falling and breaking a rib on a training run round the notoriously demanding Loxley Lunge course. He was accompanied by the Dark Peak News editor and Chase the dog at the time. The dog says he’s unlikely to be showing any editorial interest in the incident, which was more down to bad luck than any incompetence on Paul’s part. “He actually negotiated the breakneck and greasy parts of the course very well, and then just took his eye off the ball and tripped over a little rock. It’s just the kind of thing you’ve got to expect at his time of life,” said Chase. The doctors have told Paul he’ll be out of action for four to six weeks. Long distance successes Eight people completed the Bob Graham Round on Saturday 20th June, in Dark Peak’s biggest ever organised attempt, with a battalion of supporters and navigators helping on the way. Congratulations to Simon Bacsich, Karen Davison, Helen Elmore (), Becky Harper (Totley), Steve Jones, Ashley Kay, Simon Rippon (Penistone), and Mick Stenton. Dark Peak member Julie Gardner completed on the same weekend but in a separate, independent attempt, (you’ll find Julie on the cover of this edition, Ed). Ryan Edwards, Dave Harrison and Phil Winskill have also chalked up individual rounds recently, while Dave Lockwood has got the full set of Joss Naylors, adding an 18 hour completion on 11th July to his previous 12 and 15 hour jaunts. Away from the Lakes, Ian Fitzpatrick has completed the Paddy Buckley Round in Snowdonia in 22 hrs 15 mins, which is probably the fastest time by a Dark Peaker. Dark Peak News July 2009 page 6

We hope to have full reports on these successes in the next edition, along shortly, including some reflections from BG organiser Richard Hakes on the logistical and safety implications when the attempt gets so big. Motorists driven off MANDY MOORE'S campaign against illegal motoring on Totley Moor looks to be paying off. Latest figures suggest that four wheel drive vehicles and off-road bikers are finally being driven away from the area. Staff from the National Park have built a stone wall across the Sheffield end of the old Moss Road, and put up a gate at the other end, near Fox House. The motorised vandals have done their best to defeat these measures, pulling down part of the wall and ripping down warning signs no fewer than four times. But the local police have been out with park rangers to get the message across. The Peak Park have been monitoring things, and say that four wheel drive vehicles are no longer using the road, although a few motorcyclists are still managing to get round the barriers. They're now considering how best to make good the damage caused by the vehicles. New whisky stash on Kinder DARK PEAK WHISKY OFFICER John Gunnee has been cracking on since being elected to his new post at the AGM. He has extended the range of our whisky stashes to include K***** S****, where you will now find a bottle secreted just by Spring Number 4, at the top of U*p** S**l Clough. The bottle is Bushmills best Irish whiskey, donated from the Emerald Isle by Jim Patterson as a thank you to the Dark Peak members who got him round the Bob Graham. You'll find it in one of John's patented waterproof containers, cleverly disguised as a pile of stones, on a little heather knoll just above the intersection of the two springs. There's also a little pink cup, and a visitors book so you can make a note of your visit. The AGM instructed John to provide stewardship for our existing stashes at P*** Low, B*******rs T*r and Bla** H***s, to replenish stocks with single malt when they run out, and gave him scope to extend the range as appropriate. He's also making plans to organise a whisky race early next year. For more on this, see page 13. Dark Peak News July 2009 page 7

From the Chairman

Well I'm now well into my second year as club chairman and so far the chains of such exalted office don't seem to be weighing too heavy on the shoulders. Even my running seemed to have improved, well at least until I finished Jura. For those of you who weren't at the AGM back in May the good thing to report is the club is in rude health. We now have more than 360 members, with a significant proportion of new members as well as a group on Facebook for some reason. Personally it was good to note that the back room at the Grouse was reasonably full for the meeting but it would be good to see a few more faces next year. One of the highlights and firm fixtures of our club year along with the club champs and dinner is the Thornbridge camping weekend. This year we have again managed to book the excellent Thornbridge Education centre for the August bank holiday weekend. I know this weekend doesn't suit everyone, but camping real estate is at a premium at this time of year and I think we have to be realistic and take what is available. What I would like is to encourage some of the new as well as not so new members who haven't been before to come along and enjoy the weekend. Bring the kids, run the fine Ashford fell race, cremate something on the barbie and drink plenty of very local award winning beer. It's a great weekend. Anyway, back to Jura. I hadn't been there for the last two years and I have to say it was great to be back on the island. Some of the many Dark Peak arrived earlier than others but it was great that so many of the club continue to support this fine event. As always the camaraderie and banter was good, especially from the locals on the Friday who kept telling us to make the most of the views of the Paps as we wouldn't be seeing them come race day – how right they were. Conditions for the race could best be described as testing. Some of us passed the test with varying degrees of success; others were not so familiar with the complex workings of map and compass and didn't quite do so well and were definitely heading into Pertex Trophy territory. Overall though, a great mountaineering day out as well as a great weekend and for me a good way to notch up my 12th Jura. Just what true fell running is all about. It is interesting to note that next year will be the 30th running of the Jura fell race. By way of a quick history lesson it was first run in the early 70's but ran for only three years before it fell victim to a lack of runners and equal lack of local support. It was then taken over by Don Booth, one of the founder members of our club. Don restarted the race in 1983 and it has since unsurprisingly gone on to become firmly established as a club favourite. What is great to see nowadays is the impact the junior races are having with over 96 competitors taking part. I think Dark Peak actually won more prizes in the junior races this year than we did in the main race which really does bode well for the future of the sport and hopefully our club. Paul

Editor’s note: Paul has asked that Dark Peak News stops using the photograph at the top of this page, and finds a new one. He seems to think it’s slightly out of date and doesn’t do him justice. Can’t think why. But if anyone can come up with a new one that is equally embarrassing, we’ll be happy to oblige. Dark Peak News July 2009 page 8

Events calendar

Club runs: Every Wednesday from the Sportsman, Lodge Moor, Sheffield at 18:30 or at an “away” venue (usually at 18:45 but check below). People run at different speeds but there are usually two or three stops to re-group. The weather can be bad on the moors, even in the spring and summer. So please be aware of the risk of exposure, and come prepared. Warts runs are in the dark - head torches, whisky and safety gear obligatory.

“Local races” are open events, usually entry-on-the-day with an entry fee and a few prizes. Full details can usually be found in the FRA Calendar.

“DPFR races” are informal events for Dark Peak club members, usually with no entry fee and no prizes. People running in “DPFR events” accept total responsibility for their own safety.

Aug Trunce 7. SE271020. Waggon & Horses, Oxspring. See: Mon 3 18:45 Local race www.undeadmonkey.org.uk/trunce/ 4.25ml/550 Tue 4 19:30 Local race Bradwell Fell Race. SK174818. £3.00 on the night only. 4.5ml/650 Wed 5 18:30 Club run Sportsman. Cracken Edge. SK036869. £4 on the night only. See: http:// Wed 5 19:30 Local race www.cs.man.ac.uk/~temples/hc/ 7ml/1450 Tegg's Nose. SJ923716. £3 entry on day, (includes entry to Sat 8 14:30 Local race 7.5ml/1600 sheepdog trials). See: macclesfield-harriers.co.uk Wed 12 19:00 DPFR race Alport. SK109915. Start/finish at Snake lay-by. Ricky's Race. SK269619. £3 on the day. See: matlockac.org. Thu 13 19:00 Local race uk 5ml/700 Trunce 8. SE271020. Waggon & Horses, Oxspring. See: Mon 17 18:45 Local race www.undeadmonkey.org.uk/trunce/ 4.25ml/550 Wed 19 18:45 Club run King's Tree. SK168939. . SK023821. £3.50 on the day. See: www. Wed 19 19:30 Local race goytvalleystriders.org.uk 4ml/650 Dennis Stitt Memorial. SE135078. £4 on the day. See: Thu 20 19:15 Local race holmfirthharriers.com 5ml/850 Wed 26 18:30 Club run Sportsman. Thu 27 19:00 Local race Pilsley. SK241711. £3.50 on the day. 5.5ml/675 Thornbridge weekend. SK198710. Annual club camping weekend at Thornbridge Hall. Continues until Sunday Fri 28 19:00 Other morning. All welcome. Contact Tim Hawley for further details. Ashford. SK195698. Part of the club camping weekend. Sat 29 10:30 DPFR race Start is from the recreation field in Ashford in the Water. Bradbourne. SK209526. £3 pre-entry and on the day. See: Sun 30 10:00 Local race runningwithdavid.com 5ml/844 Dark Peak News July 2009 page 9

Sep Eyam. SK216767. £3.50 pre-entry or £4 on the day. See: Tue 1 18:30 Local race eyamsports.com 6.5ml/1500 Cutthroat Bridge. SK216874. NB 18:30 start to maximise Wed 2 18:30 Club run daylight running time. Fri 4 18:45 Local race Great Longstone Chase. SK201716. £4 on the day. 4.8ml/950 Longshaw Sheepdog Trials. SK265800. £4 entry to field, Sat 5 11:00 Local race 5.5ml/650 race free. See: www.dpfr.co.uk Totley Exterminator. SK301800. £6.00 on day. See: www. Sun 6 10:30 Local race totleyac.org.uk/ExTerminator%202008.htm 16ml/4050 Shelf Moor. SK042949. £4 on the day. See: glossopdale.org. Sun 6 11:00 Local race uk 5.9ml/1500 Trunce 9. SE271020. Waggon & Horses, Oxspring. See: Mon 7 18:45 Local race www.undeadmonkey.org.uk/trunce/ 4.25ml/550 Wed 9 18:30 Club run Sportsman. Sun 13 13:15 Local race Padfield Plum Fair. SK031962. £3 on the day. 5.5ml/1050 Wed 16 18:30 Club run Sportsman. Wed 16 18:45 Warts run Snake Inn. SK113906. . SK035886. £6 approx. entry to show field, Sat 19 14:00 Local race 5ml/1050 race entry free. See: http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/~temples/hc/ Stanage Struggle. SK235817. £5 on the day. See: Sun 20 11:00 Local race stanagestruggle.co.uk 6.1ml/1200 Wed 23 18:30 Club run Sportsman. Sat 26 11.00 Local race Royal Dungworth Nine Edges Race. SK172891. £20 pre-entry only. See: Sat 26 10:00 Local race nineedges.co.uk 20.4ml/2930 Wed 30 18:30 Club run Sportsman. Wed 30 18:45 Warts run Strines Inn. SK222907. Oct Grin and Bear It. SE211004. £8 - see website for details. Sat 3 10:00 Local race 15.5ml/1950 See: woodheadmrt.org Hope Moors and Tors. SK167834. £9, also 8m/1500' (£6). Sun 4 10:00 Local race 20ml/3700 See: darkandwhite.co.uk Windgather. SK044730. £5 on the day. See: www.lloydster. Sun 11 11:00 Local race madasafish.com/ 13.5ml/2500

Please remember that the published calendar takes a great deal of time and effort to compile and is designed to give members advanced notice of events. If you intend to stage events, it is helpful to let us know as soon as you can. Please e-mail Dark Peak News with details: [email protected] Unavoidable late additions or changes will be publicised on the website news pages. Dark Peak News July 2009 page 10

Caption competition

We had a huge response last time to the picture of Ian Winterburn at the end of his successful BG. It was a difficult task choosing a winner, particularly as so many themes emerged, from Ian's perceived chubbiness to some that verged on the obscene!

The winner, by a short straw, is "Daz H" with: "Battered sausage Nicky, coming right up!!"

Runner-up, also making play of Ian's hand movements, is Tony Vardy: "I don’t care if it grows when you smack it hard enough… ..I’m eating me chips!"

pic: ©Richard Hakes

A RANDOM trawl through the archives produced this magnificently grainy image of Kev Saville sporting a pair of purple underpants on the High Peak Marathon. The photographer managed to capture a richly intimate and personal moment that still has a deep resonance several years down the line. Quite what he was up to was his business at the time, but now it's anybody's guess. There's another bottle of best Jura malt for the person who, in the editor's judgment, comes up with the wittiest words. You can enter via the website or email your suggestions to: news@ dpfr.org.uk Dark Peak News July 2009 page 11

You’ve all had to go a long time without a Dark Peak competition, so in this overdue edition you get not just one, but two. If you’ve run out of creative energy on the Kev Saville caption, why not have a go at this one? Richard Hakes took this photograph so long ago that he can’t remember where it was. All he can tell us is that this mysterious pig-shaped rock is to be found somewhere on the edge of Kinder. A four-pack of Ian Winterburns’ excellent Woodhead Mountain Rescue Ale is on offer, (courtesy of the guilt-stricken editor), to the first person who can provide an exact grid reference, accompanied by photographic proof that they’ve actually been there. Dark Peak News July 2009 page 12

Features

Dark Peak rituals shed new light on the meaning of life

Milky Way Galaxy... was thought to be The Meaning of Life. It Newsflash August 2408...... is also significant that the summer equinox takes place annually on the 21st June, and NEW LIGHT has been shed on Life on Earth. that 42 is twice 21. Terrestrial remote cyber-archaeological Cyberspace documents describing this probes have been investigating the Blue circuit have been found under the name of Planet Earth for some years and recently a ‘Bob Graham Club’, and it is believed that non-invasive deep scanning technique has Bob was a prophet who first created this been used on islands known as The Lake ritual, and in so doing, discovered that 42 District and The Peak District. These islands was indeed The Meaning of Life. were at one time connected by a land bridge Global warming seemed to be advanced, called Great Britain, but this submerged in because Bob was recorded as wearing the 21st century. pyjamas. A subset cult, The Bob Graham Peering deep below the carbon-rich toxic Club slowly evolved and pyjamas gave way atmosphere, which caused all life to cease to shorts and singlets. Clothing was gradually sometime around the 23rd century, the shed as Earth began to warm up. cyber-archaeologists have formulated some By the 23rd century the BG Club had many significant theories on the Meaning of Life. millions of members, although some were It has long been known that the human dead because they joined before the Secret species formed collaborative groups and of Eternal Life was discovered. ran around the mountains scantily clad. It The trough carved by the ritual BG Round had previously been thought that this was is deeply etched into the bedrock and may a search for cooler climatic conditions well have altered the gravitational balance following the onset of global warming, and of the Blue Planet. Certainly things began to that these outings were disorganised runs heat up in the 21st century, and more people based on chaos theory. took to the cooler mountain heights. But new evidence from The Lake District A second finding concerns the Balloon has found a definite pattern, and evidence of People who systematically set out to destroy a quasi-religious ritual. A loose group known the moorland of The Peak District. In little as ‘Dark Peak Fell Runners’ is implicated, more than 100 years, they released thousands although other tribes did take part at the of helium balloons which fell to ground on same time. the moorlands. Part of the ritual involved It seems that around the summer equinox, attaching personal attention-seeking large groups of runners would undertake a messages, trying to make contact with the circuit taking in 42 mountain summits, called users of moorland. The Bob Graham Round. Towards the middle of the 21st century It has long been known that 42 was a the balloon debris had formed a deep layer number of cultural significance, and that it which buried the moorland, and culminated Dark Peak News July 2009 page 13 in total death of all vegetation. These Balloon operated a Bob Graham Machine which was People never ventured onto the moorlands capable of completing the BG Round in a at all, and in fact celebrated their rituals in single day, under any weather conditions, and small festive gatherings in the valleys, where that this machine may have been responsible they released their balloons. for the origins of the BG trough. There is also a link to the Dark Peak Fell Mike Browell Runners, who celebrated the summer and winter equinox in a strange procedure called the Crookstone Crashout, until the balloon layer got so deep that the practice died out around 2042. The total derived from adding 21st June and 21st December making a total of 42, is considered highly significant, and it is surmised that The Dark Peak Fell Runners were mechanistic followers of prophet Bob Graham. It is believed they manufactured and Remnants: left by the Balloon People? Uisge-Beatha (Water of Life)

NOT LONG after I joined Dark Peak I heard of the old ammo box on K***** and soon after paid it a visit. I remember thinking this was a great idea and thought that Dark Peak ought to have its own box hidden out there somewhere off the beaten track. Then whilst running in the M*****y H**l race, Richard Hakes found a sandwich box complete with mouldy sandwiches and hid it behind a rock. We returned with a notebook and some pencils and thus the “Secret Sandwich Box” became the first. It is still there but is rarely visited - I wonder how many people know about it or how many of you have run past it without knowing. It was Richard who came up with the idea of putting a bottle of whisky in the box and so he donated the first bottle. I donated the tin and on 14th April 2004 we set off from F********s and planted the Berristers box and managed to visit the Secret Sandwich Box on the same run. We added two more whisky stops soon after, and for these I made waterproof containers out of drain pipe and screw-end caps which worked a treat. The Berristers container leaked badly and so has been replaced with a waterproof one supplied by Gavin Williams. The notebook was soaked but I managed to dry out the pages and salvage most of it. As a thank you to Dark Peak for helping him on his successful BG this year, “Irish Jim” has donated a bottle of Bushmills Whiskey. This is going in the fourth canister at No. 4 spring on the F**r S*****s Race - a beautiful spot with I believe the best tasting spring on K****r. I am going to put a small cup in this canister so that visitors can have a drink from the spring if whisky is not their thing. It is almost as good. I am also organising the “Wet your Whistle”, a winter race taking in some if not all of the whisky stops. There will also be a mystery whisky stash checkpoint on the day to make it a bit more interesting. It will probably take place next February from the Strines Inn See you there. “Slainte Mhath” John Gunnee, DPFR Whisky Officer Dark Peak News July 2009 page 14

Clamping down on cruelty

A year ago, we reported the disturbing news that cruelty against birds of prey had reached record levels in the Peak District. A report from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said things were so bad that the goshawk and peregrine falcon had been wiped out in the north east corner of the national park. Our access and wildlife expert Bob Berzins has been trying to turn the tide. Here he offers tips for the rest of us on how to set about it...

RSPB HAVE produced two reports recently moorland areas near breeding birds has been called Peak Malpractice, which highlight the a tactic used to disturb or disrupt breeding possible illegal persecution of wildlife in the activity. Peak District. There is strong evidence that In short, if you witness any activity which such persecution has occurred in many areas to you seems unusual or suspicious both the of the Peak District, including land owned police and the RSPB want to know. by the National Trust, (although there is no Derbyshire Police have dedicated wildlife suggestion that the National Trust is implicated crime officers, who will want you to give in any way). Gathering enough evidence for as much detail as possible of any incident, criminal prosecutions is extremely difficult, firstly of what happened, then other details but we can help. I was recently involved in such as the registration number of any a wildlife protection incident and it wasn’t vehicles and very detailed descriptions of the clear to me what I should have done at the people involved. Carry a mobile and report time and afterwards. the incident straight away, (if you can get a I will try to summarise the advice I signal). Digital photos or pencil and paper to received from the police and RSPB. Before record other details are also useful. that I would like to stress that almost all the You may also see several types of trap, most “wildlife management” activities that you commonly a crow trap, which is the size of a are likely to see in the Peak District are legal greenhouse, made of wire mesh. These might and legitimate including the use of guns and be baited with a dead hare or with a live bird traps. But there are boundaries that might from the crow family (not raven). These be crossed which mean the law has been traps should have food and water in them. broken. They can be legally used to trap jackdaws, The police and RSPB do want to know crows, rooks, magpies or jays. about anybody carrying guns near a known If a raven or bird of prey is seen in one of nest site of a protected bird – in our area these traps it should be released, but you may mainly birds of prey such as peregrines and not be able to do this yourself as the traps goshawks and ravens, and possibly the hen in this area are usually padlocked. If a live harrier. Deliberately disturbing protected pigeon is seen in a crow trap, it is likely that species is illegal. The police will take action the trap is being used to lure birds of prey, if such incidents are reported, even if no which is illegal. In this case report the grid shots were fired. Disturbance can involve reference of the trap to the police and/or merely being too near to nest sites - even bird the RSPB who will probably look to secure watchers sometimes inadvertently disturb evidence to support a prosecution. birds by getting too close. In the past, use Another commonly used trap in this area is of off-road motorcycles or quad bikes on a spring trap or fen trap, which looks like a Dark Peak News July 2009 page 15 mousetrap. These are usually found crossing So if you see any signs of arctic hares waterways, on a silver birch log and covered having been shot or poisoned, or a dog being in a wire mesh tunnel. If the trap is covered used to hunt them, report this to National it is legal. Uncovered traps are sometimes Trust management as soon as possible. seen on top of a wooden pole, where they All of the things I’ve described happen in are being used to illegally trap birds of prey. this area, but if you keep to the main paths Wire snares are legal for trapping rabbits or and routes, you would never know. As fell foxes, as long as the traps are checked every runners we go to out of the way places at odd 24 hours. Snares are illegal if used to trap a times of day. We are ideally placed to help badger. stamp out this type of illegal activity. Read You may see birds or animals contaminated RSPB’s Peak Malpractice reports for more with a pesticide or poison and left as bait – examples: http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/ this is illegal. If you suspect poisoning do conservation/projects/peakmalpractice.asp not touch the dead bird/animal. Poisons used Some key points to bear in mind tend to be commonly available, but in high concentrations and can be absorbed through l At all times consider your personal safety, the skin. Certain pesticides are toxic by particularly if you decide to challenge the inhalation so it is advisable to approach from behaviour of any individual. up-wind. A sign of poisoning is a dead bird l If you speak to estate staff ask which estate next to a dead animal or the animal being in they belong to and who is their shooting an unlikely situation, such as the top of a wall tenant/land agent. There is no harm in asking or summit of a hill. Another sign is a ring for names – although you may be refused. of dead flies around the poisoned animal. l REMEMBER if there is a vehicle Report the grid reference to the police and involved, get the registration number. RSPB as soon as possible. Natural l If you find poison bait and/or what you run a scheme to identify poisons used and believe may be an illegal trap, don’t touch it. prosecutions can result from this analysis. Record a grid reference and description, (and The National Trust owns Kinder and large digital photograph if possible), and report it areas of and Ladybower, generally to the police. around the inner edge of the watershed. The one recent case of a gamekeeper being Contact Numbers: prosecuted did occur on National Trust land, l Derbyshire Police Switchboard: 0845 but the situation regarding the National Trust 12333 33 (ask for wildlife liaison officer) and shooting is complex. The National Trust l Wildlife Liaison Officer direct line: acquired this land as the result of a bequest (Sergeant Darren Belfield): 01773 572669 and the land came with shooting rights attached, which are in place until 2015. This l RSPB main office: 01767 680551 means that the shooting tenants have rights l RSPB Investigations Officer: 07803 to manage the heather and use any legal 241452 grouse moor management. This situation is very unusual for the National Trust – the High Peak is the only upland estate owned by the Trust with shooting rights attached. Obviously the National Trust does have some influence and there is an agreement that gamekeepers will not shoot or harm arctic hares – I find it shocking that arctic hares have no legal protection whatsoever. Dark Peak News July 2009 page 16

If at first you...

Ian Winterburn was going like a train in the Dark Peak BG attempt last summer, but then had to limp out with a locked leg muscle. Two months later, he was back... It was 18.25 on Friday 8th August 2008. I was standing with my back against Moot Hall for the third time. This was becoming a bit of a habit. The first time, in 2007, had ended with a stomach bug on only the second leg. The second time was six weeks ago. I had been going so well and felt good. I knew I had it cracked. My knee had other ideas and disaster struck when I tore a muscle above my knee and limped off Yewbarrow backwards hanging on to Dave Markham. Gathering a select band of Dark Peakers and Penistone F P Runners at short notice in the middle of the holidays wasn’t easy but it had to be done, or so everyone kept telling me. Thus began IW3 Fitzpatrick doing the support. We found a good line up Clough Head and started to Leg 1 move on through the Dodds. By the time we The forecast for Saturday night wasn’t good reached Watson Dodd the cloud had closed with a heavy band of rain and strong wind in and visibility was poor. Unfortunately it expected early morning but at 18.30 Friday was to remain that way for the rest of the evening as we set off from Keswick the run.. weather couldn’t have been better. There It was better to slow down and stay on track were clear skies and little wind as John rather than go fast and get lost. Congleton Rowe and Rhys Findlay-Robinson paced Jim (CJ), who had started about 30 minutes me round the first leg. John had already behind me, had now caught up and passed by been warned by ‘Mum’ (Nicky Spinks) that at a good pace. But by taking it steady and if we were up on schedule by more than 15 concentrating on the route, we managed to minutes when we got to Threkeld we would slip past him by Helvelyn Low Man.There be in big trouble. It was impossible not to get was a brief scary moment as we nearly the perfect line off Skiddaw or Great Calva walked off the cliffs above Dollywagon. Up as the weather was beautifully clear. As popped CJ again setting off for Fairfield, night was fast approaching when we neared going right of the Tarn. We opted for the Blencathra Rhys was sent ahead to route find classic Dark Peak route: left and up the face. with just enough twilight to get us down the The Dollywagon descent was the best I’d first steep bit of Hallsfell Ridge. We arrived done with few rocks and lots of grass. With a comfortable 13 minutes up. perfect directions from Nicky, we hit a good Leg 2 line up the stream and were soon on the top After Steve Matthews had fed me my rocket of Fairfield. fuel of rice pudding and tea we were on our We were just starting our descent when way again, this time with Ian and Helen along came CJ minus a support runner who Dark Peak News July 2009 page 17 had hurt his ankle. Within minutes they were them briefly, looking slightly off line, and long gone. by the time they’d reached Rossett Pike we Steep loose rocky paths are not my were side by side again. favourites so we took our time off Fairfield. I led off up Billy Bland’s Rake. I don’t I was still eating and feeling good as we know why but I always look forward to it and dropped off Seat Sandal. I felt we were feel strong on this climb. Bowfell came and a little off line to the right when a glow went followed by a series of big hills On Esk appeared in front and to our left. Our saviour Pike it started to rain. Lightly at first, but we was Steve Matthews who had gone up in the knew what was coming. It got heavier and very early hours and taped a light stick to a heavier. CJ had broken his support team and cane to mark the trod down through the steep they had headed down early so he kept going bracken. We followed this down to arrive at with us. By the time we climbed Lord’s Rake Dunmail around 3.30 and we were still up on all other routes up were not safe as water schedule - just! was pouring off the west wall traverse and Leg 3 down the gully I’d used on my last attempt. More tea and rice pudding and we were off Approaching the summit of Scafell the wind up Steel Fell into a very dark night. This time was making standing up quite tough and the with Nicky, Richard Hakes and Jim Bell. rain was relentless. This was the wettest I’d We knew that Calf Crag was always going been for a long time. I was soaked to the skin to be tough to find in these conditions and and could feel the water running down my so it proved as four head torches appeared back. coming towards us. CJ’s team had become The descent to Wasdale was where I’d hurt disoriented and had tracked back to try find my leg six weeks earlier. I was terrified it the path. All four of us navigated at a slow would go again but it was fine, apart from a speed but eventually we nailed it with the minor navigational error, (my fault). I felt my other team following just behind. spirits lift despite the dreadful weather. . Onwards then towards High Raise. If There was one minor (!) problem though. anything the visibility was worse. Richard We appeared to have lost Jim in the clouds took the lead while Mum force fed me on the way down. Richard hung around and behind. Dawn began to make a feeble reclimbed Scafell from the top of impression and we were able to put our the Scree Gully as Nicky led us head torches away by Pike O’ Stickle, down. but the fog was still thick despite Leg 4 the wind getting up. More rice pudding and more tea. At this point CJ This time with a complete and his team shot change of clothes. off taking the On went mountain direct route waterproofs and via Stake overtrousers as I set off Gill. I with Martin Goodwyn s a w and Mum. Jim was supposed to be there too but there was still no sign of him or Dark Peak News July 2009 page 18 The piccy in the middle

Hungry for more: Ian Winterburn scours the ground for his hidden stash of rice pudding while his supporters zip past up Lord’s Rake on his Bob Graham Round. The piccy in the middle Dark Peak News July 2009 page 19 Dark Peak News July 2009 page 20

Richard. I knew they would be OK as they Mum, Martyn and Jim assured me that they had plenty of kit and experience. weren’t! The long pull up Yewbarrow was awful. Mum led us a steep gully on Kirk Fell (I The bracken and heather had grown and very think!) before CJ rejoined us just before soon we were wet through again. I found it the big climb up Great Gable. After a brief hard work in the heavier waterproofs and moment of indecision, up the wet rocks felt very constricted. we went. This was my lowest point. I felt Jim appeared at the bottom of the hill and terrible and dizzy. I called Jim to stay with by the top had caught us up. A fantastic me whilst the others pushed to the top. effort - he did it 10 minutes faster than The last three tops came quite quickly.I me. Once again we joined forces with CJ was pushing again to try get some time who seemed to have stronger support this back.The short grass was covered in pools leg. As we passed Dore Head I was on new and streamlets. I was very relieved to see ground and my leg was OK. tarmac at Honister. I was now 22 minutes By Red Pike I was 11 minutes down and down and starting to worry - I did not want time was ticking away. The support team to have to race back from Newlands. were fantastic. They kept pushing food into Leg 5 my hands. At least having enough water After a very short stop I nearly brought wasn’t a problem! back the food I had forced down, but at I started to get very cold between Pillar least I had another change of clothes. and Steeple but we kept pushing on. CJ CJ had long gone but the mood was stopped to put on more clothes. We kept very light as Nick Cable joined in with plodding. I swear hills to be climbed were his unique form of encouragement. It felt being added to the list as I was running. like the paparazzi were along as he tried Dark Peak News July 2009 page 21 out his new waterproof camera. Martyn was also there and... yes, Mum decided to see it through to the end. She did three legs in awful conditions carrying my kit. What a star! I took three minutes off the climb up Dale Head and then ran practically all the way to Hindscarth followed by another fast run before the last climb up Robinson. This was the most painful climb as I was sure I had a blister on my ankle but we were now only 12 minutes down. On the descent a miracle happened - it stopped raining! By the time we’d slid down the waterlogged plummet on our bottoms, we’d caught up with CJ and the cloud was actually lifting. Bit by bit clothes came off until by the time I’d left Chapel Bridge at Little Town and had my thermals ripped off by Steve I was in shorts and club vest. I really enjoyed the run back through the woods. I don’t know if it is any quicker but it is infinitely more pleasant than the long road section. We kept a high pace going as I still had that doubt in my mind about the time. It wasn’t until we got to Portinscale and the road sign that said “Keswick one mile” that I relaxed. The run up the high street was a huge relief. I was met by not only my support team but also CJ’s who had changed to road shoes and taken the tarmac option. Nicky bought me some chips before the return to Thirlspot (see Caption Competiton, page 11 - Ed) and a welcome beer with the supporters The following morning and despite tired legs I felt like I had a spring in my step now that the weight of the BG had been lifted. The day after though wasn’t quite as pretty as the legs were painful but a trip to Jeff Cole for some remedial physio sorted them out. I am very grateful to all those who put themselves and their families out for me. I really appreciated it given the poor conditions. Thanks also to all those who couldn’t make it but offered their best wishes and to so many who told me it was achievable. Ian Winterburn Dark Peak News July 2009 page 22

Been there, done that...

World Uphill Masters. Czech Republic – 6th September 2008

Many will remember that in 2005 Keswick categories as the slog up the hill. There was staged the Masters Race on Skiddaw, and lots of encouragement from the locals, with this year the event was held in Dolni Morava, cowbells, rattles, people reading your name Czech Republic. from the number and shouting you on. It’s a remote valley, which comes alive in The evening’s entertainment is what it’s all the ski-ing season, but otherwise it makes about. Local dancers, gymnasts, their Sealed Kentmere look busy. A few people enter with Knot society, awards with total standing the hope of doing well, the rest of us go for respect for national anthems – is Italy’s the the guaranteed good time. best? The rock band at full power. We missed Everyone arrive there with tales of the “Hanky Panky”, the transvestite act which journey from Prague. went down well Road works with around midnight, an hour’s unsigned We missed “Hanky Elvis appeared diversion, but we about 1am, but nipped round the Panky”, the transvestite we’d have missed barriers and drove the last laid-on bus straight through – act which went down well up the valley. the road did seem around midnight, Elvis The following day particularly quiet and always has a similar bumpy. Someone on appeared about 1am' open race for those the wrong train who who’ve not tried thought it strange to hard enough, and be heading out of the hills to the flatlands. then an early next day start for the airport, Those arriving late when the hotel had locked open the window to let our Irish friends out up. All part of the experience. Menus weren’t of the locked hotel and head for home. much better. Nobody could read Czech and This year we’re in Zagreb, Croatia, early English was a non-starter. Though 30p a pint September. The standard at the sharp end of worked well. each five-year category is extremely high, The race just isn’t what we’re used to. but anyone can take part, and if four 80-year- Five kilometres flattish out across the fields, olds can prosper, there’s room for all abilities then another five of relentless, just runnable – hope to see you there. hills up through forests, in 30 degrees full “We can all say one thing with pride : I heat, while England was flooded. No point broke bread with the rest of the world”. So – in trying to stuff them on the descents - who said that about the Olympics? there were none. Then you stop on the top Dave Tait of this hillside, views all around, drinks, cake, more cake and encourage the later Dark Peak News July 2009 page 23

Summer Series 2008

The “Summer Series” takes over from At the lower end of the series were John “Winter Mondays” as a series of short Gunnee and Tom Westgate. I hadn’t recorded races using percentage of winner’s time to one of Tom’s times when he escorted Charlie calculate points with 10 bonus points if you Plumridge round but he emailed me and beat your percentage from the last race you asked to be included. This was his undoing did. as it gave him an overall percentage lower I couldn’t decide on dates so used all of than “Gunneeman” – thus John got to choose them that weren’t Trunce nights, producing carrot cake whilst Tom got “experimental a series of 12 races. The general consensus banana cake”. was that this was too many, so I have now Nicky Spinks (Series Organiser) gone for a shorter series in 2009. I kicked off with “Back Tor and a Little Editor’s note: The 2009 Summer Series is Beyond” – and we got snow! Then followed now well underway, with another fine and a few races around the Langsett area before imaginative set of routes. We’ll catch up on more routes filtered through and I was able to progress with an update in the next edition. vary the areas a bit. A few classics emerged such as “Pike Lowe”, where I learnt that it is advisable to recce a route. Otherwise you end up bashing through bracken and Mark Harvey pretending last descending cliff-sided valleys in true Andy summer was warm Harmer style. Richard Hakes started the season in fine fettle and was top of the leader board for six races. But as more people completed their six races, he soon lost the battle to Tim Hawley and Mark Harvey who alternated leading by points of a point until the final race. Tim seemed to play the tactical game whereas Mark went from ankle spraining 56% to win the next race, thus gaining 100% + 10 points, (but making it virtually impossible to beat/ equal that score next time!). By the last race, (Crookstone Special), Mark would have to win the race to beat Tim overall, which proved impossible given the quality of the field on the night. Ian Winterburn was third and I was fourth right up until the last race whereby Ashley sneaked his sixth race in and I ended up fifth. Martyn Goodwin was narrowly ahead of Richard by this time but by the way Richard set off up Crookstone this battle was not over yet. Getting the only PB of the night he was catapulted ahead of Martyn by miles. Dark Peak News July 2009 page 24

Mellow Fruitfulness: The Royal Dungworth , 27 September 2008 Results

Club (unless DPFR) Time 1 Neil Northrop 33.37 2 Alan Ward 34.00 3 John Coe 36.13 4 Richard Guillaume 36.29 5 Darren Unwin 36.40 6 Gavin Williams 36.42 7 Ron Fawcett 37.00 8 John Boyle 37.12 9 John Slate Hallamshire 38.30 10 Richard Hakes 38.50 11 Ian Winterburn 38.52 12 Keith Holmes 39.20 13 Mick Cochrane 39.30 14 Dave Holmes 41.18 15 Neal O’Boyle Larne AC 41.20 16 Andy Howie Knott FR 41.24 17 José García U/A 42.47 18 Jon Wales 42.49 19 Tom Westgate 42.50 20 Graham Berry 43.00 21 Roy Small 43.30 22 Eoin Connaughton 43.50 23 Dorothy Pelly Ambleside 43.58 24 Russell Beresford 44.00 25 Roger Slater 44.15 26 Andy Harmer 44.20 27 Dave Lockwood 44.30 28 Chris Barber 45.00 29 Nigel Carr 45.05 30 Andy Maiden U/A 45.10 31 Paul Sanderson 46.00 32 Alan Yates 46.45 33 Martin Smith 46.46 34 John Gunnee 46.46 35 Tim Morris Valley Hill Striders 46.00 36 Tim Ray 46.05 37 Bob Innes Pensistone FPR 46.20 38 Mick Poulter 46.26 39 P. Hetherington Valley Hill Striders 46.33 Dark Peak News July 2009 page 25

40 Peter Tapping 48.50 41 Jane Cockerton Penistone FPR 49.00 42 John Dalton 49.25 43 Mel Cranmer Knott FR 49.30 44 Colin Lago 49.45 45 Dave Markham 50.50 46 Neil Palazon 52.00

‘Organiser’s’ Report The above placings are accurate, but the times are a bit approximate. This is because a series of calamities afflicted start/finish arrangements. It began with a scandalous false-start, caused by herd instinct after one or two tensed-up competitors had failed to differentiate between the words “Good!” and “Go!”. Then the timekeeper’s stop watch stopped just after the runners had left the field, which compounded the usual pandemonium of the Dungworth finish. Phil Wheatcroft and Tracey Sanderson, ably assisted by Marilyn Small, coped admirably with the adversities and are to be congratulated and thanked for their sterling work in putting order into chaos. Thanks also to Dick Pasley and Helen for manning Jones’s Corner, as well as to the enthusiastic spectators, (Fi Berry and Wendy Trowbridge), who lined the course. Nearly everybody turned up on a bicycle and all but about six of the runners were V40+, which speaks for itself. It was a memorably beautiful day and the atmosphere was as competitive as it was convivial. The top-class tussle between Neil and Alan at the front was replicated by private battles and some impressive individual performances, (Richard Hakes’s and Mick Cochrane’s being particularly noteworthy), all the way through the satisfyingly big field. Plans had already been laid to ensure that Andy Howie went away again with Hiro’s Fan, so that next year it can become his in perpetuity. In fact, the scheming was unnecessary because Andy obliged by taking himself and another runner off towards Stannington, after the double-stile chicane into Ringwood Lane. The Moose Head was graciously accepted by first lady Dorothy Pelly, from Ambleside, after the over-ruling of strong support for it to go to Richard Hakes. Appreciation must be placed on record for all the hospitality received at the Royal Hotel, for Bradfield Parish Council’s perfectly tonsured footpaths, for Mrs Harper’s attendance at the presentation ceremony, and for access to Jones’s Corner granted by David Sanderson of Woodside Farm. After expenses including engraving, a pint for Eric the BPC footpath man, a bottle of whisky for DS and a small subsidy towards the chip butties, the historic Brasso tin will contain a surplus of a two-Euro coin plus about £20, resulting from the bumper turn-out. The sterling-currency portion of this will go to DPFR funds. Put it in the diary now: the beginning of autumn will be celebrated again this year with the Royal Dungworth, same time and same place on the last Saturday in September.

Alan Yates Dark Peak News July 2009 page 26

The Madeira Island Ultra Trail “Maybe the most beautiful trail in the spectacular part involved a long and gradual world.” descent accompanying a levada which grew in volume as it picked up tributaries. At times I saw this last-minute publicity statement the path was nothing more than a 30cm-wide about the September 2008 Madeira Ultra concrete kerb alongside the water channel, Trail run, and knowing Madeira’s mountains, with potential for very nasty consequences it seemed too good to miss. in the unthinkable event of a fall. The stream Madeira is a volcano which sticks out of finally took a short cut through the mountain the Atlantic off the north African coast. The in a 2.3km tunnel with a ceiling height that flanks of the island fall precipitously into the parted my remaining hair, eventually exiting sea, without bothering to stop for a rest on a beach: Madeira doesn’t do sand! The dry mountain slopes present a challenge to get irrigation water to allow cultivation, and the earliest inhabitants, the Moors, rose to the challenge and created a unique and wonderfully runnable contour channel, the levada. These gently sloping water channels carry streams horizontally around spurs and valleys, running for many miles and losing very little height. For runners they are a gift, and provide the only way of passing through precipitous cliffs and dense jungles of lush vegetation. onto a mountainside near Encumeada. It I can do levadas! So I entered the race. beats the famous Chew tunnel! There were two trail options, 100km and The weather on race day was 53km, so I opted for the short course which uncharacteristic for sub-tropical Madeira. starts from the centre of the island at the Storms hit the island the day before, and by civilized time of 10:00am. It starts where the the race start time it was pretty severe with going gets really tough and tackles the ridges howling gales, thick mist and torrential rain, which connect the highest summits, Pico so I felt perfectly at home. Temperature at the Ruivo and Pico do Ariero, both over 1800 start was around 15 degrees centigrade and I metres. The most difficult part of the race is was conspicuously the only runner in shorts. the 18km section from the pass of Encumeada It got progressively colder and windchill had to the summit of Ariero. Virtually all of the a significant effect, so I was quite relieved to 2200 metres of ascent are packed into this reach the 18km checkpoint and high point at amazing section. Pico Ariero after four and a half hours. The In the days before the race I ran the first race descends quickly from there. 47km in three sections, getting a good feeling I noticed later that there were a lot of DNFs for the terrain and route finding, and enjoying in the 100km race. They would have arrived the sunshine and dry conditions. A special in the mountains at the peak of the storm hazard of the race is having to encounter, and and found the climate not suited to their sub- then herd, reluctant cows which had nowhere tropical training. to turn on a narrow levada edge path. The most The mountain section is spectacular and I'm Dark Peak News July 2009 page 27 sorry I didn’t see much of it on the day, but I've been before. The race organizers warn about the real possibility of vertigo and this should be taken seriously. The drop offs are terrifying and there are some sections of stone bridges; teetering along a knife edge with vertical sides, that make Striding Edge look like the M1. The path is very well constructed though, mainly paved with steps and handrail cables at steep bits. The worst drops are protected by skinny railings which provide a token psychological protection. Many runners used trekking poles. I found them very useful for balance, and to reduce the pain of long descents. I was the only runner in fell shoes, and very pleased to have their grip on the slippery descents. My Macpac Activiste sac with a small camelback of liquid was comfortably plenty, and the food at checkpoints virtually made it unnecessary to carry any. Interestingly, a mobile phone was compulsory in the kitlist. A path not to fall off near the finish

I took my Buffalo windshirt off after 25km, and finished the 53km race in teeshirt and shorts at around 9pm, after 11hrs19mins of running. I was the only Brit in the race and finished twelfth out of 30, and second MV50. The race is staged by the Mountain Club of Madeira and their organisation was excellent, food and drinks varied and plenty. Route signing was brilliant. I didn't need a map, which is just as well because they are not very helpful. Put it in your diary for September this year

Mike Browell Dark Peak News July 2009 page 28

Dark Peak Juniors Either by accident or design, Dark Peak does not have a formalised Junior section. We are unusual in this, as all the other big fell running clubs tend to have large junior sections. In Sheffield, youngsters with an interest in running tend to train with a local athletics club, particularly Hallamshire Harriers or City of Sheffield AC, or participate in the events laid on by South Yorkshire Orienteers. The FRA does, however, organise a National Junior Championship to try to encourage children to try fell running and to nurture the talent of the future. My son, Charlie, runs for Hallamshire Harriers but has been desperate to don the brown vest for some time. The FRA Junior Champs event on May 4th gave him just that opportunity. Mytholmroyd, near Halifax, is not the prettiest town in the world but it did host the Coiners Fell Race for seniors and juniors, (with age groups of U8, U10, U12, U14 and U16). The conditions were wet, cold and windy and therefore perfect for an introductory experience to fell running. No points are awarded for the U8 and U10 categories, but all those children competing in four out of the six championship races receive a special t-shirt for their achievement. The U12, U14 and U16 events had been designated as selection races for the national team and so there was quite a buzz in the air. Apart from the U8 category, most of the participants were in club colours, and Charlie was conspicuous (and very proud) to be the only Brown Vest. The course for the U10s, (Charlie’s class), was just over a mile long with a figure-of-eight route providing a long climb, at some points severe. Charlie finished ninth out of nearly forty competitors and therefore did the club proud in his first FRA event. The event was really good fun with all the kids generally getting very tired and very muddy. While there is no need to create a formalised ‘Dark Peak Junior Section’ it might be nice, as a lot of club members have younger children, if the club publicised junior events or even arranged a couple of informal jogs around Burbage Valley every couple of months. If anyone is interested please feel free to contact me. The remaining Junior Championship Races are –

Shutlingsloe (Monday 25 May) Ambleside (Saturday 20 June) Darwin Gala (Saturday 22 August) Viking Chase (Sunday 20 September)

A full list of all the races for 2009 with junior events can be downloaded from: http://www.fellrunner.org.uk/2009racesjunior.htm Matt Flinders [email protected]

Editor’s note: Matt is correct when he says Dark Peak has no official Juniors section, although this has been debated from time-to-time at the agm. When it was last discussed, there was little support for the idea. But there was a strong view that children and young people should be encouraged to take part in club activities. It was agreed that children of club members should automatically become members in their own right, and are therefore entitled to wear the brown vest with pride and to enter events as club members, i.e. as Brown Vests (if not yet fully fledged). Dark Peak News July 2009 page 29

Coiners Fell Race, National Junior Championship Race U10s, 4 May 2009

Name Club Time 1 Tomas Szajdzicki Ilkley boy 0:09:22 2 Charlie Lowrie Wharfedale Harriers boy 0:09:23 3 Charles Smith Ilkley boy 0:09:37 4 Robbie Johnstone Wharfedale Harriers boy 0:10:23 5 Gregan James Baker unattached boy 0:10:26 6 Thomas Nelson Calder Valley boy 0:10:40 7 Lucy Byram Holmfirth Harriers girl 0:10:52 8 Thomas Sumner Rossendale boy 0:10:55 9 Charlie Flinders Dark Peak boy 0:11:08 10 Adam Johnson Calder Valley boy 0:11:13 11 Erica Byram Holmfirth Harriers girl 0:11:15 12 Joe David Lonsdale unattached boy 0:11:16 13 Shauna Williamson Rossendale girl 0:11:18 14 Harry Stringfellow Rossendale boy 0:11:21 15 Samuel Gee Todmorden Harriers boy 0:11:26 16 Beatrice Toman Rossendale girl 0:11:27 17 Herbie Davies Wharfedale Harriers boy 0:11:32 18 Harry Fisher Calder Valley boy 0:12:06 19 Eleanor Solomon Rossendale girl 0:12:07 20 Leif Garsmith Calder Valley boy 0:12:14 21 Alex Robinson Nidd Valley boy 0:12:23 22 Charlie Webster Calder Valley boy 0:12:39 23 Carys Mapleson unattached girl 0:12:42 24 Sam Foster Calder Valley boy 0:12:45 25 Joe Squire Calder Valley boy 0:12:47 26 Emily Titlow West AC girl 0:12:50 27 Callum Webb Goyt Valley Striders boy 0:12:52 28 Emma Hull Goyt Valley Striders girl 0:12:53 29 Archie Walker Calder Valley boy 0:12:55 30 Gemma Johnson Calder Valley girl 0:13:12 31 Zanya Moore Calder Valley girl 0:13:15 32 Matthew Leese Calder Valley boy 0:13:43 33 Stanley Hunter Calder Valley boy 0:14:06 34 Evie Hairsine Calder Valley girl 0:14:11 35 Chloe Greenwood Calder Valley girl 0:15:43 36 Charley Godsman Calder Valley girl 0:15:45 Dark Peak News July 2009 page 30 Thornbridge camping family weekend Friday 28 - Sunday 30 August £10 per person per night - kids free Contact Tim Hawley 0114 2339969 [email protected] Dark Peak News July 2009 page 31

Tried and tested Paramo Fuera windproof RRP: £55.00 Appearance  Value for money  Performance  OVERALL RATING 

Over the years, I must have lost more running The security and snugness are enhanced by gear than I’ve managed to wear out. It seems the adaptable built-in hood, complete with to jump out of rucsacs, crawl into mysterious a little wired peak to stop it flapping across corners of other people’s cars, or simply get left your face. The hood tightens via spring-loaded on the hills. And I’m convinced there’s a crack drawcords down the sides that can also be tied in the club hut floor that mischievous pieces of off at the bottom, plus a spring-loaded cord kit squeeze through when I’m not looking. If down the back, (there’s also a little Velcro flap it’s a pair of boggy socks or a sweaty old tee- at the back – if anyone works out what it’s for, shirt, no disaster, but I felt like crying when please let me know). There are Velcro cuffs on my Ron Hill ripstop Pertex went the way of all the sleeves, that can be tight enough to keep out kit. With its secure double thickness hood, vast a gale, or lose enough to roll up on those rare zipped chest-pouch-cum-carry-sac, and full sunny days in winter. Freedom of movement length side vents, this was a masterpiece of fell is enhanced by a short front and scooped tail, running design. Ever since we parted company again with single-handed spring-loaded draw I’ve been trying without success to find a cord. worthy successor. This smock gets close. The chest pocket is cavernous, with big full- If you know Paramo, you’ll know that they’re height zips down each side. Easily enough one of those companies that put function before room for a big map, plus your compass, bits of fashion. Think Vango Force Ten or anything hill food, and maybe even a light camera, (but from the old Buffalo range. To my mind, some if you carry one, remember to do the zips up Paramo gear looks outlandishly unusual, but – a lesson I learned the hard way). Ventilation this stylish smock is an exception. It even has a comes from a really deep zip running down to bit of retro chic with its classic drawcord hood the chest pocket, but I think they missed a trick and Mallory-style chest pocket. It’s labelled by not incorporating zip-through vents on the rather grandly as part of Paramo’s “directional chest pocket, or down the jacket sides. Maybe clothing systems” and pitched at any outdoor they didn’t want the weight to go any higher, or situation where “breathability and flexibility the price to drift top side of sixty quid? are more important than total waterproofing”. The bottom line is that it’s the best It’s made from Nikwax Windproof fabric, and lightweight windproof jacket I’ve come across weighs a slightly chunky 290 grammes. Paramo in a long time. Maybe a bit heavy for out and recommend regular proofing with Nikwax out running, but it does the job for me as a hill liquid, which they would given that they own walker and cyclist too. Good value for money at Nikwax. This does repel showers reasonably, £55. If it wasn’t for the weight and the limited and gives the fabric a soft, almost cloth-like ventilation, I would be giving it five stars across feel. But you wouldn’t buy one of these to keep the board. But I do keep staring enviously at you dry. For me, the plus points are windproof my wife’s Ron Hill. security, snugness, a nice big chest pocket, and reasonable ventilation. Dave Holmes Dark Peak News July 2009 page 32

10 years ago... Jo Smith's decision to concentrate on fell running rather than orienteering was paying off. She had been chosen to run for England in the World Cup, and was heading to the race on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion as Dark Peak News went to press. Rob Davison and Roger Woods were back in Sheffield after spending 84 days climbing all the Munros in Scotland. They estimated their time on the hills at 420 hours, with a total climb of 140,000 metres. They saw an albino roe deer and also "came across frogs on virtually every Munro with the highest sighting at 885m". The Bamford race went to the top of for the first time. The organisers engineered a triumph out of a crisis, after the police refused permission for the old race to cross the main road on its way to Shatton. Jill Hoffman moved in to take over at The Sportsman, saying she was looking forward to renewing her family's old ties with DPFR. Dark Peak News editor Mike Pedley was pondering the wisdom of club members taking part in the forthcoming "Trespass Fell Race". On balance, he felt the event risked jeopardising permission for official races, and suggested our time might be better spent supporting the Dungworth race on the same day. 20 years ago... A fantastic performance by Dark Peak women, with Clare Crofts winning both the English and British championships and Jacky Smith and Ann Watmore, (in her first season as a fell runner), finishing in the top five. Clare and Jacky were picked torun for England in the World Cup, with Ann as reserve. Malcolm Patterson was also selected for international duty, after finishing in the top ten in both championships. The World Cup was to take place in the UK for the first time, with a relatively easy descent on the Lakeland course to cater for the soft continentals. Micah Wilson beat wet and windy weather to take four seconds off the Trunce course record. The previous record of 21:33 had stood for eight years. Club secretary Andy Harmer reported there had been good turnouts at Cutthroat Bridge and Longshaw for the first summer runs away from The Sportsman - the new calendar was likely to be repeated. He also revealed himself as a committed winter road runner, raising concerns about the high numbers belting round Bents Green and Nether Edge. "The Warts Hogs are always happy for members to join them on the fells but for the rest of us it may be necessary to have more than one pack run," he said. How times change! Dark Peak News July 2009 page 33

The Dog’s Diary

roof, if it were needed, that road running is bad for your mental health. There is, Papparently, a system used in 10K races whereby runners get hyper-accurate split times by strapping a little electronic chip to their ankles. The chip sends a signal to mats that are placed across the course at regular intervals, thereby recording the runner's progress. Similar, but not quite the same, to the dibber system that is now used in many fell races, for example the Edale Skyline. Strap a dibber round your ankle and you'll find it very difficult to pop it into the receiver when you get to the control. You might even look a bit of a pillock. Just ask erstwhile road runner Kenny Turner who tried this in the Gallop. Maybe he thought this was how you earn your spurs as a fell runner? I have to say that Kenny's little mistake appears quite rational when compared to the eccentric behaviour of Simon Phipps. Simon was trying to recover from a badly bruised toe a few days before an important race, when his daughter made matters worse by standing on it. Not wanting to miss the race, Mr Phipps thought laterally and decided to bring technology to bear. Said technology - a 2mm drill bit - skidded and lost purchase when Simon first tried to put a hole through the middle of the toe nail to release the pressure. Applying a version of common sense that has eluded the rest of us, he then decided to try again after heating the drill bit until it turned orange. "The immediate result was fantastic," said Simon. "It went straight through just where I wanted." How surprising that this bizarre experiment then proceeded to leave him in "additional pain" and limping. You might have thought Simon would have been better off seeking advice from his doctor, but he may have been put off by the quality of opinion dispensed by former local GP, Dave Moseley. Dave suffered a nasty fall from his bike as he rode down to Grindleford cafe for the inaugural Phil Eastwood memorial breakfast. It left him with a painful and badly swollen elbow, prompting worried friends to wonder if a trip to casualty might be in order to check whether it was broken. "I'm pretty sure it's not," said Dave, applying his medical expertise and natural optimism to the situation. Here's the resulting x-ray, from which you may draw your own conclusions... I reckon a simple dog like me could have done a better job of getting off Pillar than Matt Hulley and Mick Robinson did in the Ennerdale Race. In thick clag, they did a classic 180 degree turn and went down the way they had just come up. You might think they would have rumbled this when they passed other competitors coming up the hill. But they naturally thought - as you would - that these were participants in a Bob Graham attempt going the other way. It was not until they encountered Jackie Lee some fifteen minutes later that the error of their ways was pointed out. Wuff Dark Peak News July 2009 page 34

The kit page

MOST DOCTORS agree that hanging around in the cold with no clothes on is not good for you. It slows the circulation and can make you grimace. My advice would be to buy lots of Dark Peak gear and wrap up warm for winter. For more details, contact Equipment Officer Richard Hakes: 0114 2339912; [email protected] Doctor Bob Price list

Vests £13 Aluminium sleeping bags £16.00 Sizes small, medium, large, extra large. As recommended by Dark Peak safety officer Mark Harvey. Now you can Shorts £14 get lost in comfort on the hills. Pop in a teddy bear and hot water bottle, Sizes medium and large. switch on your mobile phone, and Metallic green cycling then just curl up and wait for the type. Self assembly Velcro mountain rescue. attachments available to cover knobbly knees. Club badge t-shirts £10 Tracksters £18 In mustard yellow with club badge on chest. Sizes L, M, S. Navy blue. Available in medium, large and extra large. Doctor Bob recommends Black t-shirts £8 these for varicose veins. With "DARK PEAK FELL RUNNERS" in white cartoon Polo shirts £15 lettering across the front. Sizes XL, L, M, S. DPFR long sleeve polo in navy blue with running man logo. Available in the following sizes: Whistles £1 XL L M Orange. Plastic. Loud. Neoprene socks £13 Fleece pullovers £18 For keeping your tootsies warm on Navy blue or black. With half- those cold winter nights. length chest zip and club badge on chest. Sizes XL, L, M. As 30-year t-shirts £5 modelled by Chris Barber, (David Beckham wasn't available). In a full range of sizes, from XL to VVVVS. Dark Peak News July 2009 page 35

Made in the Dark Peak

...being the page where we showcase notable Dark Peak artefacts, oddities and curios... No. 3 The "on the bog" tee shirts These objects of beauty first appeared in 1986, when the club was celebrating its tenth anniversary. The cartoon of a hairy leg in a mud-slopped fell shoe was drawn by Dave Sant to cele- brate the essence of running in the Dark Peak. The original shirt had brown lettering on a pale yellow back- ground, much like what you're reading here. It came out in both short and long-sleeved versions, selling at £5 They went like hot cakes and were soon all gone. Two years later, kit officer Howard Swindells bowed to popular pressure and produced this "12 year" rerun. These were in green, to provide the perfect soul mates for our official shorts of green with yellow piping. Both versions were so cherished that they were washed with loving care and made to last for many years, as Dave Lockwood demonstrated at the recent Dungworth race.

New members Welcome to the following people who have recently chosen to wear the brown vest: Jan Danilo-Garbacki, Terry Butterworth, Jenny Caddick, Stuart Hale, Paul Billington, Neill Barton,Graham Moffatt, Gareth Candy, Kelly Candy, Paul Pycroft, Will Spain, Rachel Horn, Phil Davies, Jim Gayler, Paul Barnes, Mark Pearce, Pete Fraser-Smith, John O’Reilly, Pippa Wilkie, Matthew Hunt, Michael Taylor. Front cover: Julie Gardner limbers up for her Bob Graham with a jog round the Edale Skyline This page: Mark Evans at Coniston