DARK PEAK NEWS Summer 2013 Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 2 Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 3 In this edition» The bit at the front

A CORPORATE AFFAIR Lazy days Dark Peak is now a limited company, but don’t worry est. 1976 - nothing will change. Read the how and why of Welcome to the summer Dark Peak News, which I hope reaches you when you can ease www.dpfr.org.uk our new corporate status, where you fit in with your back and find an hour or two to read it a leisurely pace. It only seems a few weeks sinceTim ‘personal responsibility’, and why you’re to blame, not Mackey and I were toiling over the winter edition – there’s certainly some truth in that old President: Eric Mitchell the club, if anything goes wrong. Page 14 adage that the clock ticks along a little faster as the years fly by. Having said that, the last few days have made me realise just how much has been going on, as I’ve read through the stories Chairman Secretary SKYLINE 2.0 that you’ve all been providing. New Bob Graham records, a new county tops round, a mega It beckons. It’s drawing closer. It’s something we’ve Tom Westgate Rob Moore adventure down the spine of Wales, 20 years of Burbage, to name but a few. Plus of course the 95 Stumperlowe Hall Rd 2 Kerwen Close never done before. It’s an English Champs race. We Sheffield Dore have to get it right, and you’re part of the plan. Find epic tale of the Edale Skyline that wasn’t. Thanks as ever to everyone who’s laboured over a S10 3QT Sheffield out what you’ll be doing on Sunday, 29 September… keyboard to share these experiences. I hope it helps the rest of us to draw inspiration and shed 0114 263 0632 S17 3DF Page 12 that holiday fat as the nights draw in. [email protected] 07766 520741 [email protected] BELLY BABIES A dreadful pun. Sorry. What we’re trying to get across Corporate liability; personal responsibility in just two words is that nobody has done this before. Treasurer Membership Run the Dragon’s Belly for charity, that is. Nicky Away from actual running, club officials have been busy finalising the long process of Tim Hawley Ann Watmore Jasmine Cottage 26 Robertson Drive Spinks started it. Willy Kitchen tagged along and changing Dark Peak to a limited company from its previous incarnation as an unincorporated Main Road Sheffield survived. association. Only last night, in the Ladybower Inn, I signed something thrust under my nose Dungworth S6 5DY Page 33 by Tom Westgate which seals my new status as a Dark Peak ‘director’, (at least I think that’s Sheffield 0114 233 8383 S6 6HF [email protected] BAUMEISTER’S BACK what it was –maybe I’d better check my bank account to see if I’m now funding the Westgates’ 0114 285 1633 ...and as irrepressibly determined as ever. Most holidays this year?). The change of status was approved by the agm. As detailed elsewhere [email protected] people at 70+ would settle for trailing in the wake of on these pages, the aim is to actually change very little. The club ethos is still to be as free- those who’ve created a new Six Counties Tops round. spirited and uninhibited by rules and regulations as we possibly can, but in future club officials Clothing and Eqpt Men’s Captain Not Roger. He doubled the distance. Richard Hakes Rob Little Page 29 will have more protection from liability if anything goes wrong. The other key facet of the 454A Loxley Road 70 Burgoyne Road club ethos is best described as “personal responsibility”; if we all look after ourselves in a Loxley Sheffield BURBAGE BIRTHDAY Sheffield S6 3QB competent way, it’s far less likely that anything will go wrong. As you read through these pages ...well, sort of. It took the Burbage Skyline 22 years S6 6RS 07791 283861 you’ll find thoughts from our chairman, Tom Westgate on that subject, some practical steps 0114 233 9912 [email protected] to get to 20. We round up the history of a race that’s [email protected] now a firm favourite on the Dark Peak calendar. being taken by Carl Betts and others, and the background piece requested by the agm, in which Page 21 I try to chart how we got to where we are on such things, and what remains under discussion. Women’s Captain Website LEST HE FORGETS… Helen Elmore John Dalton Chase helps the current Pertex holder to recognise an Perseverence 117, Millhouses Lane, 1, Cannon Fields obvious front runner for this year’s award. Whatever we may say re personal responsibility, we know life seldom runs to plan. That was Sheffield, Hathersage Dog’s Diary, page 41 S7 2HD Derbyshire drummed home to me recently when I rang Al Ward in connection with the mag, only to learn 0114 237 6609 S32 1AG that he’s sadly withdrawn from the club for the time being, because he’s simply unable to run. [email protected] 01433 659523 [email protected] In fact he’s been so crippled by the sudden onset of arthritis that he’s struggling to walk, and is now waiting for a hip replacement. I’m sure everyone’s thoughts are with you Al, as they will Dark Peak News be with Tim Mackey, who continues to make Dark Peak News look so fantastic even though David Holmes his painful knees have sadly ended his running days too for now. I guess we all have to take 615, Loxley Road, each run as it comes and set our sights on people like Roger Baumeister – 95 miles in your Loxley, Sheffield, seventies with a pacemaker isn’t bad! S6 6RR Many thanks to Dave Edmunds of Fat Boys for the Dave 0114 234 4186 photos for the ‘The race that never was’ article. [email protected] Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 4 Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 5

“Weekend activities include: Ashford-in-the-Water fell race, kids fell race, BBQ n’beer, Dark Peak cycle cross race for big and little kids, three-legged orienteering, cycling on the News Monsal Trail or round the campsite, playing rounders, sitting in the sun, running on Longstone Edge...” If you’re hooked, please contact Kirsty to book your place. She also asks you to let her Advertising on club vests – our policy know if you want the cheese and wine: [email protected] Shortly before Dark Peak News went to print, club committee members found themselves Autumn Skyline: Your club needs you! discussing advertising on club vests after it came to light that a company “sponsoring” some of our members had asked them to wear club vests bearing the company logo. Whilst this may By the time you read this, entries will probably have opened and closed for the rescheduled not be a big issue, there was a consensus that we had not had opportunity to discuss this before Edale Skyline, which will take place as an English Championships race on Sunday, September the event, and that the club would prefer the status quo to apply, i.e. that club colours should 29th. The story of how the original Skyline day was kiboshed by a blizzard is told on page 12 simply denote membership of Dark Peak Fell Runners and should not be used to advertise by race organiser Ian Fitzpatrick. As Ian recounts, the FRA were understanding and supportive, commercial partners. The club does of course have a very welcome tradition of working with and encouraged us to reschedule for the autumn with the promise that the race could keep its local businesses re race support, prizes, stalls at the Skyline and so on, but we felt advertising championship status. Now we face the challenge of staging it with every bit as much polish on vests was a new development that we would like time to think about. This position gives and professionalism as we would have done in the spring. To do that, Ian needs an army of all club members time to consider the issue, and to help develop a consistent policy if felt volunteers, and he needs them early: [email protected] appropriate. “The issue does not revolve around particular runners or individual suppliers,” said club Mountain skills course chairman Tom Westgate. “More, there has been general talk of the ethos of the club, setting You’ll read a lot in this edition about the club’s attitude to safety in the hills, which in essence a precedent and how we value the club colours – we do not all find it easy to get our heads is a fairly simple one: you choose to go there, and you’re responsible for what happens to around all of these things. you when you do. That said, it takes a lot of knowledge and experience to be fully across “We have spoken to many people and there is no clear consensus, with strong views across what might be labelled mountain skills and hillcraft. Although these things can’t necessarily the spectrum, so we have made a judgement call. The policy is not meant to be heavy, far from be “taught”, there is a lot that all of us can learn from each other. Later this year the club will it, just an expression of the club’s “spirit”. You sponsored runners will do what you think is stage its first “mountain skills course” to try to help those who want to concentrate on really right for yourselves, your sponsors and sometimes your club on the odd occasion! Hopefully, mastering some of the essentials. we have adopted a pragmatic position that everyone can be comfortable with for now. There The day is being organised by Carl Betts, who is a qualified mountain leader. “I thought it are obvious ways to discuss this further and as ever I am keen to get views.” would be a good idea to add to the club’s already successful navigation courses,” said Carl. “The day will be designed to think about personal responsibility, kit, hill skills, etc. in the hope Thornbridge beckons of giving newer members of the club an avenue to build their confidence. “As close to glamping as most Dark Peakers will get,” is the hard sell from organiser Kirsty “This will be a guinea pig run to see how it goes, but obviously if it works there will be Bryan-Jones for this year’s Thornbridge weekend. Glamorous or not, Thornbridge is a unique more, based around the club’s ethos of personal responsibility. It’s not going to be boring. We and popular Dark Peak institution and you’ll no doubt need to get there early on Friday will be out there doing things, and it’s going to be interactive, based on people taking part in evening to get the prime pitches on the camping field. If you’ve not been before, the main activities that they’ve planned themselves, but with expert assistance.” things you need to know are that Thornbridge is a wonderfully family-friendly weekend on Other club members hoping to help Carl on the day are Ian Winterburn, (also a qualified a safe and secure private campsite that the club hires for the weekend in the White Peak. It’s mountain leader and an experienced mountain rescue team member), Tom Westgate, Mark loosely based on running, drinking and eating, and by midday Sunday the kids have usually Harvey, and Ruth Batty, who is an experienced mountain medic. The course takes place at taken over. the Pure outdoor centre at Stoney Middleton on Sunday October 6th, is free of charge, and It happens this year from Friday 23rd August to Sunday 25th August at the Thornbridge available to the first 12 club members to contact Carl [email protected] Outdoor Centre, on Longstone Lane near Great Longstone. All Dark Peak members plus family and friends welcome at £10 per night/day for adults, and £5 for kids over five. Sadly, …and just in case things go wrong dogs not allowed. Things can go wrong in the hills, even with the best mountaincraft in the world. And when they “Great facilities with cheese and wine tasting Friday night with Monsieur Gavin,” says do, it can help to have a trained first-aider around. Three years ago the club organised a very Kirsty. “Cake n’ cava Saturday afternoon, (thought not sure if the Red Arrows can make it this successful first aid training day, aimed at increasing awareness and spreading our emergency year), and luxury facilities including hot showers and camp kitchen. ‘cover’ as widely as possible. Our hosts were a company called High Peak First Aid Training, Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 6 Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 7

who deliver a specialist wildnerness first aid course resulting in a certificate for those who take part. Things move on, the certificates from last time are about to expire, and Richard Hakes is negotiating with the company to organise another weekend course later this year. Richard is From the Chairman working around some provisional dates in October. It’s not yet certain how many places there will be, but if you might be interested in attending, please contact Richard. Conifers face the chop It seems to get harder to keep up as each year slips by. The races come thick and fast throughout the week and all over the country. The heart is still willing even if the legs do not Sheffield City Council has announced plans to cut down the 83 acre plantation that forms such quite speed me with the likes of a Kay or a Kitchen these days. That said, I have enjoyed a a distinctive part of the Burbage valley, (and which is probably loved and loathed in equal great winter and spring and so have so many of you, judging by the results stacked up on the measure by those who know the area?). Woodland manager Ted Talbot says the trees, planted Dark Peak website. in the early 1970s, provide few benefits for wildlife and are now in significant decline. “They With due respect, and no doubt unfairly, Jim Paxman did not appear to me to be a natural are beginning to blow over, causing health and safety concerns and a fire risk,” he said. when you have the Ramsey in mind. However hats off to Jim for you have to admire the way Felling is scheduled to start early next month and to be finished, weather permitting, by he has prepared and got a complete plan in place to have a good crack at this fine Scottish Christmas. “Some of the site will then be restored back to moorland, while the rest of the area round. Over the last year or so he has been pounding the Scottish hills and squeezing in some will be replanted with native oak and birch woodland, benefiting a range of wildlife,” said Mr excellent performances in distance runs like the Fellsman. In short, he put himself in a great Talbot. place and fully merited a shot at the demanding 24 hour Ramsey Round. He put together an The work is being funded by a project called the Dark Peak Nature Improvement Area. Ross action packed weekend for us all and the club turned out in force to support him and Keith Frazer, from the project, was planning to be at the Burbage Bridge car park on a few days this Holmes. Sadly the summer heat conspired against them with searing temperatures and no month to explain more. Full details at: http://peakdistrictnt.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/burbage-to-be- realistic chance of completion. It was certainly a great trip and we all came away full of transformed admiration for Jim’s organisation and commitment – one of those occasions when maybe the This means that the Summer Sharpener on Wednesday, August 28th, could provide your result did not matter; the spirit was there and that is what counted. Jim was not the only Dark final opportunity to furtle around in these dark and dank jungles. Presumably SYO will have to Peaker executing grand plans this summer, with fine efforts from Roger Baumeister on his Six resurvey their excellent orienteering map at some point? County Tops and recently the Dragon’s Belly team. Roger was right to be joyous on his return to Tha Sportsmen, proudly sharing his stories and displaying what little was left of his feet. Club chips in to help farmers’ charity More of the same please. Bleak, desolate and wild are words we would probably apply in a positive way to the Dark As agreed by the AGM, Dark Peak is now a limited company and thus far nothing, as Peak hills that we so cherish. But these can be double-edged qualities if you’re a hill farmer promised, has changed. Most committee members will now become ‘directors’, but that’s trying to eke out a living there. Sometimes the local farming community can be perilously about as far as it goes. The change of legal status was principally designed to protect club close to the edge. The club has just tried to do a little bit to try to help those who fall on hard officials from personal liability should anything ever go wrong, but fingers crossed let’s hope it times by donating £430 from the Burbage race income to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent never does. If we simply exercise a little common sense in our activities, there’s no reason why Institution. RABI is a charity that has been around since 1860, and it takes pride in “an our minimalist free-spirited approach should change. unbroken history of providing long-term care and emergency help for farmers, farm workers, In my view, the bedrock of that free-spirited approach rests on the notion of “personal tenant farmers, farm managers, and families.” responsibility”. This does not have to be a burden as long as we ensure everybody understands Its local representative is Peter Atkin, who lives at Rowlee Farm near where we start and the idea that first and foremost we are responsible for our own individual well being on the finish the Crookstone Crashout. Peter is also the newly elected chairman of the Derbyshire fells. Fortunately our club is very different from 20 or 30 years ago but this also means that NFU, so is sadly familiar with the pressures on his farming colleagues that too often manifest new people can not be necessarily expected to understand what awaits them or that they themselves in an exceptionally high suicide rate. This year Peter has seen a sharp increase in understand the idea that they need to look after themselves. Personal responsibility allows us emergency calls to RABI’s confidential helpline. “It can be harrowing to deal with,” he said. great freedom on the fells, but when we look across the proverbial start line has everybody “But our charity operates without taking anything for overheads, so all the money donated will bought into it? I argue that climbers and mountaineers get it, but that we in Dark Peak have really make a difference. The £430 that you’ve put in means somebody is going to get that not invested in it as much as we should have done over the years. We got a little bogged down money at a time when they really need it. It’s much appreciated.” at the AGM when we tried to put into words what we mean by all this, under the umbrella description of “usual” Dark Peak custom and practice. I’ve promised a start on making things as clear as possible. If we do, and we all take a short positive step forward, then the ethos of the club will remain. Tom Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 8 Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 9 Caption competition The questionnaire

We had a surprisingly smut- Jon Coe normally a couple a week. I hardly did any runs free range of entries for that weren’t races. It seemed to work quite this one, given the amount How old are you? well, perhaps because it’s much easier to run of naked flesh and rubber 38 faster when someone is chasing you… on display from Messrs. Phipps How did you start fell running? What’s your favourite race? Jura, Great Lakes, Ennerdale and Collier. Maybe the trick is to give Ineptly. To keep fit as a teenager in Surrey, I used to do short runs in the woods where my What’s been your best moment in fell you very little time to think about it? folks lived - always flat and fast. Then I moved running so far? A witty and eclectic mix too, drawing to Ambleside after school (for the climbing) Lots of great moments, but being selected from themes including Lewis Carroll, and thought I’d try out fell running too. A local for interview in fell running’s most exclusive the Olympics, Hathersage pool and pointed me at Fairfield, so I set off at full tilt, publication tops them all. It’s hard to Baywatch. The extensive judging panel knowing nothing about pacing whatsoever. imagine how I’ll ever surpass it. As a distant decided that Dave McGuinness just After less than a mile I collapsed, decided second, winning my first Lakeland Classics shaded it with the Baywatch-themed, that fell running was the hardest thing in the irreplaceable pottery mug was pretty good. “No Simon! It’s my turn to be Pamela, world and left it alone for quite a few years. And the worst? I was David last time.” But he’s won it In 2008 I did my first race (a rematch with Steph dropping and breaking the before, so the whisky goes to runner-up Fairfield). Steph had said that she was doing aforementioned irreplaceable Willy Kitchen: “If we can only hold these it, and she couldn’t be the only one in our pottery mug! cheesy grins another five seconds, Nick, house to have done a fell race! Then I got What shoes do you use? Hawley’s bound to be along with multiple hooked! Walsh PB Extremes- the beefed spurious captions.” Clever, and a damn When did you join Dark up ones. They’re very hard wearing, site shorter than the unedited version of Peak? and they can be resoled too - which his Dragon’s Belly write-up. Same year. is great, as according to my wife Why did you join Dark I run like “a clump footed oaf”, (I Peak? certainly wear out shoes quickly). Jon Morgan told me to, They weigh a few grams more, This time, an image that should and I thought the vests but I make up for that by not really whet your appetites for looked nice. having a beard. winter days and a nip of Jura. How many miles a And how do you get your Club chairman Tom Westgate week do you run? socks clean? was caught mid-grimace as he 10-15 at present while I I don’t. I have a peat obsession, risked facial frostbite on a trip shake off injury. Normally so I keep each and every dirty to the Cairngorms. But why 20-25, though those are pair as a memento of the the goggles? And what was often all racing miles. exact peaty texture he trying to say through those Admit it, what’s your from every run I’ve swollen purple lips? Off you current weight? ever done. We have a whole storage vault full go… A bit over 10½ stone. What’s your top training of carefully labelled, tip? peat encrusted My first few fell running socks, pickled in seasons I just entered as many formaldehyde. races as I possibly could, Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 10 Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 11

seem unable to make us happy. The growth years before he began the Les Rêveries du of research and writing on the ‘science of promeneur solitaire, Jean Jacques Rousseau Features happiness’ recognises a longstanding fault wrote: line in modern life. As I wander freely in these groves, The legendary fell walking writer Alfred My heart the highest pleasure knows! Wainwright might have given short thrift How happy I am under the shady trees! The existential fell runner to such ‘scientific’ pretensions, but he was How I love the silvery streams! undoubtedly a man who understood the need Sweet and charming reverie, The days are long, the summer rolling on. Walker. As a fell runner, I appreciate ‘the to draw inspiration and energy from the hills. Dear and beloved solitude, It’s the time of year when many of us may be pleasures of going one knows not where’, The paradox that Rousseau reflected on and May you always be my true delight! fortunate enough to find time for a break from and as a writer I understand how physical that caused Wainwright such angst was the With these words in mind, this lonely (but the frenetic pace of modern life. If you’re like activity and a sense of remoteness ‘animates realisation that by drawing attention to the happy) fell runner renews his determination me, you may use that precious holiday time and activates my ideas’. ‘I can hardly think reveries of the solitary walker – to the raw to use our wonderful sport to find the space as an opportunity to calm things down a bit, at all when I am still; my body must move if and simple beauty of the fells and peaks and to really think. I hope you manage to do the to reflect on the past and to consider what my mind is to do the same’, Rousseau wrote; moors - they risked destroying the very peace same! may lie ahead. Put slightly differently, it can ‘The pleasant sights of the countryside, and tranquillity that the countryside provided. Matt Flinders be a time to think. Having the time to think the unfolding scene, the good air, a good And yet in their writing both Rousseau and is good, but I wonder if we might be losing appetite, the sense of well-being that returns Wainwright could not conceal the pleasures our capacity to think in a way that reaches as I walk…all of this releases my soul, of escaping – albeit temporarily – the trials Professor Matthew Flinders is Professor of beyond the day-to-day tasks that constantly encourages more daring flights of thought, and tribulations of modern life. Indeed, at Parliamentary Government & Governance at command our attention? impels me, as it were, into the immensity of the beginning of his poem ‘Sylvie’s Walk’ the University of Sheffield and is a member of The sheer pace and speed of life in an being, which I can choose from, appropriate, (L’Allée de Silvie, 1747), written nearly thirty Dark Peak Fell Runners. ever-busier world means a capacity to and combine exactly as I wish’. These words pause and think has arguably become an capture almost perfectly exactly why I run. increasingly precious commodity. It is now So, where can we rediscover that time to Dave’s training tips quite a challenge to somehow step outside think? The hills and valleys provide exactly Number six: eyesight the storm to gain some sense of where that escape, that sense of isolation, that Keep your eyes open all the time when running. All you are going (and why!). My own job in passing moment of release from grinding the time. I really can’t emphasise this too strongly. higher education now involves pressures social conformity and the pressures of daily If you don’t, you won’t be able to see where you’re and expectations that can squeeze out the life that many crave but so few appear to going. It’s just as important in the dark; a £250 space for scholarly thought and reflection. be able to achieve. A deeper account of quadrillion-lux headtorch may provide the equivalent Fifty years ago the founding professor of the the reveries of the lonely fell runner or of several daylights, but it will never replace your Department of Politics at the University of walker might engage with Sigmund Freud’s eyes. Try to keep one eye on the way ahead, the Sheffield, Sir Bernard Crick, used to insist Civilization and Its Discontents (1930), with other one looking up for low-flying aircraft that that all students and all members of staff its focus on the fundamental tension between could cause severe injury if you hit them. If you would ‘walk out’ together in the Peak District the conformity and control demanded by can develop it, 360° neck movement gives you a every Wednesday afternoon to nourish both civilization and the freedom we need as distinct advantage; you can then keep at least one physical and intellectual health. The realities people. Freud suggests a paradox that takes eye on people sneaking up from behind. Of course, of scholarship in the twenty-first century us not just back to Rousseau but forward to good eyesight is a real bonus. Your mum had it right leave little room for such space to think. more recent works such as Alan de Botton’s when she told you to eat your carrots. If you find this In ‘taking strength from the hills’ Bernard Status Anxiety (2004), Barry Schwartz’s The difficult while running, you can always insert one Crick’s attitude had much in common with Paradox of Choice (2005) and Oliver James where the sun doesn’t shine. Dave. those expressed in 1782 by Jean-Jacques Affluenza(2006), in the sense that the social Rousseau in his Reveries of the Solitary and economic structures we need as a society David Gilchrist is a qualified barman Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 12 Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 13

people getting in touch to offer help above bulk SMS system to send a text message to and beyond what’s already been committed every competitor. Within seconds I see that The race that never was to. the message is spreading across Twitter and I have really reassuring conversations with the FRA Forums. I make many more phone Everything was set fair for the club to show off its organisational strength by hosting the Edale Scoffer and Jon Broxap. Both are very clear calls throughout the day - all a bit of a blur Skyline as an English Championship race back in early spring. Then came the latest, greatest, that championship status should not interfere really. dollop of full-on winter that we’ve had for years. Race coordinator Ian Fitzpatrick tells the with how the race is run, (or not!). Just do I’d already spent a lot of time and effort inside story what is needed, they say. and things can be keeping people updated in the lead-up to the sorted after. They’re also clear that any losses event and found social media and all that the After the breathless anticipation, the huge club had a staggeringly strong field of runners to the club will be covered. digital age provides very useful. My only excitement, the hours of planning, the who seemed to have been up late to get their The MWIS forecast looks like the Sunday issue is that it does seem to make it easier for sleepless nights, the race was finally, at long entries in, (or something along those lines...). will be similar to ‘that’ race, 2007, still talked some to get in touch with idiotic questions last, underway. Countless fell runners from Fast forward to the week before the race. about now. Looks like the snow will come on rather than spending time to look for the across the globe gathered together as they The weather forecast shows it’s turning cold Friday evening and overnight. The state of answers themselves. Some of these questions have so many times before. All united by a and it looks like there may be a bit of snow. play will be obvious in the morning. may be published soon! common goal, an all powerful unifying force. On Wednesday I speak to Edale MRT Saturday comes. It was always going to Sunday, race day, dawns. I’m at a loose Hunched over their laptops, tablets and and others to double check what conditions be a busy day, lots to get sorted to be ready end. We agree to meet up at Tha Sportsmen, smartphones as the clock ticked over to they feel are the limiting factors. I discuss for race day! So I’m up early, jump out of enjoying a Sunday roast then skiing back all midnight the desperate scramble began. Yes, my ideas for ‘worst case’ kit requirements. bed and open the curtains. It’s immediately the way to home with Jim Paxman. The snow entries had finally opened! They think we are a bit mad for wanting to go obvious that it’s off. There’s a foot of snow on the back road past Fulwood Head is up to Hundreds were taken in the first hour. running in the likely wintery conditions but on my road. A few phone calls confirm this the wall tops for several miles. I later heard The race was full by 10:28 the next morning, happy to be there when we do. is mirrored in the Peak too. One of the great that Spyke, Judith and some of the Fat Boys (although ‘enough’ places were held back for On Thursday it snows in Edale. I speak things about modern technology is how fast made their way to Edale and ran some of the those that deserved them - more of that later). with Andrew Critchlow, club member and messages can propagate. I use the Sportident race route. They started stopwatches and set The race planning was different from last farmer at Shaw Wood Farm, where we have year, more complex due to a much bigger parked for many years for the race. Andrew field and all that entails. Gaining permissions says that the fields are only going to be usable “I am just going outside, I may be some time”. Fat Boys venture forth was straightforward due to good relationships by 4x4’s. I start looking at other smaller we now enjoy with National Trust, Natural pockets of flat parking and put the word out England, the Peak Park Authority and the that people will REALLY need to car share. many local landowners and managers. They On the Friday I drive out to Edale to all deserve our thanks. The race enjoys a supervise the delivery of portable toilets. good reputation with many, it seems. The truck gets a bit stuck in the snow but we I was very pleased, (and relieved), that manage to get them sorted. I also make some many people came forward nice and early. calls to see if we can plough and grit the Volunteers from within and outside the club ‘dead end’ Odin Mine road and bus people were plentiful. You all know that fell races round from Castleton. It turns out to be just couldn’t happen without those hard expensive! working and dedicated folk who volunteer It’s all a bit touch and go. We’ll be reliant their time to make them happen. Especially on the weather. The forecasts, (MWIS and with large complex races like ours! The Nicky Spinks’ favourite Norwegian one) legendary Dark Peak machine is primed and show a bit more snow is likely, but it doesn’t ready to spring to life. look too bad. Fingers crossed that it is just It was all shaping up nicely, everything about doable. There is a big strength of will was in place. Also the start list showed the emerging to make it happen with lots of Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 14 Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 15

off. Despite ‘not hanging about’, they had it again? Everyone I ask says the same really. only got as far as the Cheshire Cheese when “If you can face it, then yes!” Your safety; your responsibility the notional cut-off time of 2 hour 45 minutes So Skyline 2.0 is going to be on Sunday ticked by. I think if the race had been run the 29th September 2013. Once again we’ll need Dark Peak is now a limited company, run day-to-day by club officials who will also become entire field would have been timed out! to pull together to make it work. As stated ‘directors’ with limited liability for the club’s actions. It’s the biggest organisational change It was a big anticlimax, but fallout was above we need people to volunteer. If you in the club’s history, and it’s designed to give us the freedom we need to run things in the fairly benign. We discussed plans for refunds. are likely to score championship points then traditional low-key way without worrying too much about things going wrong. But it can only The consensus was that people would be you need to be running. If not, then please work if we all play our part by taking responsibility for ourselves. As promised at this year’s happy if the club covered costs and then consider not racing this year and come and agm, ‘director’ and Dark Peak News editor Dave Holmes recaps how we got here, and looks refunded the rest. But many people got in help. I’m happy to promise places for next ahead to the continuing debate about personal safety... touch to say they wanted to donate their entry year for people helping this year. Even if you fee to Edale MRT. We figured out a way to are running there is stuff to sort out in the Statistically, fell running is a fairly safe sport. sport from possible legal liability for mishaps, use the SPORTident system to allow people run-up to the event plus on Saturday, before Most of us will do it for years and suffer little and to revisit the principles underpinning to opt in to do this. In the end we gave them the race and afterwards. worse than the occasional sprained ankle and safety and personal responsibility. £1937.50! We made sure to pay the village Even if you don’t get to many club events embarrassing Pertex-entry balls-up in thick A few months before Buttermere, the FRA hall and St. Johns too. it’s a great chance to meet your fellow mist. But we can easily find ourselves alone incorporated itself as a limited company, thus Many people sent kind words my way clubmates and contribute to the club. Come in remote terrain in extreme weather, and protecting its officers from potential personal during and after. I didn’t get a single and show your face! with the very minimum of lightweight gear liability for the organisation’s actions, (or complaint, so must have done something It will be odd to have the race at the end of that we think we can get away with. When perceived inactions). The FRA also formed a right! the season, but it probably won’t snow! things do go really wrong, they can go very sub group to explore all aspects of safety and I felt a bit cheated. We’d done all the hard You can get in touch at [email protected]. badly wrong indeed. Thankfully deaths are responsibility in official, (i.e. FRA Calendar), work but not had the fun part. Shortly after uk - hope to hear from you soon. rare, but when they do occur they certainly races. The sub group has just, (late July), the dust had settled I canvassed a few people Ian Fitzpatrick focus attention on the risks we run and the published a draft document which is now out to see if they felt similar to me. Should we do possible consequences. to consultation with a view to publication A case in point arose last spring, with in next year’s calendar. The document is Win Hill is under here somewhere the tragic loss of 63-year-old Brian Belfield available online at http://bit.ly/13rh7Jd and in the Buttermere Sailbeck race. The 9.5 comments should be sent to grahambreeze@ mile race took place in May, but runners btinternet.com still experienced severe wintry conditions, In many respects, these twin actions have including sleet and freezing rain. Mountain been mirrored at club level; we have taken rescuers later found Brian’s body on steep, steps to change our legal status in a way that rough ground some distance off the route. makes us less vulnerable, and we are trying to At the time of writing, we are still awaiting promote a ‘low-rule’ common sense approach the inquest hearing that will try to determine to personal responsibility that also ensures what happened, and whether there may be we place due emphasis on safety whenever lessons to learn. Buttermere was organised it might be an issue. In broad terms, this by Dark Peak member Mike Robinson, approach was supported and approved by this who has received unqualified support from year’s agm, but the meeting also recognised the wider fell running community through that we still have work to do to thrash out a very difficult time. At both Fell Runners clearly what this common sense approach Association level and club level, people have implies, (see ‘From the Chairman’ on page 7). been keen not to rush to judgement after Rather than have what could have been a very Buttermere. But the tragedy coincided with long debate, the agm agreed that this edition moves that were already afoot to protect the of Dark Peak News would carry the piece Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 16 Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 17

you’re reading now, i.e. a resumé of how due regard for its environmental impact. impetus. Round the table in Strines, we long as we can find a demonstrable way of we got to where we are, and an indication of The meeting was also happy that we should immediately realised how little we had done communicating this policy to new members, what we may still need to discuss if we are to provide services to members including club to anticipate a possible emergency and deal or to other people who may have heard about nail an approach to safety that can command runs and races, and it was happy that we with it. Nobody was carrying a mobile, (it one of our low-key races and turned up on broad support. should observe FRA rules when organising could have speeded up emergency assistance spec to run them. This is where club officers Let’s deal first with the change of legal races that appear on the official calendar. The by half an hour), we had very little warm want to broaden the debate about how we status. This is now complete, thanks largely agm discussion slowed down a little when gear between us to help protect somebody in achieve this. to club secretary Rob Moore who, as many of we turned to the objects that commit us to shock, and as a group we had little idea how The committee has tried to think of ways you know, doubles up in civvies as a lawyer “promote universal personal responsibility many people were out, who they all were, of covering all ‘points of entry’. If somebody with the Sheffield firm Taylor&Emmet. with regard to members’ individual safety” how many were carrying maps, compasses, has just joined the club, how do we know they Rob generously brought his expertise to and to organise any unofficial events (e.g. first aid kits, etc., and whether they had the have read and absorbed our minimalist ethos? bear, examined our longstanding status as club races) “in accordance with standard Dark faintest idea how to use them. An explanation on the membership form? A an unincorporated association, and warned Peak practice”. After some debate, we deleted In the best traditions of Dark Peak, people standing notice on the website home page? that club officers were legally vulnerable. In “standard” and replaced it with “usual” acted and acted quickly. Mark Harvey led by How do we know that everyone crossing essence, the chairman, treasurer, secretary (the feeling being that this was a damn site example and began carrying a rucsac of warm the starting line in, say, the Warts’ Night and the rest of the committee could have easier than trying to define a standard), and gear and first aid kit on all Warts runs. He also Race understands that they do it entirely at found themselves individually answerable we recognised that the committee has more started counted them all out, and counting their own risk? A simple, informal, friendly for the club’s actions and liabilities. While work to do to thrash out what we mean when them back in again every Wednesday night. announcement from the race organiser? How the risk of a crippling negligence action may we talk about personal responsibility for our Mark has taken a lot of very unfair “safety do we encourage people not just to carry the have been low, the committee decided to look safety. officer” ridicule for doing this, but he surely obligatory map, compass and safety gear, at the FRA model, and at other possible legal So, back to safety. This has been loosely deserves respect and support for recognising but to know how and when to use them and entities that would give us what we needed. in the club’s sights for a year or two that these simple steps could make a big when to spot the symptoms of hypothermia We were looking for two key things: firstly, now, but the committee has only recently difference if anything goes badly wrong again. in themselves and others? The last edition an ‘incorporated status’ that would protect discussed it more formally in tandem with For a while, the Warts began to run a ‘signing of Dark Peak News reported on the latest officers from individual liability; secondly, the organisational changes. It’s probably fair in book’ so that we could check when we got navigation course to be run by the club, and the flexibility to have a set of legal objectives to say that it first began to feel like a priority back to the pub if everyone had returned, (it on the very positive reaction from those who that would allow us to carry on as before in after a frightening incident on a Warts run also worked quite nicely as a chronicle of took part. Mark H, Carl Betts, Ian Winterburn our low-key, uncluttered way of running the from Strines a year or two back. Ruth Batty, what we’d been up to, and who’d been out and others are now planning further events club. then a very new and somewhat uninitiated on the adventure). We’ve also tried to ask at which will move deeper into the finer points Rob and his colleagues gave us helpful and club member, lost her footing on a steep snow the start of every winter run whether any new of safety and survival in the hills. clear advice, the committee went through the slope and glissaded at speed over the edge of members have turned up for the first time. The club’s aim in doing all this is to strike fine details, and the result was the proposal a crag at the bottom of Abbey Brook. Those This then gives us the opportunity of chatting the right balance. To do all we can to explain that the agm considered and approved, i.e. of us higher up the slope will never forget quietly to explain the club’s ethos of ‘personal what can go wrong. To help everyone to we are now a ‘private company limited by the eerie silence when we called down to ask responsibility’, i.e. we’ll do what we can to understand what we need to do to protect guarantee’. As such, we replace our old (and the now out-of-sight Ruth if she was OK. We cope if things go wrong, but the bottom line is ourselves. To communicate these things long lost) constitution with new Articles of then had to inch our way cautiously down the that the buck stops with you – you run entirely clearly and often, at all ‘points of entry’, but Association that set out, amongst other things, slope and around the top of the crag before at your own risk. without becoming patronising or nannyish. our objects and powers, (the Articles will be we could collectively breathe a huge sigh of This was the point that club chairman Tom But also to underline the bottom line: it’s posted on the website soon in case anybody relief. Ruth had gone over at the one point Westgate stressed at the start of our recent your safety we’re talking about, and it’s your wants to read chapter and verse). where she would get a soft landing, and had committee discussions: “I firmly believe that responsibility to look after yourself. Are we The club’s ‘objects’ were intended to survived with bumps, bruises, and a bit of a if we get personal responsibility right, we getting it right? What do you think? consolidate what we already do, and allow battering. can do what we like. We reach a point where Dave Holmes us to continue doing it. Thus the agm happily Thus began a conversation in the Strines people clearly understand the risks they are approved the object that commits us to pub which has since continued in many running, and they take clear responsibility fostering and promoting fell running with different guises and with steadily gathering for the consequences.” This is fine, so Dark Peak News Winter 2012 page 18 Dark Peak News Winter 2012 page 19

Men’s report first Dark Peak in ninth, and Jon Morgan enjoyed getting back into racing after living on Team captains’ reports Looking outside on a clear sunny day it seems snow and ice for the winter. Maybe the biggest hard to remember that only a few months ago ‘winner’ of the day was Keith Holmes who is snow forced the cancellation of the club’s surely going to get massive Carshare League Women’s report Altitude and a very impressive third at the premier race. But as I battled along towards points considering all other cars were only English Champs race at Buckden. At the time Grindsbrook on that Sunday into a significant couples or single occupancy. Firstly a big thank you to Kirsty who has of writing, she is currently third in the seniors wind chill I really believed Ian had made the I know many members have been out in handed over the reins of women’s captain and first in the LV40s - go Jude! appropriate decision to cancel the Skyline. The the hills doing their own personal challenges, after several years of sterling work. She’s Showing the range of talents that the race will be back though! And it will still be a (hopefully news of BGs etc. will appear still organising Thornbridge, coaching junior women have at the moment, Heather, Kirsty championship race, so we can still display our elsewhere), and doing local races. As ever fell runners at Hope Valley Hurricanes and and Jenny won the team prize at Jura and then excellent racing and organisation. Good luck an excellent turnout was seen at the Burbage showing me the ropes, so she’s not slacked Judith, Kirsty and Jenny repeated the honours with doing it all again, Ian. Skyline, so far too many people to mention off too much. at Coniston whilst my personal highlight The first British Champs race of the year individually. Special mention should go to the Back in the mists of time I used to run for has been first LV40 in the Three Peaks, (the was indeed run through snowy peaks, (and guys completing the Yorkshire Three Peaks Totley, (confession time over). The lovely biggest Gala race of them all). horrible pathless rocky/boggy river bed), over race though. We retained the V40 trophy, Mandy Moore said to me something like Martha Hart achieved BG success the Irish Sea in the Mourne Mountains. The (Tom Brunt, John Hunt, Tony Heron), and “Why would you like to run around in the in challenging conditions on the club Silent Valley race is listed at 9.5 miles, and this time we actually won the overall team dark with a lot of hairy old men?” when Dark weekend. Lucy Weigand also deserves with just under 5,000ft of climbing. Some award - congratulations Oli, Tom, John and Peak was mentioned. I’m not a Warts regular, a very honourable mention. She had the people call this fun you know. Not so many Will Boothman. In fact it seems Tony Heron so I do limit my running around in the dark stubborn determination to keep going on her Dark Peakers at this one, but those who is racing very well at the moment, having also with hairy old men and increasing numbers independent, (and wrong way round*), BG were enjoyed the weekend, especially nurses been highly placed in the long Teenager with of non hairy women. Even so, I do think Mrs even when she know the 24 hours were up. Greg and Ben and Miss Hulley! The English Altitude race, which was well won by Rhys. Moore was mistaken! *Oy! The club actually did it on the anti- Championships kicked off with Fairfield (AM) All very mysterious considering he lives in the What Dark Peak have is an incredibly clockwise round for many, many years. Ed. in the Lakes. I thought this would be a strong flatlands of York - perhaps we need to ask him motivated group of women runners achieving It is this range of interests and talents that race for Borrowdale but after a manic start I for his training secrets! some amazing things at the moment recently came together for the best weekend had an inner grin as a train of Dark Peakers, The English Championship will be getting both as individuals and as a team. After of the year so far: the demolishing of our with Lloyd just in front, were all together more fiercely contested as Dark Peak News cleaning up in the British and English Team own record on the Billy Bland Challenge towards the top of the big main climb. A few goes to press, with the short races at Buckden championships last year I thought I would relay, thus completing the route of the Bob rapid descents later, and we were all still in the and Blisco and a beast round Wasdale. Let’s summarise some of the highlights of this year Graham Round in just 16hrs 04mins (see mix. So in the end we produced an absolutely try and get as many people out as possible so far. page 27). Over the last two years we have quality men’s winning team performance and have some fun racing. It’s great to see This could turn into the Nicky Spinks taken nearly six hours off the old women’s as new recruit Jonny Crickmore was fourth, and hear of so many motivated club members column but her new Paddy record has to be record! Everybody put in outstanding Stuart sixth, myself 10th, Lloyd 11th, Oli 14th, this year, (certainly going to be making the mentioned. Her time of 19hrs 02mins was performances that really sum up why we run Tom Brunt 19th and Neil, (who clearly felt the captain’s relay team decisions in October the fifth faster Paddy Buckley Round ever. so well together in team events. We don’t effects of his efforts afterwards), 23rd. Well hard). Whatever your race, personal challenge, The real credit that Nicky deserves is for the have any real whippets, (9 of the 11 girls who done also to Jonny Malley in the U23 category or even just trying to beat your mate for the way she gets us out on recces in bad weather, did the Billy Bland Challenge are vets ), but and Pete Hodges who were in top 50, and to first time, good luck with it and enjoy the hills. encourages us in races that are outside we certainly manage to get everyone out and John Hunt and Spyke who scored for the V40 Exciting times ahead! This especially includes comfort zones, (she generously guided me willing to run their legs off for the brown team. Many other Dark Peakers also raced; Rob Baker as he makes quite a change in his round last year’s Arrochar Alps), and always vest, enjoy a few whiskies afterwards and great efforts, everyone. life by emigrating to Australia. Thanks for all makes a lot of lovely lemon drizzle cake. celebrate the sheer fun of being a Dark Peak The second British Champs race has also the top efforts you put in to races and relays I think Jude has decided just to get faster lady. now been completed. The Yetholm race, for the club, Rob. rather than older, with wins at Teenager with Helen Elmore 8 miles/2493ft, is a very fast grassy loop, See you up a fell somewhere. literally along the Scottish border. Lloyd was Rob Little Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 20 Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 21 A brief history of things we run past - part 8

from him in 1927. They planned to build a Happy birthday Burbage! Longshaw Lodge dam which would have flooded the Burbage The Duke of Rutland built Longshaw Lodge Valley, but local opposition defeated the as a shooting retreat in 1827. It was sited near scheme and the council handed the land on to a toll road constructed across the moorland the National Trust in 1931. over 60 years earlier. The Duke, who was In 1969 the lodge was converted into keen on his privacy, had the road moved to private flats but part of the buildings were where the winding road from Fox House to retained by the Trust – these now house the Grindleford is today. Such was the power and shop and café. influence of Victorian gentry. Longshaw Pastures has hosted a sheepdog The Duke’s 11,500 acre estate included trial each September since 1898, and claims swathes of moorland stretching from to be the oldest continuous trial in the Ringinglow in the north to Gardom’s Edge country, (although it was interrupted during in the south, and three pubs: the Fox House, the two world wars). The BBC was present in the Chequers at Froggatt and the Peacock 1945, which led to ‘One Man and His Dog’ at Owler Bar. He visited regularly to shoot being shown to millions of riveted viewers. grouse and entertain guests who included Now the trial features a fell race. Anybody King George V and the Duke of Wellington. thought of inviting the BBC? On the estate in Lawrence Field there “200 Runners and Some Mud” is evidence of a Bronze Age settlement. “One Runner and Two Legs” There are still the remains of a stone circle, “ Some Nutters and a Hill” (according to the Ordnance Survey, although “One Brown Vest and a pair of Many Happy Returns. This year saw the in 2003 and then chalked up a hat trick. He I can’t find it). Pack horse trails criss-crossed Walshes”……etc. twentieth running of the Burbage Fell Race, won again in 2007 and 2008 when he set the area which now form the basis of the Mike Arundale which has been on the Dark Peak ‘books’ the course record of 36:36, (obviously good current path network. since Andy Moore revived it in 2000, and a conditions, because Janet McIver also laid The Duke also created the green drive firm favourite with many of us since its very down the current women’s record of 42:20). from where the Burbage race finishes up to first running by Wilderness Ways back in Lloyd Taggart nipped in in 2006, Stuart Bond Upper Burbage Bridge, and the track going 1992. By way of celebration, we’ve devoted had a hat trick from 2009-11, and Rob Little south towards the Grouse which features in some of the prime photo space in this edition bagged it last year. Two Dark Peak women the Grindleford fell race. He had them built to snaps of the race, including the one above have notched serial wins: Janet McIver 2007- so his guests could be taken for carriage rides of runners climbing Higgar Tor. 09, and then Helen Elmore 2010-13 – probably the ladies while the men killed A rummage through facts and figures There was a hiatus in 1999 when there birds. over the years reveals that Wilderness Ways’ were no organisers, and foot and mouth killed The lodge grounds feature a ha-ha wall Andrew Ward attracted 205 runners to that the race in 2001. Andy Moore has organised adjacent to the path in front of the lodge. first race, which was won by Dave Neil more Burbages than anybody else, and never These were introduced by Capability Brown (men) and our own Jacky Smith. Jacky laid forgot the entry forms. Roy Gibson has from France in the eighteenth century and down a marker that other DPFR women have organised it for the club since 2010, and once form a barrier for livestock which doesn’t been keen to follow, chalking up no fewer did! He also steered the race very capably block the view, i.e. a ditch with a wall on the than 16 of the 20 wins over the years, (Jacky to a new record entry of 379 last year, when garden side. x2, Jenny James, Julia Nolan, Hilary Bloor, things ran as seamlessly as they usually do Sheffield City Council wanted the land for Helen Winskill, Jenny Johnson x2, Liz Batt, when the Dark Peak machine gets into gear. Janet McIver x3, and Helen Elmore x4). Phil Here’s to the next twenty. water collection and bought the Duke’s estate Haha at Longshaw Winskill recorded our first men’s victory Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 22 The piccy in the middle Dark Peak NewsSummer 2013 page 23

Like a herd of wildebeest, sweeping majestically over the plains. The view from Carl Wark to Fox House on the Burbage race Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 24 Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 25

tremendous. The village and race venue Craighouse is in an exquisite setting being Been there, done that sheltered in the beautiful Three Isles Bay with the Paps and the rest of Jura behind. For us the bird life is excellent… this year we recorded 48 species during our three days on Jura the island including golden and sea eagle, hen harrier and short-eared owl. The sea crossings It may be hard to believe, but it’s now forty years since the first Isle of Jura fell race in 1973, produced guillemot, razorbill and Manx and thirty years since it was revived as an annual event in 1983. It’s a race like no other, and shearwater and shoreline usuals included has become something of an annual pilgrimage for many Dark Peakers. Here, serial returnee common sandpiper, ringed plover and the Dave Lockwood offers some personal reflections and previews a new history of the race, and ubiquitous oystercatchers. first-timer Tom Beasant reports on the experience. I could go on….but with the exception of the personal anecdotes above, I have Before Jura this year, Dave Holmes suggested panic set in on the morning of leaving when decided not to write in any great detail myself that I write a few words about the place, the DM lost the aeroplane keys and involved the because this year Don Booth has produced, race, and in particular why we keep going entire campsite in a frantic search for same, and made available at the race, an absolutely donating the entirety of the proceeds to Jura’s back to this wonderful island. It’s almost (anybody can lose car keys!). On another first-rate book expounding just such feelings Progressive Care Centre which exists to institutional, so much so that Elaine and I memorable occasion, the assembled race better than I can, and of such historical allow the island’s frail and/or elderly to end have been nearly every year since 1992 - in starters enjoyed much mirth and merriment completeness that I couldn’t hope to get their days on the island. That will doubtless those early days we camped on the lawn but as they viewed Roy Small and Alan Yates, anywhere near equalling. It is “a history of include some of those local people who later got lucky and now stay in a midge-free marooned on an anchored sailing-boat, sorts”, beginning with the original 1973 race, currently make the race possible. How good ‘reserved’ room in the Jura Hotel over the unsuccessfully trying to persuade their host organised by George Broderick. It spans the is that? race weekend. Not only is it the atmosphere to row them ashore in time for the race. restoration of the now annual event in 1983, It is available: from Pete Bland at £12-50 and camaraderie of the race itself but also Unfortunately for them the sea was so rough and most importantly explores what it means inc. P&P. or, direct from Don by mail if you the sheer beauty of the island, the warmth of that they couldn’t run the risk of capsizing. to both the runners and islanders alike. send him £11.50 to cover postage to: the local people and the great wildlife, that Time slipped by, and despite the ‘heartfelt’ With that said then, I would like to take draws us back time and time again. I will shoreline encouragement, it became apparent this opportunity to help promote Don’s work Donald Booth (cheques payable to: Top Line (hopefully) still be going even when the race that their choice of transport that year would and to introduce you to what is, in a way also, Management Ltd.) gets too hard for me to enjoy any more, (I’m be responsible for DNS on the result sheet. a bit of Dark Peak history….Ray Aucott won Catch Bar Farm nearly at that stage!). (We understand the sailing vessel with its the race in 1985 and Es Tresidder in 2011. Hade Edge There is definitely no other race quite ill-fated contents duly slipped silently out of Don, as many know, was one of the first Holmfirth like Jura. The logistics of getting there in Three Isles Bay on the next tide). members of Dark Peak. He competed in the West Yorkshire HD9 2SZ the first place requires considerable effort The terrain also is nothing like a normal original 1973 and 1974 Jura races and was involving numerous modes of transport! fell-race….near vertical ascent (on Beinn a’ the re-founder of the race, and race organiser Alternatively: if there are enough people Big ferries, little ferries, ribs, sailing boats, Chaolais) where one can just about use teeth from 1983 to 1992 before handing over to interested, I will go across and get a box-full even kayaks, and more conventionally cars, to aid up-hill progress. Savage scree with others. He is always around at the race, a from Don which would mean the cost price bikes and camper vans. One DPFR member, angular stones likened to televisions, fridges ‘fountain’ of Jura knowledge and, you could of £10. Jim Bell, biked all the way from South and/or concrete sea-defences. All this in 10 say, part of the scene. See me at Tha Sportsmen, or phone/email Yorkshire then fell off and couldn’t do the miles of mountains, three miles of downhill The book is in my opinion an absolute me and I will collect names and make sure race! A degree of eccentricity was added moorland water-mattress running and then must have for anyone who has been to Jura you have a copy. when our own Dave Moseley and Tim Tett three gruelling miles of tarmac back to the or is thinking about going. Furthermore, both flew their light aeroplanes, each with an finish. Magnificent! it is a not-for-profit work and intended to NB: I will be away until the end of August so assortment of Dark Peakers to the island…. And then the scenery/wildlife… be a benefit to the Isle of Jura folk - once will start a list during early September. the publishing costs are covered, Don is Dave Lockwood Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 26 Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 27 Whisky, paps, and island hopping BG Relay record Is there a better way to spend a bank holiday weekend?

In the few years that I have been fell running Naylor before we set off up the fell. The I have not heard people talk about a race first three checkpoints and first Pap came and more than Jura. “Every fell runner has to do went easily enough, but then with two more it at least once”, “Best race in the calendar”, Paps, another smaller hill, and a three-mile “One of the classics”, etc. I knew I needed to road run, things got tough. Nothing to do go and find out for myself what all the fuss about it but just keep going. I tried to take in is about, so when Rhys asked who was going the views when I could but most of the time I this year I jumped at the chance. Time passed spent watching my feet. Luckily my achilles quickly and before I knew it I found myself held up OK and I finished in a little under on a ferry with Neil and Rhys - Jura bound. four and a half hours, in 52nd place. Hector There is not a great deal going on off the Haines (Hunters Bog Trotters) won in 3:18 west coast of Scotland; it’s either visiting with Jasmin Paris (Carnethy) first woman distilleries or enjoying the landscape. But in 3:54. As usual, lots of brown vests high during race weekend, Jura comes alive. One up in the results including Neil Northrop in of the charms of a place like this is that the fourth, Tom Brunt in sixth and Simon Patton locals wave at every car that passes by; this in fifteenth. Sadly, we narrowly lost the team was a novelty that did not wear off. The day prize to Carnethy. Rhys was taking it easy Team Photo left to right - Clare Oliffe, Lynn Bland, Pippa Wilkie, Helen Elmore, Kirsty Bryan-Jones, Nicky Spinks, Debs Smith. The others had to get off home! before the race, we managed to fit in a little coming back from injury and started at the bird-watching, which I have to admit I have back of the field, but still passed most people Leg 1 Ruth Batty, Debs never done before. We were rewarded with a and only just missed out on a whisky glass by Smith and Lynn Bland couple of Hen Harriers, but alas no Golden seven seconds! Not bad. The weather when we arrived was heavy rain Eagles. We spent the following day recovering on and strong winds, but by 3am it had abated Race day dawned and we were lucky to the Isle of Arran. It was a cracking weekend slightly and Ruth, Debs and Lynn set off have beautiful clear skies, warm weather, and from start to finish with a real holiday carrying the same baton that did the relay not a midge in sight. No need for navigating atmosphere and a good Dark Peak presence. in 2012! They had a great run even though then, but how much water to take? Decisions, The terrain is love or hate. It’s tough, rough, it was claggy most of the way round and decisions. I was carrying an achilles injury rocky, and steep but at least you know you’ve completed on schedule in 3hrs and 27mins. from racing on the Isle of Man the previous earned your beer when you finish. I can see weekend so I wasn’t even sure I’d get up the why people go back year on year. Hopefully first hill. Fingers crossed I’d get round. I will be toeing the start line along with them It was the race’s fortieth anniversary this next year. Leg 2 - Heather Marshall and year, and to mark the occasion we were Tom Beasant Judith Jepson given wise words from no less than Joss The clag looked to be lifting and I was confident they would be up on schedule by Dunmail so I met Jenny and was planning to be ready to go for 9.15am. I was still sitting drinking tea when I saw them come over the Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 28 Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 29

crest of Seat Sandal. Me and Jenny rushed to tie our shoes; luckily all our kit was ready to go. Heather and Jude had completed in the leg in 3hrs 06mins, which is amazingly fast! Six county tops Leg 3 - Nicky Spinks and Jenny Caddick. He’s back with a vengeance. The legendary long distance merchant Roger Baumeister has just become the first person to do an out-and-back circuit of the six county tops in the Peak We set off up Steel Fell still sorting our stuff District, all ninety five miles of it. Not bad for a man in his seventies with a pacemaker. Here’s out and I was trying to turn a tracker on while his story... chasing Jenny! We made good time across the Langdales and were glad when the cloud came across and covered the sun as it was getting too hot! Climbing Billy Bland’s Rake Leg 5 - Helen Elmore and we both felt a little tired and got some food Pippa Wilkie down. We soon picked up after Great End Helen, Clare and Rachel had completed this though when the finish was in sight. Broad leg in 2012 in 1hr 51mins and so it was the Stand was slippery and not pleasant at all so only leg where maybe it couldn’t be done we lost time there. Jenny set off at a cracking faster. Helen and Pippa set off at a run up pace down to Wasdale and I struggled to keep Dale Head though and so we drove round to up. We finished in 4 hours 22 minutes! Newlands and sat by the church watching for them. Lo and behold they appeared at full sprint dropping their bumbags (along with tracker!) at our feet as they flew past. We got to the Moot Hall and waited in anticipation. They appeared round the corner still sprinting and touched the Moot Hall having completed the leg in an amazing 1hr 41mins. So our overall time was 16hrs and 4mins, no less than 2hrs 47mins up on our 2012 record, which had itself been over two hours up on the previous fastest! Leg 4 - Kirsty Bryan Jones Nicky Spinks and Clare Oliffe Kirsty and Clare were already half way up Yewbarrow when we’d had a cup of tea and so we hurried round to Honister as I thought they could be faster than last year. I got a text off Willy Kitchen to say the tracker had been working and to pass it on to Leg 5 runners. Arriving at Honister I met the others and kept a close eye on Grey Knotts! Kirsty and Clare appeared about 30 minutes ahead of schedule completing the leg in 3hrs and 28mins. And did those feet... not something you want to see every day Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 30 Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 31

It was a bitter disappointment that my return Training was to build up to long days out shortly. bitten the bullet and turned round, but no I to fell racing for the over 70 championships which culminated in a joggle to Buxton and I had arranged with Richard that I would stuck at it, and for reward the last climb after last year was an unmitigated disaster. I had back in 16hrs so as to get to Tha Sportsmen expect to be crossing the Woodhead for a the clough to the very top was still pretty been such a good climber right up to my in time to have a session with the lads. I set second time around lunchtime, and this would rough going. The bitter pill was that as I left initial retirement from racing, even though off at 4am and covered 55 miles; this gave be where his support would end if I was Shining Tor on the reverse of what I would bits kept falling off the old body, and I me a very good idea of the pace I would need carrying on. As it turned out, at that stage I have done if I had got it right, it was clear thought this might put me in with a chance. to maintain if I was to complete the six tops. was very unsure of my chances because my that there was a good and easy path all the But I had to abort the 2012 plan up at the The general objective of completing them in feet were already pretty sore and my knees way. A fine sky at dawn led to top number six Weasedale race, which I failed to start after 24 hours seemed very doable. were stiff and sore. I had already not jogged and a bit of a scare as I had put my compass twisting my back up at Ravenstonedale the The overall plan changed when Richard for over an hour. in my back pocket and sat on it, also the day before. Hakes suggested that it was more logical to As I went up Torside, I resolved battery on my GPS was flat and I I have come to realise that the crack to start from the fell gate at the start of Dukes to go for the cut across past was completely disorientated be out shuffling about on the hills with my Drive, and also offered to take me there and the old hut and found it in clag. Fortuitously I heard old cronies is the best thing there is; but if I give me back-up support in case I needed delightful. I got over I should and caught a glimpse of a want to achieve anything now, I have to be on to pull out. I then morphed to the idea of Bleaklow and on to Mill juggernaut which put me my own. The heart problems I have had will making a much longer round back to the start, Hill, and then found the have bitten the right. mean that I will never be able to do a long particularly since I had been out and back to little climb up to Kinder My route through sustained climb without plenty of real rests. Buxton recently. To do that challenge was of quite a relief. On a bullet and turned Buxton panned out pretty So it is with a great sense of real meaning for me since it would previous, unsuccessful, good and I was on my achievement that I report make me the first to complete Four County Tops round, round, but no I way home on a route that the completion of The a round of those six county I had struggled in the dark I had blazed some weeks Six County Tops round Two major tops returning to the starting trying to get from Kinder stuck at it, earlier in training on a day of High Stones (South point, and would add Low to Kinder Top. This time, out to Buxton and back to Yorkshire), Black Hill cock-ups were many, many miles to the going in the other direction and the pub for a pint with the lads (West Yorkshire), Black total distance. with good visibility, it was a doddle. after another 4.00 am start. My only Chew Head (Greater factors in my I had an aborted It’s a good evening’s sport on past South variation was to veer left for Shatton off Manchester), Kinder Top attempt, scuppered by Head and down to Chapel en le Frith. There Abney Moor and on to Bamford. My route (Derbyshire), Shining Tor longer time, as I’ll high winds and a poor I had a rest and replenished my fluids. The choice through Bamford was a delightful trip (Cheshire), and Cheeks forecast a few weeks first boo-boo occurred as I reached a lane through Bamford Mill and across the little Hill (Staffordshire). A total explain shortly. earlier, but all was set fair after rising up above Chapel station. A mental bridges to lead on to the old railway line to mileage of 95. for Monday 10th June. My failure saw me turn left instead of right and the Ladybower dam. This is an extension to the schedule was set at a straight so I was cooking my evening meal on Dove As I was rising on to Derwent Edge and well-established and very popular five kilometres per-hour without any Holes station platform instead of being near looked at the time I felt that I could dip under Four County Tops round, that starts and concessions, so inevitably I would lose time Coombs. It was dark by now and I resolved 40hrs. However as I dropped off Back Tor I finishes in Hayfield and must cross the Snake when I hit rough ground and big climbs. I to take a lane that was parallel to the fell realised that I would have to run to make it. Pass twice. The group that forged the new also intended to do the occasional jog along option to take me to the Whitehall outdoor The next 90min were very determined as I got extended round started at Fairholmes by the the way, so this would enable me to make centre. Down to the Goyt valley and on to the back to the gate with two minutes to spare! Derwent dams, and were then picked up at up a bit of time here and there. My aim was climb up Shining Tor. Here comes the classic My legacy was a pair of feet so badly the end of a linear route that finished at Axe to get from the start to the last top inside of all balls-ups. I kept having to rest on the blistered and abused that it was going to be Edge. My original plan was to start from my 24 hours and then see how quickly I could climb and paused at a signpost for Shooters quite a challenge for me to get them right house in Sheffield and go via High Bradfield get back to the bottom of Dukes Drive. As Clough. Looking on the map I decided that it for the Saunders just four weeks later, to and Dukes Drive and then at the end walk it turned out I got to the top of Cheeks Hill would save me 200ft of climb. For the 400m compete with my daughter against my son into Buxton where I would catch the first bus in 25hrs 6mins. Two major cock-ups were to the actual clough, the path was gentle and grandson. Bring it on! back to Sheffield at 9am. factors in my longer time, as I’ll explain down and easy, but the climb immediately Roger Baumeister afterwards was horrendous. I should have Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 32 Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 33 Into the belly of the beast

Does she never stop? Not content with doing one of the fastest Paddy Buckleys ever, and with helping Dark Peak women to their second successive BG record, Nicky Spinks, complete with entourage, has just run the length of Wales to raise money for a cancer care charity. Willy Kitchen was a crew member...

than I would like – and that I would need to calls complete, we set off en masse across keep feet, body and soul together to get to the the top car park, through a gap in the walls, end. I targeted challenges that would hurt – a and down a tree-lined avenue, whereupon double Trigger, the Fellsman, back-to-back our assembled giants – to a man and woman Dozen and Killer. I had neither the time nor – scurried left and right to answer calls of the inclination to mimic a dress rehearsal, so nature; a sign that the previous evening’s resolved instead to start slow and hope to get beer-based hydration strategies had been fitter as the five days progressed. Aside from a complete success. Honour satisfied, we checking I had full map coverage for the meandered through Conwy’s sleepy suburbs route, I deliberately avoided poring over before hanging a right through fields to maps or recceing. This was, after all, a Conwy Mountain, our first departure from the journey and not a race – and Andy Heading ‘original’ ‘92 route. had proffered the finest piece of advice (or, Tim Whittaker, Chris Hare and the Spinks perhaps, the piece I seized on with most soon indicated their intentions by drawing alacrity): “Plan to get to the start line fit, but out a small lead, whilst I indicated mine by The Dragon’s Belly 2013 – stories emerged. Nicky and Charmian’s fat.” Can’t say fairer than that, thought I, as I becoming rear gunner. I was pleased to have shuffling on the shoulders of Dragon’s Belly offered the perfect packed ten changes of running kit and enough Clare Oliffe as company for the first two days giants. opportunity for me to walk with these giants fell food to keep me going for three weeks. since I had no intention of trying to keep of the Welsh hills; to test myself over five When Nicky said that she and Charmian up with the leaders. Wendy Dodds kept us relentless days of running, (OK, shuffling); Day One – the calm before Heaton were planning a re-running of the entertained with tales from several decades of and perhaps to learn a bit more of the the storm original 1992 Dragon’s Back route and fell-running, and we were soon climbing the Dragon’s Back mythology. invited me along, I nearly bit her hand off. Our route finding from the car park below long north-eastern ridge leading to Carnedd Llewelyn. The views back to the coast Like many, I’d followed the tale of the 2012 Preparations Conwy Castle walls to the start was race with awe, fascination and a little bit of questionable, but fortunately our blushes opened up and we had the pleasure of twice envy that I’d not signed up – but also with Knowing how to prepare for a multi-day were spared since the trackers didn’t kick worselling Wendy, (albeit she’d likely claim growing curiosity as the people’s differing event is hard. I knew how hard it would be – in until the appointed hour of 7am. Photo she was simply trying out alternate lines). that there would be more running and tarmac As we gained height, so the wind picked up, Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 34 Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 35

claggy lines over the damp Moelwyns had previous. The temperature was dropping and worked well, and it was a pleasant change a wind getting up, so we didn’t hang about, to glimpse a view from the lower slopes descending to camp at a trot. 12hrs 49mins, of Moelwyn Bach towards Tremadog Bay. and still alive to tell the tale; just. The long slog over to the Rhinogs found us tracking three pairs of fell shoes through the Day Four – breaking the muck, and donning and ditching waterproofs dragon’s back … and periodically as the weather refused to make suffering for it on the road up its mind. The Rhinogs themselves, formed I was up again at five, only to find reason by harsh Cambrian rock, are fierce heather- for a last minute faff, slapping on insect clad wartin’ country. Even Cap’n Harmer repellent and suncream in equal measure. would think twice before leaving the path We were away by 6.33am, and as we crested in this neck of the woods; that is if he could the first hill, I realised I’d forgotten my map. discern the path in the first place. Having This was, I suspect, a source of some relief spent some time determining a likely route to the A team, since it should have meant no and by the time we reached our high point off the first summit, we were pleased to be recurrence of the back-seat navigating I’d for the morning, the weather loomed over the overhauled by Max and Dave, who duly started to indulge in the previous afternoon. Glyders ominously. led us over the final three peaks, and home Nicky, who herself had left without a Charmian was waiting with tea and treats to camp at the end of a quite splendid day myself the luxury of looking at a map once or compass, quickly relieved me of mine, and for a quick changeover at Glan Dena, then of varied landscapes and slowly improving twice, and even thinking survival might still I settled back to enjoy a delightful early we were off and up Tryfan’s west face. Our weather. I felt reasonably fresh, though be possible. By the time we were temporarily morning, with the sun slowly burning off traverse across Tryfan and the Glyders was there’d been times late in the day when I lost in the clag on Tarren Hendre I may even a gossamer mist, whilst sheep guarded the anything but pretty. Schadenfraude being struggled to keep with Clare and company. have presumed to take the lead for a moment hillsides, looking down on us like silent a state of nature, I’ll admit that the one It had taken us 13hrs 47mins. The morrow or two; but half an hour later I was hanging Apache. redeeming feature was that Clare proved promised a different challenge entirely; it had on for dear life again. From Pont Rhydgaled there’s a long pull even more timid on wet rock than me. been determined that I would be running with At the changeover in Machynlleth, Nicky’s on forest tracks and tarmac to the head of We were both distinctly relieved to have the A team … shin started to play up for the first time, so the Elan Valley. It was now getting very ticked off these three slippery beasts, and Wendy set to it with magic pink tape, before hot, and by the time we hit Pen y Bwlch to be descending to Pen y Pass where we Day Three – head down and giving me a masterclass in the application summit the sun was definitely beating us. were again greeted with hot tea, and a full hang on of Compeed. In town, Tim foraged for ice There followed a comedy of navigational change of clothing. All that remained was I lay awake in my tent until silly o’clock lollies, whilst Chris related tales of Owain error as we tried to run three different lines a final weather-bound slog up the Pyg packing and re-packing my bags. The day Glyndwr. Climbing through the forests to the at once, with inevitable consequences. Track and over Snowden to the campsite at dawned brightly, we said our farewells to south I felt confident enough to pause to take Entirely free of culpability, (I’d forgotten my Nantgwynant. A total journey time of 12hrs a homeward bound Clare, and were off photos and tweet – only to be reminded by map, remember), I chuckled my way down 30mins, but we arrived two hours behind the at 6.30am sharp. As we climbed the ridge the Spinks that faffing was strictly verboten. into the Elan Village, and another gourmet advance party, and had to get a shift on to get to Cadair Idris the weather changed from Though the A team were humouring their new changeover. washed, changed and fed before bedtime. sunshine to rainbow to clag. By the time charge, there was a limit; and soon enough There followed another couple of we hit the top, it was truly horrid, and I was it was time to grit my teeth as we made the miles contouring beside reservoirs, chiefly Day Two – clagged in and regretting not having packed my waterproof chilled out final steep climb of the day to the summit memorable for Tim running into a tree branch mitts. Fortunately for us, Hugo Iffla from of Pumlumon. I took strength from thinking and the appearance, shortly thereafter, of The Spinks’ caravan pulled out of camp a Odyssey was on hand with bacon sandwiches this hurt marginally less than the final ascent a naked sun-bather. We entirely failed to little before Clare and I, so it was a surprise in the shelter on Cadair and, much to my of Kinder on my Killer, and was rewarded take the line recommended by Wendy up to to shuffle into Maentwrog only a few minutes surprise, I wasn’t left for dead as we picked with views back to the far horizon and Cadair Drygarn Fawr, so I struck out on my own after they had departed. Evidently our our way off the craggy summit. I allowed Idris, whence we’d set out twelve hours bearing, relenting when it became apparent Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 36 Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 37

having discovered that the map of Llandovery Chris had the best line to the summit of I was carrying ran out an hour into the day’s Cribarth. Only problem was the trig point journey. You really do get a sense of travel was three metres lower than the spot height when each day you cover an entire 1:25k map 350 metres to the north-east, and I insisted we and then some! visit both. During the ‘92 race, it transpired, Tim treated us to more comedy sprinting Cribarth was one of two summits left out as he hurtled headlong into the water at on the final day so that, as at a couple of the Usk Reservoir. We said our farewells other points on our journey, we were truly to Wendy at the changeover - it had been a delineating our own Dragon’s Belly route. real pleasure to spend time, however briefly, Indeed, as other’s have observed, this was our with one of fell-running’s legends – and we route and our journey, not to be compared – all then set off, Steve included, on our final for good or ill – with anybody else’s. leg. Ever so gradually the Fan Brycheiniog The eight miles or so of yomping from escarpment hauled itself up in front of us. I here to Foel Fraith via indeterminate rocky began to enjoy the soft grassy terrain, and the outcrops was tough; the bone-dry grasses chance to climb steeply again. At the top we almost as harsh on the feet as the gritty stopped, ate briefly, and as Steve and Dave rocks they engulfed. Fortunately Matt was turned west to follow the main escarpment there to keep us moving at a half-decent to our final destination, Chris and I bickered pace, as it was quite clear that two days in half-heartedly about the best line south over the baking sun was playing havoc with our Fan Hir. A red kite courted us as we set off decision-making faculties. Nicky’s mojo down a glorious two-mile grassy descent to was returning in the rougher terrain, and I Glyntawe. was fast beginning to flag. Notwithstanding that everybody else - Wendy and Charmian Day Five – deliverance (mad At the Craig-y-nos Country Park we the symphony of skylarks all around, I was included - were making happier progress on a dogs and Englishmen) paused for double-helpings of ice cream, then mightily relieved to reach the final road quad bike track, whilst I was finding nothing It was, once again, time to dig in. I’d turned our faces to the last big, long, long, crossing in one piece. There Chris was but tussocks. Drygarn Fawr is a fine hill, surprised myself how easily I’d settled back haul. Though I tried to protest otherwise, reunited with his partner Tracy, whilst I topped by two magnificent beehive cairns, into running each morning – with every and with views worth running 150 miles for. step beyond day two for me a step into the We spent twenty minutes drinking in the unknown. Dave, having surprised himself just scene, and I was entirely at peace, living in as much I think by running the entire distance the moment, and not caring about the final from Conwy, was dragged out of his bed at gruesome six mile stretch of tarmac which 6am and summarily told he too would be seemed to have dominated my companions’ running with the A team. And so it was that thoughts for most of the day. we departed our final overnight camp, yours We descended past waterfalls into a truly this time forgetting to don his hat on the delightful valley, reminiscent of the White hottest day of our journey. Peak at its best, a bit of road, a bit more Tim insisted I wear his, but even with this boggy traverse, and then back onto the protection I laboured in everybody’s wake tarmac. As promised, it was not good, not and suffered on more tarmac. I was very glad good at all. By journey’s end, and a further of a brief respite in Llandovery, where Tim 13hrs and 42mins on our feet, I was near excelled himself by buying three steak pies enough hyperventilating. Lynda’s lasagne that and a whole cooked chicken. night, however, made everything worthwhile. Meanwhile, I dived into a newsagent to get a second map of the western Brecons, Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 38 Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 39

collapsed into a chair and grunted. the way – about both the original and the Just six last miles to the castle. The revived Dragon’s Backs – and how these tales terrain remained harsh, and my route-finding and our own journey inter-twined, overlapped Tried and tested progressively more incompetent, but by and diverged over the course of the week; like this point I really didn’t care. The views three chuntering Warts negotiating Kinder were terrific, Carreg Cennen Castle – when on a claggy night. But perhaps it’s better to it finally swung into view – a proper crag- let sleeping giants lie. Instead, I must simply Hoka One-Ones topping ruin worthy of the distances we’d extend my heartfelt thanks to all who were RRP: £100 covered, and the birdsong and early evening involved in the endeavour, and in particular to Appearance Value for money  summer sunshine quite magnificent. We were Charmian, Lynda, Gerald, Tammy, Max and Performance  OVERALL RATING  even greeted by an impromptu stone dragon Steve, for nurturing us every step of the way. – more likely a dog if truth be told – on the And lest I forget, one last request. It’s still final summit of Tair Carn Isaf. And, should not too late to donate to Odyssey* at http:// Unlike cyclists, fell runners don’t spend hours ridiculing the concept, but were converted after www.justgiving.com/teams/dragonsbelly you be interested, it took us 14hrs and 12mins ; one discussing the latest bit of kit. Turn up for a club testing them. to complete this final day. way or another, whether it’s mine or the run wearing a pair of Hoka One-Ones though, Just over £100 got me a pair from ‘Likelys’, I hung back, shedding a quiet tear or two, runners’ collected page which pulls ahead, and you will instantly get noticed, especially one of the few UK stockists. My first run was over and feeling enormously privileged to have we’ve got to make sure Nicky doesn’t win since suddenly you have grown by a couple of Kinder and despite them not really been designed spent six wonderful days with a dozen like- this race too. inches. “What are them, space boots?” is one of for fell running they were fine - equally good when minded souls, all of whom had contributed *Editor’s note. Odyssey is a charity that aims the more polite comments you can expect. There’s supporting the last leg of the BG . fully to quite simply the best week I’ve been to help adults who’ve had cancer to rebuild no denying they look odd, so what are they and For the real test I travelled to Cortina in the lucky enough to enjoy in the hills. We will their lives and confidence. Find out more at why wear them? Firstly, they are not fell shoes. Italian Dolomites for the North Face Lavaredo They are designed specifically for ultra-trail Ultra trail run. This is 118km with 5700+ of climb, http://www.odyssey.org.uk each take away different things from it, but the website: running, coming in a range of types from road and part of the world ultra-running series. Many equally I have no doubt we would each also Nicky and the Dragon’s Belly team set running right through to rocky alpine trail models. of the top international ultra-runners would be recommend the journey to anybody else who themselves a fund-raising target of just over The key, and very distinctive, innovation of all there, so I would have some stiff competition. fancies it. I had intended to close with some £5,000. As Dark Peak News went to press, Hokas is a massive spongy sole that provides The race was shortened to just over 85km because observations on the stories I was told along they were over that and rising... comfort and reduces impact on legs, which is of unexpected heavy snow over the mountains important if you are going to be running for 10 but I didn’t hear anyone complaining, especially to 30+ hours. Currently the trend is going in the me who had done no real training. So at 8am on opposite direction with minimal, lightweight soles a beautiful Saturday I stood tall in my Hokas that allow the foot to be closer to the ground, so alongside 700 other people, with a good 70 or connecting with mother earth. This has culminated so actually sporting Hoka One-Ones. Big climbs in the bare foot running fad. That’s fine for a few followed by very long descents. I was out for over hours, but comfort is key for longer events like fifteen hours, ending with a very long descent running across deserts or down Wales’ back or on hard alpine trails, but suffered no blisters or belly, and that’s where the Hoka One-Ones have it bruised toes. The Hokas were surprisingly stable in spades. and very comfortable especially downhill. They I first saw them on the 2010 Marathon des really do what they are designed for, i.e. provide Sables, although only a few people wore them. By maximum comfort and minimal impact. Their 2012 on the Ultra Tour of Mont Blanc they were growing popularity is testimony to the design much more popular. I met a fellow runner wearing concept, since you certainly don’t buy them to look them on the Hardmore 60 along the Cleveland cool. They may look funny, but after 40 miles the Way later in the year. He couldn’t praise them critics may not be so critical any more. So if you highly enough: “Very comfortable…never get are intending doing a long, long event they are blisters…great downhill as they absorb loads of certainly worth the money. For your typical Dark impact…very light and the wide base means they Peak outing, stick to your nondescript boring fell are surprisingly stable”. I did more research online shoes and avoid being ridiculed. and that’s precisely what others said. Many began Steve Martin Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 40 Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 41

The Dog’s Diary 10 years ago Dark Peak success in the Derwent Watershed, with Al Ward, Marcus Scotney and Simon Bourne all in the winning team. The first complete shley Kay continues to bring a unique approach to racing. He turned up late (of course) DPFR team was “Three Blokes with Sweaty Cox”, comprising for the Cakes of Bread, and set off about 10 minutes after everybody else had disappeared. Jim Fulton, Kev Saville, Tom Westgate, and of course Phil Cox. AOnly as he climbed the first hill alone did Ashley realise he had a problem: it dawned on him Edale Skyline organisers Chris Barber and Jim Fulton reluctantly that he didn’t know where the race actually goes. Cue some initiative and lateral thinking. This announced an altered route, involving an extra descent into the is an Andy Harmer race, thinks Ashley, and I know where one of Andy’s races goes. So off he valley, a stretch of flat road, and a re-ascent via Jacob’s Ladder. goes up to Lost Lad, down Sheepfold Clough, and up towards Berrister’s Tor. By now he should Club chairman Roy Small blamed “underhand dealings” from the have been catching back markers, but there was not a soul in sight. Cue a bit more initiative National Trust, who had objected to us using Brown Knoll. Roy also and a bit more lateral thinking. He realises he’s gone the wrong way, abandons the Margery reported access restrictions around Stanage, which he put down to Hill route, adjusts his trajectory by ninety degrees-ish, and sets off up and over the ridge the CROW act defining “more reasons for restrictions than before”. towards Strines where, of course, other Harmer promotions have congregated. Still not a soul, Al Ward succeeded Roger Davison as men’s captain. The agm so Ashley cuts his losses and returns to base at Fairholmes having seen nobody and covered minutes said the club caravan was being well used, with 74 bed-nights. Exile Andy Forsyth precious little of the actual race route, (which had of course been posted online). One trusts won the Four Peaks Mountain Race at Ficksburg in South Africa, running jointly for Dark Peak this little saga will be relived in Ashley’s Pertex speech come the autumn... and Randburg Harriers. Ruth Hambleton returned to training after suffering a stroke. ‘Peak lsewhere in this edition, you’ll read about the rich variety of transport used to reach District’ magazine ran a four-page feature on the club, noting that when it came to sustenance, Jura for the famous fell race. Big ferries, little ferries, bikes, kayaks and a sea-locked DPFR runners tended to stick to the tried and tested “such as honey or marmalade sandwiches Eyacht have all been deployed. What they have in common is that they have all, more or less, and even squares of jelly”. reached their intended destination, (see Dave Lockwood’s account of Small and Yates’ last leg). More than can be said for Richard Hakes on another recent Scottish isles adventure. 20 years ago My source tells me that Cabin Boy Hakes, as he is now known, was sailing between Bute and Greenock with his cousin, who owns and skippers a 19ft boat. Being a dog, I don’t know Dark Peak News reported record turnouts in 92/93 Warts runs, with much about unfixed keels, but I’m told they make it impossible to right a boat if it capsizes numbers “often reaching double figures”.Will McLewin won the in squally seas. So both skipper and cabin boy had to sit atop the upturned hull, while they prestigious Boardman Tasker Award for Mountain Literature for his called in a “mayday” and waited for a local to haul them in. The boat was recovered later, book ‘In Monte Viso’s Horizon’. “He is a much better alpinist than and the passenger ferry to Bute delayed for only half an hour while it stood on standby. I’m he makes out,” said the judges. “Do not be fooled by his modesty or told the cabin boy was “a little hypothermic but essentially OK”. you will have an accident”. The Crookstone Crashout was extended eanwhile back on dry land, several Dark Peak families reached Jura for this year’s race, to Hartshorn for its 18th continuous running. Tim Tett and Phil and set up a Collier/Patton/Bryan-Jones/Phipps base camp in an old chapel about a mile Crowson tied for victory in 53:27. Organiser Andy Harmer said the Malong the road from the finish to the bridge. No fewer than three of them made an unexpected summer race would stay on the traditional straight up and down route, return to said base camp after setting off on their expedition to do the race. First back, I’m with the Hartshorn extension reserved for winter. Fears of a missing told was Simon Patton, who cycled early to race registration and then cycled back again for runner in the second Warts Night Race were dispelled when winner and the cag he’d forgotten. Next back, the other Simon P, who took Pertex overtrousers to the race co-organiser Dave Holmes discovered he had forgotten to register. Mike Hayes staged a new instead of the specified waterproofs with taped seams. Not to be outdone, Penny Collier got as race to mark his 55th birthday – the Rivelin Landmarks was won by Howard Swindells in far as base camp in the race itself, saw the drinks and buns laid out by the assembled family 63:07. Jacky Smith was elected Dark Peak’s first club captain. Colin Henson marked his 60th juniors, decided base camp was quite far enough with a doubly sprained ankle, and sat down birthday with a comfortably successful Joss Naylor. The club introduced alternative training to munch. Does this kind of thing happen on Everest? runs on local race nights, starting and finishing at the race venue. Wuff Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 42 Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 43 The kit page Made in the Dark Peak

It’s many months now since kit man Richard Hakes took delivery of the new hoodies and ...being the page where we showcase notable Dark Peak modelled his with such pride. Here he is still sporting it, despite a distinct aroma beginning to seep from the armpits. If Di had her way she’d tear it off him and stick it in the washing artefacts, oddities and curios... machine, but he’s never at home long enough for her to strike. Rumour has it that the hoody came in very handy as “Cabin Boy” tried to warm up after that dunking off the Isle of Bute. No 10 The club hut door He’s not been around for us to check current prices and stock levels, so you’re strongly advised to get in touch with him before building up your hopes: 0114 2339912; [email protected] If you’ve been inside recently, you’ll know that the Dark Peak handymen Price list Fleece pullovers £22 have given the hut a very Vests £13 In blue or black, with club badge on breast. substantial makeover. It now Toasty! S, M, L, XL sports wall-to-wall benches Sizes small, medium, large, extra large. and more clothes pegs than Women’s also available in XS Running Bear socks, two you could shake a pair of pairs for £5 dirty Walshes at. Now it Shorts £16 looks just as good on the One size fits all. Metallic green cycling type, Brown above the ankle, white below. outside too, thanks mainly with “DARK PEAK” in yellow down left leg. Guaranteed to be brown throughout after two to the determination of runs over the Dark Peak bogs chairman Tom Westgate who Tracksters £20 decided during the endless Blue or green, in medium, large and extra Whistles £1 winter to give the battered large. Yellow piping and “DPFR” down leg. Orange. Loud. Best used in front door a good going over. combination with a map and compass. “Denuded of any paint it was Short-sleeved long-sleeved obviously deteriorating,” said vest £10 Vinyl sticker £1 Tom. “So I decided it needed Now available as a 5cm vinyl a coat of paint, or more Aka. a running t-shirt Lightweight silky accurately four including a sticker or 5cm car synthetic material. In brown with bit of scraggy undercoat that windscreen sticker purple and yellow bars on front. I managed to prize off the XS, S, M, L, XL shelf in my garage and coax into life with some excessive Long-sleeved vest stirring whilst jammed £17 Metal between my legs. Now it’s all Sizes S, M, L, XL badges 30p well and good but applying Collector’s items, all two coats of brown, yellow Yellow t-shirt £10 featuring exclusive Dark and purple in sub zero evenings did test my resolve, especially when it finally dawned on me that it had to be applied one or two stripes at a time.” The finishing touch came With club badge on breast. S, M, L Peak designs: ‘Running Man’, ‘DPFR trig point’, ‘Mountain from Hannah Saville, who produced a mega version of her ‘Running Man’ transfer in brilliant green and gave it pride of place mid-door. All we need now is a decent door hero’, ‘Warts’ Black t-shirt £10 mat and a ‘Beware of the Dog’ sign for Chris Barber. With “Dark Peak Fell Runners” cartoon artwork on front. S, M, L, XL Dark Peak News Summer 2013 page 44 Front cover: A fresh looking Ruth Batty on Higger Tor in the Burbage Skyline race

This page: A not so fresh Darren Webb, glistening like an otter