DARK PEAK NEWS February 2012

l Run like the clappers – Judith reveals her unique training regime l Triple crossing – triple views l Fashion statement horror l UXBs – watch where you're putting your feet In this edition»

est. 1976 www.dpfr.org.uk  British champions President: Eric Mitchell Dark Peak are again the top dogs in British fell running. Men’s captain Rob Little tells the story of our magnificent victory in the Yorkshire Dales and reflects Chairman Secretary on “the special spirit from everyone when racing in the Paul Sanderson, Rob Moore brown vest”. 27 Milden Road, 2 Kerwen Close, Been there, done that, page 30 Wadsley Dore, Sheffield Sheffield S6 4AT S17 3DF  Snares compromise 0114 2206353 07766 520741 The Moscar estate has offered to put up signs warning [email protected] [email protected] about snares on its land after the incidents in which two Dark Peakers put their feet in them. Bob Berzins Treasurer Membership brings you up to date and asks for your help in policing Lynn Bland, Ann Watmore the scheme. 51 Hurlfield Ave 26 Robertson Drive News, page 4 Gleadless, Sheffield Sheffield, S6 5DY S12 2TL 0114 2338383  Chop chop 0114 2646409 [email protected] [email protected] Sadly, it’s not all good news in that neck of the woods. The magnificent wind-stunted pines that used to characterise the climb to Stanage from the “haunted Clothing and Eqpt. Men’s Captain house” have fallen victim to an over-enthusiastic chain Richard Hakes Rob Little, saw. Mike Browell laments their passing. 454A Loxley Road Flat F, Features, page 10 Loxley 91 School Road Sheffield Sheffield S6 6RS S10 1GJ  Clueless. Lost 0114 2339912 07791 283861 [email protected] [email protected] The dog’s back. Maurice Musson and Andy Moore are in his sights. One of them couldn’t find a control in his own race, the other couldn’t recognise his own car. Women’s Captain Website Find out which was which on page 37 Kirsty Bryan-Jones John Dalton 2, Sunnybank Cottages, 1, Cannon Fields, Jaggers Lane, Hathersage,  Fancy dress Hathersage, Derbyshire S32 1AZ S32 1AG Caught in action after the Edale 01433 650213 01433 659523 Skyline. One man in tights, one [email protected] [email protected] dressed as Fred Flintstone, one half naked and holding a banana. It’s your new caption competition. Now Dark Peak News do your worst. David Holmes Caption competition, page 9 615, Loxley Road, Loxley, Sheffield, S6 6RR 0114 2344186 [email protected] Dark Peak News February 2012 page 3

Hello again IT’S REALLY good to be back on the Dark Peak newsstands after far too long a break. I hope you’ll enjoy this first edition of 2012 and that it will whet your appetite for getting fit for your big challenge this year, whatever that might be. I have certainly drawn inspiration from the achievements of my fellow club members. We’re once again the strongest fell running club in the country, with our many individual and team successes culminating in first place in the prestigious FRA Relays. You can read an account of this from team captain Rob Little on page 30. Just as impressive as our many competitive successes was Nicky Spinks’ remarkable extension of the women’s 24 hour Lake District endurance record to 64 peaks - and with 45 minutes to spare. You’ll no doubt have heard about that at the time, but you may not be aware that Nicky also experienced acute exhaustion later in the year. She reflects on the highs and lows of 2011 on page 12. Another person reflecting on a slightly bitter-sweet experience is Roger Baumeister after the latest instalment in his long relationship with the Pennine Way. Roger’s attempt to get from one end to the other entirely self-sufficiently may not have been a success, but isn’t it fantastic that he’s still plugging away at such adventures? He makes me all the more determined to have another crack at the Paddy Buckley Round this year after the dietary fiasco last summer that landed me with the dubious distinction of becoming the first Dark Peaker to win the Pertex trophy twice. Help needed, please There used to be a well understood rule in Dark Peak that you ran the Edale Skyline one year and then helped the next. It’s not been so strictly enforced of late, possibly because it is a bit tough on people who are peaking for the championships or other big events. But it remains the case that the Skyline is a huge organisational challenge for the club. We’re often praised for running an excellent event, but that reputation depends on an army of helpers on the day. Ian Fitzpatrick has taken over as event coordinator and is bringing some fresh ideas to the task. He sets them out on page 20, and makes it clear that he needs offers of help good and early. The event is so popular that it filled up within days of entries being available online. If you don’t have an entry and have a free diary on Sunday, March 25th, Ian would be delighted to hear from you. The club’s second big organisational task is the Burbage race a little later in the year, and organiser Roy Gibson is also looking for offers of help. And, not so seriously… It’s a pleasure to bring back the long overdue caption competition. Congratulations to Dave McGuiness on winning the last one, and congratulations to Lloyd Taggart, Jon Morgan and Oli Johnson for bringing the unique combination of hosiery, prehistoric garb, bare flesh and fruit to the new one. By the time you read this, the competition will be open for entries online. Please chip in. While you’re at it, how many uses can you find for the magnificent (!) new Dark Peak tie? Dave Dark Peak News February 2012 page 4

News

Moscar Snares – sorted at last? Bob Berzins writes: Last year two club members were injured by wire snares while exercising their right of access to land owned by the Moscar estate, ie Bamford Moor and the Hallam Moors. There were also several near misses and one further incident of a walker being caught in a snare. There has now been a series of meetings to try to ensure that runners and other people can enjoy this land safely. The use of snares is a complex and emotive issue, raising concerns on legal, access and moral grounds. We are at the end of an era where snares and similar land management practices have been tolerated or even welcomed. Snares are illegal in many European countries and a ban has been debated in the Scottish Parliament. In the long term I’m sure they will be outlawed in this country, but in the meantime we have to try to find a way to co-exist with landowners who insist on their use. Snares are legal, but landowners also have a duty of care to the public under the Occupiers’ Liability Act, even if there is no public access. The duty may be discharged if the landowner gives warning of the danger or discourages people from incurring the risk. The Moscar landowner has applied for a statutory closure of the four areas of access land where snares are used, arguing that there is a public danger, i.e. that people’s safety cannot be guaranteed if they choose to go there. Such closure is possible under the CROW Act, but typically it is used to curtail more extreme risks, for example those associated with shooting ranges. At the moment it’s not clear if this application will proceed or be withdrawn, but it’s looking more likely that it will not go ahead. Dark Peak News February 2012 page 5

John Dalton and I recently attended a meeting that tried to arrive at a compromise. It was suggested that warning signs be placed around the edge of the snared areas at Oaking Clough, Bamford Edge, Bole Hill (near Dennis Knoll) and Stanage Lodge. The gamekeeper said he would mark individual snares with a bamboo cane, set at an angle across the trod. The only one of these areas that is fenced is Oaking Clough, and in this area there will be no bamboo canes. The aim of this scheme is to give clear warning when you enter a snared area, but to leave access open. The gamekeeper would have to make the danger obvious to someone who was visiting the area for the first time, with no knowledge of the background. I am concerned that signs may get overgrown or forgotten and that bamboo canes will be difficult to spot against dried bracken. Help needed from club members I’d like as many people as possible to visit the snared areas and feedback your views to the peak park access manager, [email protected], with a copy to me at [email protected]. If you think the warning signs are insufficient or it’s not clear what the canes are supposed to show, then highlight this in your email. Be warned - each one of these areas contains around 50 snares. I was left with the impression that the gamekeeper may take a considerable time to implement this scheme. If this is the case, then again inform the access manager. Make sure you don’t touch any signs, snares or canes as this might be seen as criminal damage. I hope you will take the trouble to check out these areas; it’s an important part of the club to run from The Sportsman, so let’s make sure it’s safe for everyone.

Stairs challenge Indoor uphill-only fell running is not a very popular sport, partly because there are so few publicly accessible venues, (although some Dark Peak members have been known to tackle the staircases at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital on the quiet). Enthusiasts have a rare opportunity to compete on Saturday, February 25th, when the University of Sheffield hosts the Take the Stairs Challenge in its recently refurbished Arts Tower. The climb is 78 metres, (that’s 255.9 ft in real money), up 390 stairs, (which of course works out at 7.87 inches per stair, or exactly 20 centimetres). Runners will be set off at intervals for safety, but overtaking is allowed. The event is being organised by the British Heart Foundation to raise money as part of their National Heart Month - they’re asking participants to raise at least £50 in sponsorship. Entry is £10. Details at: http://www.bhf.org.uk/get-involved/events/ view-event.aspx?ps=1001315 Fancy a crack at the FRA Championships this year? Dark Peak membership secretary Ann Watmore writes: They’re open to all fit and able fell runners and you don’t have to be a worldbeater to get a lot out of the challenge. But first you have to know you’re eligible to enter. Rules and regulations make tedious reading and there is a load of other scintillating stuff to go at in this newsletter so bottom line first: To be eligible to count in the British or English Championships, including the Relay Championship, either as an individual or team member you must be a member of the FRA or have individual affiliation to England Athletics (EA). The background to this is that UK Athletics, (of which EA is a branch), organise the championships and they are only open to EA affiliated runners. That doesn’t though mean Dark Peak News February 2012 page 6

you have to affiliate to the EA, because the FRA has negotiated an exemption from this stipulation for its own members. This is explained in rule 9 in the FRA ‘Rules for Competition’, to be found in the back of the FRA fixtures calendar or on their website. Of course if for some reason you have chosen not to join the FRA you may not be aware of this. So, if you’re an FRA member as most committed fell runners are, then you do not need to affiliate to the EA. It may still be worth affiliating to the EA to avoid paying unattached levies in road races organised under UK Athletics rules. Regular road racers amongst you will know how often this occurs, but I understand many if not most road races are not organised this way so it may not be a big deal, (I would guess most regular road racers belong to another club anyway). If you do affiliate, you also receive literature from UKA and your affiliation number can be used in lieu of a fitness letter from a doctor if you need one for racing overseas. If you are a member of the FRA and want to affiliate for any of the above reasons this can be done free of charge through the FRA secretary. An explanation and details can be found in the FRA news item dated April 1st 2010, which is retained on their website’s homepage. If you belong to another athletics club you most probably already have individual affiliation. Dark Peak affiliates to UKA/EA only on a club level, leaving its members to decide for themselves about individual affiliation. Road running clubs often make it an automatic part of their membership deal. This is the case for local club Hallamshire Harriers but for others I do not know. Our club affiliation is for Fell and Hill only, hence the unattached status for DP members in road races. Although unattached individuals can race, DP is not entitled to put teams in road events. Cross-country events are organised differently. I believe there is no automatic right for unattached runners to compete but they may run as individual “guests” at the organisers’ discretion at least in the local league. So have a think before you fill in your subs form this year about whether you need to be covered for championship races, bearing in mind that if you are a competitive runner you may well be asked to be part of a championship team at some stage – and if you are a woman this is almost a certainty! Edale Skyline sells out The Edale Skyline has again filled up in double quick time, with entries being snapped up within days of organiser Ian Fitzpatrick making them available on the web. There are now around 100 people on a waiting list. If you are one of them, please bear in mind that the club needs all hands to the pumps on the day, (Sunday, March 25th). Ian and his organisational team leaders have a long, long, list of tasks that need doing and would sleep more easily if they’re not having to ring round for volunteers in the last few days. For details, please see the piece from Ian on page 20. Burbage helpers needed too The Burbage Skyline race may be a little further ahead, but organiser Roy Gibson is already busy planning and he too would welcome offers of help. He needs a minimum of 14 marshals, a sweeper, four people on registration and results, and a minimum of three people on the finish line. “Some of these jobs can double of course and the club is large enough to allow those who want to run, but only if enough folk come forward,” said Roy. Subject to the usual permissions, the event will take place on Tuesday, May 8th, starting at 7.30pm from the Fox House inn. Dark Peak News February 2012 page 7

From the Chairman

Having been asked repeatedly by our esteemed editor to write something for this edition of Dark Peak News my claims of suffering from acute writer’s block seemed to go unanswered. He even last Wednesday night went as far as to suggest that perhaps I should focus my creative attention on the increasing role that social media is playing in respect of our club. Having gone away muttering that I wasn't one of his third year journalism students looking for a project, I soon realised he might be on to something. Probably to the detriment of traditional communication methods like our magazine, the club, its members and the fell running community in general, have over recent years fully embraced the phenomenon that is social media. There is now an established Dark Peak Facebook community within which we get to hear about all sorts of adventures and misadventures in some cases in almost real time. We get to see loads of photographs including pictures of Richard Hakes' latest holiday, latest bike or even on a field trip in the 1970's. There's even Karl Marshall posing in his club vest and showing off his tattoo. Yes, I know, the mind boggles and this would probably be a disciplinary offence if the club had a disciplinary policy. The Edale Skyline even has its own page where we can easily communicate with the race entrants. There is however this mysterious character Guerilla Wart who crops up now and then enticing you out on runs from far flung corners of the Peak. We then have Ian Winterburn, who has now established himself as some form of fell running guru with all the pearls of wisdom that he posts on the FRA Forums. Whatever happened to learning the skills of fell running by making mistakes or by going out running with more experienced runners? (sometimes you could do both at the same time) All you have to do now is post a question on the forum and Ian (or IanDarkPeak as he is known) will answer it almost instantly – what shoes to buy, what to eat on a Bob Graham, which route to take on the Langdale, what the weather is like in Edale the morning of the Skyline, he has an answer for everything. Goodness only knows how he finds time to do any running. (or how he finds time to go to work every day, Ed.) Joking aside, embracing and utilising these online communication channels can only be good for our club and the sport of fell running as a whole. I would however not want to see our magazine disappear completely into a stream of electrons, and having been asked to write this piece it’s great to see that print and paper is alive and well and a long awaited edition is about to hit our doormats. The magazine though is only as good as the content within. With a club membership of over 400 content should be easy to come by with all the adventures you lot out there are having, but I know it isn't. So go on, be traditional and write an article rather than publishing that snippet on Facebook. Writer’s block is honestly no excuse. Anyway that's enough from me for now. Let’s look forward to long days and a great summer of running and racing whatever your personal targets are, even if we are having to run races in kilometres and climb in metres! Finally, Twitter - what's that about?! Paul Dark Peak News February 2012 page 8

The questionnaire

good intentions of Judith Jepson being more scientific, but it’s just How old are you? 45 (but my mother says I not me. I’m too have a mental age of 12) scatty. I only run three, maybe four How did you start fell running? I entered the times a week at London Marathon on a whim at 39, no doubt the best. I cycle or very moment my mid life crisis took hold. I had gym the rest, never as much as jogged round the block, had otherwise I fall three young children, was juggling three jobs and to bits. cursed with being a smoker. I was pretty unhappy and ready to do something selfish. I Admit it, joined a local gym and asked them to teach me what’s your to run in time for the marathon in four months... current so they put me on a treadmill and off I went! weight? My I did my first fell race the following summer, (my Christmas local village one, Hathersage). I honestly thought weight is eight and a bit it was the only fell race in existence - just a local stone, and rising! peculiarity - and was astonished to be first local lady. It was then, on the eve of my 40th, that I What’s your top training tip? quit smoking. I joined the village fell running club, Be disorganised, leave training The Fat Boys, an elite and athletically superior until the last minute. Being late = bunch. They took me under their wing and running faster. It works, believe taught me what it was all about: training, training, me. training - not! The group is accurately self- labelled as “Drinkers with a running problem”. What’s your favourite race? Are you kidding? They’re all horrid! I finish every When did you join Dark Peak? The real sea one and say: “That was horrible, I’m change came in 2007 when some of us Fat Boys never doing that again.” tried the Edale Skyline. I was second LV40 (but most importantly first Fat Boy), and so chuffed I What’s been your best moment in fell decided to try the rest of the English champs. I running so far? Being half an hour too ran the first couple of races as a Fat Boy but early before Sheldon Village Fell Race eventually made the heart wrenching decision to 2010. Hmm! Try working that one out. join The Dark Side, (an affiliated club). I finished the year with the LV40 silver medal and basically And the worst? have been having a go ever since. Did you have to ask? Dufton Pike 2008. Helicopter. Hospital. Poorly. And just to put the Why did you join Dark Peak? I ask myself the record straight here, it had nothing to do with any same question! I think it had something to do wild mushroom risotto! with being held hostage in the back of Simon and Kirsty’s car after the second Championship What shoes do you use? Those of you who race. Pinned between two toddlers! They waved have seen my feet will know that the honest this paper at me and I had to write my name on it answer is, any that will fit. I’ve spent much of the in exchange for cake. season skiing in a pair of New Balance but at least they’re comfortable. How many miles a week do you run? I don’t know is the honest answer. I don’t count and if I And how do you get your socks clean? did I wouldn’t remember. I usually know when Hard-up teenage children. Need I say more? I’ve done enough because my feet hurt. I’ve had Dark Peak News February 2012 page 9

Caption competition

The last caption competition was so long ago that you’ve probably forgotten it, but it featured club secretary Rob Moore dressed as his alter ego, allegedly a city slicker solicitor. Unusually for Dark Peak, only a few of the entries were vulgar. Chris Barber and Alan Yates plumbed the depths on the theme of pocket billiards, but there was generally a more sophisticated tone this time. Two of the best explored Rob’s unmistakeable James Bond aura. It was a close call, but your editorial team decided Ian Winterburn -“R. Moore, 007. Licence to Thrill” - was just shaded for the whisky by multiple entrant Dave McGuiness – “The name’s Moore, Rob Moore”. Sometimes simplest is best.

This time you have a picture of a man who thinks he’s Fred Flintstone, a man who appears to have run a fell race in knee-length tights, and a near-naked poser with a banana in his hand. Make of it what you will. Dark Peak News February 2012 page 10

Features Windswept trees – RIP 2011

In March 2011, somebody took a chainsaw thousands of pounds each year? If they had out onto Hallam Moors and cut down some the legal protection given to special trees, a of the finest examples of windswept trees in Tree Preservation Order, there would have the Peak District National Park. been a potential £20,000 penalty for felling. Two particularly distinctive larch and pine The trees were the last remnants of Gin had survived for over 130 years and were Piece Plantation, which was planted around reduced to a small pile of logs in minutes. 1870. The trees were mainly pine and larch A nearby group of birch suffered the same and were harvested around 1950 when there fate. was a national need for timber in post-war It beggars belief that anyone could rebuilding. deliberately cut down such unique The foresters left behind a few un-saleable specimens. More especially a countryside trees which couldn’t make decent straight worker who spends his working life in a logs. These were mainly poor shaped and landscape of national park quality. Has his stunted edge trees where extreme winds had vision been blinkered to natural beauty? hindered their growth. Over the past 60 Maybe these trees offered a roost to birds years many died of natural causes, leaving of prey? If so, how large a threat were these two windswept survivors by 2011, a larch trees? In economic terms, and pine. They were no taller than four were they costing the metres, full of character and scenically Moscar Estate magnificent in their bleak setting. 130 years is a long life for these species, but bonsai conifers can live much longer and these were natural bonsais, unable to grow any taller due to exposure, and therefore unlikely to be blown down. They could have survived for another fifty years, or longer. Dark Peak News February 2012 page 11 ©Rob Barker

Above: Past glory Right: Ill-fated end to much loved landmarks Left: Hang on in there, it could be your turn next

Most Dark Peakers will have run past them and appreciated their beauty, and therefore were justifiably appalled at the act of vandalism which took place last year. Oaking Clough Plantation is the small walled copse which lies at the east of Rape Piece, just a few hundred metres from the trees which were cut down. It comprises a surviving group of 34 windswept trees, mainly pine with some birch and rowan up to six metres high. It has been a woodland since before 1850, so some of the trees may be over 160 years old. It would be a tragedy if they went the same way… Mike Browell Dark Peak News February 2012 page 12 Nicky's year

Breaking the women’s 24 hour record in the Lakes would be a lifetime achievement for many, but for Nicky Spinks it was just one outstanding performance among many in 2011. Here is the remarkable story of her year. Looking back on 2011 it has overall been a very successful year. My main goal was the Nicky and her partner Steve prepare to Ladies’ Lakes 24 Hour record which I crack the bubbly at the end of her record- planned for early July. Everything else breaking Lake District run. leading up to it was basically training. I like to do a few back to back races in amongst minute so I searched round for something recceing in order to keep my speed up. The else. I heard of a Paddy attempt by Mick Watershed, Skyline, Three Peaks, Fellsman James, a friend of Olly Stephenson and and the Lakeland Classics series form the Nick Wallis and put myself up for that. backbone of my racing calendar to summer. Supporting on the first and second legs I have also in the past done the – Capel Curig to Rhyd Ddu – 10.30 Championship races and/or the Vasque start/10pm finish on Saturday. Then a rest series. This year however the races included before doing the last leg over the Carnedds in those series didn’t fit in with what else I on Sunday morning at 7am. As anyone who was doing so I concentrated on others. I knows the round will understand, Bryn recced in the Lakes as much as possible; Banog felt rough!!! I was puffing as much sometimes not very successfully – Skiddaw as Mick and Olly couldn’t get a word out of was determined I was to get blown off it and either of us! It was nice to finish Leg 2 and to reach the Scafells means a very long day even nicer to be fed lovely tomato soup by out indeed, (11 hours one wet, windy day Mick’s brother and wife. I didn’t sleep well with Brent!). But by May I was mainly in the van but Mick arrived still up on time sorted on the two summits I hoped to add to and we set off up Pen yr Ole Wen. Once up the existing record, and I was clear too on it the Carnedds passed easily and we were the route I intended to take. But then I soon running down into Capel, egging Mick chalked up a stunning win at the Fellsman, on with the promise of getting under 22hrs knocking 48 minutes off my own record of 30mins. He was on the dot. 12hrs39mins to finish in 11hrs 51mins I also Three weeks followed of rest, recovery finished third overall. This victory gave me and sorting of supporters, kit and food. The the confidence to look for a third peak to round was successful as I’m sure you will add to the Lakes record. I decided that I have read elsewhere and I was elated to would try to add Grisedale Pike as a 65th have added two peaks to the current record peak if I was an hour up on schedule as I to do 64 Peaks in 23 hours and 15 minutes. approached it. So three weeks before the Once over it was nice to relax again. I Round I was ready for my last “big effort”. promised myself “never again”, but have This was to have been the LAMM, but my already gone back on that! I was returning partner Kirsty Bryan Jones fell ill at the last at the end of August to defend my title at the Dark Peak News February 2012 page 13

Grand Raid Pyrenees and I thought I would brother (and all at home) supporting me. I like some more training. I arranged a trip to smiled as I dibbed at the last CP as I knew I Scotland to complete the ever elusive had gained time and I knew Charlie would Phillip Tranter Round – a short version of be glued to a screen waiting and be able to the Ramsay covering 36 miles and 19 cheer at that. I ran down the last descent of Munroes. I had the record in my mind but 1600m searching painfully for the village felt awful from the start and so mentally and there it was and Charlie too. We ran the abandoned the idea. I was running with Ian last two miles together and down through Charlesworth, Simon Rippon, Simon Cox, the finish. Olly Stephenson and Andrea Stimson. We So how does it feel to have your body fall split into two groups and me and Olly ran out with you? Awful. Everything hurt. I together through the Grey Corries. I was couldn’t sit down for two minutes without finding my legs by then and Olly said I seizing up and a week later was still must go on so I went ahead over Anonachs extremely stiff. Sleeping was painful. My and the Ben to finish in 15 hours and 10 elbow hurt from using the poles so much but minutes, taking 47 minutes off the record without them I wouldn’t have got round. I held by Dawn Scott. It seemed my legs didn’t have any specific injuries; it was were determined to do it whatever I everything that hurt. I have slowly thought. recovered. It took three weeks and three So on to the Pyrenees. I considered massages before I could enjoy running myself recovered, although I thought my again. I now feel that I can start to train; I speed had dropped a little. However my have lost some speed but probably gained lack of strength for the first 10 hours of the some endurance. It was a lesson learnt – that Tranter had me slightly worried so I mainly eventually your body needs a proper rest. rested for three weeks, (although we were On then to 2012, and the first running of a haymaking and straw harvesting). This was new race co-organised by myself, Steve and to be a lesson learnt. On the first climb I felt Amanda and Andrew Heading of Racekit dreadful and would have liked to have called the Trigger on 15th January. I think packed in but I was second lady it’s a great route and all profits are going to and then easily overtook the first the Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team. so that wasn’t an option in my Many thanks to Steve for getting the book. The deal I made with myself permissions. I am already enjoying all the was that if I dropped to fourth then discussions on route choice that have I could pack in. So on I carried got underway*. boosted by my brother Charlie So Dave Holmes asked me to being at all the stops, in all the reflect on 2011 – I think that’s what weather and helping me stay I have done. It was a hugely focussed. It was 30 hours of successful year and the highlight feeling exhausted and without was the Ladies Lakes 24 Record. energy compounded by Tonight I’m off to the FRA dinner sickness, (so my usual method to receive the Long Distance of getting strength by eating Award for 2011 which I have been more wouldn’t work). But for nominated for and won which is the last six hours I powered on, something that means a great deal determined that the second lady, to me. (who had closed the gap from 50 Nicky Spinks minutes to 25), was not going to catch *There’ll be a full report on the me. I hadn’t done 24 hours to be Trigger in the next edition of Dark caught now - not when I had my Peak News Dark Peak News February 2012 page 14 Club Champs 2011 The club championships reverted to the classic Kinder triple crossing, but with a new format of three mass starts at twenty-minute intervals. It produced some interesting outcomes, with the handicap winner leading from the off, and the fastest runner able to tail one of his main rivals all the way round before outsprinting him at the end. Here are their stories, plus the thoughts of the man who choreographed it all…

The handicapper we revert to an unknown course, I think we should go back to a staggered start where everyone needs to do their own navigation, (comments on the back of a five pound note please). The handicap system is meant to reward someone who runs especially well on the day but it is also inevitable that the winner will probably also be someone I haven’t handicapped well. The reasons for this are hard to avoid. They may be someone who does not race much so has no history I can check, or who is very new to the club. This year Jim Paxman got very lost on the only two races of a similar calibre that he had done, so when people asked me to re-look at his handicap I did so but came up with the same value. Last year I showed my start list around quite a few members asking for I must admit to surprise at the results of the opinions, but since they were mainly club champs this time. I had decided to contradictory or laced with self-interest I make the target times for each individual decided to go on race results and head-to- 'aspirational'. I got that broadly wrong in head scores to get the pecking order right. that a goodly number of people beat their The publication of all the excuses last year targets by good margins and a hefty number had the desired effect and there were far got close to it. Maybe this illustrates the fewer rubbish emails this time round. Not theory expounded by Tim Tett and Andy even Jim Orrell sent me a three page email Harmer that block mass starts would make telling me he had died so might be a bit people race harder than they do when slow this year. I was glad to see he was less spaced out more. than ten minutes outside his target. I think this can only work well and fairly All in all I have enjoyed doing the in the years that we do the standard triple handicaps but realise I am not doing enough crossing when the majority know the route racing myself to do the best job so if there is well. Mistakes can be made and good a more active volunteer then I will be happy navigation may help in some years but to pass it on or share the job this year. broadly speaking we are not testing navigation to a great extent. This year when Roy Small Dark Peak News February 2012 page 15

The handicap winner starting format for the club championship race, whereby the field would start in three groups separated by twenty minute intervals. This meant that if I could get away ahead of the initial group who were to set off at 10:00, I would have the chance of leading the way for at least some, or possibly all, of the course. I am a runner who never has won and never will win a race. And unless I’m still racing in my seventies and beyond, I am highly unlikely even to win my category in a race. The twin possibilities of a handicap win and being the first finisher were therefore both very attractive. So a couple of days before the race, I did a recce of the course and found good lines for the second and third crossings which I only knew from Warts outings. When the handicap had been published on When the 10:00 starters lined up, my the website a week or so previously, I’d plan was to make a fast start along the flags been struck by two things. Firstly, of the Pennine Way and try to get some compared with others whose strengths and kind of a lead before the start of the first weaknesses I am familiar with, I was climb and then see how long I could hang exceptionally well handicapped. Initially, I on to it for. This worked well and on was a bit puzzled as to why Roy had been leaving the Pennine Way I’d opened a gap so lenient, (despite rumours to the contrary, of thirty yards or so. By the time I reached no bribery was involved, honest!). the rim of the plateau for the first time this Reflecting on my fell racing results this gap had widened a bit further but as I’m year, I realised that if I had wanted to set not the fastest of descenders, I half out to dupe the handicapper a good way to expected to be caught on the first descent. do so would have been to underperform in As I came through the sheepfold and my two longest races of the year… crossed Fairbrook with my lead intact, I In February, Mickleden Straddle was run heard Andy Harmer excitedly shouting “It’s on a very windy day. Coming back over the Simon, it’s Simon, no, ****ing hell, it’s top I slipped and/or was blown over, Jim, it’s Jim of all people! Come on Jim.” I bruised my hip and could only hobble the think there’s a compliment in there last two miles to the finish. Then in somewhere. Being mistaken for Simon October, I went walkabout during the Bacsich is understandable, as we have very Langdale Horseshoe. My descent from similar hairstyles! Crinkle Crags involved passing to the south Having touched the bridge at the first (!) of Cold Pike before rejoining the correct checkpoint and doubled back to start up route at Red Tarn and the climb to Pike Fairbrook, I could see that I still had a O’Blisco, (at the dinner, I was relieved that healthy gap on the field and made as best I this was not mentioned during the Pertex could up the second climb back to the Trophy presentation.) Both these incidents plateau. My recce paid off as I got a good cost me twenty minutes and more, but line to the Kinder River. As I ran round didn’t show up in the results. John and Moz at the Kinder Downfall The second thing that struck me was the Dark Peak News February 2012 page 16

checkpoint, I noted the time and passed the of Fairbrook that day was not optimal. So chasing pack two minutes later nearing this time I was just hoping not to make a Kinder Gates, so I had the cushion of four last minute Pertex award bid, to get round in minutes. reasonable time and to have fun. I certainly I was again happy with my line on the wasn’t thinking about winning. third crossing, but having joined the Skyline Unfortunately I didn’t have chance to route on the southern rim I was concerned recce the crucial grough crossing in the that other runners might appear ahead weeks preceding this year’s race but with a having taken a better and more direct line few years of accumulated Kinder from Kinder Gates. I also had it in mind that experiences and trusty map and compass I much faster runners who had started at felt I wouldn’t be on the plateau all day, (or 10:20 would inevitably be closing rapidly. is it now called ‘doing a 'Dave Allen'?!). My However, as soon as the route to and round chance of a quick run also seemed to Grindslow Knoll came into sight I knew I increase when competitive Neil “I know was still ahead, and glancing back before Kinder like the back of my hand but I’m rounding the Knoll I still couldn’t see away in China” Northrop trotted into Edale anyone, so set sail for the village knowing village ten minutes before the off, apparently that barring a fall I’d be the first finisher. having secretly scheduled his flight After safely crossing the finishing line, especially just so he could fit this race in. only two or three minutes elapsed before Unlike previous club champs I’ve done other runners started coming in. Outside the where a couple of people have started at Nag’s Head, as well as receiving some minute intervals, all the fast guys plus well-deserved abuse and accusations of Nicky were in one group 40 and 20 minutes having bribed the handicapper, rumour behind two other groups. Soon heading out reached me that Chris Bateson had also done of the valley and up to the three minute very well against his handicap. Once Roy crossing, and Rhys Findlay–Robinson was had done his calculations and unravelled the surging into a lead. His pace wasn’t handicap it turned out that I had pipped him excessive but as I thought he knew the route by three seconds. I was also left in no doubt even less well than I did I was happy to let that I will be handicapped right out of him go. I trudged up behind Jon Morgan, contention in future, and rightly so! Neil and with Pete Hodges. Unfortunately Jim Paxman for Rhys his lead was fairly short lived as our group contoured round Blackden Moor and so were ahead of him as he descended The Club from higher having stayed on the edge path. Champion This part of the route I was comfortable The only previous with. Neil clearly had it wired as he avoided time I have run the being slowed in marshy tussocks unlike Triple Crossing Pete who was leading at the time. route, (six years Still a fair way to go but Jon really booted ago I think it it down the stony path section to the was!), my sheepfold and appeared to get a little gap on finishing time Neil and I. Soon the three of us were didn’t reflect my together again as we began trotting up the athletic ability. I main Fairbrook path. Pete now seemed to be think it’s fair to a bit off the pace and Rhys was nowhere to say my route to the be seen, (deciding he’d try the adventurous Downfall from top alternative up the spur and over the moor as Dark Peak News February 2012 page 17 opposed to the more defined valley-based finish, and with such a runnable fast finish route) Having not done many long runs, or I’d back myself. This slight melancholy was maybe even medium length runs, during relieved by seeing other Dark Peakers summer and autumn I wasn’t sure how my seemingly all over the place at all sorts of fitness would be in the second half of the angles to our direct route across the plateau. race. But considering Jon had also had a But then who am I to chuckle over the few weeks off too, the easy pace he was possible calamities of others. going at up the track wasn’t a problem. So when did I step up a gear? Basically as Towards the top of the climb Neil got into soon as I hit the edge path. There was a the lead of our group and I quickly rounded brief moment along the stones when I Jon too knowing I had to stick to Neil like thought my lack of training may finally glue if I was to get the best line across to the have caught up with me and Neil would still Downfall. be there to challenge me on the descent, A bit surprisingly we managed to create a (he’s usually very fast on steep downhills). small gap on Jon just as we neared the top But running past the stone field I realised I of the climb. If I could persuade Neil to just had a gap and just had to keep pushing. push a bit faster it would definitely be down Which is what I did, pushing hard all the to just the two of us. Cresting the climb Neil way round Grindslow and on one of my suggested it might be my turn to take the favourite descents in fell running down to lead. I politely declined. Fair point. But not the fields. Running fast but in control down at this crucial stage of the race, mate. I the fields I actually considered waiting for wasn’t about to give up prime position and Neil and offering to run in together. now we had a proper gap on Jon. So using However, in the end I abandoned this plan his special Kinder knowledge The Grough as I thought this may be seen as insulting or Master picked an excellent line across and a backhanded compliment. soon we were on Kinder River just above The results show my time was 77:44, the Downfall. It was at this point that we compared to Neil’s 78:33. This suggests a began to overtake runners from the earlier fast finish is worth about a minute from the start groups. Thanks for the few shouts of top. A couple of people have said to me encouragement from those not too shattered maybe I can set a faster time next time. to utter a few words, and if you were Possibly, but who knows how fit I’ll be or wondering why Neil wasn’t alone, well it what the conditions will be like in 2014, was because he hadn’t gotten rid of me yet. (assuming the club sticks with the three- Coming back across Kinder I was still year cycle). Yes the club champs is a feeling good, but I was wondering when or competition and I won on the day but I’m if Neil would put a surge in. To be truthful I not sure I can really call myself the fastest wouldn’t have been able to mark exactly on man in the club. What I particularly like a map the route, but I didn’t care. I had about our club champs is the banter before, “survived” the Fairbrook crossing and knew (and during!), the race and the chance to a simple compass bearing would get me to compete against your mates and then have a the south edge path. I was having fun. If beer afterwards. And yes they were going Neil didn’t find another gear and I didn’t get down particularly well during an afternoon stuck in a bog in the next few minutes we in the Ramblers and later that evening at the both probably knew how this was going to club dinner! end, which is what I felt a bit guilty about. I Rob Little actually asked Neil what he was thinking. With a wry smile I think he had come to accept that this was going to end in a sprint Dark Peak News February 2012 page 18 The piccy in the middle

Ready, steady...wait for it The piccy in the middle Dark Peak News February 2012 page 19

Ready, steady...wait for it Dark Peak News December 2010 page 20

Ask not what your club can do for you, but what you can do for your club!

This year’s Edale Skyline race takes place on Sunday, March 25th. It’s the club’s largest organisational commitment. New race coordinator Ian Fitzpatrick explains how he hopes to capitalise on everybody’s resourcefulness and expertise.

Hopefully Dave has found the classic and Permissions and land clichéd wartime image I asked for above owners/tenant farmer this article. At least then you will know the I have the official permissions under way tone of what you are about to (hopefully) and have had help from Andrew Critchlow read. to track down land owners and tenants. I I’m sure that many of you will know that I would welcome some support from people have agreed to take on the organisation of who have local knowledge on this. the club’s flagship race. I’m equally sure that many of you will realise the enormous Entries amount of work this takes. These are being handled by Debs and Stu at I am well aware that there is a huge Accelerate. Entries will be vetted for wealth of knowledge, skill and experience suitable experience prior to being given a in the club and that people fulfil essential place. I also intend to allow substitutions roles on the day. I’ve already had an right up to race day, as people will be run on encouraging number of people come the other people’s numbers. From a safety forwards and I know of plenty of others perspective we need to know who is who have done specific things on the day actually out on the hill. Was it last year that and leading up to the race. I don’t want to one of the women prize winners was name people as I’d rather people running as an MV50? There will likely be a volunteered rather than being ‘named and ‘waiting list’ so I’ll happily let people defer shamed’ in to action, (but I’m not too proud their place until next year’s race if they give to go down that road if it comes to it!). So it us enough notice. would be really helpful if you could make Entries opened at the start of the year. To yourselves known to me either in person at combat the rush for places I intend to keep the club or preferably via [email protected]. uk back about 30 places for people who can Now few things provoke such a total demonstrate that they can challenge for a sense of dismay as when my wife presents category prize. Why? It’s a race, which I me with a long list of jobs. And so my dear feel should be finding out who is the fastest club mates it is with a heavy heart that I at running, not who is fastest at filling in present the following to you … forms! And at the risk of appearing elitist, I What trophies exist for the race? Who has should also reveal that I’m also thinking of them? tweaking the cut-off. I also have some Does anyone know? bigger plans for 2013 that I’m still mulling over… Dark Peak News February 2012 page 21

Prizes stance on this. As the RO it is me who is opening myself up to liability should Running type prizes are being provided by anything go wrong for a competitor. I want Accelerate with support from [insert name to do everything I can to avoid this of ‘still to be confirmed’ major running shoe happening. manufacturer here] and whilst not finalised I can confirm the prize pot will be Marshals considerable. I’m also having some We’ll need plenty of them on the day. It discussions with local businesses and hope would be good to have some input about that we can have various locally sourced numbers used in past years. Also I believe prizes too. I’m not looking to them for that in the past marshals have been significant money; it’s more that I want to coordinated by someone other than the connect the race to its surroundings in a organiser. Volunteers welcome! wider way. Further ideas for this gratefully received. Parking I’d also like to offer a cash prize pot for I know in past years we have used the the course record. station overflow car park and Andrew Critchlow’s land. There is a new path next Finish line/timing to the railway now so we can maybe direct I have it on good authority that there are competitors to this and use the station some folk within the club who have the parking for marshals who may need to mystical powers required to work the timing move their cars during the race. I’m device! Will they please step forward. thinking of a sliding scale for parking Results charges. Varying from free if the car is full to expensive if single occupancy. I have some ideas about people in the club with these skills and experience and some Food (and more constructive consultations have already importantly) cakes! taken place. We have some plans underway for savoury Kit check! Before and after items but would like volunteers for the Oh yes the famously strict kit check will be ‘entirely unofficial skyline bake-off cake in evidence again this year. I would like contest’ Money is available from the club’s people to go through this before they get considerable coffers to pay for ingredients race numbers. We also need to spot check etc. people after finishing to check they still Anything else? have what they should. I intend to be very Let me know if so. rigorous with this and feel that if people are Finally, I’m determined that all proceeds found to have cheated they should be from the race go to deserving causes in the disqualified, banned from future races and Edale area and ideally would like the race to reported to the FRA. As it says on the club’s make a loss! Please don’t leave it until the home page, we need to take personal last minute to volunteer - get in touch to responsibility for our own safety on the offer your help now. hills. I don’t see why this mindset should Updates will be on the skyline page of change during an organised event. I am dpfr.org.uk and you can follow @ likely to err hugely on the side of caution in Edaleskyline at Twitter or look for Edale terms of what people will be required to Skyline 2012 on Facebook if you wish. carry on the day. I realise this may sound a bit heavy Ian Fitzpatrick handed, but I make no apology for my Race coordinator Dark Peak News February 2012 page 22 Bombs and shells

If you are familiar with running from and girders hanging down to prevent German Langsett and Midhope you may also be bombers getting low enough to bomb the familiar with the old military targets in the dam walls. These pylons were anchored to area. Just a quick look at an OS map shows the concrete blocks. All this happened just that the history of Midhope and the Strines after Guy Gibson completed the famous road had some strong military influences, Dambusters raid. The Derwent, Langsett and with 'targets' marked over Range Moor Ewden reservoirs were all used as part of the (Fenny Common), and Ewden Heights. But preparation and Guy Gibson himself actually few people realise just how extensive this lived at Broomhead Hall for a while with the operation was. Rimington-Wilson family. Upper Midhope, known locally at the time There were plenty of underground bunkers. as “Little Congo” was basically an army In fact as you exit the path coming up from camp, and Mortimer Road (Strines Road) Thickwoods there are some deep was off limits to most civilians. Most of the depressions. These are all that survive of a soldiers operating in the area were based at storage bunker now filled in. Thickwoods Thurgoland, but the military also took over Lane itself was originally made from rubble several farms and fields. Lawtons Farm was taken from Sheffield after an air raid. This taken over by the Royal Signals, Townhead allowed access to what was thought to be an and Manor farms were commandeered, and ammunitions dump but now appears to be the main workshop for the tanks and guns where they burnt now redundant flares after was at the farm buildings known locally as the war. Nothing much grows in this area. In the 'workshop' (SK 212913). The field just to the last year it has been resurfaced and turned the side of this building was one of the tented in to a turning circle for forestry trucks. camps, (it’s just south of the bend in the road The main firing points were from the where we park for Dark Peak runs).There concrete triangular track. This can clearly be were anti artillery guns, smoke pots and seen on the map. At the top corner there is bunkers surrounding Midhope and Langsett bunker/observation post SK209 987. This is Dam, which was seen as a major target for still visible and had a poppy cross in it the the Germans as it could devastate Sheffield if last time I passed. Other shooting points destroyed. Upper Midhope itself was bombed were from the Nab in Midhope - this is also twice in 1941 and a German bomb UXB was on the map. found in Thickwoods Brook. The targets themselves, some of which If you take a wander around the woods SE were on rails, and the red brick winch or NW of Langsett or Bosville’s Piece, (the houses that were used to move them are still moors south of Midhope reservoir), you may just visible. If you search around, a target’s come across big blocks of concrete. I was bogie is still visible at SK 206 958. The always told these were there for anchoring target itself was shaped like a tank but made barrage balloons protecting the steel works in of wood and canvas and was called a hornet. Stocksbridge, but I’ve since found out that Ewden Heights range is also accessible and they were used as a Catenary Defence against was the main storage site for chemical/high bombing the reservoirs. This was a steel explosive weapons. Although not certain, it cable hung between two pylons with chains is believed that these were fired from near Dark Peak News February 2012 page 23

Gill Royd Lane. Another well-known spot is One was a high explosive shell and needed North America farm - if you check out the to be blown up by the Royal Engineers. eastern side you will notice the wall is Langsett was not just a training range for heavily chipped. tanks, armoured cars and artillery guns but Around this area was an aircraft-towed also a test range for experimental shells. drone used for practising anti aircraft This means that some of the shells out there artillery. This would fly east to west whilst are not what they seem. Even the Royal the gunners would take shots at it. Engineers aren’t sure what they all are, so On the Moors around Emlin, the be warned! authorities decided to make a star fish mock Some high explosive munitions fired will village. The purpose of this was that when be empty but still with a fuse, others will be the enemy aircraft were expected, a unit intact. It is impossible to tell by looking, (or from the Defence Regiment would go onto even x-ray), which is which. All are the moors and light the powder charges and potentially highly dangerous. Do not touch; oil-filled barrels to make the enemy think those with just a fuse will remove a hand if they were bombing a large area. This proved they go off. These items are now 70 years to be unsuccessful as the Germans had far old and potentially unstable. better surveillance and navigation aids than It is rumoured that many 25 pounders the British thought. And secondly the were fired on to the moor, but none to my British army could not find its way in the knowledge has been found yet. dark! It was then decided that local farmers During Warts runs along Cut Gate we’ve should act as guides. It’s unclear though had “discussions” about where the V1 bomb how many times this was used. crater is. We’ve talked about two supposed The projectile found by Dukes Drive a sites, both of which have documented few years ago was a high explosive/shrapnel evidence of bomb remains inside them. It bomb and was extremely dangerous. There appears the truth is now known. The V1 is has also been some British test rocket debris the crater east of Outer Edge, the other site found near Mickleden Pond. Other approx SK 186 965 is the remains of a unexploded shells have been found all over, German parachute mine. I apologise to Tom and even the “dud” ones might turn out not and Bob for getting that one wrong. to be quite so dud. So, the next time you take to the local The two latest finds were by Cut Gate moors keep your eyes open as there is more above Bull Clough and Fenny Common. to them there hills than you may realise. Ian Winterburn

Thanks to John Ownsworth, Mike Kirkby, Duncan Sissons and the BBC Peoples War Archive for helping me with my research. Photos of this sensitive area have been very hard to find to find though, but watch this space… Dark Peak News February 2012 page 24

...and the geek shall inherit the earth...

The Dark Peak website has just been given a very substantial overhaul behind the scenes. Dark Peak News thought that was as good a reason as any to invite your webmaster, John Dalton, to tell us what he’s been up to and how the website works. The computer geeks among you are going to love this…

David Holmes asked me, over a pint in the Ladybower, to write a piece about why I had rewritten the website. I guess he could have pointed out that it looks exactly the same as before, apart from a small cosmetic tweak which could have been done without a rewrite, so it’s a fair question. The short answer to that is that it was because I find it interesting, and I hope that the mental exercise will combat the ageing process for a while. The longer version is this… Several years ago, finding that I had time on my hands, (thanks Carlton TV), I took hindsight probably still the right decision, over the website, and had to decide how but I sometimes wonder… best to set it up. There are few choices The first version was up and running available at a reasonable cost, and almost all quickly enough, and over the years various provide the same thing, which is a server facilities were added, like the local league, running a combination of Linux, Apache, head2head and GPS tracks. However, as the PHP and MySQL. That fits in well with site has grown, the php code has grown with development from home as it's possible to it and become rather untidy, and the run the same software on your home structure of the database was no longer quite computer and test everything there, even as suited to the data as it could be. Every under Windows, although that does make it time I added or modified a feature it looked much more complicated. more and more complicated and therefore What we really needed, I felt, was a error prone. At the same time as I was “Content Management System”, that is a thinking about this, the company that hosts system which is primarily a store of data, the website, A2hosting in Ann Arbor, with the website being a way of displaying Michigan, were offering something called and updating that data. The website might Ruby on Rails. This is a package which uses change dramatically or even, in my personal the Ruby programming language and a vision of Hell, vanish to be replaced by framework called Rails. The framework multiple Facebook pages, but at least the means that there is a lot less work for the data will still be available. There were programmer to do, which seemed a good plenty of free CMS’s around, but it seemed plan, and it is much more readable, which is that to tailor any of them to the Dark Peak good for the future. It helps that Ruby is data would require so much effort that I available on the Mac which I use at home. might as well start from scratch - in Anyway, I decided to try to rewrite the Dark Peak News February 2012 page 25 site using RoR, and after three or four prefer to move away from it. We have at the months I decided it was ready to go online. I moment about 25GB of photos, rising by knew there would be some problems - about 5GB per year, so most of the usual although in theory everything can be tested, suspects are out of the question. So far the it is never quite the same as going online. In only likely looking candidate is the event I did compound the problems Photobucket, but it would entail an annual significantly by making an assumption payment, currently about $25 to remove the which proved incorrect, rendering the site advertising. Any other suggestions would be unavailable to many people for longer than pounced upon gratefully. Or writing photo necessary. album software in Ruby could be my next I have managed to clean up the database a project... little, but the main difference from my point For anyone new to the website I hope it is of view is that the code looks much cleaner, pretty straightforward to negotiate, and the although that may just be because it’s fresh menus are helpfully named, but a few points in my mind. The test will come when I try frequently come up in conversation, and this to tweak a feature in a year’s time. That seems to be a good place to answer them. should make it much easier to maintain in A regular misconception is what criteria the future and add features, so I hope that it are used for inclusion in the Local League has been worthwhile. I hope by the time this - quite reasonable as I don’t think they have reaches the news stands that most of the ever been published. Essentially we include bugs will have been squashed, but a any race which starts within a 20 mile problem when writing websites which does radius of Hope and is registered with the not apply to a lot of other software is that FRA. This does mean that Dark Peak races the behaviour of web browsers varies so like Alport are not included. For every year much depending on the browser type and except 2011, only races with a timed result, version. It’s very difficult, and probably (i.e. not the majority of Dark and White impossible, to test a site with every events), are included. Scoring is very combination of operating system and simple: a ratio of your time against the browser - from Windows XP and Internet winner. So if you want to get a head start Explorer 6 to Windows 7 and Chrome to just run all the Trunce races to get plenty of OSX Lion and Safari, and thanks to Richard counters, then try to pick some obscure Hakes, Ubuntu and Firefox. And that’s not ones! The last time I did that it was so counting mobile devices running IOS and obscure Simon Bailey turned up, so perhaps Android... not a good strategy after all. The one big thing I have not yet solved to Results - if you are a club member then my satisfaction is how to deal with photos. your name will appear as a link in the race Initially I built the albums using some really results. From there you can go round in good software called JAlbum, which circles - clicking on your name will list all produces very pretty results. The problem the races you have results for. You can get with that was that I could not run it on the into the same loop from Local Leagues, the server. New photos which were uploaded link from your name will show your were downloaded to my computer counting races from the year you are overnight, the albums rebuilt, and then viewing. Any race will then link to the uploaded back to the server - not your ideal results for that race, then you are out of the workflow! So I found some php based code Local League and back into the Results called Tiny Web Gallery, which runs on the loop. server, and needs no input from me. I don't Search Dark Peak on the home page will particularly like its output though, so would get you to places that nothing else can - the Dark Peak News February 2012 page 26

screenshot which I hope your editor has found room for shows the result of a search for “landmark”. As you can see, it will find calendar dates in the past as well as the future, which you won’t get from the Calendar menu. And it will find all the results for the Rivelin Landmarks race. It also searches in News; at some time in the future it will also search the newsletters, but that’s a work in progress. As always, please get in touch if you have any comments about the site, to provide corrections for results or to send me a GPS track for a race, (I can’t use them if they do not relate to a race). And finally, without wishing to sound like a BAFTA prizewinner, I must give an Peak results extracted, which saves me an honourable mention to the people who have enormous amount of work. helped, and continue to help with the • A mention must also go to Jim Orrell, website: who keeps me on my toes, and reminds • In the early days Mike Nolan provided me when I forget that usability should invaluable advice on the database come before my amusement; it’s very structure, and wrote the local league and easy, sitting in front of a computer screen head2head code for me. I doubt very and thinking up something clever, to much whether you would have had either actually make the experience worse for of those features without him. many people. The use of javascript to • Willy Kitchen has taken on the sometimes load parts of pages is a point in question - thankless job of loading and updating the it undoubtedly looks good but many calendar. people can’t use the back button or save a • Dave Tait continues to run the Carshare bookmark - personally I blame Microsoft, blog, but you may not know that he also but unfortunately that doesn’t solve the scours the world for fell running results, problem. and supplies them to me with the Dark John Dalton

News extra Summer sharpeners to return The “Summer Sharpener” series of navigational races at Burbage was generally well received when the club tried them for the first time last year, so they will be repeated in 2012. Dates will be announced when the new summer calendar goes up on the website. The idea of these events was two-fold: firstly to add some novelty and spice to Sportsman nights to counter the criticism that they were getting a bit boring, and secondly to mix sharp-focus orienteering navigation skills with fell running terrain. We’ll have a fuller report on the first series in the next edition of Dark Peak News. Dark Peak News February 2012 page 27

A brief history of some things we run past - part 4

Lodge Moor POW camp I assume it’s common knowledge among Dark Peakers that there was a POW camp close to the clubhouse at Lodge Moor. The remains are in the woods adjacent to the sports field and are somewhat overgrown. However the dozens of rectangular brick and concrete foundations arranged in straight rows are easy to spot in amongst trees which look as though they may have been planted in lines on either side of the huts by prisoners. keen to go back and fight on the eastern The site was Sheffield Racecourse in front. There were also Italian soldiers who the1870s and decades later during WW1 an had little in common with Mussolini’s ideals army camp was built: and were content to remain here working “On December 5th 1914, Sheffield until the end of the war. Some stayed, got Battalion moved to Redmires, a cold damp married to locals and started families. wind-swept moor 1000 feet above sea level. One recollection I found was that in1940 When they arrived they were first tasked there were very heavy snowfalls and with finishing building it; the 60-foot huts German prisoners of war were brought from that housed them didn't even have windows. the camp to clear the snow from a ‘depot’ The training there was arduous; endless somewhere in another area of Sheffield and drills, rifle practice, trench digging, they were extremely grateful for the jugs of marches, and the weather conditions this all cocoa the locals made for them. took place in were so harsh that that several There were however a few keen to leave men died.” (Chris Hill 2006). and one particular planned break out was After the 15 May 1915 when Sheffield thwarted and the prisoner believed to have Battalion were moved to a new location to been responsible for telling the guards, continue training it became a prisoner of Gerhardt Rettig, was chased around the war camp. They weren’t happy about it, as camp by a howling mob before being they’d worked so hard building it. severely beaten and later dying from his One notable prisoner held from 1918 to injuries. The murder trial of the four 1919 was then U-boat captain Karl Dönitz, German POWs accused was in London. (A who 26 years later Hitler chose as his couple of them had managed to escape successor to the position of Führer, a briefly by crawling under the wire, but were position which Dönitz held for 20 days quickly recaptured.) Two were subsequently between Hitler’s suicide and the termination acquitted because of insufficient evidence; of WW2. two were found guilty and were executed at It was again used for housing POWs in Pentonville Prison. WW2. I remember being told as a boy a Since WW2 the trees have grown and the vague story about prisoners working as farm huts have gone but the clubhouse remains. labourers. Security wasn’t a big issue Mike Arundale because some German POWs weren’t too Dark Peak News December 2010 page 28

Been there, done that...

Pennine Way 2011 30 May – Sat 4 June 2011

After a number of years spouting off at all and sundry, usually with a pint in my hand, I finally set off to attempt a self-sufficient trip down the Pennine Way. My wife Linda had arranged at short notice to have a break with our daughter and her two children near Robin Hood’s Bay, without me. route from Kirk Yetholm, I figured that I Although I had always had various would find it a good challenge. I got up to a schedules and lists of my lightest kit brilliant sunrise on Tuesday morning and prepared, I was still caught out. The mistake had a very interesting trek up to the higher I made which was to cost me dearly was reaches of The Cheviot. However the last that my maps which were A4 print offs few hundred feet of climb brought me to my weren’t checked thoroughly for continuity, knees. I realise now that I had the condition and more importantly weren’t checked for then which resulted in my getting a having reference grid numbers for when I pacemaker for my heart in September. used my GPS. From the top of the Cheviot I made my My running pals, (I’ve always called us first serious navigational error. The peak 'the Old Farts'), had weighed on me not to was right on the edge of my first map sheet, go for a double. Alan Yates in particular had and the next section on the following map taken me on one side and really worked started a little way down the line. As a result hard to talk me out of what had been a I turned left down a path that was not dream for 30 years*. I reluctantly accepted marked PW after deliberating for quite a that I had got too long in the tooth for long time. Having gone down a long carrying getting on for 40 pounds starting descent before it became clear that I was weight . So it was going to be a single run way off, I was loathe to struggle to climb from North to South, the first problem being back up but that resulted in hours of getting to Kirk Yetholm on Spring Bank contouring and bashing through forest Holiday Monday. I resolved instead to get to before I got back on track round the area of the A1 near Bamburgh and walk to Wooler Chew Green. However, I covered over 30 on Monday to get an early start Tuesday up miles and had a good camp at Byrness. to the Cheviot. Already I was doing an 'Alan Day two into the forest tracks from Yates', (which is to deviate from the Byrness led to another error resulting in accepted norm and do a variation of route following the wrong forest track and trying choice that nobody else had thought of ). I to make it conform. My knee-jerk had remembered that the Chevy Chase race philosophy is invariably to press on to try went up the Cheviot from Wooler, and and end up in the right place further on, though it wasn’t going to be the official rather than retrace. This means, inevitably, that I often end up going badly wrong. Dark Peak News December 2010 page 29

Dufton. High Cup Nick should have been my highlight but maybe as a result of tiredness, I went off on the wrong path, resulting in a long steep climb up out of the valley side to get back up to where I should have been in the first place. As a result, for the first time my spirits plummeted and I Getting to Hadrians Wall was worth a lot of made camp a good hour early. I got up on the wasted effort that should have been Saturday morning in deep depression, avoided. It had been over 30 years since I probably as an accumulation of all my had been in that area, and then Brian Harney navigational errors. Cauldron Snout was and I were too busy getting off course very impressive and briefly bucked me up, ourselves to appreciate our surroundings. I but that was followed by a tedious plod camped in a farmer’s field and paid him a across an unavoidable long riverside stretch token fee as I thought that a wild camp in of slippery limestone clints. To add insult to that area might get me in trouble with the injury I managed to misread my map and locals - there were so many people around get on the wrong side of the River Tees, walking, climbing and just sightseeing. having to retrace to the right turning. High I still managed to take too much food, Force and Middle and Lower Forces did probably because although the daily rations much to raise my spirits, but I decided that were carefully worked out, I didn’t eat all enough was enough, and that I was no my food on the march and fell out with longer able to match ambition and having afters with my evening meal, achievement. Middleton in Teesdale was to resulting in an accumulation of spare food. be the end of my trek since I would have to Each day I had aimed at getting up at 4am, go to beyond Tan Hill to get another chance leaving at 5am and walking until 8pm. This of public transport home. I did however had worked pretty well, but with the errors manage to get a fantastic fry-up all-day having a big effect on overall progress, I breakfast, followed by home-made apple pie was falling behind my intended daily and ice cream and multiple steaming mugs average. Thursday was a very hot day but I of real coffee before I called it a day. I have managed to get to Garrigill, have a good now resolved that the PW and me are finally sluice in the river, and cook my evening divorced and the idea of a big heavy pack meal by the river before heading up the and multiple long day distances is over. track and on to higher ground to make Lighter packs and less ambitious daily camp. Brilliant sunset and subsequent dawn mileages, and no long distance paths gave me a good start. The mountain bothy self-sufficient. You can quote me on that below Cross Fell was well worth stopping at when I start waxing lyrical again. to investigate and take photographs. Great Roger Baumeister Dun Fell, Little Dun Fell and Knock Fell were good, but the descent into Dufton was *My double Pennine Way ambition was always marred by meandering off to Knock village to carry enough food in ration packs for a trip and then having a very hot walk back into up the route, and then reverse and come back. I would cache a food drop each day on the outward trip, enabling me to reduce the weight daily by double the normal amount, picking up a day’s rations each day on the return. Theoretically I might set off carrying say 38lbs and by the end of one complete direction reduce to 18lbs, maintaining that weight all the way back. Dark Peak News February 2012 page 30

Autumn 2011 – relay roundup

Dark Peak’s strength in depth means we can turn out some of the strongest relay teams in the country. But we still faced formidable opposition in the big autumn competitions. Men’s captain Rob Little reflects on some feisty tussles for British fell running supremacy.

For me October is the real culmination of our descent towards Threshwaite Mouth the the fell running year with the staging of two better, but at least the member of the British big relays, the Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay Orienteering Development programme in Cumbria, (Patterdale), and the UK (that’s John not me!) knows there’s room for Athletics British Fell Relay championship, improvement with map in hand. Though, to (commonly referred to as the FRA’s) which be fair we were in pretty thick clag and lost is staged by a different club each year. no real time on the final Caudale Moor tarn Having quite a few runners of similar checkpoint. abilities, all capable of running very well, It left Tom Beasant (21) and Jon Coe plus our own Manx Missile, I was hoping (>30) with some chasing to do on the third we could do very well this time and make it leg up Red Screes. They had thoroughly clear that DPFR is not just famed for its checked the route the day before, which ‘awful’ vest (which personally I quite like meant they could enjoy the long technical - I can think of at least two that are worse!). descent and lost barely any time. They overtook seven teams, (not sure they saw Ian Hodgson’s many of them though!), to hand over to For those that don’t know this relay is over Rhys Findlay-Robinson (25) and Rob Baker the same course each year comprising a (old at 33?) down at Hartsop Hall in ninth loop around Patterdale composed of four place overall. legs, each run in pairs. However, due to wet So this just left this team’s top mountain Lakeland weather (no surprise there!) the runners to see what they could do! I believe order of the legs was different this time to Rob pulled Rhys up to Hart Crag a bit. But previously. So for leg one, a fairly short Rhys being the Lakeland fell goat that he is blast up to Angle Tarn and down to Hartsop, picked excellent lines over to St. Sunday Dark Peak was represented by the speedy Crag and left Rob hanging on during the Pete Hodges and Dave Scorah, (mean age steep descent. Waiting in the Patterdale 25). Yes and they certainly were fast, finishing field our team had already seen a coming in second about two minutes behind massive win by Borrowdale and a very Borrowdale and 30 seconds ahead of unexpected second for Wharfedale narrowly Pudsey and Bramley. beating P&B and Ambleside. But the So it was very exciting for Robert Little captain was slightly surprised when next to and John Rocke (mean age 24.5) as they appear was Rob B enjoying the flat run in ascended The Knott. Unfortunately the (and Rhys’ hand on his arse!) to bring us strength of Ben ‘The Thighs’ Bardsley and home fifth overall for a decent result. Martin M-B pulled Borrowdale away, but at However, we cannot hide from the splits, High Street we were still about 30 seconds which show that we were the second fastest ahead of John Heneghan and Nick Leigh, pairs on legs one, three and four, (all behind (Pudsey and Bramley). The least said about Borrowdale), but not on leg two. Dark Peak News February 2012 page 31

Realistically we could have been second, steepest section of the climb but as it which makes fifth place a little flattened slightly through some tussocks disappointing – this young team of ours is Martin M-B (Borrowdale) came past and I aiming high! tracked him. At the top and highest point I Special mention to Pete and Dave for just punched in front of Martin, (speedy sitting in the finish field for most of the orienteering ‘dib’ of course), and I was afternoon after leg one, probably not leading the British Relays! Couldn’t dwell knowing quite so much about how the team on that though as only halfway, so I just was doing after being ‘abandoned’ by the sped off along the ridge knowing I needed rest of us at Hartsop. Thanks for your to build some lead over the demon patience guys, and the rest of you when descenders now behind me. things didn’t quite work out. But hitting the track at the bottom of the grass descent I’m still in the lead and hear, I FRA’s think, Dave Tait shouting excited The British relays can be quite different to encouragement and I’m soon back on the the Hodgsons. Particularly so this year as village road. How close is the pack behind? they were held on the grassy limestone By now my legs are feeling a bit tight but I moorland of the Dales, based out of know I should have the road pace to keep Kettlewell. The routes looked particularly this up, even if the last climb round the back fast which I thought would suit our teams of the finish field is unexpected and a killer. well. I say “teams” as in the entry ballot we Somehow I managed to keep it together were allocated a place for a second ‘B’ even with Tim closing me down to hand team, which was good to enable more over with DPFR in the lead. I didn’t have people to compete. I appreciate there may much time to shake a few hands and get be people in Dark Peak who would love to some breath back before our B team runner race in this relay but it was decided that I’d Tom “I haven’t been particularly well or select as fast as possible a B team, hoping to done much running since Borrowdale” get the best result possible. I thought this Edwards comes home in tenth, an excellent was fair as competition for places in the ‘A’ performance only just two minutes behind team was very high and some people only me. I know Oli and Rob will run well, but just missing out on this would still be able can they keep ahead of Mercia? I’m to race. Anyway, after an exhaustive thinking this is going to be a pretty exciting selection procedure, AKA “Who I know and day! are you available, PLEASE?!”, we had two It certainly was when Tom and I watched full teams of six raring to go. Rob leading Oli by about 10 metres, leading Looking around the mass start in the Andy Davis and Steve Cale by about centre of Kettlewell, there were certainly another 20m on the rough track back to some very good teams out, (and all strong Kettlewell towards the end of leg two. So it runners on paper). I knew Dark Peak could was all going to be down to the navigation be one of them if yours truly could keep in leg, which is key as usual. I knew Rhys and vague touch on the first leg. It was all quite John would not lose time to Mercia but was exciting! Even more so when we’re leaving just hoping we had a big enough lead over the village and I’m in third place on the Shettlestone and Borrowdale. In fact Rob leader’s shoulder. As we headed onto the and Oli charged the last section and Rhys fell my only thought was to try to hang on and John set off hard so that they were to Tim Davis, (Mercia, former GB champ), almost out of Mercia’s sight by the time so Oli (Johnson) and Rob (Baker) had a they picked up their maps, (about 1.5 mile chance. Tim got a bit of a gap on the run-out from changeover to open fell). Dark Peak News February 2012 page 32

Meanwhile B team runners Pete Hodges and analysis of the splits, members of Dark Peak Tom Beasant were also doing well on leg ‘A’ were fastest on three of the four legs. two, handing over in about sixteenth place. Not often one can say Lloyd was the weak One of the worst things about such relays link! But I may let him off for taking time is not really knowing how your team is out to high-five the team on the run-in. This doing until incoming runners turn up on the was a surprising runaway result to some, but final run-in, (thanks Jenny for organising I think it just shows that when we get it Oli and Rob by the way!), so a few of us right Dark Peak really is a top club. headed up the hillside to try to see how the Personally I have genuinely no idea quite Dark Peak guys were doing. Fairly soon we where I pulled my run from! But maybe not saw what looked liked the long striding just running with, but for your friends is all John and Rhys charging back down the hill it takes. There certainly seems to be a still in the lead; we maybe were a touch special spirit from everyone when racing in excited. We maybe even hollered a little bit the brown vest, and particularly in these excitedly when they charged past us on the relays there was an awesome club spirit. grassy descent and we still couldn’t see Special thanks should be given to Tom B another team in view back up the hill. and Neil for running the FRAs with colds. Over to Lloyd then to finish it off! Leg Apologies guys that I gave you no real four accessed the fell at a point where leg choice. In the end we just had 12 runners, as three came down, so waiting there we saw a few others were injured, but this shows Lloyd setting off on the final leg with an the promise of potentially even better things estimated for minute lead over Shettlestone in 2012. So a better set of results in relays and 4.5 or so minutes over Borrowdale. Just this year then guys? We may be more of a after we also saw Neil Northrop and Jon marked team now, but let’s continue to Coe haring back from the navigation leg “over perform”! having gained some places with an excellent run to set Dave Scorah off on the last leg for the B team. Now Lloyd is a class runner (English champion even), but after already jogging his whole route earlier in the day he said he was feeling a bit tired. The captain The offensive article should be used to Lloyd’s preparation by now but hopefully he hadn’t overdone things. There was no need to worry as he was soon back into the finish field with Shettlestone and Borrowdale not in sight. Dark Peak were British champions! Morgan Donnelly and Oleg Cheplin had an excellent race, ending in Borrowdale finishing just ahead of Shettlestone for second, about four minutes behind us. Dave kept an excellent pace up on the fourth leg for the B team to bring them home in an excellent eighth place overall, ahead of strong clubs like Bingley, Keswick and Ambleside. This just goes to show the strength in depth we can have in Dark Peak. In the final Dark Peak News February 2012 page 33

101 uses for a Dark Peak club tie

will, if anything, decline. So, in the spirit of making the best possible use of the earth’s scarce resources, Dark Peak News is launching a challenge to club members to suggest 101 uses for the new Dark Peak club tie. Please send your suggestions to the editor, preferably with photographic evidence that the suggested use is actually feasible. Here, to get things going, are a few suggestions for starters... 1. The Dark Peak guitar strap. Even Hendrix at his most garish couldn’t outdo this little baby for psychedelic outlandishness. If only it had been around in the 1960’s. 2. The Dark Peak headband. If the bank balance allows, buy two ties and use the headband in conjunction with the guitar The offensive creator. He has been strap for the ultimate lsd-influenced guitar responsible for many crimes – but this...? experience, (you don’t necessarily need a The Dark Peak club tie has been given a guitar - any lump of wood and a mirror facelift by aspiring graphic designer Jim will do). Fulton. The new limited edition 3. A dog lead. But only if the dog is willing. version features the club colours Britain does have strict anti-cruelty laws. in a striking zig-zag pattern that 4. A lightning conductor. Worried about has already been turning passing thunderstorms? Strap one of these heads on the Paris catwalks to your chimney and any lightning bolt and turning stomachs in the will feel so outdone it’ll stay miles away. Sheffield boozers. Several 5. The Dark Peak thong. Tied correctly, the club members have suggested Dark Peak tie meets the Wikipedia that Jim’s experience as an definition of a thong by covering the electrician has clearly influenced the genitals, pubic hair, anus and perineum, design. Others have remarked that the leaving part or most of the buttocks design clearly reinforces Jim’s suitability uncovered. But it does have to be tied for a career in the electrical industry. correctly. Don’t try this one if you don’t Much of the first run has already been know what you’re doing. snapped up by those who pre-ordered at just 6. An oven glove. £8 per tie. A limited number is still available 7. The Dark Peak climbing sling. One reef at the same price for those who contact Jim knot, one krab, one rock spike and you’re offering hard cash. off. Stands out clearly from the Experience suggests that most club ties surrounding rock. are worn only once a year at most, at the 8. A noose. Had enough of getting the club dinner. Early reaction to the new Pertex trophy? edition suggests that this frequency of use To be continued... Dark Peak News February 2012 page 34

News extra Club hut to get a revamp Roy Small has volunteered to organise another spruce-up for our beloved club hut. Most of the odd chairs and dubious settees are going in a skip, to be replaced by fitted wooden benches, hopefully installed by club tradesmen. Coat hooks will also be fitted. The works will include the ladies’ end of the building – if there’s anything you think Roy should incorporate here, please let him know. The changes should make the place much tidier, (could it be any less?) and perhaps a bit easier to clean. Roy is also assessing the cost of re-cladding the roof, as the current felt is old and starting to leak. The neighbours have moved in Our close neighbours Totley AC have now moved in to their purpose-built new club hut, on the site of the old one at the sports pitch by the Cricket Inn on Penny Lane. They got the keys on January 28th. The new building follows a huge fund-raising drive by the club after the old one was condemned and had to be pulled down. Totley are now drawing up plans for a grand opening event a little later this year, and Dark Peak News understands that well-known outdoor athletes from near and far may be on the list of invites. The latest on this can be found on the Totley website at http://www.totleyac.org.uk/

Dave’s Training Tips Number three: Eyesight My training tip for the dark months ahead: EYESIGHT! With it, you can run with freedom and confidence. Without it, you’re stumped. Good eyesight is at the heart of good running, yet many runners take it for granted and do too little to develop good practice. An important principle is to use the full range of your eyesight. Run with both eyes closed and you’ll immediately see, (or not see!) what I mean. If everyone ran like this, a man with one eye open would be king. Even better though, try to keep both eyes open. One should look forward, one should look to the rear, and one to the sky. And try not to blink. For more information, go to http://www. mythreeeyes360.com Happy new year from everyone at The Sportsman, your base camp! And good luck for next year. David Gilchrist is a qualified barman. Dark Peak News February 2012 page 35

Tried and tested Runkeeper Pro (app)

RRP: Free Appearance  Value for money  Performance  OVERALL RATING  A follow up to As an experiment I ran around Moz’s Chris’s review 2011 Warts’ Winter Challenge route, (in of the Garmin daylight, saves about 30 minutes!), with Forerunner both the Garmin and iPhone, to see how 205/305/405 they match up. The tracks, viewed on I also have a Garmin 305, and can endorse Google Earth, match almost perfectly, the all Chris said in the last edition. It’s always only real deviation being the section instructive to find out where I have been through the woods, which I suspect shows running, particularly from Low/High the better receiver/firmware in the Garmin Bradfield, an area which remains a mystery device, which I expected, as it’s dedicated to me ... and quite a few others. to the GPS function, unlike the phone. I have recently been playing with an Other than that the phone suggested the alternative to these devices, which may be route had been slightly shorter, which I put useful. For those with an iPhone or an down to its storing fewer trackpoints than Android phone then it’s worth a look at an the Garmin. The climb shown was also app called Runkeeper Pro. If you already different, but as I have found, measuring have the required hardware (phone), then it climb is not the Garmin’s strong suit. For is FREE - not good value if you have to buy the record, here are the figures: a phone to run it I suppose. The software, as with all these apps, Device length climb points installs with one click. Find the info you stored need on their website at runkeeper.com. iPhone 11.95km 365m 812 Operation is very simple; wait for it to Garmin 305 12.3km 495m 1265 acquire a good GPS signal, start the activity, Garmin 12.23km 346m bung the phone in your pocket/bumbag and (corrected) * leave it there until you finish, then stop and OS height 390m save the activity. Saving it uploads the data data # to the runkeeper website, where you can *from the Garmin website, elevation view the stats, look at a map, and download correction selected, probably uses NASA a gpx file of the route, (hidden, for some satellite data, which has low resolution reason, under “Advanced Options”). The outside the US. website is very similar to the Garmin equivalent, and if you prefer one over the # uses data from the OS, same as used on other you can manually upload files to them Dark Peak tracks pages. if you use the “other” device. John Dalton Dark Peak News February 2012 page 36

10 years ago... The Dark Peak News cover featured a mad-looking gorilla pogo dancing. The editor invited readers to ponder three possible interpretations. The first was Mike Browell topping out on Mount Cook in an obscure naked race in New Zealand. The second was a yeti, as portrayed in an 18th century book of Tibetan wisdom. The third was John Gunnee entertaining other guests at an elegant harlequinade somewhere in the Loxley Valley. Most readers simply settled for being perplexed. Foot and Mouth scuppered much of the year's running, prompting Pertex holder Jim Fulton to scrape the barrel as he looked for successors. Mentions went to Maurice Musson for falling off his road bike, to Tom Westgate for doing a classic "right place, wrong week" at the Dunce, (a temporary alternative to the disease- clobbered Trunce), and to Robert Cooper for driving over the kerb onto the Sportsman field and rupturing his petrol tank. Thankfully the moors reopened just in time for Jacky Smith to make a navigational fool of herself in the Totley Terminator and take the trophy. The club champs ran from Crowden and visited Chew Reservoir, Hey Edge and a very obscure sheepfold. People could go either way round. Anti-clockwise Mark Hayman finished six minutes ahead of clockwise Oli Johnson. 20 years ago... Dark Peak News carried tributes to two leading club members who had died. Ray Aucott had been the club's first national champion, winning the FRA Vets' trophy in 1980, 1982 and 1984. He was also outright winner of the Bens of Jura in 1985. Paying tribute, president Eric Mitchell said Ray's achievements had been considerable 'and his sportsmanship always exemplary', (it is heartening to see Ray's son Dave now carrying the family traditions forwards in a brown vest in 2012). John Edwards paid tribute to Howard Biggins, one of a close group of workmates who helped found the club and attended the first AGM in 1976. John recounted how Howard had been the one-man support team for the club's very first BG attempt, pacing, driving, cooking and doing the Langdale hoist, all with no sleep. "His enthusiasm seemed boundless," said John. Fifteen Trigs curator Alan Yates reported that Pete Simpson had been awarded the last of the original 30 certificates for completing the round inside 15 hours. Pete had earlier become the first person to visit all 26 Harveys Peak District trigs in 23hrs 49mins. Trigger happy. Dark Peak News February 2012 page 37

The Dog’s Diary

s Alan Yates is wont to say, "It's a poor man who can't win his own race." To which we Amight now add the thought, "It's a poor man who can't find his own control." The thought springs to mind after the recent Warts' Night Race, which by common consensus featured one of the most eccentric courses ever set for a Dark Peak event. A series of "challenging" navigational tasks culminated in a search for a rather small pond at SK259839. This is essentially in the middle of nowhere, in a featureless, contour-free bog somewhere between Stanage Pole and Rud Hill. To use the orienteering parlance, there is no handrail to guide you to it, no attack point to tell you when to look for it, and no catch point to tell you if you've missed it. Having run round in collective circles, several runners consulted organiser Maurice Musson for enlightenment in the pub afterwards. How had he approached the task of finding it? "I began by running down the Friar's Ridge path," said our guru. But that's not on the map, they said. "It's about there," he retorted, pointing confidently at a random bit of the moor. And then what? I carried on running down Friar's Ridge, said Maurice, and then realised it was going on a bit and I had no idea where I was. So I took a back bearing from Cowper Stone to relocate myself. Then I realised Cowper Stone wasn't on the map either. "So I thought f*** it! I'm going back." Thanks Moz. We'll know who to turn to next time. The hard part of Tim Tett's "Seven Hills" race was finding the optimum routes between seven branches of the William Hill bookies chain. This involved careful analysis of the Sheffield A to Z and some snap decisions about whether to turn left or right on the run. The easy part of the event should have been running back through Tim's gate on Roebuck Road at the end of the race, (i.e. the same place the runners had left at the beginning). This proved too taxing for Andy Moore, who ran past it and then all the way round the block, taking in a full circuit of Burns Road and Sydney Road before finding his destination. Remarkable when you consider he drives a bright orange car, which was parked outside the house. Mention should also go to international orienteer Neil Northrop, who apparently couldn't tell the difference between the William Hill at the bottom of The Moor and the one in Fitzalan Square. A little bird tells me that Accelerate's moment of glory at last month's Sheffield Business Awards rather lost its shine when our own Debs Smith emulated another of Sheffield's leading female athletes and did a Sharman, i.e. she dropped the trophy and broke it. Being a public spirited man, Hugh Cotton put his name down to be a volunteer helper at the Olympic Games. As well as wanting to help the event run smoothly, I'm sure he harboured romantic thoughts of a cameo appearance on international TV screens as the runners crossed the finish line in the Olympic Stadium. Alas this is not to be. Hugh's reward for his generosity is to be part of the team at the Beach Volleyball, which will be tucked away round the back of Whitehall on Horse Guards Parade... Wuff Dark Peak News February 2012 page 38

The kit page

Chase can be seen here modelling the club’s best selling oxymoron, i.e. the “long-sleeved vest”. This one is now a collector’s item, being one of the last from the batch that had cycling jersey pockets on the back. New to the fashion walkways this year is a synthetic lightweight running top in brown, which Richard has designed with discreet purple and yellow bars across the front. Is this a short-sleeved long-sleeved vest? For more details of all gear, contact Equipment Officer Richard Hakes: 0114 2339912; [email protected] Price list Vests £13 Sizes small, medium, large, extra large. Shorts £16 One size fits all. Metallic green cycling type, with “DARK PEAK” in yellow down left leg. Tracksters £20 Blue or green, in medium, large and extra large. Yellow piping and “DPFR” down leg. Short-sleeved Running Bear long-sleeved vest socks, two £10 pairs for £5 A.k.a. a running t-shirt. Brown above the ankle, Lightweight silky synthetic material. In white below. Guaranteed to be brown brown with purple and yellow bars on throughout after two runs over the Dark front. XS, S, M, L, XL Peak bogs Yellow t-shirt £10 Whistles £1 With club badge on breast. S, M, L Orange. Loud. Best used in combination with a map and compass. Black t-shirt £10 With “Dark Peak Fell Runners” cartoon Metal badges 30p artwork on front. S, M, L, XL Collector’s items, all featuring exclusive Dark Peak designs: “Running Man”, “DPFR Fleece pullovers £20 trig point”, “Mountain hero”, “Warts” In blue or black, with club badge on breast. Toasty! S, M, L, XL Dark Peak News February 2012 page 39

Made in the Dark Peak

...being the page where we showcase notable Dark Peak artefacts, oddities and curios... No 7 The Brugarolas Trophy This strikingly large trophy has been described as a magnificent neo-fascist icon by Professor Alan Yates, an acknowledged international expert on Catalan culture. Others have described it as a pile of festering junk. It was brought to these shores by the legendary Hallamshire Harrier, Trevor Wright, who won it in an international cross country race in Spain in 1969. He decided it was too ugly for his mantelpiece and passed it to the then Hallamshire trophy secretary, Billy Wilson, for re-use. Billy allowed it to fester for a while in the Hallamshire club hut, and then passed it to Dark Peak, hoping we might find a use for it. It was again deemed too ugly for use and festered for years in the club hut until it was rescued and put to its current use as the dubious reward for victory in the Loxley Valley Rough Running Series. It fell apart early in the new century and has since been lovingly reassembled. The current holder is Matt Hulley, who has yet to reveal where he keeps it.

Brugarolas SA remains in business. Its website describes the company as a producer of process lubricants. Its primary objective: to deliver maximum quality.

THANKS ...to everyone who has contributed their time and writing skills to make this revived edition of Dark Peak News possible. You’ve waited a long time for it, but the editor hopes you will appreciate and value this varied and inspiring set of contributions. Thanks especially to Tim Mackey who has toiled long and hard to make the magazine look so good despite a freak succession of injuries that suggest he should no longer be let out alone. In the next edition, we’ll hear how the Dark Peak club ran its way to the top of North Africa, and we’ll hear about anything else you all choose to write about. It’ll be along soon, but only as soon as you all fill it! Front cover: Paul Fauset looking glad all over at the end of the Skyline This page: Jon Morgan practising for the London Marathon