black combe runners newsie january 2015 note from the editor The fells are absolutely dreadful at the moment…fresh snow, winter sunshine, clear skies and uninterrupted epic views. My heart really goes out to those poor retired BCR types who have been enduring such terrible conditions lately! As a charitable gesture, I’ll offer to trade places… any of you want to put your feet up in a nice warm office near Whitehaven...? …anyone…? The Achievement of a Lifetime Nigel Hetherington On Saturday 13 th June 1987, Both of us were due to reach our 30 th birthdays in 1987 and we decided that a challenge had to be set to hopefully Nigel Hetherington and Tony Sinton offset the effects of encroaching old age and becoming set off in an attempt to complete increasingly decrepit! the Bob Graham Round. The 66 The BGR was something we had often spoken about doing ‘one day’ and in the autumn of 1986 I suggested to Tony mile route, which must be that ‘one day’ ought to be next year. So, after much planning over the months and many a phone call, we were completed in under 24 hours, takes ready to go. The BCR support ‘machine’ was put in to in 42 Lakeland summits and action with volunteers coming out of winter hibernation to unstintingly lend their support. involves some 27,000 feet of climb. With my brother and fellow BCR racer Malcolm as pacer for the first section we set off from Keswick’s Moot Hall – This is their story… missing the scheduled 7.00pm start time by a few seconds (as if we were expecting a starter’s pistol or the sound of a Our attempt was planned the previous year in 1986, with bell to send us on our way!). training and racing for both of us in the following year geared completely towards it. Many hours were spent It was fifty-five years to the day since Keswick hotelier Bob covering the fells and country but I suppose the only Graham had completed the first successful sub-24 hour tangible evidence that we were running well and indeed attempt. Weather conditions were ideal for us – clear were compatible came from marathon results when Tony skies, a light breeze, near full moon due up and only light ran 3:20 in a crowded London in April 1987 and I ran 3:17 showers forecast for the following day. in a more rural Abingdon in May 1987. Skiddaw was scaled in high spirits by 8.05pm with superb We both knew that the long haul to Wasdale Head would views unfolding of all seven kingdoms! Great Calva was be the crunch point for our joint attempt and, as we soon behind us and once over the River Caldew and up on plotted our course through the Langdale Pikes, Tony faded to Mungrisdale Common the terrain became much easier further on Pike o’Stickle with much time being lost working underfoot. Blencathra was reached at 9.43pm and an to stay together. His plight was a stark contrast to the incident free decent saw us resting in Threlkeld at 10.07pm strengthening morning light and the glistening morning in the quickly fading light. frost on the tops. The goal had always been to do this together – we never contemplated any other scenario – this plan had now become our potential undoing. Of course, I experienced a steady series of highs and lows throughout my attempt and it was crucial at this point that I was at a high while Tony was plumbing the depths. Finally, after a dangerously long traverse to Rossett Pike it was decision time. Fortunately, the late Frank Squibb, a BGR member and BCR supporter was our support runner for this section. Frank, as ever, was able to lay it on the line. Tony opted for the escape route to Wasdale Head via Styhead Tarn departing with the instruction, “and do it, do it for both of us!’ I remained very reluctant to continue and at that point felt more obliged to make an effort to continue due to the waiting support than determined to finish for my own achievement. I belligerently forced a route straight up an unknown gully on Bowfell miraculously reaching the top only a couple of hundred metres jog from the summit. Broad Stand was attained with rope support from Rob Sanders and the accompanied descent to Wasdale Head via Rakehead Crag screes was quite exhilarating – not the common route but so much faster if you have the nerve! Fresh BCR pacers were collected in the shape of Ged Naylor and Kevin White and then it was off into the night From this point forward the challenge truly unfolded itself along the Helvellyn range. This was where the ‘fun’ started as a personal endeavour – just me and my body, just me with incident after incident dogging our progress. I started and my mind. the ball rolling with severe cramp as the air rapidly cooled on the flanks of Clough Head. Within minutes Tony and I departed Clough Head summit leaving our pacers packing kit away. After a short but scary delay we were reunited to cries of “ You could have told us where you were £*@$^& going!” Watson’s Dodd top heralded the new day and continued, steady, head-torch assisted progress saw us reach Helvellyn in the depth of darkness at 1.08am. Further incident caused lost time with me attending to a huge heal blister at Grizedale Tarn where we all fell asleep for just a few minutes. Fairfield was very tough – as we fought the climb and the callings of our body clocks. Eventually, we picked up the pace to finish the section at 3.19am. It was here that Tony showed the first signs of fading and had to be force-fed by family supporters while at Dunmail Raise. After a reunion with the main support party at Wasdale Head Rob decided to join me for the trek to Honister along with fresh pacers, Stuart Barnard and John Nixon. The schedule we had set was now useless since I was over 2 hours down on a 22:30 total plan. However, I was now determined to finish and, who knows, if form could be maintained, the times allowed for the last two sections were based on slowing at a predetermined rate. I might, I just might still do it! Refuelled, refocused, I departed Wasdale Head at 10.59am and made great progress on a B-line up the unrelenting slopes of Yewbarrow hitting the summit cairn at 11.47pm. Energy took a huge dip for the next few miles until Pillar, 1.41pm when a major resurgence saw us travelling much faster again. The weather was still very good, warm but not hot and it was only with some reluctance that I peeled off my thermal tights and returned to shorts. Kirk Fell and Gable were covered in reasonable form with me suffering mild disorientation off Gable, dialling in the wrong bearing and momentarily heading for Scafell! Stuart laughed at me, they all laughed and the moment was gone, back to business. My willing pacers nursed me over the plains toward Brandreth whereupon it became obvious that I had not maintained good pace and I had not made up the necessary time and that I was doomed to fail. Then, with impeccable timing over a ridge appeared my brother Malcolm who had come up from Honister to rendezvous with me. As only a brother can he gave me a non-pitiful kick and told me to stop feeling sorry for myself and get on with it – he was “gonna be running up Keswick High Street with me, and before 7.00pm.” Motivation restored, enthusiasm rekindled we sped across to Grey Knots and bounded down to Honister like spring lambs in the sun. The whole support team had done a stunning job in getting me through the fourth section. After over 21 hours I allowed myself just 4 minutes rest and refuel, any more and it was off. Stuart’s parting comment was “no heroics to the top of Dale Head – steady but sure.” Wise words – we departed at 4.16pm and just kept moving topping out at 4.51pm. Then I really began to believe I could do it running most of the last two summits and departing Robinson at 5.32pm with Frank leading the way and Malc providing the kind of warm encouragement probably only brother could. We experienced cutting hail and much reduced visibility leading to incessant rain, it didn’t matter, we were on a magic carpet, the rain was refreshing, except on the rocky steps coming off Robinson! and townsfolk were oblivious to the moment, that piece of personal triumph being realised right before them. The pace was extraordinary, I was flying, where was the pain, where was the exhaustion? Moot Hall approaching, clock ticks one more step to show 6.54pm and in that moment I am my own and my supporters’ hero. Tony ran in with me from the fell gate and I made a quick change in to road shoes at Littletown. The legs, heart and soul were asked to not let me down for the road miles back to Keswick, it was going to be tight, really tight with I did it for my family, friends and less than 50 minutes remaining. I knew that one lapse of concentration or an attack of cramp would be all it would supporters. I did it for myself.