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 Dark Peak are again the top dogs in British fell President: Eric Mitchell 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.