by Walsh THAT’S ALL WE NEED TO SAY ABOUT THE BEST SELLING FELLSHOE OF ALL TIME 2 Models - Trainer and Racer 31/2-51/2 £39.00 6-13 £44.99 WE ARE OPENING OUR NEW EXTENSION ALONG WITH THE RETURN OF JON BROXAP FROM AUSTRALIA TO WORK FOR US IN JANUARY FOR ALL YOUR FELL RUNNING EQUIPMENT. MAJOR STOCKISTS OF WALSH SHOES (PB’S). FAST EFFICIENT MAIL ORDER SERVICE. ACCESS AND VISA TELEPHONE ORDERS TAKEN. WRITE OR PHONE FOR PRICE LIST. 34A KIRKLAND, KENDAL CUMBRIA LA95AD TEL: 0539 731012 CONTENTS EDITORIAL Editorial 1 Letters 3 Thanks To All This is the final magazine I am editing though I may remain as a member of the Committee news 7 editorial team as I intimated in the last magazine and at the AGM. I am handing over to Neil Denby from Denby Dale and there is a short profile of Neil on the Secretary’s Comer 7 back inside cover. I wish to thank all those who have contributed articles, 1991 Championship 8 cartoons, and pictures while I’ve been editor and also my training partners who Ladies’ Update 8 have had to hear about all the hassels while we’ve been training together; also my Junior News 8 work colleagues who have to stand in for me when I’ve gone to visit the printer or typesetter. 8th Annual Introduction to Fell Running course 9 SHRA Environmental Guidelines 10 The Future I hope in handing over the magazine that we will be able to devolve some of the Championship Results 11 tasks away from the editor and that a team scattered around the country can co-operate to produce future magazines. The much talked about computerisation International News 13 could help us to pass copy around and also reduce considerably the bills for each magazine. The AAA has indicated that it can make grants available for World Cup 1990 13 computerisation; it’s just a matter of the FRA computerisation subcommittee Bev Redfem Profile 15 making decisions. Stellina Challenge 15 The relationship between the Fell Runner and Up and Down still needs to be Mount Kinabulu Climbathlon 16 sorted out. The AGM felt that the two could live alongside each other but we need to be clear exactly what the purpose of each is and not be drawn into Zermatt - World Cup 1991 16 marketplace competition. It makes life a lot easier if contributors do not send the Czechmate 17 same articles and pictures to both! Three Peaks of Mexico 17 The World’s most Spectacular Half Marathon 17 Trail Running In a letter below, Paul Sewter suggests that a Trail Racing Association is formed. Results 18 I enjoy both extremes of rough Fell Races and continental style races and feel we should remain in one organisation unless we wish to devolve the World Cup selection and training elsewhere. It must be questioned whether the £800 voted Experiences on the Run 30 by the AGM to this latter activity will be adequate. As mentioned in the last When Rock and Run are not hard enough, magazine the FRA helped send Danny Hughes to two World Mountain conferences then Row and Reach 30 this year, one from FRA funds and the other through the expenses of a team manager to an invitation race. These activities should really come under the Don’t Forget the Track 30 World Cup funding along with other activities which will be needed to develop Ten Watershed Rules 31 the International Trail Racing side of the sport. Rumour Has It 32 The Championship Long Distance News Summary 33 I hear that the committee has now in its wisdom appointed a subcommittee to look into suitable races for championships. Following the problems with Ben Nevis entries in 1990, the committee has laid itself open to criticism for the 1991 Long Distance News 33 championship, choosing one Scottish race, Ben Screel, which has never been in Bob Graham Club 33 the FRA calendar before, and being forced to use Thievely Pike, a central KIMM 33 Lancashire race, as a Welsh race. Also the 1991 selection appears to emphasis The Hill 35 the trail type of race. We must wish the new subcommittee luck and those of us interested in championships must feed them with ideas. This may be done by writing to the Fell Runner in the first instance. Gripping Yarns 9 36 John Blair-Fish Front Cover: John Blair-Fish, winner of Pentland Skyline, going up Caerketton, Back Cover: The climb to the summit of Blisco at Langdale. Photo: Peter Hartley the first peak Photo: Brian Covell. Advertising Rates: Letters and Articles for Next Issue - Deadline \ £130 Full Page £80 Half Page 6th May J £40.00 Quarter Page £20 Eighth Page Neil Denby 39 Withyside, Denby Dale, W. Yorks HD8 8ST ^issociA-no'4 (0484 86i812) Classified Advertisements: Results and Race Reports to: Rates: A bargain at £1.00 for the first 20 words, then lOp per word David Weatherhead, 47 Clarendon Road, thereafter. All payments must be made in advance. Elwick Bingley BD16 3DL (04226 343798) It is hoped that the response from members will justify the continuation of this column. So why not get rid of those spare shoes, fill that seat in the Advertising Copy to: car to races or advertise your B & B availability etc.? Francis Uhlman, Beudy Newydd, Llanfrothen, Gwynedd, LL48 6SP (0766 770257) 1 the Italians, then let’s be serious about Shocked by English it and get the best people for the job, International which may well mean attracting LETTERS athletes from the road, track or cross Development country. As far as I can see this European Sport is no more Fell Committee Proposal Running than a Marathon is. It’s a different sport and perhaps it needs The Fell Runner and Up and Down I have just received the invitation for people drawn not just from Fell the 1990 A.G.M. It's a bit too far to Running to compete in it. go to attend, so perhaps I can add a And as for all this business of race- As suggested at the AGM, I am writing be advantageous. For him to do distant voice to a debate that may well fatigue (Tony Trowbridge): that to you to explain for publication to a otherwise would be counter-productive be dead now. smacks of road running where they do wider audience the reasons behind my in commercial terms because any I was shocked and disgusted to see lots of training and not much racing. Motion to consider discontinuing merger with Fellrunner, whatever form that there was a motion for transferring We never used to hear of race-fatigue production of the Fellrunner and it might take, could only result in his money, from F.R.A. funds to an when the likes of Billy Bland, John possibly making Up and Down the magazine improving the quantity and English International Development Wild and Kenny Stuart would turn out official FRA magazine. relevance of its material and the size Fund. (No mention of a Welsh, every weekend and not just win, but Firstly, to clear the ground 1 have of its circulation. Scottish, Manx, or Irish Fund). break the record too. Kenny even won no connection whatsoever with Up and The obviously contentious area of I would like to suggest putting this a world championship race, once, I Down and have no complaints about the proposal is that it would involve a money - and any other funds the F.R.A. think. either the Fellrunner or its editorial re-structuring of the present might have as surplus - towards a cause RICK ANSELL membership subscription, probably to that will benefit ALL fell runners: one structure; on the contrary I look P.S. We could even pay an extra a two-tier system where the basic of the money funds being set up to forward to the magazine coming couple of quid on the subs to go subscription (which would presumably repair and protect the paths and tracks through the letter-box and have nothing towards a suitable fund. but respect for the selfless dedication be considerably less than at present) we use. Recently Climber & of anyone who volunteers to undertake would purchase the Calendar, any other Hillwalker have launched a campaign P.P.S. I've found a race that even Jack the mammoth task of being its Editor. FRA publications and the discounting with this aim. Maitland won't know about! However, in the present circumstances power of the FRA membership card How much money does fell of increased FRA membership, and the upper subscription level running put into the environment? Yet increased numbers of races each year (somewhere around £10 I would we do a sight of damage to it. The Proposal for a Trail and consequent increased demands on imagine) would alsq include a year’s trail of Mars Bar wrappers and broken the magazine and its editor I would supply of Up and Down. 1 feel the staminade bags that line the course Racing Association seriously question whether the membership would in this way get a after a race soon get blown away, but Fellrunner is providing the best service far more functional and regular service; the paths don’t. The first time 1 ran The last few years have seen fell for the membership, especially bearing the efforts of the various FRA the Borrowdale in 1982, you had to running under pressure to expand both in mind that the cost of the magazine information gathering/dissemination navigate from Bessyboot to Esk House.