THE FELL RUNNER Winter 1987 PB's - the original fellrunning shoe Billy Bland in PB's - an other Old Muster PB, the original specially designed fellrunning shoe, is now a household name amongst fellrunners and has been tried and tested by the best and is without doubt the most popular fellrunning shoe on the market. Inevitably, when a design is so successful other manufacturers bring their own version onto the scene thereby offering you an alternative to PB’s, but, ask yourself honestly, wouldn't you prefer to own the ORIGINAL? We stock the full PB range plus many more items. Everything for the fellrunner - we are the specialists. Our van will be at most major fell races throughout 1988. Fast, efficient Mail Order Service - Access and Visa Welcome. W - as many of yon will already know Jon Broxap is leaving us to set up home in Australia later in the year and we wish him all the best for the future. But, we now have the daunting task of replacing Jon, and with all his attributes this won’t be easy. If you are interested in finding out more about this unique opportunity please phone me or drop in to the shop for a chat. J Pete Bland 34A Kirkland, Kendal, Cumbria. Tel: (0539) 31012 Shop hours: 9.00 to 5.30, Monday to Saturday CONTENTS ^ S o c IAT\0^ ' Page Editorial Letters 2-6 EDITORIAL Championships 8-10 This magazine has been jointly edited by myself and the Committee News 10-12 new editor, John Blair-Fish, with JBF being responsible Profile of Vanessa Brindle 13 for the production of race and championship results. Any Results: (May to August] 14-20 ‘flak’ on other topics should therefore not be directed at Long Distance News 22-27 JBF! I h o p e that John finds the job as enjoyable as I have done and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all Mud, Mud ... 28 those people, far too numerous to mention individually, Book Reviews 30 w ho h ave contributed in any way to the production o f the Howarth Hobble 31 magazine - please keep up the good work. Also Ran 32 During my editorial term I have attempted to maintain Safety Navigation Course/U.21 Training Weekend 32 an independence from the Committee view and in doing so I am pleased to note that I have ‘ruffled one or two Results (August - N ovem ber) 33-39 establishment feathers’. As such I feel that the editor’s Competition/Competition Results 40 role needs greater clarification especially in the light of recent developments. For exam ple, can I refer members Front Cover: Mandy Ratcliffe (Rossendale) in the 1987 Wasdale Race. to the letter from Dr. Shepherd whereby written instruc­ (Photo: W.S. Bateson) tions not to publish it were received by the new editor and at the subsequent committee meeting in January the new editor was then instructed to prepare a statement on editorial policy for consideration by the committee (presumably, for them to either approve or disapprove of it). This raises a number o f interesting questions: Is th e magazine to be a forum for all members views or just those which are acceptable to the establishment? Should the committee have the power to censor the material chosen for publication by the editor? Is the editor answer- a b le to the membership or the com m ittee? I find it worrying that maybe future editions o f the magazine cou ld not be representative of the many shades o f opinion that do cross the editor’s desk. Thankfully, JBF is aware of the pitfalls but please do write to him and let him know YOUR views. Conversely, I welcome the lead taken by the Associa­ tion’s new secretary, SeJwyn Wright, in choosing to debate topics of concern in the Fell Runner (see his two letters in the Letters section) and hopefully this style of op en management will catch on. I w ould, in conclusion, like to thank Jon Broxap, on behalf of all members, for the many years of sterling work he has put into the sport and wish him the best o f luck on his move down under. John Reade New Editor, John Blair-Fish on the summit o f Be inn Narnain at the 1987 Arrochar Alps Race. (Photo: W.S. Bateson) Our distinctive T-shirts are now All copy to be sent to the Editor: on sale to FRA members. John Blair-Fish, 28 Howden Hall Crescent, Navy and Grey, and bearing Edinburgh EH16 60R (Telephone: 031 664 8425) the FRA logo, they are available by 15th APRIL, 1988. with short or long sleeves and sizes. Small 32/34, Medium 34/36 All advertising copy should be sent to the new and Large 36/38. advertising officer by 15th APRIL, 1988: Pete Bland is selling them for the FRA at most fell races or Martin Stone Esq., 12 Moorlands, 103 Garstang Rd, write to him for yours, stating size, style and colour. Preston, Lancs. PRl INN. (Tel: 0772 562395). Prices: Short-Sleeved. Small, Medium and Large - £4.95. Long-Sleeved. Small, Medium, and Large -£5.95. Advertisement Rates: (When ordering by post please add 45p for p.&p.) Full Page: £100. Half Page: £50. Quarter Page: £25. PETE BLAND SPORTS Eighth Page: £15. Classifieds: £1 for first twenty 34a Kirkland, Kendal, Cumbria. words then lOp per word thereafter. Tel: 0539 31012 1 W orld Cup Sponsorship Concern - 2 Magazine Format Dear John Dear John, LETTERS Why on earth did the organisers In the editorial of the Summer of the world cup raffle allow British 87 Fell Runner’, you mention a Nuclear Fuels to contribute a prize? number of points regarding the Did they just not think, or did they revised format and invite com­ assume no one would object? ments. Mine are as follows:- 1 can accept that there are many Living, as I do, in York and W o rld C up Sponsorship Concern - 1 - Open letter in Cumbria and presumably therefore well away from trad­ members of the FRA for whom itional fell running country, I rely Dear Mr. Hughes, BNF is their bread and butter. It is very heavily on tne magazine to one thing, however, to be keep me up-to-date with results It was with dismay that I saw British Nuclear Fuels pic was to be the employed by them, but quite and other news of the sport. In principal sponsor of a draw you were organising to raise funds for the another to support their prop­ this respect, four magazines a forthcoming World Cup. I wrote to ask why such sponsorship had been aganda machine. year ensure that I, and many accepted and you replied that in order to become eligible for Sports There is enough evidence now others like me, receive results Council money the F.R.A. had to raise a proportion of the cost of the to support the proposition that for promptly and news whilst it is World Cup event. You said that several Cumbrian firms had been many years the Sellafield complex still ‘live’. I would therefore, have approached and that the B.N.F. funding was the result. has been engaged in massively no objection to an increase in polluting large areas of mainland subscriptions to keep the Now, setting aside the questions of whether there should be a World magazine in its present format, Cup for fell racing; whether the U.K., and the Lakes, should provide a and coastal Britain and that it plays an important part in NATO the A4 size being very well venue; whether the F.R.A. is the appropriate body to organise it; and war preparation. The fund that received and at its present whether there will actually be any beneficial outcomes for the majority the money for this prize came frequency. of fellrunners in this country - none of which is a foregone conclusion - 1 from is part of the publicity I feel the subscription to the must ask if you seriously expect me to believe that British Nuclear campaign to improve its image. F.R.A. is very reasonable and Fuels pic, which you quite uniquely describe as a local Cumbrian firm, The raffle organisers must have represents good value for money. is passionately interested in fell racing to the extent of providing a known that. The last point, of course, is that large, and enlargeable, sum of money for the aggrandizement of the sport? It is too late now to affect the you cannot produce a magazine B.N.F. recently mounted a massive public relations exercise to try to draw for this raffle but I would without copy. To this end the responsibility rests solely on the develop a more positive image for itself following the disaster at Cher­ hope that in future organisers of FRA events will give this mattera membership, to put pen to paper nobyl - a lot of people were concerned about that too, ask any local and provide you with it. farmer. The only reason you got any finance is because of the value of little more thougnt. our sport as a cosmetic. Yours sincerely Keep up the good work, This particular issue is, of course, over and done with but the point is IAN LEIGHTON KEVIN WALKER that as fellrunning gains greater prominence so it will become more Editor: What are other members attractive to potential sponsors. Would money still speak loudest if views on this topic? (say) Benson and Hedges or Distillers made an approach? What if South African commercial interests decided to promote a molintain W elsh People Prefer The Smaller Size spent on World Cup discussion.