Dark Peak Fell Runners

Dark Peak Fell Runners

Bob Graham Round 19-20thJune 2015

Things always change over time, yet we try not to change too much on the BG round since one of the reasons why it works is that everyone involved knows what we do, where and when. That said, social media has now come to play and a BG Facebook page has proved a useful tool in forming and keeping the group together. Almost to a point that I doubt a non FB user could really engage with the rest of the group. Not having an email address now would be like not having any running shoes.

The benefit of all this is that this year’s group was known to each other and had trained together. They were a closer group than some years both in age and ability. We were hoping that this would lead to less spread on timings at least for the first half. This also made keeping the change-overs short more likely.

The weather for the weekend promised a clear start, then rain in the night turning to fog in the morning then improving through the day. It started just as we thought. As we gathered in the campsite the first variable occurred when we gained Hannah Saville, daughter of Kev and sister of Tom both veterans of epic rounds. As this pushed the start list to nine it lead to a little apprehension, but we can usually cope with a few wild cards. The start was as usual at 18:45, with a few appearances from some ex-pat Dark Peakers to see us off.

We have finally moved the first change-over to the car park on the south side of the A66 and the big open area is definitely a better place for this purpose. We were hoping to see our group at 22:00 (despite a later time on the schedule) on the top of Halls Fell and as there seemed to be fewer other groups we were confident we had spotted our group on time. The change-over was dry and in daylight; since the group were quite close together all was pretty slick as first change-overs go and they set of on leg two well up on the schedule.

The next shift started at 2:00 with an alarm and a set off at 2:30 to Dunmail - apart from Willy who had had a problem with his alarm clock. Fortunately Lucy knew which was his tent and Denise stayed to give him a lift; he caught us up in good time and went on to do a sterling job of navigating the section. We only just had time to get some tea flowing when the group came in sight still well up on the schedule. The predicted rain had not started but it was still dark when we set off on leg three. This is the first time we have climbed Steel Fell needing torches and it was beginning to drizzle. The predicted rain never really arrived but the drizzle came in variable amounts. Similarly the clag varied from good to bad. We lost a little time over the first half of the section for no particular reason. More time was lost on the second half, but that was due to wet rock.

The Wasdale change-over was a bit better timed and we were ready when they came. Most of the group came in just inside the schedule after having lost much of what they had made earlier. The predicted rain still had not arrived but there was still plenty of clag hanging about on the high ground. They were still pretty much a group although James and Steve did set off slightly behind the others – still just within the scheduled time.

We knew the Gosforth café had closed but still we remained hopeful that it may have reopened, or some enterprising individual would have stepped into the void. It wasn’t to be so not finding any alternative we called at the Honister café instead, which just didn't fill the vacuum in the same way. Nevertheless, we had time for plenty of tea in the car park while we waited. We did recieve a celebratory visit from Joss Naylor who called to pass the time of day before heading back over Grey Knotts, from where he was presumably walking back to Wasdale.

In defiance of the weather forecast the clag remained, but maybe the lost improvement was balanced by the lack of the arrival of any heavy rain. The weather was only to improve after Honister. The clag was never going to give a fast time on this section and we were relieved when the group started to arrive. The spread had increased and James had pulled back to mid pack. We kept the change-over short, only giving them a minute to arrange resupply and supporters. The time was going by and the clag still remained at the change-over. We were beginning to get anxious by the time Mike came in but he was still rolling along when he did. That left Steve. We were ready to wait but we did get word that he had slipped off pace and was coming in, but that we need not wait. He had taken some falls on leg three that had not helped.

As we drove down to Keswick the weather finally improved and we had our fish and chips in sunshine while we waited for things to happen. First in was Pete Fraser-Smith in 23:15 looking very comfortable accompanied by Neil (I think) who was previously unknown to us and had joined us at Wasdale after intending to do some BG reccying. Whilst he ran the two final legs, we drove his car round to Keswick. Next in was Penny Collier and Sarah Broadhurst together in 23:28. Then came Hannah Saville who, at 17, is the youngest female ever to complete a round; in 23:30. Hannah is a long time-served Dark Peak Runner who has probably been running with the club longer than any of the others who completed the round today – but who hadn't exactly done much reccying of the route since she spends most of her time cycle racing. Then followed James Pierce of Penistone Footpath Runners in 23:37, Richard Bradbury in 23:42 and Lewis Ashton in 23:53. Then we really got anxious; we had no news other than as far as we knew Mike Bourne was still in and running and the clock was still ticking. The worst thing in the world would have been to see Mike running in just after time, and there was a great relief when he showed up charging towards the Moot Hall just in time with literally a handful of seconds to spare.

After the photo-call we retired to the camp and showers, then on to the Royal Oak where Mike's stamina came into his own, easily outlasting all his peers of the day in the pub and then going on to be the first to rise on Sunday morning. The Sunday morning drifted away and the camp thinned out. The weather didn't inspire too many to linger. We seemed to hold a relay at the Saddleback café as I know at least four groups took it in turn to sequentially hold the table.

After expounding the virtues of not changing too much it may be time to take a look at the schedule. Moving some time from the first leg to maybe the third and fourth seems to be in order. This is what is actually happening. We need to find a new breakfast café and there was some thought of moving from the Royal Oak to Middle Ruddings who may have a suitable function room so it would be just like the old days in the upstairs room at the Salutation long before it was renamed 'The Sally' and had it's function room converted to more bedrooms. But we havn't asked them yet. The camp site did seem happy to have us back there next year.

Thanks to all who were there.

Richard Hakes