Borrowdale Fell Race

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Borrowdale Fell Race

2nd August 2003

3 Westies braved the 30th Borrowdale Fell Race last Saturday. The race had a different start this year to avoid being killed by falling boulders. This made the route fractionally longer, but gave a more pleasant introduction. And didn't require anyone to be stretchered off the hill.

I set off nice and slowly, just behind Ian Holmes and Robb Jebb. I was caught by Gavin Bland (3 times former winner) just after Bessyboot. My plan from there to end was to vaguely keep Mike Robinson of Dark Peak in my sights. Over Scafell Pike and down the Corridor Route I was running totally on my own, having been dropped by the group of 4 just in front. I picked up on Great Gable and reined Mike back in, catching him at the summit, whilst John Boyle also of Dark Peak was bearing down on us. Apparently there is a "best line" from Windy Gap to Honister, but I haven't found it yet. I was struggling to keep in contention with the 2 Dark Peakers as we approached the Honister slate mines. Halfway up Dale Head I got a second wind and dropped John, and tried to attack Mike who had pulled away. I started running all the uphill, and was catching Mike fast, but after the summit turn he plummeted down towards Dale Head Tarn, and I was left to do my own thing from there to the end. No runners in sight ahead or behind. John limped in a good bit down, after his Walsh Extremes left him in extremis by spontaneously disintegrating.

A damn fine race. Perfect weather. And was quite pleased to knock 33 minutes off my time from last year.

Simon Booth has made this race his own by winning it for the 6th time in a row.

Pos Name Club Time

1 SIMON BOOTH BORROWDALE 2:49:12

2 ROB JEBB BINGLEY 2:51:03

3 BEN BARDSLEY BORROWDALE 2:55:15

4 JIM DAVIES BORROWDALE 2:57:59

5 ANDREW SCHOFIELD BORROWDALE 3:00:52

17 MIKE ROBINSON DARK PEAK 3:30:17

18 CHRIS UPSON WESTERLANDS 3:31:08

54 DAVID WARD CAMBUSLANG 4:03:02

57 DAVID WHITE KILMARNOCK 4:03:38