Guisborough Three Tops

9 miles / 1600ft

Well done to all who took part in the Posties Pat mud race at Dumbarton. I opted for The Guisborough Three Tops which takes in the spectacular Roseberry Topping, – also known as the “Matterhorn of Teeside”.

The race started on tarmac before entering a narrow lane. At this point 2 girls on horses appeared. The horses took exception to pack of runners invading their space and went mental as I was level with them. I narrowly escaped 2 hoof marks in the chest and scampered past. Looking back the horses were now completely blocking the lane for all but the first 5 runners who’d sneaked through.

I was eventually caught by 3 other guys on the long slog up to the first top. Good fast open running took as out to Roseberry Topping where I managed to pull away slightly. The only problem with this was I had precisely no idea where the route went next. I dived off the hill only to discover I was heading in the wrong direction. I latched onto a Scarborough runner who looked like he knew where he was going, and used him as my ticket to the end. From the final top the rules say – “just pick any route back through the forest for the last 3 miles”. Great advice when you haven’t got a map, and have you’ve never been there before! So it was a question of following the yellow Scarborough vest, with the vague notion of pipping him on the line. I was vaguely closing him down, when suddenly the race had finished – about half a mile sooner than I was expecting. Oh well it was quite a fun jog through nice woods – and I did finally make the summit of the mighty Roseberry Topping.

The only results I can remember:

1. Charlie Stead Northumberland Fell Runners 58 mins

5. Ian Somebody Scarborough 64 mins (1st V40)

6. Chris Upson Westies 64 mins (2nd V40)

Map of route.