Hodder Valley Show Fell Race
Report by James Stuart-Mills
This was a return visit for me to our local show at home in the Hodder Valley, this year in the small hamlet of Newton in Bowland, and my first entry to the fell race there for 30 odd years. Luckily they don’t have the Cumbrian wrestling or I might have had to enter that as well.
It was the usual set-up with the start in the main ring for approximately 40 runners. The route was a long, stiff climb up to a mile or so of bog to turn at a trig point and then back by the same route. There were glorious views on all sides but particularly to Ingleborough and Pen y Ghent. As usual there was a group of whip-thin fit runners at the front running well ahead of us mere mortals doing our best! The total climb was 500m (this was the organiser’s measure but I think it may have been a bit less, but felt like a lot more) and about 7 miles in distance. I came about 30th in 1 hour 20.
For me these races are to be recommended for the routes, the challenges and the views, as well as the show itself. I realised at registration I’d forgotten my race pack etc so I nearly couldn’t take part as FRA rules applied for good reasons, but I managed to borrow what I needed. I’d have been gutted to miss out otherwise!