The Fellsman
Eight Ripon Runners, including the clubs first female, took part in the gruelling Fellsman race on Saturday. The course is a 60 mile route on sometimes unmarked paths with over 11,000 feet of ascent and taking in the highest peaks of the Yorkshire Dales.
The race starts at Ingleton with an ascent of Ingleborough, followed by climbs up Wherneside, Gragareth and Great Comb before reaching Dent. The route then heads eastwards over many more summits including Blea Moor and Dodd Fell, before heading south over Buckden Pike and Great Whernside to finish at Threshfield.
Alex Fawcett, Billy Foreman and Pete Chapman all made it back to the finish in an amazing time of 13 hours 30 minutes to claim 19th, 20th and 21st position overall and claim the over 50’s team prize. Pete also claimed first over 60 place and set a new course record for this category. Paul Walker finished his first ever Fellsman in 14 hours 30 minutes.
Jill Holt, who ran the course with Fellsman veteran and expert navigator Tim Joynson, became Ripon Runners first female finisher of the event, with a time of just over 20 hours. Meanwhile Tim, who was competing in his 28th Fellsman, finished 10 minutes later along with Colm O’Cofaigh, while Michael Rosher finished in 24 hours 30 minutes.