Alwinton Fell Race 6 June 2015

A hearty filling in  a Robson  sandwich . Heaton Henchman, Phil Green, Graham Simpson and Lee Bennett of Elswick provide the meat - with Lawrence Johnson of Low Fell tucked in  just behind . It's a trail race at this point.

Ian Richardson last did the Alwinton FR almost 20 years ago as a youngish vet. He's  noticed some  changes on the fells since then.
Due to climate change (caused largely by Ian's attempts to smoke fish in his garden  ) , the weather has got a lot colder. Ian ran in the 90's (decade not age) in the high teens (temperature - not age) in sunglasses and a vest. Today it's much colder in June with 60 mph winds  and 0 degrees at Cushat - snowgoggles and cagoule weather.
Other changes. In the 90s females Ian rarely saw females on the fells  and never heard - when they were seen they were usually bruisers who swigged rum , sported tattoos in indiscrete places , chewed tobacco. Beards were compuslory fell kit for both sexes.
The bruiser is sadly a category of female lacking at the Poly. Instead our  more svelte sylphs  are marking their presence (without the rum , tobacco and beards - and any tattoos are discrete) .
The Poly fell section has been running for over 2 years now . The  plan was to create an exclusively  male club , to achieve and emulate in a sporting sense - what the MCC , Muirfield Golf Club , the Saudi Arabian driving instructors association, the hierarchies of the Roman Catholic church  and the  British trade unions had all  achieved in society with great success .
 The section would be a paradise of peace and tranquility - an escape  from those  female shrieks that  greet the arrival of Lucy Robinson (Ladies Captain) and her thigh booted lieutenants at the relays these days  ; or  the tiresome  female cavorting  in front of  the Club Captain with their handstands and cartwheels as they desperately try to gain attention. A place where we could enjoy (without female censure ) the Club Capt's  physiological themed  jokes , drinking beer  from assorted receptacles such as size 10 wellingtons  and games of blind man's buff with any willing barmaid.
That wise old man , Neil Dick equally was right when he saw  the pluses of an all male tri club (before he mentioned this to his wife) - but as Neil wisely said .' You can't peel a melon with paper.' Quite right.

The ascent towards Bloodybush as Gary and Graham let Lee break down the track across the cottongrass. For July Chevy runners : conditions were good underfoot and the peat hags in the saddles were dry and springy - no signs of mud on legs or shoes.

Dave Johnson (architect of the section )  achieved the purpose by  building  in a glass ceiling - where the ladies could watch but not take part. Of course, threats had been made in earlier years to break through the glass - but that got no closer than a few of them  pressing their wet noses against the screen before writing   down a few waggish remarks in the condensation and retiring to aggravate any other male vet they could find.
 That glass  ceiling held firmly in place til this year , when D.Johnson   created his own  escape hatch from the land of the sky lords  to the land of the track mortals to partake of  their leisurely events of spin bowling the shot ,javelin jousting and the DJ inspired Werther's original and spoon 350 m. The fortress had been weakened - as  the intoxicating combination  of Blue Stratos and boiled sprouts which lingers over DJ - provided a trail to the curious  resulting  in several breaking through to the fells . So we now our leaderboard is characterised by some  distinctly non male names such  as  Rachel Inman , Alison Smith, Tessa Went  and now Katharine Davis.

Chris Oliphant ( centre) is tracked by Ian Richardson out of Alwinton . Fortunately , the photo omits the full glory of Ian's sky blue shorts -  a similar costume faux pas just about disqualified Chris Rowe 2 years ago . 

But Katharine Davis has been there before. She has occasionally  competed in earlier years as a lilac and limy (NFR). However this was to be a debut run for  new Club in the red , white and navy . A decision that cost her 2 bottles of warm beer - as the NFR squad lifted the ladies' team prize..... and led to an inquisition on what prizes existed at the Poly for the 'best' lady.Why did Dave Johnson ever allow that ceiling to be breached ?
There is no such thing at the Poly as a best lady - unless one means the Club Capt's  fragrant wife who maybe should really be called the First Lady. Suggestions were invited amongst the members for a suitable prize - to be presented at the final race of the series . (Dave Johnson will adjudge the suitability as the Blog can reveal that a good wash in the Coquet with some Lily of the Head and Tails bubble bath was not apparently deemed appropriate as the water is too warm in September).
Despite all this turmoil with changeable females and wild weather - one thing remains a constant is that when the Robson powertrain is operating it won't be deflected.

Rovers return - as Gary and Graham Simpson look fresh enough to go again. Gary has his full mountain rig under test for the upcoming St Cuthbert's Way ultra in July - where he'll compete with that other adventurer , Danny Richardson.

The entire family in all weather gear headed north for the gales - including the current top dogs ( Gary and William) . This pair can't rest on their laurels however as there  are a stream of running Robsons  in the pipeline with youngsters Lilly and Henry ( Ben having turned his back on  sport for the arts) . The Robson  duo were joined by Chris Rowe - silent assassin - and 2013 winner. Then 2 NSP stalwarts in Ian and Chris Oliphant ( a hill billy these days - minus the guitar).
Having been blasted by the wind for about 9 miles (with the slowest section being the steep drop off Cushat ) , the shake down began. Gary and  Graham   were left to swap roles at the front - Gary strong on the ascents ; Graham    on the descents). Unluckily  as with most fell races - the race finished with a descent and as the broken trail was struck homebound a wafer thin gap was created - with Gary crossing 5 seconds back in 2nd.
Meantime , back on the trail , the final ascent of the day finally saw Chris put a spanner in the works of a Robson 1/2 as he caught  and then eased  a gap out of Will - which through gritted teeth (and doubtlessly several worried looks over his shoulder) he  took all the way to  the flag in 6th . Will was 2 places back. A great effort and more than enough to secure the team's first prize of the fell year with  beer and a hand crafted stoneware cup for Gary for 2nd and Will as leading U23).
Some minutes down and with the banter coming thick and fast passing the time  , a tactical  battle developed with Phil Green as a feigned  limp  forced the Heaton man into the lead role  as the home run gatekeeper ( all 3 on the run in). But Phil wasn't brought up on a barge . He wasn't going  to be out foxed as the race developed into a final 400 metre sprint for the line (measured in minutes not seconds) - with Phil getting over in 13 th and narrowly easing me out of the chocolate bar prize. Katharine followed minutes later and our team were all home as Ian and Chris cantered in.
The race marked the end of an era for Keith Cooper - the race organiser for 20 years. We were treated to his excellent post race speech - followed by one from Ian Holland, the North of Tyne Search and Rescue team chief organiser  (and ex Poly stalwart) who first set the race up 30 years ago ( competitors : 3 ). There will be some changes for next year - probably to the route which will be less on track and moor on more.  One for the race  calendar and an excellent day out on the middle March.
Full results here :http://www.northumberlandfellrunners.co.uk/html/raceresults/2015/Alwinton_2015_NFR_Results_v1.0.pdf
Phil's blog here : http://thehottrod.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/alwinton-fell-race.html
Scott's blog :http://www.elvet-striders.org.uk/#alwintonfellrace.060615

Just William - as the winner of the U23 prize cools his heels beside a small trout stream.