Mark Smith's Bob Graham Rounds - Summer 2007 and Winter 2009

Quick out the blocks in 2016 - New Year's Day on Capt. Cook's Fell Race with Mark Smith.

This is Mark Smith - one of the more recent to join our Polyfellers - with quite a history in fell running. Mark recently came to work in the north east having previously run for Tattenhall Runners down in Cheshire (which is near Wales). He has added hugely to the section's pool of knowledge on fell races as he's competed in many events over the years especially over on the west . The north east fell scene has provided him with some new races to cut his teeth on. More particularly over in summer 2007 and winter 2009 , Mark took on the Bob Graham Challenge - which is reckoned to be the severest test (at least in England) for a fell race /ultra. It involves a run starting at Keswick and then taking a circuit of 42 Lakeland summits over 66 miles and all to be finished off within 24 hours.
See here for further details :http://www.bobgrahamclub.org.uk/
It is believed that  only Chris Little from NSP has ever managed the feat and all told only about 1700 runners have ever achieved it. The BGR was also covered in 'Feet in the Clouds' by Richard Askwith  .

Danny Richardson is delighted to have reached Scotland and in classic fellrunner style has pinned his number to his shorts.

While there's quite a lot of interest in the Chevy and the Allendale Challenge , ultra events like the BGR are a stage further. Earlier in July 2015 Poly's Danny Richardson came 6th in the first  St. Cuthbert's Way challenge - an ultra  100 km run from Holy Island to Melrose which took a superb route across the northern edge of the Cheviots . But to our knowledge there were no other similar ultra/off road achievements in 2015.
In any case, here are Mark's detailed blog reports on his BGR trials. They were great expeditions..


Winter 2009 :

 http://winterbobgraham.blogspot.co.uk/2009/12/in-bleak-midwinter-story-of-round-1819.html?m=1


Summer 2007 :

http://marksbgr.blogspot.co.uk/2007/07/marks-bgr-29th30th-june-2007.html?m=1

Saltwell International Fell Race 7 July 2015 - Lord Lucan finally located

Missing - possible reward offered for recovery . This is John Baty who has not been seen for several years on the fells. Responsible for murdering several fell races before his  disappearance in suspicious circumstances . He may have  changed  appearance since this photo  and may have put on weight due to parkrunning  . Not tagged or chipped but is registered with NSP. May be dangerous if approached from behind during a race  .If found please return to the Poly fell section .

This was the 'missing notice' posted by the fell section over the last 2 years at various venues that John had been known to frequent   including at sports events (such as fell races and Cheltenham ) and comedy clubs ( such as St James' Park ) .
For our new members  Baty remained nothing more than a legend as one of the famous fell knights at the Poly fell section round table .Unlike most legends  the truth with John was  even more bizarre .
There had been no confirmed sightings of this Sir Galahad of the fells  ....until,that is this July , at the region's only  International fell race organised by the incident prone , Saltwell Harriers

Saltwell had  pulled off the region's most unlikely  marketing coup by convincing a party of Australian tourists that the Saltwell fell race was  the third greatest local tourist attraction  after Hadrian's Wall  and  the Blairs' unused  constituency home at Trimdon . The Australians sudden  arrival prompted Saltwell to hastily rename their event as the   'first International Saltwell Fell Race' . It was also a  celebration of Saltwell's undoubted  illustrious and strong  historical connections with the penal colony. The Poly's connections with Australia are  more limited with the doubtless exception of Neil Dick - who behaves and dresses pretty much as you'd expect an  Australian  to do and acts like  Crocodile Dundee on the streets of Monkseaton . Sadly,  his birth certificate lets him down as he's apparently more  Cockney than Aussie.
Baty's arrival was timely. He was so dated that the  last time he ran  a tin of  snuff was considered  essential kit while  it was also good form to lob boulders downhill at your rivals to impede their progress.. He also now saw  that the fell section had progressed to the 1980s by  admitting females. It's probably stretching things a bit to say  they had been admitted - it's more accurate to say that they rolled up unannounced , uninvited , totally ignorant of any protocol and just  assumed with a disarming smile and a flick of their locks that was the qualification criteria  . As an equal opportunity organisation, the fell  section committee hadn't actually ever  banned them. However it  just  considered they'd be uninterested in our fell events as unlike any of the 10 k road races  , access to shopping facilities en route at any fell race was rather limited .
Hot on the heels of the Chevy , we were  able to muster a good retinue of runners for the race - in fact the best total ever for this (third in numbers behind NFR and  the hosts ! ) with 8  . Traditionally we were lucky to scrape together 2 or 3 for this  race (regulars Chris Rowe and Barry Young). So a fine turnout from the reds.
As usual Saltwell  managed the event  with a small number of efficient marshals. No more than a  brief but  lucid explanation of the route  was necessary  from Keith Wood and was based on his assumption that fellrunners were a good deal brighter than roadrunners (which is of course scientifically proven) .  During the course of his resume,  the word 'water ' was mentioned no fewer than 4 times ( water actually occupied most of Keith's speech)  leaving some to conclude they should have packed some flotation devices with the kit. That lucky dip section involved  ditching in  the Stanhope Burn and 'punching' your race number all of which was to be 'supervised' by some of the more gleeful  Saltwellians  .
From the start, it's a sharp ascent to the mast summit and it's still not clear which is the best way   . An early joint lead was taken by Andy Blackett (DFR) and Ben Rowley (Tynedale) who then vied for the laurels from start to finish. The field split up into  a few streams as runners tried to figure out the best lines.  After  running across the brow there's a fast 2 k descent to the river   . The usually silky smooth Jon Stephens of Low Fell was  having  a torrid time submerged for what seemed like minutes  as he battled with the system of orienteering punching. That could of course have been a Low Fell ploy to allow the other team members to put in some distance on the hounds - but surely Jon would never stoop to that . Once on his way Jon  led our particular  section through the valley for the final 800 m of sharp climb to the summit finish.
 Andy Blackett finally got clear to the line over the last 30 metres on the sharp hill climb to the flag. John was able to witness some of the goings on at the front end from his placing as our first runner back and first V50 - beating the ever gracious Joe Blackett (unrelated to Andy) of Dark Peak for that spot . Unusually he surrendered a few places on the final ascent . He couldn't catch Elswick's Lee Bennett who was supreme vet for the night. Fast improved Chris Rowe is now one of the front running V40s at these events these days and ran a fine place  . Our xc specialist Chris Waite finds this type of terrain a little more challenging but was good enough to close as our final counter here. The hosts took the overall team prize.
Saltwell are most generous (if boisterous ) hosts . Every Saltwell event involves large amounts of  alcohol at some point during proceedings -and  sometimes at several stages. Saltwell remain oblivious (probably due to either  intoxication or a lack of a subscription to  the Guardian)  to all that new government research stuff on 'lifestyle changes' that says that alcohol and bacon sandwiches adversely affect athletic performance.  Last year's venue post race at the Moorcock pub up on the moor  had now been abandoned as the roof had caved in - not clear if that  was related to last year's post race celebrations or some other act of God . So this year  we all decamped to a pub at  Castleside.
 Keith Wood was  in fine fettle as the mc - dispensing alcohol extensively  among the runners - and so making the Australians feel quite at home. This was also the north east master's fell championship event -so  the awards continued apace. Of our team everyone walked off with alcohol stuffed down their jackets , pockets and other places and/or  awards - all that is except  is for poor old Chris Oliphant who had even run the Chevy days before as a warm up race for the International .He got nothing but was extremely happy to witness all the booty that the rest of us took away.
It was a sure sign of the times for John Baty that he's so little known in serious fell circles these days that he was announced at the prize giving as John Batty ( as if somehow related to Nora Batty from Last of the Summer Wine )  . However unlike the long gone  Last of the Summer Wine (after 25 series and lots of letters from Dave Johnson imploring the BBC to let him play the role of Foggy Dewhirst)  , Baty had finally staged a comeback. Let's hope he can now make a few more series of the Poly fell championship and a bit more of an impact before he's really too old - and only good enough to chase elderly argumentative  ladies in laddered tights and scarves around Hebden Bridge.
Thanks go to Saltwell for the race , prizes etc and a good entertaining  midsummer evening well spent.
This is our roll of honour :
9.   John Baty  46 m 20 s
15. Chris Rowe 48 m 15 s
49. Chris Waite 53 m 04 s
60. Barry Young 56 m 01 s
63. Katherine Davis 56 m 44 s
84. David Johnson 62 m 42 s
94. Chris Oliphant 64 m 26 s
102. Ian Richardson 67 m 09 s

The blog will be updated once we can recover from the hangover and recall who won which prize in the vets championship. Sorry no photos apparently available.

59th Chevy Chase , 4 th July 2015 - Double for Twaddle

Rain man , Iain Twaddle sets out as the torrent  rattles off the road at the start of his Chevy epic with Philip Sanderson sheltering in 2 nd place  . Frosty,  in red, edges his way towards the front of the pack .

The toughest race on the north east calendar was run on American Independence Day in a day of contrasting fortunes.
The Chevy has been  a graveyard race for some of our legendary fellers. John Baty sustained  self inflicted psychological damage from the 2012 race after his crass assumption that as the Chevy's home was Northumberland National Park meant it must be a parkrun  . At 5k he had still not reached control 1 at Commonburn House - but he'd set a nightmarish pace with the serious hills to come. A year later , Chris Rowe's high hopes crashed with a pulled hamstring somewhere between Cheviot and Hedgehope - but he just about managed to stagger to the finish (some feat that with about 12 miles left to go). Earlier than  that , legend has it that  the Poly Club Captain (while  in the top 5) failed to turn left at  Brands Corner (CP 5)  and funnelled over into the wrong valley. Rumours swirled that the Club Capt had been gallantly chasing down an errant female   , lost  like a  lamb,   to  redirect her back on the correct course.  Modesty prevented the Capt mentioning that  detail in later years - though some cynics suggested that was because it would put him in a bad light  that a lady was ahead of him at the time. The race has dogged others with mis navigations, and slumps resulting in DNF.
 One runner who  has consistently managed to keep mind, body and sense of direction together is Iain Twaddle - the winner from 2008 and regular top 3 finisher whenever he'd raced it . One of the north's (so the country's) top fellrunners. He headlines for the Club in many other kinds of races that we don't trouble this BLOG with !

Then came the sun beating relentlessly as I cross through Causey Burn.

The 2015 race commenced in a flash flood with torrential rains sweeping the eastern Cheviots and a warning from the organisers of expected electric storms .It meant that this wasn't a day for umbrellas. With their usual diligence the organisers had  made their plans to clear the hillsides should lightning strike. Not a good prospect for any new runners considering the list of other hazards of saturated bogs, awful visibility , wet , heat stroke when the clouds finally  broke  and the continuous changes of terrain - as well as other competitors in various states of exhaustion and anxiety.

A short breather for Rachel Carr as she files towards the very last ascent of the day. A fine debut in harsh conditions - and a rather natty cap.

We did have a few Chevy virgins in our tally including Rachel Carr (one of 2 Raquels in our team ! ) , Chris Oliphant and John Brettell . The contingent included a scattering of the Windy Gyle brigade with Lt. Col. Michael Caine and Rachel Inman ( the 2nd Raquel) also Mark Smith ( not much to report as yet - but he may be from somewhere south ). Frosty (now a Wooler local ) had also staged his umpteenth comeback from his sledging accident of years ago to feature again.

A supporting role (not the lead)  is played today by Michael Caine - our 3rd placed runner home . But at least he beat his sister.

The race got underway in the torrent as Iain and Phil Sanderson immediately broke away from the field at the gun as the rest slogged  uphill towards Wooler Common behind them. This is not a good place to burn up energy unless you're sure you know what's in store. So it was a chance to catch up with a bit of banter with Rez Prathalignan and Paul Carroll (formerly of Claremont) . A few pleasantries were exchanged with the Rachels  attractively attired in their bright waterproofs - before the race started in earnest off road and on the Common.
 Rain was bearing down for the first 90 minutes and  soon  waterproofs were doing you no favours with condensation  - and soon they have to come off. Reportedly , Michael Kane had opted for a bright yellow rain jacket - but there was insufficient evidence on this occasion to convict him for being the worst dressed Poly runner.
The race had already become a 2 man race with Iain and Phil ahead as the field stretched out towards Broadstruther  , and then wove in and out the bogs at Cheviot Knee. I chipped in and out of conversations with a Phil Green contingent and a Kevin Ayre squad of SS Harriers ( Kevin accurately predicting a strong showing from the SSHAC females). The race then fragments a little as you mark the climb into cloud onto Cheviot.
The race at the front was a fierce affair. Phil was just about hanging onto Iain up towards Cheviot - but Iain was stretched things on the run down to the Langlee Burn . Then it was back into cloud for Hedghope. Perfect cover for an attack. As Iain summited , the marshals informed him the lead runner had passed through about 2 minutes earlier. Not a good omen for the rocky descent off Hedgehope where the lines remained obscured in the mist and with no moving target at all to aim at. The run towards the Langlee and Long Crags proved ever more evasive for Iain as the quarry had cleared the control point and eluded visual detection. It took real mental resilience to regather strength in these conditions. Navigation by sight became impossible - direction was by compass , contour or failing that instinct (not a good option). At one point Iain reckoned he was heading off course on the due east cut towards Brands Corner. The pressure was building . There was no scope for any errors as Phil has a string of successes in north east fell races and was a tough competitor. Then as Iain descended through the cloud towards Brands he saw his prey for the first time in getting on for an hour - Phil Sanderson was climbing off towards the Harthope Valley . Iain descended like a hawk  - he wasn't going to lose sight now.

A fine piece of landscape photography in Causey Canyon is enhanced by our glorious team colours borne by Chris Oliphant 

Back in the Cheviot fog , the peloton was managing as best possible with various runners tumbling down off Cheviot , voices sounding in the ether and occasional flashes of rain jacket colour. Michael Caine remained sheltered from attack and he wasn't giving his position away with any Cockney voiced anecdotes. The climb up Hedghope was salutary as time was lost ; using instinct rather than bearing . At one point a compass check revealed we were heading the wrong way back round Combe Fell ! That was only re corrected as the fence line was struck - some 400 metres off track. Summiting the marshals crouched down in the weather tent were relieved to announce over 2 way radios that , 'They were coming through again'. The run towards the crags was in squelch but for the first time the mist was lifting making sight along the valley definite. Descending like a pigeon towards Brands Corner , Frosty was spotted taking on water before the 90 degree turn to the north. No hind nor hare though of Michael Kane in his luminous clothing.
With quarry in sight , Iain was now able to track Phil along the ankle wrenching rocks along Causey Burn. Rounding on to Hell's Path , he was then on Phil's shoulder before breaking clear on the ascent. It was now down to the fastest runner over the last 3 miles or so. The ground smoothed to grass and then tarmac for the downhill dash to the finish. Iain now had the edge and broke open a gap of about 3 minutes in the final few miles as he closed in on Wooler Youth Hostel - ensuring he did not miss the final navigation track home . A very worthy and popular winner (  having been a member at Wooler Running Club , the hosts) . For Phil it was a huge  disappointment having finished second now on 3 occasions.

New Polyfeller , Mark Smith with eyes down as he gains some early credibility for his new Club as our 2nd man home.

Back in the scrum, Frosty had teamed up with Alan Wallace of NFR as he climbed out of Brands . I narrowed the gap to about 30 metres on the ridde . There then followed the wriggly , marshy  descent  and  Frosty's titanium ankles he eased open the gap down to the Harthope  Burn where Mrs Frosty was on hand to offer refreshments for any Poly runners - even those chasing her husband . Hitting Causey Burn , Frosty was  in view for only about a mile as he lurched over the boulders  and then was lost as he right turned for the climb up Hell's Path . A final finish saw him about 3 minutes clear - despite a late rally and a sharp short cut through the youth hostel grounds as I managed to run across Michael Caine's egg and parsley sandwiches  . The Eagle had Landed several minutes ahead of Frosty.
Any runners arriving after 4 hours -  were in for a furnace run. The clouds parted and the sun beat bright and hard sapping any energy that was left.

Battle weary . Even Frosty is suffering as he takes on fluids pacing his way to the finish.

Mark Smith was our second runner back  . Michael Kane third and Frosty fourth. Behind me , came Chris Oliphant (fresh as he'd started) ; tracked back the first of the 2 Rachels - Carr followed by Inman (apparently splitting after a duo run to the Harthope Valley bridge). Then Ian Holland - who surprised us all as he'd threatened to do the walk ( on which we had Jane Gerono and Christine). Chris was readying the Poly search parties when John Brettell surfaced - and we were all home. Sadly , we were 1 short of a full female team. Our top 3 men : Iain , Mark and Mike were outgunned by NFR - but overall we had the 2 nd team (though no prize for that). Paul Doxford of South Shields picked up the Spirit of the Chevy prize for having completed this year's event having been airlifted off Hedghope 2 years ago after a broken ankle.

Cool running as Iain now needs slicks on the same road home as in photo 1  as he hurtles downhill towards the finish. He had covered the 32 km plus in a shade over 3 hours...

Picnics and cakes , parents , trophies collected by happy athletes all  gathered on the green in front of the hostel. It was a truly glorious afternoon . A perfect setting  for one of the Poly's top  athletes to again clutch the  trophy from the north east's hardest race.
Here is the roll of honour for  our competitors. They can all take huge credit for the physical and mental endurance needed to survive the ordeal   :
1 . Iain Twaddle 3 02 26
20. Mark Smith 3 56 05
35. Michael Kane 4 11 57
40. Martin Frost 4 16 51
47. Barry Young 4 19 29
92. Chris Oliphant 4 42 09
120. Rachel Carr 5 06 02
135. Rachel Inman 5 20 43
144. Ian Holland 5 36 10
167 . John Brettell 6 51 55

Photos thanks to Northumberland Gazette for a couple and Paul Buxton for the others ( a fine web site for local photographs).

This is the report from the Chevy web site. http://woolerrunningclub.co.uk/Chevy%20Chase%20report%202015.html
Results here : http://results.sportident.co.uk/home/event.html?eventid=4bb011ae-e058-4cc5-8838-c75275b56baf
This from the pen of Phil Green :http://thehottrod.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/chevy-chase-weekender.html

Windy Gyle Fell Race 22 June 2015 - A Bridge Too Far

Deja vu (at least if you're a French speaking Belgian ) as for the second year running , William Robson picks up the U 23 prize for this race. ( Photo taken  by Andy Russell in 2014 .....no cameramen this year).

Two Hundred  years   after the British had again rescued Europe from disaster  at Waterloo  , 1000 Belgian paratroopers  in commemoration of liberation   had drifted from the Northumberland skies and  into Otterburn Camp a week before the WG Fell Race  . It was one of the biggest parachute drops on UK soil in recent memory. They landed unopposed .
The Belgians  had  a week to decamp and trudge east across the badlands to reach the Border ridge and into our fellrunner territory for mid summer.
By Sunday morning  , the Belgians had streamed into 8 man sections  scattered across the hill flanks and up onto the ridges . They were weighed down with fridge sized radios , 50 kg Bergens and armed to the teeth with rifles and heavy machine guns . They were ready for a fight and had established an OP on the high point at Windy Gyle a site renowned for mayhem and murder  with our reivers .
By contrast ,our fellrunners were the Light Brigade as they set off for the RV at Windy Gyle lightly clothed  and only armed with a keen sense of direction , guile and  a steely determination.
A fell race is  guerilla style warfare with hit and run in open country while  a road run is the formation fighting of Waterloo . It's hard, scruffy ,  with no quarter given and none asked and no  surrender . For a fell runner , the race is a mental battle with the terrain and weather constantly  eking out each and  every advantage through lines , gulleys and trods   ;  for  a roadrunner  race advantage  is about calculating time and distance usually between  bus shelters to make sure you keep dry  .
The first the Belgians saw of our assault was Phil Sanderson and Lee Bennett from the reds at Elswick Harriers breaking through the rain squalls and cloud like Spitfires and  out and onto the OP at Windy Gyle . They were then followed  by  wave after wave  of attackers from myriad clubs ( some admittedly in unpatriotic colours of purple and green ). Our own reds were well represented - a strong contingent of  9 (second to  NFR)  .
Led out by junior officer William Robson we took the fight to all comers in the way - Belgian or Brit. Chris Rowe ,  with his submarine commander beard again took on the assassin role and dangerously tracked Will out and across the high country.

Running home down the Street - a very empty place .

Off Windy Gyle we were beating west  into the wind and rain (it was barely above freezing)  pressing on towards the Street. As the fellrunners moved onwards columns of Belgians were retreating east towards Windy Gyle and away from the volleys of SS 20 artillery pieces  booming just over the hill tops at Otterburn . Belgians had  out foxed or out run  the guns of the Royal Artillery  and were well out of range by now.
Fearlessly ,  the fellrunners  rode on  towards the direction of the gun  fire - this was madness (sacre bleu) for the Belgians.
Just up ahead  , Lt Col Michael Kane was busy weaving in and out the bog filled re entrants on the ridge like a weasel. Covering our rears, were  some more new faces with Sgt Lisa Henderson - well kitted out for a day in the mountains and Pte John Brettell in appropriate dress with a  Tory blue rain jacket .
 Some of the females proved  a bit slow on Border Ridge . They proved rather impressionable at the sight of uniforms and their brown smeared hands and faces at the finish  testified to their succumbing to the offer of chocolate from the Belgians. (The Americans would have plied them with nylons which could have been worse ; they'd get no more than some stiff upper lip from our boys ).
The race descended hard and fast with the gallop back down to the Coquet valley - which saw the assassin (7th) cut past Will (8th) on the flat run in. I faltered over the line in 34 th but it proved a Bridge Too Far for Michael Kane in 36 th   (and not a lot of people know that ) . We could count back our  Polyrunners as they advanced over the line in pairs - with Lisa and Katherine Davis (46.47) , then the  war horses of Majors  Chris Oliphant (50) and Ian Richardson (54) (ret'd) , Rachel Inman at 56 ( a new face but the assured and angelic looks belie an experienced hillperson) , and then George Adamson (one of our finest and most experienced hill runners of all ) and finally John  Brettell (61).
Phil Sanderson was the eventual overall victor over Lee.
This was Keith Cooper's last organisation of this fine race. Next year  Phil Green will take the cudgels. At least that is the plan , if Phil is still around to do it. As the race prize giving  broke up , Phil Green was being frog marched off at the head of 2 columns of Belgian soldiers - with some opportunists calling on the Belgians to shoot him . Will he escape in time like Tintin ? Tune in for the next instalment. For the Belgians , they arrived too late in the valley  to make the finishing  list as various sections crossed  some 30 mins after our last runner. They need to get some lightweight kit next time they take on the fellrunners but  they leave  with some tall stories to tell in every bar   from Bruges to Brussels of their unexpected confrontation  with the fellrunners in one of Northumberland's emptiest quarters.
Phil's blog here with results :http://thehottrod.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/windy-gyle-fell-race.html

Michael Kane as Lt -Col Vandeleur (a Belgian sounding name ) of the Irish Guards Armoured Division in a 'Bridge too Far ' is well kitted out in his buff as he gets some advice from the posh Edward Fox .

Humbleton Fell Race June 17 , 2015

Assault on Humbleton as Chris Rowe matches Joe Blackett on the first climb.

With the winter solstice approaching and the hope that the sun might re appear after the 21 st , it was time for the mid week dash up to Haydon Bridge for Tynedale's fell race.
 The race has been going for 4 years and seen numbers progressively increase . This year it featured as part of the north east fell running championship and drew in 60 runners . The Chris Rowe 'big red bus' was there and I joined up. We've both done this race a few times but so far it hasn't grabbed the Polyfeller attention as well as it should. The threat of a Robson raid didn't materialise.
The start is  always very relaxed  (usual fellrunning affair in a farmer's field) . A chance to catch up on a few friends such as Joe Blackett of Dark Peak. Joe was mischievously checking out form on any V50 he could find (Joe's a former winner of the Chevy and regular prize winner....and very flattered to be quizzed on current pace ) . Harry Coates from Wallsend had also quietly rolled into town  -sadly  Wallsend's green and gold is quite rare on the fells .  Harry  made a few general enquiries about the route - but as we were mapless we couldn't help much. The usual advice is to follow the man in front if in doubt but that probably wasn't what Harry wanted to hear.  It didn't work either for a rocket propelled Will Horsley who in the second year of the event, found himself clear and then completed the course (5 miles) in an astonishingly unbelievable time of about 19 minutes.... . My memory of the course was none too specific except to say when you get to the top of the hill you get really fine views to the north up towards the Wall and by that point you are more than half way.Not sure Harry had a sight seeing trip in mind.He got some more substantial input from Andrew Higgins of NFR.

The scorer's pen looks a long way down that list as the  kick for home and in sight of the line finally opens up a gap. A very fine surface to finish on. 

 Dexter Armstrong (so no V50 competition there , Joe ) as organiser assumed command with  a few health and safety announcements about barbed wire (helpfully demonstrated by a marshall's  head wound  for a touch of realism .... ) ; sticking to the route which had been carefully way marked by Dexter  (so no short cuts ! ) and a 'go'.
From the off the ascent to the wood is a bit harsh as you aim for the barbed wire armed  fence crossing. One NFR (David Beach ?) runner  set for big things broke well away in the first 400 metres from the pack  who were left  scraping or scrapping  for position before the woods. That was the last I saw of the leaders.

Grass act as Chris cuts a line through the rough pasture on the descent off the summit 

Conditions were good underfoot - as this can be a squelch. Chris Rowe seemed to get into stride quite fast and after breaking cover from the first woods  I saw him for the last time that night. He seemed to have got his footwear right this time for his quick steps and I wasn't going to get past him this year on the ascent.
Usually it's been possible to witness the lead runners filing back down the parallel field from the course summit. No such joy this time - and there was good reason and not totally related to me. It was good to keep company with Neil Cassidy from Tynedale for a while leaving Neil to break a path over the sedge and  myrtle. I managed to stagger past him close to the summit. The descent was flighty with a  slew past among others a few loose females (in the sense they were strung out by this stage...)   and then  seemed to brake on the wood re entry as some regrouping took place before the final short road descent for home . Neil had then pulled level and then clear and the fearsome figure of Alan  'The'  Wallace for NFR also  came into view . Ruth Bentley from Allen Valley added to the mix. A  4 way race developed for the places in the 20s - and much to my surprise and relief  I held a line for the reds against the blacks and purples (Ruth's AVS  a quartered shirt of each colour). Words of sprint coach Alan Watt of ' Relax .....but not that much !!' ringing in the ears.

Wallsend's Harry Coates was a worthy winner on his mainly solitary run - but is tagged in the early climb by Andy Blackett from DFR.

That was the  real highlight of the night or  at least it was for a few minutes as congratulations were exchanged between the 4 of us .  The story then emerged of Harry Coates's run. Harry had  obliterated  the course record held by Will Horsley (his official one in race 3 - not his trial run to establish the route ) by an astonishing but believable 33m 2 s - and  over 3 minutes better than Will's genuine record of 36 mins plus   . Harry had packed quite a punch  once he finally got clear of the woods and coasted past the lead NFR man . His run had even included a couple of short extra deviations which could have punished the times even more.  Quite a remarkable exhibition of free running from the ex Durham Univ man as he scorched his solo path home. Second man home was Tynedale's Ben Rowley  with Andy Blackett of DFR  in third - both very good local fell runners .  Those 2  also  broke Will's previous record .
Ben, a good orienteer as well as fellrunner, had just recently finished second (to Andrew Higgins - no 5 at Humbleton) at our NN Long O event at Breamish valley; a 20 k plus thrash across the Cheviots . He didn't mention it at all  but  this is really a plug anyway for our recent race :http://www.northern-navigators.org.uk/fixtures/140615.html
On the home front Chris was a worthy 10 th (he's getting much closer to the top these days and a regular top 10 finisher) - and I filed in 26 th. Locals Tynedale battered the prizes including first team for male and females  . Neil picked up the V60 win prize before his Saunders MM.
Worth a summer's outing next year and an all round good introduction to fell running - pot pourri of everything ! Also a rather large percentage of females for a fell race up to almost a third - so definitely one for our ladies to try next year .Great support from local landowners to - it is all private land and no public footpaths . Some of the best cakes west of Katie Jones's kitchen for the finishers .Thank you to Marcus Byron and Joe Taylor  for the photos and NFR ( Dexter Armstrong) for this fine race .Oh and the sun also came out just as were about to burn  the wicker man.
Results here http://www.northumberlandfellrunners.co.uk/html/raceresults/2015/Humbleton_Fell_Race_Results_2015.pdf

A sunshine finish from Chris Rowe in 10th spot.

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.

Brough Law - Round 1 NSP Champs 2014 - 9 March 2014

Poker faced   Chris Waite plots his course on his first .fell race for the Poly. A typically steady start from one of our most consistent xc runners of the last 2 years.

Brough Law saw a record turnout in glorious weather of 121 runners - the Poly contributing 6 runners ( with Katharine Davis our first female for 2014).
This is a very fine course which wends across some iron age forts on a plateau to the south side of the Breamish valley. Visibility was excellent - which meant no excuses this year for missing the route. Like a good number of the Northumberland races , a lot of the climb is taken up in the first 10 minutes or so of running.

Beating a track as Ian Holland summits at Brough Law and with a sharp descent to follow on some good to soft ground. Ian collected an early season prize as 3rd in the V60 category.

The Robsons again led the line for the Club - with William Robson leading the way for our group out of the initial climb onto Brough Law itself. It took a descent and another climb onto Ewe Hill before normal service was resumed as Garry Robson worked his way forward . Garry eventually climbed through to 7th spot in a shade over 40 mins with William 29th and first junior back in about 45 mins.
Chris Waite, Mark Small and Katharine Davis had all taken honours on  a successful day's racing on the preceding Saturday at the masters' north eastern xc championships. But a fell race is something of a different order to a 3 lap xc in  Howdon. What counts for a hill at Howdon doesn't rate a contour on Brough Law. However it was mission accomplished for all 3 with Chris just behind William in 32 spot; Katharine 55 (6th fastest female)  and Mark at 81 in 53 mins.

Fast improving Mark Small has had a fine start to 2014 across the full spectrum of races from 5k  to xc . Taking on Brough Law after a xc race on Saturday is certainly one for the brave or the rash.

Ian Holland , with  good deal of local knowledge in these fells was our final runner back - in a shade over 57 min and pocketed the V60 3rd prize.
Ewan Brown from Edinburgh was the winner in 37 m 30 s - with Lee Bennett of Elswick in 3rd spot again leading the charge of the local harrier league clubs. 
A good team turnout for the first race - with Garry celebrating a strong finish and leads the championship from race 1 , just as he did 12 months ago. Can he maintain it ?  the Champs resume at Hedgehope Hill in April.
Thank you to NFR for the event and Alastair Macdonald of Runners Wanderings for these photos - some great scenery on show .

Out of the blocks fast today was William Robson as he's sandwiched between 2 classy fell races in Bruce Crombie of Alnwick and Wil Horsley of NFR at Brough Law summit.

Getting into his stride with the hills of the Cheviots folding away to the horizon, is Garry Robson. Garry steadily worked his way back through the field and was a strong finisher in 7th spot and yet another top 10 race  finish.He's led to the top by Dave Armstrong of NFR.