Brough Law 10 March 2013

Chris Rowe on a fast descent back to the Breamish Valley as our first runner back.

The Breamish Valley provides the base for one of the first fell races of the year- with a loop involving a southward bound traverse across some ancient hill forts.The area had also recently formed the base for the very first Poly navigation day as 5 of our compass bearers - navigated back and forth through the snows as part of a winter exercise.

The start of the race is a lung buster - as the runners take in most of the ascent (up and on to Brough Law) in the first few minutes. Chris - in the centre - and Ian - out on the wing -light up the photo !

Despite the doom mongers predicting the race would be another victim of the winter - the snows were not quite as severe up on the edge of the Cheviots. The race went ahead - unaffected - attracting a line up of over 65 runners. Borrowdale's Gavin Bland took the chequered flag in 36 m 44 s.
The Poly fielded 2 runners - just one short of a team - but new names for the 2013 team sheet in Chris Rowe and Ian Holland. Chris came back in 28th place - Ian was 41st but was 3 rd placed V60.
Reports indicated that a few runners went off course - justifying the value of the Poly nav day !
Full results here : http://www.northumberlandfellrunners.co.uk/html/raceresults/2013/BroughLaw.pdf
Thanks to Brian Waites for these fine photos.

Ian Holland - a fairly frequent inhabitant of fell runs in the Cheviots - bears down on the finish