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.