You may have let the cat out of the bag here Ian as there will be plenty of wild speculation as to which one it will be.
So I will start the ball rolling with my favourites :sneaky:
Helvellyn/Dodds
Langdale Horseshoe
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CHAMPIONSHIP RACE - LONG COUNTER
The FRA have made it clear that there WILL be two long races this year. Because Edale falls so early in the season there would be no difficulty in using another long race later in the season. I understand they have this race already identified.
However IF the Edale Skyline could be rearranged for later in the year it would remain in the championship series.
I am currently looking into the feasibility of this; bearing in mind that it effectively means starting the whole RO process from scratch, it is obviously to something to be undertaken lightly! Organising one Champs race in a year is a big task, but organising two of them…
The date that impacts the least on significant national and other local events is Sunday 29th September.
I was gutted about the cancellation as I knew running this last weekend was my only chance of squeezing in the long counter this year.
Can you just clarify Ian. If Edale is re run, will the other identified race still be an English Champs counter ( making 3 possible long counters this year?) OR will it only be a counter if Edale is not re arranged? I will personally be gutted if the only option is 29th September as it clashes with the English Schools Fell Running Champs that I know I will have to attend and therefore I wont be able to make Wasdale nor Edale part 2. As the calander has been so disrupted due to the weather this year could FRA consider giving us a third long option? to allows those with difficult to manage diaries to have a chance of completing a Champs calander?
Sorry don't know the answer to that, as I don't represent or speak on behalf of the FRA. I'm just someone who organises a race which is counted in their Championships. I would guess that there is no way there would be three long counters. The new date for Edale will be announced with about 6 months notice giving plenty of time for people to get it in their diaries and prioritise accordingly.
I've tried to make the best out of a difficult situation but it is inevitable that with any re-scheduling there will be some people who will be dis-appointed.
I realise the schools champs are that weekend but took the view that no one would be able to compete in both anyway (as skyline is 18+)
I popped up to the top of Jacob's Ladder this morning to retrieve the bottle I stashed. Either someone beat me to it, or I didn't dig deep enough into the soft snow, as I couldn't find it.
Conditions up there were much gentler than on Sunday when I gave up my run around the western edge due to excessively painful spin-drift.
After Jacob's Ladder I went on to Pt. 636m, then to Kinder Gates intending to follow the Kinder River out to the Downfall. This wasn't quite so easy as I thought - there were plenty of deep, soft drifts. I was then somewhat surprised to meet 5 youngish blokes (mid 20s) with high-vis jackets. They were NT workers who'd been told by the NT that conditions were 'workable' today!! They seemed pretty cheerful, anyway.
Finally, a big thank you to Ian Fitz and all his helpers for trying their very best to put the race on.
Alison and I were up there this aft, and, when we topped out of Red Brook, we bumped into Duncan (KMRT) who told us about the NT chaps. Apparently when they got their huge "heather bits" bale open, it was just a block of icy vegetation! They were supposed to be planting this stuff. Think they gave up and went to the pub!
UNot seeking to let any cats out of bags (actually I'm a dog person so them cars can stay in the bags for all I care!)
Was just saying that the FRA reps I have been speaking to throughout all this have not only supported and backed me very well, they have a clear plan in place either way.
However don't let me get in the way of some quaility speculation! It's all good fun ;-)
Let's apply some logic here and watch how wrong I am. :)
It has to be in England and be an AL. It's not going to be in the next 3 months. So...
Duddon clashes with Yetholm
Ennerdale's too close to Yetholm and Buckden
Great Lakes was last year
Bradda is on the IOM
Buttermere is the first year
Wasdale's already in
Holme Moss clashes
Borrowdale was last year
Howtown isn't organised by a club so might not want it
Sedbergh Hills - Could be
Exterminator - Could be. But I don't think it's regarded as "felly" enough - sorry Totley :)
Three Shires - too close after Peris
IOM Mountain - it's on the IOM
Langdale - Could be
Tour of Pendle - too late to award prizes?
I have always found Totley Terminator, Tormentor, Exterminator, surprisingly hard but you are right, not enough fell or 'adventure' to count.