Holme Moss

Since the record was set the course is a little longer, several hundred meters at least. The record was also set when the race was run in June so the climb out of the valley up to Laddow rocks was a bit easier. Still a hell of a good record and Russ Banghams money is pretty safe and he knows it!
We are trying to get it as a championship race for next year, our centenary (look out for the book Rob Grillo).
1st Chris Birchill 2:26
2nd Dave Taylor 2:30 V40
3rd Andy Shaw 2:38 V45

1st lady was from Stainland, forgot her name, sorry!

I'd put that down as one of the best fell races I've done. Cracking route with 4 really steep climbs - didn't realise that there was that kind of race so close to home!
Special thanks to the marshalls for putting up with some dreadful weather - its okay running in that rain, but a different story standing in it. They were supportive and good humoured all the way round. And what about the free sandwiches and tea at the end? - brilliant. As for the cakes - 8 different types! I had to leave early and missed the prizes; one of my club colleagues picked up 3 litres of wine for me - cheers Clare.
Quality club Holmfirth - they know how to put a race on. :)

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Originally Posted by T'owd lad

1st lady was from Stainland, forgot her name, sorry!

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Naomi Sharratt.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by T'owd lad

1st lady was from Stainland, forgot her name, sorry!

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Naomi Sharratt :)
Just over 3 hours

Thanks to the marshalls and other helpers, it must have been pretty miserable standing out there in the rain (apart from the lot who were holed up in the Laddow Rocks cave!)

Food at the end was great!

I started off near the back hoping to make up some places and pace it sensibly, but my right calf stiffened up dropping down into Crowden and that restricted my running a bit from there on. I was glad the section from Black Hill through to the wood was well flagged as I would not have fancied navigating it in that rain/mist!

Got some cramp going up onto Black Hill, then disoriented between Black Hill and HM (navigating by the sound of the road!).

The only thing keeping me going to the finish was the thought of tea and butties. Do they take orders? - the food was fantastic!

Well done to all the marshalls, especially to the bearer of water, chocolate and jelly babies at Laddow.

That was a stern one. Wind, Rain, low Cloud.....etc oh and nice sloppy peat bogs, just when you dont want them :eek:

Super race, but not as great as the marshals for standing in the rain and offering lots of encouragement and banter. also BIG thanks for the nice ladies at the finish for placing a hot drink and sandwich in my hands after staggering over the line in 2:48. boy did i run out of gas in the last half mile (im blaming the section from black hill to holme moss)

well done holmfirth harriers highly recommended :D:D

Results now available

http://www.holmfirthharriers.com/RHolmeMoss2007.htm

Those cakes weren't free man. I've never worked so hard in my life for a cake. All the same they were delicious and I was served (!) by a lovely lady as I slumped on a stool in the finishing tent! She seemed to know what I'd been through.
It was like a black Antarctica out there. God knows what I looked like after I'd crawled out of my second waist deep peat bath, but suffice to say I was almost worried at one point.
Seriously I woke up shouting "help!" in the middle of the night imagining I was sinking in quicksand.
Did anybody else notice we were rock climbing up to Laddow!
Oh and thanks to the ramblers who slipped me some jaffacakes on the way up to Black Hill.
A mad race...I was there. Who cares where I came. Well done Holmfirth.

That should read Holmes Moss, sorry.
Considering doing this in a few weeks. I've read the description on the Holmfirth website and was wondering how much of it is flagged? And what's the stretch from crowden to Black Hill like?
Also would I be able to get away with just recceing the loop from the transmitter down to crowden and back?
I think that's everything for now. More questions after a recce.

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Originally Posted by Graeme

That should read Holmes Moss, sorry.
Considering doing this in a few weeks. I've read the description on the Holmfirth website and was wondering how much of it is flagged? And what's the stretch from crowden to Black Hill like?
Also would I be able to get away with just recceing the loop from the transmitter down to crowden and back?
I think that's everything for now. More questions after a recce.

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The first part of the race from the reservoir crosses private land (I think) so it's a no-no really. I often park at the top near the transmitter and run the middle part of the race as described, it's a really good run out, allow about 2- 2 1/2 hours ish for it. The only paved bit is the bit of the PW that you pick up from the end of Laddow rocks and then up to the trig point at Black Hill. The route from here back to the transmitter is only a wee trod but it's there - hope you find it! :p