Glad to know that other people do that too - I missed an apparently obvious stile at the Oakworth Haul with a few others last weekend and added a good few hundred metres to the course. ;)
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Glad to know that other people do that too - I missed an apparently obvious stile at the Oakworth Haul with a few others last weekend and added a good few hundred metres to the course. ;)
PRESS RELEASE.....
From Azerbaijan to Heptonstall – Festival Fell Race wins friends far and wide
Another bumper Heptonstall turnout saw Todmorden Harriers take local honours in the first ever Heptonstall Festival Fell Race on Saturday. The 6 mile race was conceived by local runners Heptonstall Hurriers to support the Heptonstall village festival and was the result of a tremendous community effort as friends, neighbours, and families pulled together to act as marshals, time keepers, and race officials. An informal running group comprised of local Tod Harriers and Calder Valley members, the Hurriers were delighted at the success of the race having planned the event only 4 weeks earlier. Featuring 1500 feet of ascent the race was specifically designed to qualify for Fell Running’s “Category A” status, the highest difficultly level in the sport. The challenging route helped to attract a field of 93 runners from across the region, with many runners travelling from as far afield as Kent and Leicestershire to swell ranks at the White Lion start.
Stephen Heath took the prize for the furthest flung entrant; travelling from Azerbaijan as the only representative of Baku Hash House Harriers he finished in a creditable 63rd place. The BP employee used to running through the arid badlands of Baku oil fields, in temperatures topping 40’C, noticed the Heptonstall Fell Race website and decided to include the race in his preparations for the ultra marathon in the High Caucasus Mountains in Georgia. The Hash House Harrier, based in Baku since 2004, was full of praise the event, “I was back in the UK for a week or two for the birth of my daughter and thought it would be a great opportunity to have a go at my first fell race – the whole village festival-fell race format made it a great day out, the route was pretty formidable, but the village and local landscape made it a memorable run. The Calder Valley is a wonderful place with warm and generous people”. Stephen’s wife Rebecca gave birth to their daughter Georgia 5 days before the race, both were on hand to cheer him on as he finished the race in 71 min. The much travelled Hash House Harrier promised he would spread the word of Heptonstall’s new race across the hills and mountains of Central Asia.
Both Calder Valley and Todmorden Harriers were well represented to add friendly local rivalry to the event. Calder Valley had previously dominated proceedings at the inaugral 15 mile Heptonstall Fell Race in March, but Todmorden Harriers turned the tables on their local rivals to take the Festival Honours. As torrential rain gave way to bright sunshine, 17 year old Todmorden Harriers Sean Carey ran a dazzling race to finish in 1st place ahead of Calder Valley’s Andy Thorpe. Leading the field from Heptonstall on the “white knuckle” descent to the Blue Pig, before a 1000 foot ascent to High Brown Knoll, Carey showed he had stamina in his young legs as he skipped up the daunting 500 foot ascent to the finish line, setting a new race record of 53.01mins. The up and coming Todmorden runner has recently won a host of short races, and his victory helped secure team honours for Todmorden as Paul Hobbs and Ben Crowther finished 8th and 9th respectively to out score Calder Valley’s 3 highest placed runners. Some pride was restored for Calder Valley, as Anne Johnson, Gayle Sugden, and Trudi Entwhistle took the ladies team prize. But Calder ladies didn’t have it all their own way as highly talented Holmfirth Harrier Katie Walshaw set a stunning pace to finish first lady beating off many of the stronger male runners to take 7th place overall in the ladies course record of 55.42min. A number of beginners and none attached runners from the village also ran including new Hurrier Sam Swindells who lent a pair of fell-trainers to run his first ever fell race.The Manchester University student finished in an impressive 15th place winning the honour of fastest Heptonstall Hurrier (of 10 running either as Hurriers or official clubs).
Runners and motorists may have been surprised to be confronted by a troop of clowns marshaling the Draper Corner road crossing as the village volunteers were dressed for the their later roles in the Festival fun; not to be out done, a bunch of leading (but unnamed) Calder Valley clowns were heard to have completely missed the well flagged route to find themselves wading through brambles and nettles to emerge 100 yards short of the official road crossing on Lee Road.
Any photos out there? - there were definitely a few paparazzi on the course. I'm always interested in giving my pain face marks out of 10. (Actually, I've never scored less than 10 on a fell race)
In all the excitement we did nt get the details of the photographers whilst the in-house team (ie my 14 year old daughter) was out shopping with her friendsQuote:
Originally Posted by threerock
Will widen the search this evening......we definitly have teh promise of some good ones at the start....
Top race report Trig - well done to Stephen Heath for the longest journey for the event (makes the trip from Bury seem pretty tame by comparison!) There's one picture of a certain RO post down pour. That must mean there are more photos out there somewhere... :D
One or two are coming to light....still no idea who the guy on the route was. Anyone recognise the people taking pictures in this one?
Attachment 4947
Under starter's orders......
Attachment 4948
And they're off!!!
Attachment 4949
The guy on the right needs to consult his map and compass:)
Ha Ha! or run the first ascent backwards...Quote:
Originally Posted by L.F.F.
Are you based in Melton Mowbury by any chance????
No, a village nearer Loughborough. Didn't run the race I'm afraid, but another time!Quote:
Originally Posted by Trig
I'll hold you to that;)Quote:
Originally Posted by L.F.F.
We had a chap who made the journey from Leicestershire-fantastic effort
Assume you run mainly in The Peak and Derbys Dales?
Just run locally on trails, but all my fell races have been Lake District ones so far!Quote:
Originally Posted by Trig
Anyway, better be careful else we'll get a stern rebuke for not PMing! :)
Justed spotted Nic (our registration master) in the foreground of the 2nd picture - seems his camera is so sophisticated that he can only extract the pictures back in home Cambodia - next month - looks like he had good spot before being trampled under footQuote:
Originally Posted by Trig
Nic has somehow managed to extract his pictures - well worth the wait:wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by Trig
Attachment 4950
Attachment 4953FEw more piccies...Attachment 4951Attachment 4952
Nice legs!:w00t:Quote:
Originally Posted by Trig
Have these runners adopted the cyclist-shaving- habit?Quote:
Originally Posted by Fnstein
Just sent off for land owner permission for the March 15mile /3000 feet BL race www.heptonstallfellrace.org.uk - looks like it will be Sunday 18th March - great news this year is that the race misses the clash with the Northern 12 Stage Road Relays - just need to check we also avoid the Hobble.
Its Recce time again! Heptonstall Festival 2012
www.heptonstallfestivalrace.org.uk is only 2 months away.
6 miles - 1500 feet = 7th JULY 2012
Fancy a recce?
About 30 of us are running the route at 7pm on Tues 8th May
All welcome
I'll try and get over for the recce Trig.
[QUOTE=Mole;482150]I'll try and get over for the recce Trig.[/QUOTE}
Great - its a CVFR away run so we're organising pie and peas at the White Lion Heptonstall - £2.50 a head - guest runners welcome
The pub also has live folk on Tuesday nights so we're all going to stop for a pint (Copper Dragon!)
What races have you got coming up???
A big CVFR recce went well tonight (35-40 ran) wonder what everyone thought of the route?
Hmm. Looks like I'll have to get that website up to date :angry:
Yes - well done Pete - its already looking good with dates and detailsQuote:
Originally Posted by Pete F
www.heptonstallfestivalrace.org.uk might need a few more pictures for the gallery after the 2012 race
Look out for Jedi Masters posters and flyers.....
I've tweaked the website ready for the 2012 event: www.heptonstallfestivalrace.org.uk
However, we could do with a good written description of the route. Anyone volunteering to write it?
And in the same vein if anyone has a GPX file of the route then, again, that could go on the site too...
Well done Pete - I must check it out......Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete F
I'm up for writing a route description but I think the readers may miss your unique combination of wit and navigational precision.
When will we see you running again????
T
Ha Ha! double dip humour and fell running www.heptonstallfestivalrace.org.uk
Like it Pete!
Hi Trig,
Sorry couldn't make the CVFR training night, but want to run the route myself now the nights are getting longer. Anywhere I can download a route map? Seemed to remember getting hopelessly lost on the tops last year!
Here you go Roubaix...http://www.heptonstallfestivalrace.o...p-HBKpdfv3.pdfQuote:
Originally Posted by Roubaix
Tops tips...
Once you get onto the moor, having crossed the last stile, there is a very fient trod that weaves through the tussucks to the skyline.
The trod is well hidden but almost straight ahead from the stile, head toward the nearby rocks and you should locate it.
The "hill top" objective turns out to be a false summit, as you crest the ridge you find that the trig is set on a knoll, some distance ahead, across an open, pathless, plateau. Fortunately there are no tussocks so you can head directly across this runnable terrain before one last struggle to your goal, HIGH BROWN KNOLL!
Having admired the view back across the valley to Heptonstall, its an easy and spectacular 500m sprint along Limers Gate to the point where you suddenly dive off the ridge to begin the 1000 ft descent to the Blue Pig (look out for a small pile of stones in the grass on your left as Limers Gate starts to ascend). The descent across the moor is another feint trod - but much easier to follow than the ascent. HAVE FUN!!
When are you thinking of reccing??? Could be tempted to nip out Friday eveining???
[QUOTE=Trig;485270]Here you go Roubaix...http://www.heptonstallfestivalrace.o...p-HBKpdfv3.pdf
Tops tips...
Once you get onto the moor, having crossed the last stile, there is a very fient trod that weaves through the tussucks to the skyline.
The trod is well hidden but almost straight ahead from the stile, head toward the nearby rocks and you should locate it.
The "hill top" objective turns out to be a false summit, as you crest the ridge you find that the trig is set on a knoll, some distance ahead, across an open, pathless, plateau. Fortunately there are no tussocks so you can head directly across this runnable terrain before one last struggle to your goal, HIGH BROWN KNOLL!
Having admired the view back across the valley to Heptonstall, its an easy and spectacular 500m sprint along Limers Gate to the point where you suddenly dive off the ridge to begin the 1000 ft descent to the Blue Pig (look out for a small pile of stones in the grass on your left as Limers Gate starts to ascend). The descent across the moor is another feint trod - but much easier to follow than the ascent. HAVE FUN!!
When are you thinking of reccing??? Could be tempted to nip out Friday eveining???[/QUOTE
Its worth highlighting that the map on the website is for recce only. On race day the first mile is a loop, up the cobbles to the school, through the race carpark field, then down along the telegraph poles to the road, out of the gate on to the road for a few feet, but then straight back on yourself through an adjacent gate, contour across an open field toward a house - marked on OS map as LEE BANK (race day joins recce route this house - LEE BANK).
Looking forward to this one again. If the current hot spell continues it'll be a real lung-buster. Is Badly Drawn Boy playing at the festival again? (am I right in remembering that he played last time or I am getting myself mixed up?)
Not sure what happenned to Badly Drawn Boy (but was it was a genuine rumour)Quote:
Originally Posted by joeyd
Chumbawamba's Boff Whalley ran last year's race to add the music-fest vibe.
Met the guy booking all the acts this week for a shandy (I'm off the beer since my abysmal effort at Blackstone Edge)
He says there's a full day of bands lined up - sounds great; fell race, followed by a beer and bands in big tent - can't wait.
Sounds grand. T'entertainments will mean a happier family whilst I'm running myself ragged round the countryside. Is there owt that needs doing on the organisational front? Are you going to get to run the race yourself this time round? Didn't you run it last year but stop to chat to a landowner or two on the way? :confused:
I am going to run (and no chatting this time)Quote:
Originally Posted by joeyd
Ran the route early this morning - it looked like Tuscany - but hotter. I've worked out where the pain hits you...its from the carpark at Hardcastle Craggs to the War Memorial (mini Stoodley Pike) its a calf cruncher, but tougher still is the first 500 yards of ascent as you reascend from the Blue Pig through the woods; after the 1100 feet of ascent to high brown knoll, and 5 and half miles in tired legs, the ascent back to Heptonstall will see you digging deep to keep running....just think of the Copper Dragon at the end!
I found that the physical discomfort started on the climb from Hardcastle to the Memorial and then continues pretty much to the finish line and simply varied in degrees of intensity. :w00t:
Yeh sounds about right particularly if you set off in 5th place and finish in 50th! Still interested in helping??? With Bowles and Boyce off to do some camping-on-the-run event we might need a fellow co-ordinator of marshalls (pre race only - you still get to run!)Quote:
Originally Posted by joeyd
Can you do post work pint on Wed eve meeting Boycey and Bowles???Quote:
Originally Posted by Trig
Yup - should be able to help with this one Trig - it's about time I did rather than just enjoying the events ;). We'll have to meet up after a race so you can fill me in on the details.
Thanks Joey....but this does nt get you out of running!Quote:
Originally Posted by joeyd
Just did the route for third time this week -since Monday; aggregate weekly; total distance = 18miles; total ascent = 4500 feet