As a keen fell runner trapped in the confines of the capital, it seems to me that although many of London's running clubs support fell running in one form or another (e.g. Serpentine, London Heathside, Orion Harriers, Cambridge Harriers etc) there would be many advantages if there was a club explicitly centred around promoting the sport here in the big smoke. Forming 'London Fell Runners' or similar could have a number of advantages including:
1. Allowing more shared travel/accomodation arrangements for those Londoners heading north for races and training;
2. Providing the opportunity to compete as a team in fell races and relays which usually isn't possible with the 'conventional' running clubs due to sheers lack of numbers;
3. Generating more opportunities to train for fell running, both on trips to the UK's mountains, as well as searching out the more hilly bits of terrain close to London (e.g. Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest, Box Hill etc)
4. Creating a social fell running 'community' in the capital, similar to the very successful moutaineering clubs (e.g. London MC, North London MC, Marylebone MC etc) with talks, pub meets etc
It seems likely that such a club would not be most poeple's first claim club, (although this could happen in time) but could be second claim for those interested in the sport, and would complement the activites of the traditional running clubs.
It may well be that such an idea has been discussed in these forums or elsewhere in the past, and if so it would be great to know what, if anything, came of it. If not, I'd be really interested to see if fellow forumites think that this is something that could work, and if there would be much interest.
Thanks in advance,
Alex