Underrated races.

[Chris]

I've been thinking about this for a while, more so now we're getting to the end of the year.

Hebden Bridge Fell Race (previously the Carnival Fell Race).

Deserves to be an absolute classic but all that not many runners.

Anyone else got any under rated fell races?

[BillJ]

Hebden Bridge Fell Race (previously the Carnival Fell Race).

Deserves to be an absolute classic but all that not many runners.

Couldn't that be because its only been going a couple of years, Chris?
It takes a while for a race to become established.

[Chris]

Yes, that's true Bill J.

I notice a fairly widely held view that fell running is over popular and a wish not to publicise the sport.

I think some of the best races are unpopular ones, whether new, in decline or never well suported.

I wondered if anyone else had any examples of top quality races that for these or any other reason appeared under rated.

[Zlod]

The most under-rated race I know of is the Llanbedr-Blaenavon race. It's a totally excellent race. It's the best under 20 mile race I've done.

[Bisto]

Most underrated fell race?

Gravy Pud 5

[Multiterrainer]

Most underrated fell race?

Gravy Pud 5

I rated it!!

Going back to Chris's nomination of Hebden Bridge, from what I remember reading it suffered in its first year from a clash with an England World Cup match.

I must admit one race I enjoyed which keeps appearing and disappearing (does that make it underrated?) was the Erringden Moor race. I guess there's no reason why HB cannot become as popular as that.

[Stagger]

Chipping Show fell race

[IainR]

I think loads in Snowdonia.

Suprises me how small the fields are at good races like the Peris, a real classic race.

But Cnicht is another short classic.

And Foel Fras.

All 3 struggle to get over 50-80 runners.

[oleg beaviz]

At this years hebden Bridge Carnival race, they cancelled the carnival

the Callow race in July is one of the best fell races around, 4 huge climbs in only 5 miles - what more could a fell runner want? Oh and the Brackenden Uphill only race is also very underrated.

[NotOnUrHelly]

I think loads in Snowdonia.

Suprises me how small the fields are at good races like the Peris, a real classic race.

But Cnicht is another short classic.

And Foel Fras.

All 3 struggle to get over 50-80 runners.

Im going to make a serious effort to get to some of the longer welsh races next year.