Wansfell Race

[Lefty]

I've been doing this race since before Adam were a lad. Every year we make the pilgrimage to Ambleside for me to do the race and the times I haven't been able to do it through illness or injury I've come along and watched. I just love the race, nice relaxed atmosphere and a great short but very sweet route despite the road section at the start which is all part of the race.
There was a time when Jon Broxap organised it when the start was different and we started on the fell nr to Kelsick School.
It's been held in all kinds of weather as you can imagine given the time of year including deep snow and ice. There was a time when it was in danger of being called off when I even offered to organise it myself until a local organiser was eventually found.
So many thanks for putting the race on, a good call on Friday for calling it off and well done for turning things around and getting it on again on Saturday. I don't think that the race suffered in any way and you got Jebby to run who couldn't make it Friday because he was at work !
Long live the Wansfell fell race.

[Richard Head]

I don't think that the race suffered in any way and you got Jebby to run who couldn't make it Friday because he was at work !

One year Jebby turned up in his BT van while on his dinner break , i can't remember if he ran or just spectated

[brett]

Results

[theNoor]

I see that Angela Mudge's record was broken by one second. Well done Sarah, and welcome to the Ambleside AC ladies team...

With regards to Rob's time this year, and I'll be sure he and others have gone quicker, to be only off the record by a minute is pretty good going. Lefty implies the start was up near the school, and Colin Valentine (Keswick AC) has shown me an old photo of the race setting off across a grassy field, which can only be higher up the road than the current start...

[wheezing donkey]

I see that Angela Mudge's record was broken by one second. Well done Sarah, and welcome to the Ambleside AC ladies team...

With regards to Rob's time this year, and I'll be sure he and others have gone quicker, to be only off the record by a minute is pretty good going. Lefty implies the start was up near the school, and Colin Valentine (Keswick AC) has shown me an old photo of the race setting off across a grassy field, which can only be higher up the road than the current start...

I first ran this race the year that Kenny set the record, it started outside The Salutation. Since then, there have been odd years when the start was at the old school, as per the finish.

[PeeJay]

Like Lefty I ran this race whenever possible from the late 70's when the start and finish was at the school. It was actually the last race I ran in when I was approaching 60 & decided to give up racing. I have a set of black & white photos somewhere which were taken in the field behind the school with the likes of Harry Walker running. I'l post them if I get chance.

Pete

Wansfell-1980.jpg

There you go, running up the field behind the school in 1980. Would anyone like to name any runners.

[Lefty]

I definitely spotted Paul Tucson there in the second group Pete, bit difficult to make out any of the others.

[mapper]

A bit of info from Bill Smith's SMOTS:
18 runners in the inaugural event in 1973 and started (and finished) at the back of the Salutation Hotel for the first 3 years.
In 1976 the start was moved to a field above the town and included only a short stretch of road.
In 1979 the road was eliminated by starting the climb immediately after leaving the field.
SMOTS only covers up to 1983 so I'm not sure when the start reverted to the back of the Salutation Hotel.

Great piccy BTW Peejay ~ although I don't recognise anyone, it was well before my first Wansfell in 1991.

[PeeJay]

You're right about Paul Tuson Graham wearing no 185. To his right is Ken Robinson (looking away) running for Kendal at that time, behind Paul is Tony Cresswell (thought you would have got him) then behind the next runner is myself in the proper Bingley vest (you remember those).

Pete

[Lefty]

Yes Pete I recognise Tony Cresswell now after having another look and I did wonder if the runner in the Bingley vest was you but I thought it was too short for you. Happy days !