Three Peaks Fell Race

[Graham Breeze]

I'm surprised at you Graham. That's not up to your usual knowlegeable standard

The categorisation has TWO letters, not just one. The length of the race is denoted by the second letter - L, M, or S so the length of the Three Peaks should not be an issue when debating its A, B or C status. We have always been told that the A/B/C category is decided by feet of climbing and how much of the race is on true fell and how much on road/track.

Yes, the 3 Peaks is a hard race but based on what I understand of the FRA's categorisation system it's definitely a BL.

When you think about how much artificial surface you are running on I even think it borders a CL!!

The reason it has been given an A status is more to do with it's long-standing fame in the fellrunning world as a tough challenge. Should this justify it's A status? I don't think so - not if the categorisation is to be considered logical and not just subjective.

Trundler! Stop being pernickity. Of course I know about the categories. I was keeping the argument simple.

The original categories came into being in 1972 when the first list of 31 (thirty one) races that were selected to determine the "Fellrunner of the Year" was agreed. At that time there was no "length" criterion: just A,B and C with a "C" being "some climbing and some fell"!

The PPP was in that first list as an "A" . It was listed as 22 miles and 4500 feet in those days and so technically did not qualify even then under the 250'/mile rule so for 36 years it "allegedly" has been mis-categorised.

Actually the original definitions include the phrase "height gained or lost"
which implies a pure downhill race can be a category "A"; but let's let it be.

Graham