Ilkley Gazette/ Wharfedale & Airedale Observer 12 October 2007
"THIS is living" was the cry heard as one fellrunner surged past a small group on the sublime descent from Great Whernside towards Kettlewell last Saturday.
The Great Whernside race, conceived by Pete Jebb, is one of the great short fell races. The route is virtually free from technicalities and so the climb is a pure power charge and the glorious, glorious descent of 1500 feet in a couple of miles is the acme of fell running descents. This fell race is as close to perfection as it gets.
Last Saturday's race was both an English and British Championship counter but because the weekend also included the Langdale Horseshoe and the Ian Hodgson Relay hoi polloi stayed away to leave the event clear for those seeking championship points and to break records as Simon Bailey (Mercia) in 28.38 (174 finishers) and Candice Leah (CLM) in 36.10 (73 finishers) did.
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The Great Whernside race is one of those events where you leave the car park wishing the race was next week instead of next year.
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