best fell runner ever ?

[Baggins]

Or is it the one who would win the race if they all lined up on the start line in peak condition?

Aye line them all up at Borrowdale or Wasdale with the clag right down an see who wins

Or they could all go round the BG

No lets do all three in the same year

[MorganW]

There is something awe-inspiring about a BG in 13 hours and 53 minutes.

Keswick to Threlkeld - 2 hours 13 minutes
Threlkeld to Dunmail - 2 hours 41 minutes
Dunmail to Wasdale - 3 hours 43 minutes
Wasdale to Honister - 3 hours and 9 minutes
Honister to Keswick - 1 hour 47 minutes

And running the road section at 6 minute mile pace.

That's greatness in my opinion, and Billy would get my vote.

[Fleeter]

There is something awe-inspiring about a BG in 13 hours and 53 minutes.

Keswick to Threlkeld - 2 hours 13 minutes
Threlkeld to Dunmail - 2 hours 41 minutes
Dunmail to Wasdale - 3 hours 43 minutes
Wasdale to Honister - 3 hours and 9 minutes
Honister to Keswick - 1 hour 47 minutes

And running the road section at 6 minute mile pace.

That's greatness in my opinion, and Billy would get my vote.

it's on another level dont get me wrong,billy is something else,but there is more to fell running than the bob graham round,and the lake district

[scott baistow 93]

it's on another level dont get me wrong,billy is something else,but there is more to fell running than the bob graham round,and the lake district

yes it is true but the majority of propa fell races are in the lakes eg borrowdale,langdale,wasdale,buttermere not all the time but very often and alot of the best fell runners from there as well eg billy bland,kenny stuart,joss naylor,hugh symonds ect

[chris smale]

That guy can't do proper fell races..Jura'd kill 'im..Snowdon's just a glorified road race..

go on Andi bite...race.. :-)

TBF though if I was a good enough runner I'd do road over fell, that's where the best runners are, the highest level of competition. I love the fells, but 'generally' bad runners fell run.

I still reckon the best female mountain runner in the UK is Paula, someone tempt her out onto the fells, she'd murder a race like Snowdon.

Nothing much changes. I think you and I had a similar discussion a couple of years ago.

Because it is so hypothetical it is pointless.

The best fell runners are the ones who beat the other fell runners, not the premiership footballers.

[Harry H Howgill]

it's on another level dont get me wrong,billy is something else,but there is more to fell running than the bob graham round,and the lake district

Good point.

There are several fabulous runners who would never dream of tackling a BG or the long Lakes races in the same way that Usain Bolt might not be planning on doing a marathon soon.

I can't believe that anyone hasn't mentioned either Fred Reeves or Tommy Sedgwick yet. This discussion isn't complete without them.

[chris smale]

It is a good point there Harry H.

I think that (say) Fred Reeves' record at Grasmere which is his biggest moment is great.

Rob Jebb ran 10 seconds slower in recent years - the time you and I battled our way to the top of the hill and you left me on the way down. In a two mile race, and assuming similar conditions 10 seconds is a massive difference.

Fred Reeves and Tommy Sedgewick probably trained exclusively for those kinds of races. For Rob I guess it was just another challenge amongst all kind of running and cycling races and in the context of what he did over the season it was fabulous.

There is too little appreciation of short steep fell races; by that I mean they are a bit marginal in the calendar or indeed not in the FRA calendar at all.

[Witton Park]

So have we whittled it down to a shortlist for a poll yet?

A poll would be complicated - let's get them on Harry Hill's Burp for a fight

[Feet in the Cowclaps]

I can't believe that anyone hasn't mentioned either Fred Reeves or Tommy Sedgwick yet. This discussion isn't complete without them.

I totally agree with this Harry.

[Wheeze]

On his day, Colin Donnelly was invincible on both short steep races (e.g. Chapelgill) and long events (his unbelievable Welsh 3,000's). And he's been at it a long time. Was it 86 or 87 when he bamboozled Rod Pilbeam at Moel Hebog to take his first British Championship? I know BB has the emotional vote coz he comes from 'native' fell running country but as an all round winner and for the duration of his prowess, I still stand by Colin.