best fell runner ever ?

[TimW]

It's interesting that you mention both Simon Booth and Jonny Bland as, along with Lloyd Taggart I think these two are the best of the current crop of top level fellrunners (with the greatest of respect to the likes of Ian Holmes and Rob Jebb). I just feel that these two probably have the ability to "raise the bar" in the same way that Joss Naylor, Billy Bland, Kenny Stuart, et al. did in the 70's and 80's in both genres of long distance challenges such as the BGR and high profile fell races such as Ben Nevis, Lakes Classics, etc.

Someone in an earlier post on this thread mentioned that the greatest fell runner should be the one you have seen put in the most awesome performance (or words to similar effect), for me personally Simon Booth fit's this bill, talk about make it look easy!!

I think Jonny has the potential to make history over the very long and rough stuff (like the BGR) if he wanted to, although not on the 'short'er stuff like Ben Nevis; not that he's not very good (!) but his cousin Gavin was a better all-rounder with perhaps more natural ability even than Billy. There's not much Gavin didn't do, although in terms of time spent at the very top he was a bit of a 'John Wild' having just the one great season (1999) where no one could touch him.

Interesting your non-inclusion of Rob Jebb amongst the current best. Rob is a true all rounder although I would agree there have been / are better runners over the long rough stuff, many a time has he begun as favourite in a long classic yet been comprehensively beaten. Where I think he's underestimated is the very short steep stuff, 5 Grasmeres on the bounce is awesome when you consider Rob Hope and Ian Holmes rarely miss this race. People forget the short races and if ever he could win 10 straight, that to me would be as good as Booth's Borrowdale record.

Booth make it look easy? Yeh I'll second that, I watched him come in to the finish to run 2:35 for the old Borrowdale route (40sec off Billy's record) and he looked like he'd just jogged to the shops and back! But I'm sure he was trying really. It's funny, some people are the opposite, they look in agony even when they ARE running easy!

Lloyd Taggert? I believe this lad could do anything in fell running he put his mind to, but would be the first to admit he would need be more selective in his racing. He claims to enjoy his racing programme too much to be prepared to do that and fair enough, I honestly believe some top runners are less bothered than you may think (Toots...) No one has gone about their running with more ambition than myself but when you get there (not that I've got where these lads have! but my own level like...) believe it or not you are still the same person. No one at work or on the street sees you any differently and it doesn't change you as a person. It's great to 'get there' but worthless if you haven't enjoyed it