Quote Originally Posted by Graham Breeze View Post

The Intercounties "Fell Race" was set up to provide a slightly more rugged experience than standard cross country races (ie running round a park) for runners from, say, Kent or London. So it would be stupid of the FRA to design Wasdale type courses. Having said that, races straight from the Calendar have been used, such as Settle Hills, without complaint.

That is very interesting...

Given the usual perception of the fell running community to shun away from publicity, etc, i'd have expected the inter-counties was to provide a genuine tough fell test and see who is the best county, regardless of whether Kent/London/etc can get round it or not.

Given that an inter-counties field is usually of a very high level (in athletic competence, if not always mountain-craft), it's a wonder why they don't pick the hardest courses.

Ok, Wasdale/Ennerdale/Peris probably aren't going to be picked, you'd expect a medium distance course to appeal to most types of fellrunners... but i see no reason why it couldn't be something like Buttermere Sailbeck or Coniston (in fact didn't the Sailbeck race grow out of the old Northern Counties Champs race?)