I think they have 30% of places saved for an open entry next week, so expect start list to hit around 500....Originally Posted by Mike T
I think they have 30% of places saved for an open entry next week, so expect start list to hit around 500....
I was hoping for an entry...
10am friday is when the open entries commence. Limit of 550, and 385 have been taken by FRA members.
Really good weekend in Newcastle and on the Mournes. Great to see a strong front end of the field in the women's and men's races, and the aforementioned amount of U23s (as well as those not long out of that category). The standard Medium Donnard/Commedagh route was this year augmented by the addition of an out and back to Chimney Rock Mountain, via the 'Bog of Donnard' in both directions. In an area as heavy going as the Mournes, an area named 'Bog' can mean only one thing: Bring your snorkel! Conditions were good, with clear hills and a cool breeze only at the very top of the 2 main hills
Nic Jackson (Keswick) had a strong performance to win 2.5 mins ahead of Naomi Lang (Carnethy), who overhauled Hannah Russell (Helm) in 3rd.
Billy Cartwright (Matlock) pulled away from Sascha Chepelin (Carnethy) on the descent of Commedagh for the win; Ben Sharrock (Ambleside) overcoming clubmate Matt Elkington in the woods for 3rd place.
Strong contingents from Carnethy, Helm Hill (who organised a bus which also took Ambleside, Keswick and a couple of Black Combe strays), Keswick, Dark Peak, Ambleside, Mercia, CVFR, Eryri, and so on, made it a very sociable weekend.
A good night was had in O'Hares, with the band starting at 11 and going hard early with a back-to-back of 'Don't look back in Anger' and 'Thunderstruck' to really get the place bouncing! The Bouncers soon requested it mellow out with the frankly terrible 'Chasing Cars' (well it is Northern Ireland) to calm everyone down - though the chants of 'oooooh Haaarry Boolton' suggested this tactic was unsuccessful.
Last edited by ba-ba; 27-03-2023 at 09:30 AM.
I was fortunate enough to be in Knoydart so couldn't do anything until I got back that afternoon by which time it was full. Just have to try again this Friday - I've missed Fairfield for a good few years for a variety of reasons and finally it looked like I was going to be there and available - fingers crossed.
By 'eck it's easier t' get a pair o' tickets for a Taylor Swift concert these days than a run int' championship.
I think for FRA members as long as you sort entry in first couple of hours you're generally ok, even for something as obviously popular as Fairfield... Long Mynd Valleys entries were available for several days at least... Might be more difficult for non-members.
The only fell races i've noticed where places really do go in minutes are Cader Idris and Snowdon (i can't speak for Ben Nevis as never attempted to enter).
I see that Lower Borrowdale Skyline, a champs race last year, has been postponed/cancelled this year as they only got something like 37 pre-entries.
That's a real shame. It was a very enjoyable race and one that I thought would be popular.
For whatever reason, the fact that it does not appear in the 2023 FRA Race Calendar wouldn't have helped.
Visibility good except in Hill Fog
It's a nice route and a worthy addition, but it's in a congested area of the calendar, both temporal and location. Maybe finding a niche in a less populated area might work? A bit of weather could make it an interesting race - though could make access to the parking an issue.
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