Round Hill Fell Race

[Graham Breeze]

Well most of you missed a lovely race! I know who you are as I was registering runners in, which unfortunately took longer than I expected - so I missed the start and wasn't able to run.
This meant I could help at the finish which was new to me. Lovely to receive a gentle introduction to the dark art of fell race organisation from Andrew R. What was even finer was that Antonio put on one of his better performances and finished 20 minutes faster than last year (when I was sweeper) - so less hanging around at the death. Don't worry - he was still last.
I can tell you a very funny story about a head of the field runner who lost a prize winning place due to some unfortunate poo issues!

A pot hunter who preferred a poo to a prize?

[MattPo]

A pot hunter who preferred a poo to a prize?

As ever, dryly humorous Mr Breeze. They were shit prizes anyway!

[anthonykay]

I can tell you a very funny story about a head of the field runner who lost a prize winning place due to some unfortunate poo issues!

I can't help wondering whether this incident is similar to what happened to me at the 1979 Goat Fell race, when on the descent I was very grateful that the heather beside the path was deep enough for me to squat down without being seen - twice. I also kept running beyond the finish line until I had reached the toilets.

[mr brightside]

Just noticed it's on next weekend so I had a run round today. It's become very overgrown in places that used to be wide enough for a colliery band, and the double trod section on the main descent is missing. If it stays hot there won't be any water on the course. The becks on the way back are looking a bit rusty and cloudy, I drenched my vest and had a couple of token mouthfuls which my guts might live to regret. Plenty of those bloody sweat flies about.

[MattPo]

Just noticed it's on next weekend so I had a run round today. It's become very overgrown in places that used to be wide enough for a colliery band, and the double trod section on the main descent is missing. If it stays hot there won't be any water on the course. The becks on the way back are looking a bit rusty and cloudy, I drenched my vest and had a couple of token mouthfuls which my guts might live to regret. Plenty of those bloody sweat flies about.

Now then Mr B! I had a run round the route with my son on Monday. I'll be taking entries and not able to run. He's offered to marshal so I was showing him the checkpoints.
You're right it is more overgrown then normal. From the gate before the climb up Round Hill after the bog of doom keep close to the wall were there is a mown strip which is easier running than the path. The two off-road vehicles have been removed from the bog of doom - they had been in there for a couple of months and I hope they are ruined.
The long descent from Round Hill is overgrown a bit - be careful with your ankles. Going through the wood is OK, but watch out for the nettles. At the top of the short steep hill out of the woods the level path is overgrown, but runnable. From there on it is fine.
I think the reason for the tracks being overgrown is due to the Denton Estate changing from Grouse shooting to a rewilding policy, so less gamekeeper action on the moor. Did you notice the renovation of the shooting hut into an upmarket glamping venue?
Look forward to seeing you and many other runners next Sunday. Should be dry, though some of the marshals will have water, most likely before the climb up past the shooting hut.

[Graham Breeze]

Now then Mr B! I had a run round the route with my son on Monday. I'll be taking entries and not able to run. He's offered to marshal so I was showing him the checkpoints.
You're right it is more overgrown then normal. From the gate before the climb up Round Hill after the bog of doom keep close to the wall were there is a mown strip which is easier running than the path. The two off-road vehicles have been removed from the bog of doom - they had been in there for a couple of months and I hope they are ruined.
The long descent from Round Hill is overgrown a bit - be careful with your ankles. Going through the wood is OK, but watch out for the nettles. At the top of the short steep hill out of the woods the level path is overgrown, but runnable. From there on it is fine.
I think the reason for the tracks being overgrown is due to the Denton Estate changing from Grouse shooting to a rewilding policy, so less gamekeeper action on the moor. Did you notice the renovation of the shooting hut into an upmarket glamping venue?
Look forward to seeing you and many other runners next Sunday. Should be dry, though some of the marshals will have water, most likely before the climb up past the shooting hut.

:...there is a mown strip which is easier..."

With neat stripes?

I ran this 7 times and I am sure it was regarded as a sort of fell race - or am I confused?

[MattPo]

Not mown by Otley AC I can assure you Graham! Think the estate did it to aid fencing.

[mr brightside]

The annoying little gullies in the main descent trod are now mostly invisible, but it's still fairly quick. I can't see any records being broken from now on. That shooting hut looks to have been turned into a conference space of sorts; there are peat restoration stickers everywhere and they have installed a septic tank.

[MattPo]

Tomorrow, 10.30 start. Get there a bit early to park, register and get to the start. Very runnable and cheap.

[mr brightside]

Tomorrow, 10.30 start. Get there a bit early to park, register and get to the start. Very runnable and cheap.

So not 11am start like in calendar?