GVS have fun in Grasmere

The British Fell Relays 2018

It’s about 10 years since Goyt Valley Striders had a team in the British Fell Relays. Earlier this year it was suggested that we should enter a team again. I can’t remember whose idea it was but it turned out to be a great one. I offered to see if there was any interest. 

This year’s event was organised by Ambleside AC and was based in Grasmere. There was a lot of interest from our members - so much so that the committee decided to enter two teams: a Mixed Team (three men and three women) and an Open Team (any combination of runners). 

Fairfield from Heron Pike
- it didn't look like this on the day!

Details were published and it became clear that Leg 1, a solo leg, would take in Seat Sandal; Leg 2, a paired leg would go to the top of Fairfield and Leg 4 would be another solo leg over Heron Pike and would be fully marked. I haven’t forgotten about Leg 3 – it’s a paired navigation leg so having runners who are confident with a map and compass is key.

In September, I confirmed who was actually going to be available and I had a go at sorting out the two teams. Julie and Megan seemed very happy that I suggested the flagged final leg for them and Paul H and Ade were down as chief navigators for Leg 3. Unfortunately, Paul cracked a couple of ribs the weekend before the event and had to pull out; Aidan needed a later start; I had injured toes. The inevitable juggling of runners took place. Tracy and Linette had been waiting in the wings as reserves, fortunately. I am very grateful that everyone I asked to swap about and do different legs were very willing. It just shows what a fab club we are!

GVS ladies

Finally the teams were sorted:-

Mixed Team                                       Open Team

Leg 1 Chris B                                     Leg 1 Tracy

Leg 2 Col and James H                       Leg 2 Roy and Rusty (chief cake maker)

Leg 3 Ade and Amelia                        Leg 3 Aidan and Brian

Leg 4 Megan                                      Leg 4 Julie E

Reserve and assistant baker - Linette.

I turned into teacher mode and sent out masses of information and instructions, transport was arranged and we worried about the weather forecast!

Goyt Valley Smilers

The forecast was right. On the day it was drizzly and the fog was nearly down to valley level. It was obvious that the navigation leg was going to be interesting. We set up camp in a corner of the huge marquee and our runners gathered and sorted out dibbers and numbers, maps and meal tokens. Amelia had forgotten her compass – not good for the nav leg! Aidan, Julie and Megan were caught in a traffic jam. But all was eventually sorted and we were ready.

11am arrived and Tracy and I were off. Steeply up to the top of Seat Sandal and then very steeply down again. Tracy and I always finish races very close together and this was no exception. I am quicker on the climbs and she is quicker on the descents. And this descent was very steep and very slippery and I was very careful. Inevitably, Tracy caught me up in the finishing fields. We took about an hour and a half which meant that our Leg 2 runners were in the Mass Start.
They didn’t seem to mind this – at least they had people to follow.

Col and James had a great run up over Fairfield, down the other side and round to Grisedale Hause and back down a secret route that they had pre-planned. Unfortunately, the ridge line they chose was covered in bracken, which made it very tough. They both loved it, although it was the cause of our only major mishap.... Col arrived back at the marquee quicker than I expected and casually remarked that James was with paramedics with a suspected broken ankle. James had carried on running after going over on his ankle  – how he did it I’m not sure. We’re tough in GVS. It certainly didn’t look good and the paramedics advised an X-ray. Tracy and her friend Chris were delegated to take him to the nearest hospital. Rusty and Roy came in soon after, having perhaps been a bit more cautious on the descent, taking the obvious footpath route instead of being off-piste.

Aidan at the finish

Ade and Amelia set off before the Mass Start for Leg 3 and Aidan and Brian were soon after. They arrived back together having met each other at a checkpoint after which they  sensibly navigated as a team of four. They did brilliantly – visibility was down to about 5 metres on the tops so it was no easy task. They went over some very rough ground as well through rocks and bracken and up and down very steep climbs. Brian was shocked to hear Amelia swearing at the terrain. I was very pleased to see them all return relatively unscathed. Even Brian, who was only limping a little bit.

In the meantime, Tracy had gone to get her car from the car park and when she arrived back to collect James to go the nearest A&E, James had wandered (well hobbled!)  off. She got the announcer to put out a call for him. I distinctly heard the announcer say “James, who’s hurt his ankle, your PARENTS are here to collect you.” At the hospital, there were several injured fell runners, all casualties of the conditions. Fortunately, none of them were seriously hurt and it says a lot for the sport that several people effectively gave up the race to help others. James received good news; his ankle was sprained not broken.

Back in Grasmere, Megan and Julie set off on the final leg. Julie was, its fair to say, quite worried. She was concerned for Megan as well as herself. She had no need to worry though. Megan arrived back in an excellent time of 53 minutes. Julie slid her way down and arrived back literally covered in mud.

Julie looking shell-shocked post run.

We didn’t win! But we finished and we weren’t last. GVS are back! Most of us were well out of our comfort zones – some more than others. But we all loved it and it was great fun. We have been comparing aches, pains and tick bites ever since….

Next year the relays are being organised by Dark Peak Fell Runners so will be somewhere in the Peak. We'll be there!

For more information and full results see https://britishfellrelays2018.org.uk/