09/11/2008 by Gerry.

Sue & Gerry headed up to mid Wales (near Dolgellau) for the last of the 2009 Welsh Fell Running championship races. Rhobel Fawr was a simple up and down race - no difficult route finding, just strength for the climb and speed and skill for the descent. For me I was certainly lacking the former and not too gifted in the skill stakes either!

Sue had a good race. She beat me to the top (1,900 ft of climb) by 5 minutes and overall by more than 6 minutes (so my descent wasn’t too bad after all).

This effort gave her the course record for her category and confirmed her place as W50 Welsh Fell Running Champion.

Useful links - Welsh FRA;  Gerry’s Weblog of the event

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13/10/2008 by Gerry.

There were so many Harriers I sort of lost count - apologies if I got any of this wrong, I wasn’t taking notes and the results aren’t up yet!

Martin led the field home in 3rd place followed by Steve Caldwell in 4th overall, they both got prizes. May I add the prizes are always imaginative, I believe they got tickets to Wookey Hole and a round of golf respectively.

Matthew Stott next, then Mr Lawson, then Steve Harris.

After Steve H came Andy Blackmore and Andy Stott who seemed to have had a good battle for the finish with Andy B catching Andy S a few 100 yds before the line. Nick Battersby came in next 2 weeks or so after his marathon.

Bill Savage next, then Ian Wade. Gerry Ashton next, then Colin Prosser (I think), Geoff Bayliss, Steve Hill (or was Steve before Geoff? I am really not sure…), Dave Andrews and Philip Scriven. Sorry guys, there were so many of you I should have brought a notebook! Feel free to correct me where errors have been made!

Of the girls, Niki had a great run in a great time despite tough conditions, followed by Sue A (2nd in her age group - wine and chocolates - on her birthday!) and Esther. Then came Gill Stott (also got a prize) while Berna and Jane Bayliss came in together.

Times were slower than in the past, the winner was a long way off the course record. I am told the conditions were tough underfoot and the heat did not help. Reuben kept commenting that ‘they have been swimming’ when the runners came past us just before the line. It was good for spectating and cheering at the finish though. And the cakes and bacon rolls were excellent as usual.

Thanks Vanessa for the write up - taken from the BB - see there for more comments.

See also my personal blog entry for the Mendip Muddle - Gerry Ashton

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19/09/2008 by Gerry.

Andy Blackmore, Matthew Lawson and myself set out from Chepstow around 8am on a reasonably nice Sunday morning and arrived to register in Church Stretton about 10am. I took a last minute decision to take the 10.30am start (the official start being 11am) and there had also been a 10am when apparently quite a few set off.

The start was a mile from race HQ and I set off the wrong way – as usual – but soon got a lift from another runner and found myself at the foot of the Cardingmill Valley with two mature veterans and the lady who had so kindly offered me a lift.

The initial ascent, as previously reported, was runnable and we all set off at a sedate pace on a steady ascent next to the babbling brook.
The lady runner pulled ahead after about half a mile and I then pushed on as she got about 50 yards clear and we soon left the two old vets behind.

I then ascended another mile and was still feeling good but the weather was closing in and visibility was down to about 50 yards and at this stage I thought a path to the left was the right course but had lost sight of the front runner and decided to wait for the seasoned fell runners.

Waiting, I found I had made about 200 yards on the first of these 2 runners with the last man not in sight and upon his approach I asked for some navigational advice and he informed me that my route choice was a possible course but that he was going on up a bit. Graham, as it turned out, had done this race loads of times so I fell in with his pace and we carried on up the valley and had a bit of conversation about this and that including the fact that the bloke behind us would beat both of us with ease being a good descender.

We reached the first summit and checkpoint at Pole Bank in about 38 minutes and I felt I could have been going quicker but with visibility now down to about 20 yards I had no intention of going off into the unknown.
We finished the descent and reached the first water station at the same time as the first four runners who I was surprised to see stop and drink a full cup of water each before setting off again – probably with some sort of energy stuff. Anyway we did likewise and then I got a bit carried away with the field and left Graham behind as I took on Ragleth Hill where Matthew passed me towards the bottom and Andy Passed me towards the top.

The skies had cleared by this time and I was pleased with my descent holding off some of the mid-fielders and thinking – I’m definitely on for about 4 hours or better!

So, another drinks station and off up Caer Caradog – this one hurt a bit more than the first two and I was definitely slowing up but once at the summit I was able to run off and get lost round the side of the hill.

At this point I spotted Gerry Ashton descending back to my right and I altered course to the bottom of the hill just as Sue A arrived and we jogged round to the next water station. I was thinking at this stage that this long fell race stuff is a bit overblown on the fitness side and downed my water and headed up the Lawler and up and up.

I was going so slowly that Sue was able to trot ahead adjust her camera and get a photo of birthday boy before jogging off into the distance. Sue said that she felt the start of the race was a bit sparse on runners and actually spent a bit of time in last place which despite her second race of the weekend gives some idea of the quality of the field and confirmed my good decision in starting early.

The Lawler went on and on and on as the entire field apart from two passed me as I shuffled on up the hill. The sheep are so used to walkers that they just stand and watch but my approach must have appeared as the stealth of a fox as they spooked and ran, either that or the glint in my eye as a boy raised in the Ebbw Fawr valley before they piped it!
Eventually the trig point on some sort of mast came in view and I got my time from the marshal, kicked his rucksack - accidentally, and set off back down the hill as this is the out and in section of the race. However, now I felt everything hurt, particularly my knees, and could only slow jog in a zig zag back down the hill to the same water station and took another drink of water.

I had lost the rest of the field (apart from the two behind) and having taken directions and feeling a bit woozy I set off across several stiles and muddy fields back to the main road in a faltering walk jog. Now up to this point I was really impressed with everyone runners and marshals alike and I’m also probably doing this bloke down but Vanessa this may have been the one at Pole Bank when you did this race.

He said, do you want to go on – it’s about 4 or 5 miles of hard climb – or you could just turn left on the road and you’ll jog to the finish in 15 minutes – lots in front of you have!

The temptation was huge – on my approach he’d said -are you ok and I replied - no I’m all in! Why not I’d done most of it – in fact I’d never run 19 miles before never mind over hills – who would blame me!

I looked the guy straight in the eyes and said no I want to go up – he pointed me towards a nice lady with a bottle of water on the other side of the road and I began the last ascent to the Port Way.

To begin with this was OK and I jogged up the valley choosing to run in the stream at points for no particular reason. As the path began to steepen there was a choice to the left and my markings on the OE map suggested this was the route but I was unsure.

I looked behind and again Graham was about two hundred yards behind me and I decided to wait and seek his advice.
He said – well you can go that way but I’ll go on up the road for a bit first. So we then fell into a reasonable pace walk together and after about half a mile I believe I hit what is called the wall and got ever slower as Graham pulled ahead but waited on two occasions to offer moral support and some more navigational advice – which overall made us more than even as my earlier stops had been for my own benefit.

I was really struggling and chewed down my last energy bar on the way up which really at that stage should have been a gel as I needed a quick fix. So I struggled on very slowly and reached the last checkpoint at the Portway and set off for the last descent all the way back to Church Stretton – about 2 miles.

At this stage I think the energy bar started to work and I really started to perk up, spotted the 2 runners in front and headed off in pursuit. I hit the tarmac with about a mile to go and carried on picking up the pace passing Graham and the other runner (who had started at 11am) and finishing with a bit of a sprint finish and a minute or so ahead.

Andy and Matthew were dutifully waiting at the finishing line to cheer me in and I was mindful that I had kept them waiting ages and that we had all missed the presentations.

I made lots of mistakes and prepared poorly – mainly training and nutrition on the day – would I do it again? Damn right!
Will I do the Black Mountains – not a chance I couldn’t walk properly for 2 days – but this is what it’s all about and I’ll be back!
About 5 hours – what a doddle.

Don’t know the results as yet for everyone who took part but a great day all in all - endorphin heaven!!

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18/09/2008 by Gerry.

A fell race in hilly but perhaps not considered by the purist as a mountain environment. This was a long race - 19miles and about 4,500 feet of climb. A small contingent from Chepstow took part with Matthew Lawson the first of the club to finish in a good time of 2 hours 58 minutes.

This was my second attempt at the race - the first time I gave up at Lawley - about 2/3 of the way through - but this time managed to complete the full distance. I’m not too proud of the time 4 hours and 3 minutes - but at least I completed it.

There were 5 longish climbs on the route and a bit of route finding with some mist on top. The conditions meant that I pushed on the first section to keep in touch to avoid the need for my own active navigation, but I did get the compass out towards the end to make sure I was on route. It was long and hard - I wasn’t in full form on the day - and crawled into the finish.

Perhaps this is a good event as a first long fell race - never too far from civilisation. I still reckon the wilder events in the Brecons and Black Mountains are more of a challenge and more in keeping with the true fell running ethos. Look out for the Black Mountains due in a few weeks time. For more info please contact Sue or Gerry ashton.

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24/07/2008 by Gerry.

Syd has been busy going over his personal records and these have been the basis of a major update to the club records. Please have a look and advise me of any errors - use the form to claim your records.
Men’s Records
Women’s Records
Claim Form

(Apologies but when you close the form you get left on Club Events and Results Page)

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15/07/2008 by Gerry.

Chepstow men’s and women’s teams both won in Islwyn on 15th July.
Results from the race
Scores to date
Well done to all who ran.

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02/07/2008 by Gerry.

Now updated with the official results via Eric. Perhaps someone will edit this with a more detailed commentary - too late at night for me!

I remember the race from last year and despite that I turned up for another go. The walk from the car park seemed bad enough but was only a taster of the hills to come. Someone said there were only 2 hills - I think they were a bit economical with the truth. Anyway, we had a good turnout and my quick glance at the results suggests we won the men’s competition. Well done to all who competed. Official Results , Cumulative Results after 3 races

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27/04/2008 by Gerry.

The weather was better than I expected, the race went without a hitch and a good time was had by all. Well done to Martin Pengilly as the race director and to all his team.

The website has been updated with the results but you can also find them here:

Results

Links to Pictures -
Start
First Steep Descent
Lemmings Leap
Finish
Presentations

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11/04/2008 by Gerry.

Thanks to Vanessa and the other helpers. Results posted. Handicap Page

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09/04/2008 by Gerry.

Once you’ve done the Handicap on 10th April all are welcome at The Bell Hanger for a celebration, commiseration, feedback drink and / or curry.
Lou.

Edit: actually, you don’t have to have run the Handicap to come along to the Bellhanger - friends, Romans and countrymen are all invited. People ought to start arriving from 8:30pm, with food apparently available until 11pm there’s plenty of time to get the protein/carbs re-loading started… 

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