Report by Giles Hawking
The Borrowdale Race is one of the ‘Classic’ English Fell races, a 17 mile beast that climbs Englands highest mountain Scafell Pike 977m , followed by Great Gable 899m and Dalehead 753m. The ground under your feet varies from knee/waist deep bogs, hard to navigate barren fell tops, mountain tops covered in broken slabs of rock which you hopefully leap from one to another, and perilous descents of loose scree or tussocky grass and protuding rock. All of which vie for the privilege of tripping/slipping you up and sending you hurtling into some very unforgiving rocks. Serious accidents have occurred on this race so it is not one for the faint hearted or inexperienced.
Your very reasonable £6 entry fee gets you the chance to partake in a massive challenge, running up and upon Cumbria’s most magnificent mountains and above it’s beautiful valleys and lakes. Your reward for completing the arduous task is not a t-shirt or medal, just pride, satisfaction and a cup of tea and a sarnie in the village hall afterwards.
Knavesmire had a good number of entrants in the race this year with Barry Atkinson , Richard Ashcroft, Simon Collins , Anwen Darlington and Chris Roberts securing places before the race was declared full. Thanks to the FRA facebook page and the permission of the race organisor Giles Hawking and Tom Ratcliffe were able to gain unwanted places the day before the race.
So Knavesmire’s magnificent seven arrived at Rosthwaite in the Borrowdale valley for the start of the race on Saturday morning . The main discussion point was would it be possible to just wear a YKH vest or would a warmer base layer be required . It was pleasantly warm in the valley, with clear skies and copious sunshine, but in the Lakes appearances can be deceptive and conditions changable. The majority went with a base layer, the minority just the vest reasoning the strenuous excercise would provide the warmth, and we all had the mandatory inclement weather clothing in our bumbags.
Anwen approaches Honistor Pass
Anwen Darlington was Knavesmires star runner on the day , claiming a prize for being ninth Lady, with a time of 04h 16m 06s. Anwen has already run strongly in the Duddon Valley and Wasdale races this year, starting steady and working her way up the fields . I ran with Anwen, Tom and Simon early in the race up the relentlessly steep Bessyboot, before pulling ahead on the boggy stretch behind Glaramara, after only narrowly staying ahead of Anwen at the Duddon race I feared she would possibly catch me by the end of this race. Looking nervously back as I started the ascent of Scafell Pike at Esk Hause I could not see any Knavesmire runners behind me so I was somewhat suprised when Anwen flew past me on the scree descent (Corridor route ) after Scafell Pike. Anwen looked and sounded like she was having way to much fun as she surfed downwards atop tonnes of the loose rock giving way beneath our feet. Her decending technique and stamina over the latter stages of the race were far superior to mine so that was the last I saw of her.
Chris Roberts was equally suprised when nearing the base of the last long descent off Dalehead he passed through a gate and turned around to find Anwen was only a few metres behind him,he had been 10 minutes ahead earlier, it was only Chris’ pace on the flat 3/4 mile stretch to the finish that kept him ahead with a time of 4h 14m 19s for 114th.
Tom Ratcliffe enjoying the fine weather
Barry Atkinson was another to pace the race well , saving energy for the big climbs and working his way up the field. At Honistor Pass he was with Tom and Simon, but when most could only manage to walk up the final climb to Dalehead, Baz still had the strength to run all the way up, leaving Tom and Simon in his wake and overtaking myself on the way down. Despite having turned his weak ankle he was still faster than I through the tricky slate quarries .
Chris Roberts
Barry finished in 140th time 04:32:22
Giles Hawking 144th time 04:33:36
Tom Ratcliffe 175th time 04:45:12
Simon Collins 177th time 04:46:39
Richard Ashcroft 249th time 05:38:57
Simon gets paced to the finish by his family
The race was won by Ricky Lightfoot with a time of 02:54:14, and Jasmin Parris almost beat the Ladies record time with 03:15:33 and 15th overall.
266 runners completed the race and there were additionally 20 retirements.
Just the vest was the right decision.
