Sticking With Tradition

Over the last few weeks with my training going ok I decided to take part in a few fell races. The first being at Killington Sports nr Kirkby Lonsdale. This is a traditional sports held on a Thursday night in a beautiful part of South Cumbria and is possibly the oldest sports running. The course is short but tough, starting from the sports field it rises gently through the first few fields then onto a steep grass track which brings you out to just below a television transmitter, from here it drops down through a few gates to the bottom of the last hill you climb, after turning the top you return the same way you came back to the sports field. The winner of the race was Danny Parkinson from Kendal in a time of 10 min 51 seconds, with Tom Addison from Helm Hill Runners a close 2nd. As for myself I managed to finish 16th in 14 mins 21 second so was pleased with my run considering I've still not 100% recovered from my injury.

Lowgill Sports 

The next race was on Saturday night at Lowgill Sports near Bentham, this too is a traditional sports which has been held as long as Killington. Lowgill  has had some great names over the years that have won the senior fell race with the likes of Mike Hawkins, Steve Carr, and most notably Fred Reeves from Coniston who won the race no fewer than 11 times. Over the years I can remember some great running at Lowgill with some sizeable fields of runners in both junior & senior races, Juniors regular attracting 30 plus & the seniors 60+. How times have changed though, this year the Senior fell race of approx 4.5 miles could only attract 7 runners which is a great shame for such a great sports a challenging fell race that sets off  from the top of the hill on the sports field and drops down through the fields to a bridge which you cross then climb up the steep hill on the other side of the valley. Once you reach the top of the hill you climb over a fence then make your way across a field to another stile in a fence which you take and make your way across the moor to White Moss trig point were you turn and head south. After approx 800 meters you come to a road which you cross then climb a gate and run through 2 fields that brings you to the top of a wood where you make your way back down to the bottom of the valley and cross the bridge again and make your way back upto the sports field to the finish. This has got to be one of the hardest finishes to a fell race for miles around and over the years there has been many a race won and lost on this part of the course. Winner of the fell race was Paul Lambert from Ingleton, I do not have 2nd place finishers name, 3rd Steve Carr from Kendal, with myself 4th. For anyone reading this why not come along to Lowgill Sports next year and support a trully great traditional sports.   

View from the top of the wood with sports field in the background