Edale Skyline Fell Race (21 miles / 4500’)

The clubs fell runners ventured to the Peak District for the first time and took on one of the longest fell races in the UK. Clem Dixon, Steve Brown, Paul Kent, Mark Newell and Ian Marshall made the journey to the village of Edale which is situated in a lovely valley with spectacular views of a lot of the course up on the skyline.

The weather on Sunday was cool but a beautiful blue sky. A very thorough kit inspection at registration and then a long walk uphill to the start field in the photo. Uphill from the off and a good 20 minute climb including some easy scrambling to the summit of ‘Ringing Roger’. Once this initial climb was over you were on the ‘skyline’ and from then on there was some good running along ridges though you had to be mindful of some rocky sections. The views all around were just fantastic. After a few miles a long run down through a forest towards Ladybower Reservoir and then the start of two long climbs ‘Win Hill’ and ‘Lose Hill’. Once Lose Hill was summited the major objective was to get to the first cut off point at Mam Nick in 3 hours which all five us managed though a close call for some! The second cut off was at Edale Cross after 4 hours, again everyone made it. The path towards Edale Cross was over the notoriously boggy ‘Brown Knoll’ but the route was made easier with the laying of approx. 2 miles of flagstones! Quite a job.

After Edale Cross a short climb up for the final 3 miles around to the last checkpoint at ‘Ringing Roger’. This section was quite difficult as there were many huge Millstone Grit boulders to negotiate. The descent down to the finish was initially steep and quite tricky but then a final dash across the grass and finish. In the sunshine a spectacular course but very exposed.

Clem had an excellent run finishing as 3rd MV50.

RESULTS