Ragleth fell race

Fell races Race Reports

The final race in the Shropshire summer series started in Little Stretton on a pleasant summer’s evening, with 96 hardy souls (and soles!) crossing the two streams before the first steep climb up to the summit of the Callow, then a gentle slope down to a path climbing diagonally across, into a bright evening sun, before the next descent to the bottom of Callow Hollow. From there there was a narrow sheep path winding along above a steep drop down to the stream, until we were directed over, or rather through, said stream and once more up to the top of the Callow before dropping down to the finish, following the route we’d taken at the start. Tom, having decided to rest his hip, still causing problems after his fall at Rodney’s Pillar, was on the grassy slope above the finish to welcome the three Croft runners as they finished: Emma, me and Gary. He was thus also able to appreciate the speed and strength of the leading runners (none of the above!), who bounded up the slopes, enabling them to finish in a little over 27 minutes. Emma nonetheless did extremely well, over what is said to be the toughest of the summer races (7.5km, 1400′ climb), finishing 4th senior lady, 48th overall, in 38.58. I could see her about 100m ahead of me as she reached the top of the Callow the second time, but that translated into a lead of well over a minute by the time I crossed the line, in 40.19, in 57th place. Gary, the only other over 70, still suffering from an ankle injury, was 75th, in 44.20. Having completed enough races to qualify for the overall placings, Gary will be the summer series MV70 champion – congratulations to him.

                

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