The Hodgson Brothers Mountain Relay returned on Sunday, an event second only to the FRA Relays in terms of numbers and prestige in the fell running community. Always a fantastic day, it’s a super well organised affair thanks to different Lakes club and local Patterdale organisations. The weather did its best to derail proceedings but fellrunners and marshals are a hardy bunch so with gritted teeth and an extra mandatory long sleeve layer, 71 teams set off from the very waterlogged cricket field.
Dan and Sasha led us off on L1, which basically climbs to a tarn then descends off a cliff, running strongly to handover in 3rd behind Keswick and Ambleside. Sam and I began L2 at Hartsop in ideal position with 2 teams to chase as we climbed up to High Street. It was wild at the summit which we reached just ahead of the Ambleside pairing, but the clag cleared just as we hit the trod contouring round Thornthwaite Crag – Keswick taking a higher line allowing us to sneak in to the lead. A lead we held across Caudale Moor, bog-hopping before a greasy descent to Kirkstone Pass to hand over to Iain and Will. They weren’t quite expecting us so early, so with only half a warmup they set off in to the clag up the punishing Red Screes climb. With solid nav and line choices they finished L3 right in the mix just behind Calder Valley. Finn and Ali set off on L4 with a 10 second deficit to chase to a podium spot, and ran an extremely strong leg over St Sunday Crag to bring us home in 3rd.
An excellent result, sets us up nicely for British Relays in a couple of weeks where the club will turn out 4 strong teams – WSen, MV40, and MSen 1 and 2.
Full results: https://www.
Eóin Lennon