This Sunday two fine Carnethy Racing Teams journeyed south of the border to The Lake District. The Hodgson Brothers Mountain Relays are a highlight of any fell runners schedule, and the fine hamlet of Hartsop, Patterdale Valley is a superb host and fantastic arena for such a monumental day.
A few too many post Winterval beers on Thursday night inspired 8 brave Carnethians to make up the Open Team. And after some stern organisation the teams arrived spritely at the base of St. Sundays Crag on Sunday morning.
Helen and Heidi set the bar high with a ferocious first leg for the Ladies, handing the dibber over in 4th position. It was smiles all round after nipping at the boys heels on the climb, a swift traverse of Angle Tarn and the longest slip ‘n’ slide in the UK back down to the valley floor.
Clare and Nicola chopped and changed a few positions over High Street and came flying down into Kirkstone Pass to hand over to a chirpy Megan and Rosie.
With the day being as beautiful as it was, who can blame Rosie and Megan for opting in on unconventional route choices which offered the best views over Leg 3. It didn’t stop them from blasting the Leg and getting so carried away with the fun of a relay that Rosie even tried to Dib her head as a checkpoint during the descent.
It was the power duo of Lizzie and Pippa to finish off a great day for the Ladies Team with a mighty loop over Fairfield and St. Sundays to bring the Ladies Team home in 8th Position.
An equally exciting day for the Carnethy Open Team was kicked off with a stoic first leg from Felix ‘the goose’ Wilson and last minute call up Colm ‘might have had a cold’ Moran.
They set Iain and Liam off from the Leg 2 sheep pens with plenty of vests to chase down and many more to hold off! A sturdy gallop over to Kirkstone Pass and a few positions up the dibber was handed over to the heavyweight DD combo for the net downhill Leg 3.
After a healthy first climb paced by Dan with an ambitious mop up in mind, Dan soon had Dan on a lead which remained tight over Dove Crag until Dan came flying past Dan on the rapid descent and cleaned up a few more teams.
After some gentlemanly encouragement the infamous Carnethy Couple of Ali and Tim left Hartsop Hall in 6th gear and immediately found the hurt locker. A grimacing traverse of Hart Crag and St Sundays Crag they hurtled down with the 4th fastest leg and secured a top 10 finish for the Open Team with 9th place.
A fantastic day of fell running for all.
Dan Ashwood