Day 7

Our final post of the 7 day isolation. No better way to finish.

The Sea Level to Sea Level British Three Peaks by bike.

Although this wasn’t an Ellenborough challenge, but one that deserves a mention and no better way to finish. It was completed by one of our runners, Chris Lister. Supported by a few other Ellenborough runners on each of the 3 peaks. Not forgetting the two lads who supported in a van for the whole duration. Feeding and encouraging while sleep deprived themselves. Darren Fawcett and Ken Turner.

So, at 16:45 on the 25th August 2017. Chris set off from the sea at Caernarfon. A short ride to the base of Snowdon, where he then ran to the summit, at 3,560 ft, with Chris Knowles and Calum Tinnion before heading back down and onto the bike.
It's then a short 172 Mile ride to Langdale 😲. It was then another run, this time to the summit of Scafell Pike at 3,209 ft. Joined by Calum (again) and Rich McGrath.
Onto the final peak, a 242 Mile ride to Glen Nevis where he began the final climb, Ben Nevis at 4,409 ft. Joined by Nick Ray.
Once back down he had to quickly bike to the sea at Fort William.

39 hours 33 minutes after starting this attempt. A World Record.

To read a full report of the adventure, follow the link below
http://ellenboroughac.com/2017/3-peaks-by-bike-chris-lister/

Day 6

Our roots:
Ellenborough AC was started in 1958 by Raymond & Mary Thompson.
In 2009 a senior men’s team was put together and introduced Ellenborough AC to the fell running fraternity. In it’s first year we were lucky enough to gain a place in the Hodgson Brothers Mountain Relay (HBMR). On this occasion we finished 32nd out of the 66 teams. Not bad for a team of eight, three of whom were over 50 years old. We have been going ever since. Still only a small group, but always very competitive.

The following year on October 3rd 2010, Ellenborough AC again put together a team of runners to compete in the Hodgson Brothers Mountain Relay.

For 2010 we had ambitions to do better. We had gained a couple of good runners in Richard McGrath and Gavin Pattinson. Paul Richardson, at 16 years, was eligible to run the short leg with a senior runner (with short legs). Ricky and Brian were as fit as ever. Nick Ray and Andrew (Tina) Turner were paired together and up for it. We reasoned that a top twenty place was not out of the question!

On the day, all were gathered at Sykside camping park, Brotherswater in Patterdale: The start/finish point of the race. Leg one took in Dove Crag, Red Screes and the baton was handed over at Kirkstone Pass. Our leg one runners were Richard and Gavin who came in 16th at the changeover. Sixteenth would be a great result if we could hold it to the end. Leg two was in the hands of Brian and Ricky. The High Street leg, comprising Ravens Edge, Caudale Moor, High Street summit, The Knot and finish at Hartsop. For some reason they seemed disappointed with their run, saying, “we could have done this” and “we should have done that”. The rest of us were far from disappointed, we were up to eleventh, a gain of five places. Speaks for it’s self.

Leg three and Paul is off up the road with Jackie Wynn. Up the road and on to steep climb up Calf Gate Gill, taking us to Angle Tarn. We must have done something right, because we descended the fell and entered the show field at Patterdale in the same eleventh place that we set off in. Eleventh fastest on the leg, according to the stats. Not bad for the youngest and oldest members of the team!

Leg 4. The last leg. Patterdale and up over St.Sunday Crag, Fairfield, Hart Crag and that steep, steep descent off the side of Hartsop Above How. For this we had Andrew and Nick. If fellrunners were horses, then these two would be shire horses. When they go down hill you get out of the way. There were faster runners on this leg, but there were just as many who were slower. So, there we all were, on the campsite watching the winning teams come in, waiting and wondering if we would get our top twenty finish. I can’t tell you how good it felt to see them come off the fell, and in tenth position! But then, disappointment. They were overtaken on the run in by the Wharfdale team, (who, it turns out, had followed them in cos they didn’t know the way). Disappointment? No! We were eleventh! eleventh! And look behind, following us in were Rob Jebb and Ian Holmes, only two of the best fellrunners ever. Icing on the cake!

What to say? Unless you know the history of this race. Unless you’re a fellrunner, you won’t appreciate how good it was to come in eleventh in the Hodgson Brothers Mountain Relay. Little old Elbra, whod’a thought.

Every year since the fell running team was formed, we have entered a team into the HBMR. Lets hope everything has settled out by October and we can once again have a team ready to race 🤞