Hill Forts and Headaches 2009

Having enjoyed last years event, it was back down to Rothbury for the Hill Forts and Headaches Fell Run(see last years entry). My down-hilling attributes were given a day off as its 3 miles of uphill only from Rothbury High Street up through fields and clipped moorland onto the rocky Simonside Crags. Today it was bathed in crisp sunshine, no mud and the ground firm but rarely icy. Sixty two runners set off for the event. Their presence marked them out from 99% of the remaining population who, I thought, would be steadying themselves in the kitchen trying to find the kettle or an ice-pack at that time of the morning.

It was good to see a few juniors scattered in the field; except, that is, for the youngster wearing a Helm Hill Vest who spent the whole race about 10 seconds in front of me. I slipped from 6th to 8th in the last stretches as I was overhauled by Andy Kitchin (Lothian) whom I spent some time following in the 2007 Pentland Skyline. The other runner to get past was Graham Burns (DFR) who had a strong finish to take 7th place. Times were faster this year than last.

Nick Swinburn was expected to appear but had decided, instead, to run (and win) the Morpeth 11k later in the day; so it was left to his team-mate Phil Sanderson (NFR) to hare away from the pack to win in 22:32 from Will Horsley (and dog) and Clayton's Tim Edwards 3rd. Adam Fletcher (Berwick) also had a good run. Cath Davis (NFR) won the women's race from Claire Bruce (Morpeth) and Sarah Henry (Alnwick-pictured). A superb day for photos and this year the soup was creamy leek and potato. The first junior runner finished 5th overall and I reckoned he was about 15; talented lad (even if I say so myself!). I finished in 24:43 and a bit quicker than 2008, which lets face it, is progress. More photos to follow on Flickr...(Check out the camera trix underneath Phil in the group photo!)

Hill Forts Fell Run, Rothbury

It was a day for celebration; another year, another gift of time and another incident of sheer incredulity as I raised the boot of the car to reveal no fell shoes whatsoever.....; In my eagerness to wish in the new year I had emptied the boot of all things terrestrial and was left to run 3 miles and 1000ft , all uphill, in my smooth best Sunday road Nike Pegasus's...As I lined up it was like sending out the brownies at the Somme... Hence when things began to get a bit tasty up past Garleigh Moor and just beyond Lordenshaw car park , traction, adhesion (and anything else ending in shon) all went east and I lost any semblance of forward movement in an effort to remain upright. Only the lentil and ham soup and rolls at the Newcastle Hotel after the event saved the day. Went from 6th to 8th when we hit the mud and it finished that way in around 26 minutes. Gary Jones of NFR led all the way until the final 40 metres when a rejuvenated Martin Frost (V40:North Shields Poly) took flight and stole the show. Gary's time was 24:59. Nick Golightly was 3rd (NSPoly) and the fight for 4th was won via a workmanlike effort from Tim McCall (Norham) who beat Andy McQuade and Rob Hall of Blyth. Veronique Oldham (Norham) pipped Les Turnbull (pictured above & also Norham) for 9th. She also broke the womens record by over 1 minute from previous holder Beverley Whitfield. NFR won the mens team prize and Alnwick women, the women's team prize!