Clay Bank West

Last race of 7 in the NE Counties Champs and one that I was keen to get to in order to complete 4 and count for the series overall. Bit of a haul all the way from Belford, but the fount of fell running knowledge that is Phil Green (You can rely on PG Tips!) gave good directions and I made it in time to join the queue (!) to enter. If queueing is a peculiarly British thing then surely queueing to enter a fell-race must be one of our ultimate perversities? Yes- it was a popular race and attracted a record entry despite the unpleasant weather. Eventually the organising crew whittled the queue down and set everyone on their way. We were on quite a steep incline up through the woods for the first few hundred metres until the track levelled and became a nice little stream! Some of the muddiest running I've encountered for a while! Great fun but occasionally treacherous with stones, potholes and tree-roots ready to snag the unwary. Being quite a short course, a little over 4 miles by my measurement, initial pace was quick- and combined with the climbing start, then boggy ground, made for a testing first couple of miles. Things didn't get any easier after that because once we left the swampy track along the wood edge it was to turn and climb again- across a field and then onto the open tops on stone flagged steps and path. A rocky scramble brought the course to it's high point at The Wainstones and then it was flatter for a while along the ridge with super views all round even through intermittent rain and sleet. Last bit was a quick descent from the ridge back down to the tree-line from whence we'd emerged, and then back to base down the first hill we'd taken on the out.
Right from the off it was Will Horsely who made the running. I've not seen him go from the front before but this was to be a tactic which put him in an untouchable lead before perhaps just a mile was done on this occasion. An impressive run. The next few places thereafter were hotly contested as a look at the results will show. The first two ladies Shelli Gordon and Charlotte edge also finished with just a hairs breadth between them! I managed a 10th overall which I was fairly happy with although I wasn't feeling  particularly strong at any point .Those more familiar with the course perhaps knew to temper the early enthusiasm and save a bit for later and I dropped 2 or 3 places to some who were stronger in the second half. I was cross at myself for missing an optional drop-off point from the ridge near the end that Mr. Green had forewarned me about. Taking the slightly longer route cost me a place in the last minutes. Even so I  somehow managed to get amongst the prizes which were- to say the least- abundant! In short, between them the various category winners, winning teams and other prize recipients took away an off-licence worth of wine! So- thanks to organisers from Esk Valley for hosting a super event. Results at their site: http://www.eskvalleyfellclub.org/results.htm and, along with series overall at NFR: http://www.northumberlandfellrunners.co.uk/