Highs and Lows - June 2009

I’m writing this at a time of recent highs and lows but with a bright and exciting forthcoming few months. Having just about recovered from the ‘best ever’ GL3Day, (more of this later) we had to then take the agonising decision to cancel this year’s Hebridean Challenge; not the best ever move for a new ‘Race Director’. This was sadly due to not having received enough entries to quite justify staging the full event. However, in it’s place, there will be a ‘Friends of The Heb’ activity weekend+?, on The Isle of Skye over the weekend of 3-6th July with plenty to do... The plan is to be based at The Sligachan Campsite right in the centre of Skye, with ready access to the trails and mountains of the Black and Red Cullin. MTB trails and road cycle loops exist right from base. Sea kayaks can be launched within yards of the campsite, and the pub is even nearer! One returning racer has commented, ‘Good...I’ve never actually stayed on Skye- seems a lot less stressful than doing the race!

I know there is already a lot of interest in this weekend, as many Heb Racers have committed holiday time to travelling to Skye and maybe beyond to the islands of Harris and Lewis. Why not take an overnight trip from Skye to Harris and cycle the classic MTB loops within riding distance of the ferry, or run the Clisham mountain horseshoe? Overall the long weekend will be challenging, fun, and sociable. What I do need is 'expressions of interest' so that I can make appropriate plans. Further details will be firmed up as soon as we can; there is no charge for attending, you just pay for your camping directly to the site and come and join in, everyone is welcome ... and I want to hear your views and opinions in readiness for The Heb 2010.

Dockray-Hartside Fell Race – Wednesday 17th June

Contrary to early rumours, this race is ‘on’ with the new date of 17th June. Details are as before, 7pm start, but with parking and registration from The Quarry Car Park, down the Aira Force Road. The distance is about 6miles with 1900’ of ascent. It’s a traditional low-key fell race for experienced fell runners – don’t forget your gear!

NAV4 – September – Mountain Marathon training weekend.

Looking further ahead, our Autumn NAV4 course in September will be based once again at Borrowdale YHA and feature an ‘OMM focus’ in readiness for this years OMM event. Following our very successful and well proven programme, we are fortunate enough to have access to last year’s competition area and with original copies of the event map available there has never been a better opportunity to prepare and refine your mountain marathon skills. The date is set for 11-13th September and the price remains at just £195 per person on a half board accommodation basis. Given the excellent tuition and coaching, the amount of info you’ll absorb and the more than adequate food and accommodation at the Hostel, the course is excellent value for money.

Great Lakeland 3 Day.

This year’s event was superb, even though I say it myself! It was the twelfth edition of GL3D and the best yet. Perhaps it has taken me twelve years to perfect but this year each daily route was commended, the overnight camps spectacularly located and even the weather conspired to give an adventurous twist to Day Three! Best of all were the stunning performances from the competitors, with just about everyone completing all three days; not one person opted out for the ‘lantern rouge’ even on Day Three – not that we have a sweep bus, anyway. Big thanks must go to everyone, all participants, runners and helpers alike. It’s a team effort... Thank you.

Racing Ahead...

On the personal racing front, Wilko and myself will be competing in the Open12 and 24 races as part of the Endurance Series, and I’m really looking forward to it. I hope to see you there, come and say ‘hello’ and I’ll try and answer any questions you have about NAV4 or The Heb, etc.

Have fun, be safe...

Joe

Dockray-Hartside Fell Race - Wednesday 17th June

A new date has been fixed for Dockray-Hartside. The shuffling of dates is due, in part to the Keswick Mountain Festival and swopping dates with the Latrigg race. Also, now that Tebay is a weekend Championship race the local calendar is appears a bit short of mid-week races. The following is the summary from the FRA calendar, which will be familar to many of you;

WED.JUN 17. DOCKRAY - HARTSIDE (R). AM. 7.00 p.m. 6m/2000' from Dockray village. Registration and parking at "Quarry Car Park" (GR 397211). £1. ER/NS/LK. Over 18. Records: 47.00 B. Bardsley 2007; f. 53.56 V. Wilkinson 2005. Toilets at Aira Force car park. No safety pins. DO NOT park at the Royal Hotel before or during the race. Details: Joe Faulkner, High Brow, Tirril, Penrith, CA10 2LS. Tel: 07749 364248. Email: faulknerjoe@hotmail.com Website: nav4.co.uk

What this all means is that the race will follow the same route as in previous years, to the same start and finish format. The Landlord and has staff are all very friendly and supportive of the race, and we encourage you to drink and eat there, if and when you can. However, his car park is not big enough for all of us, and it is unreasonable that we grid-lock it during the race when he needs it for evening meal customers. Consequently, parking and registration is at the 'Quarry Car Park' 700m down the road towards Aira Force. There are public toilets at Aira Force also. Please leave your cars at that car park and walk/jog to the start, it's a good warm up or cool down, then join us in The Royal for a drink.

Route advise to follow, and I'll maybe try and upload a map, but please tell your friends and clubmates and come along to a 'reet good run'

Joe

Great Lakeland 3Day 2009

It's all over!
GL3D 2009 was quite simply the best yet. An excellently positioned Start/Finish venue, quality campsites each with stuningly simple facilities and settings, and overall great routes offering varied terrain and interesting route choices. Third time participant, Simon Caldwell has posted some beautiful images at the following site which shows The Lakes in all it's glory..
http://climbing.me.uk/GL3D09/index.html

Thank you to everyone who came and contributed to an excellent. Full results and a brief, initial report are on our new website http://www.nav4.co.uk/ and I'll be posting further thoughts here, soon.

Joe

Dockray-Hartside 2009.... a Howling Success!

A high quality field of talented and suitably experienced athletes completed the Dockray-Hartside last night with Steve Howe, Shaun Hardisty and Andrew Murray overcoming very challenging wet and windy conditions to claim top honours, in a time of around 1hr 12minutes. I am grateful to Ken Ledward for overcoming tough the conditions on top of Hart Crag as our checkpoint marshall

A further date will be confirmed shortly for a second Dockray race, later this summer. Dockray has a long history in fell running, and The Royal Hotel continues to play a part in that history. Long may it continue...

Dockray-Hartside Fell Race - Weds 6th May 7:00pm

Probably the lowest low-key fell race possible – details and format as usually. Parking and registration, from 6:15pm at ‘The Quarry Car park’ 700m down the road from Dockray towards Aira Force. The route goes up the road from Dockray to High Brow, Hartside and Common Fell checkpoints. It’s about a six mile race, with around 2000’ of tough climbing on rough and open fell. You need navigational skills and experience. Kit requirement is a wind/waterproof jacket with head covering, and a map or sense of direction, as a minimum. No prizes, no faff... just buy beer or in The Royal Hotel afterwards. Please, please, please... Please do not park in the hotel car park before and during the race - toilets are available at Aira Force. The landlord is very friendly but doesn’t deserve to have his car park grid locked for two hours during potential evening meal service times. I’m still hopeful to stage an additional longer race from Dockray later in the summer so your co-operation, consideration and contribution to that cause are all very important.

Many thanks. Joe

GL3Day - 'Final Info' update

Today I have been busy beavering away with prep and admin for GL3Day, and I'm really excited about venues and route we have in store this year. We've a great start/finish location and two cracking overnight campsites.

The 'Final Details' info has just been emailed, or posted, to the 44 hardy souls who currently make up the start list. If you are expecting them and haven't yet received them, perhaps your email has gone astray or I've pressed the wrong button, sorry! Please do send me an email if you haven't received the info. Also there are a few spare places available for anyone who is interested in entering - full details on the website, of course, and via email.

I'm well aware that our website development hasn't quite reached it's peak yet, hence the old site is more than a 'tad' out of touch, but we really are in the final stages with the new site, so adding anything new to the old site isn't really worth it.

More news soon ... enjoy Easter hols

Joe

NAV4 photos

Just a quick posting ... as John has upload loads of great photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/36939906@N04/sets/72157616167160822/ now you can see what happens during a NAV4 training event, at least in good weather!

Find out more at www.joefaulkner.com.

Joe