I had an interesting and surprisingly satisfying run today at my second Really Wild Boar Fell race (5 miles/1401ft) near the hamlet of Street off the A683 Kirkby Stephen/Sedbergh road. There was a lot of clag and it was very windy on the tops which led to a few runners getting lost (me included) and wandering in the mist looking out for shadowy figures of runners and bumping into several fell ponies! I was fortunate to be with a small group and was led back on the quick descent back down the bridle path to the finish. Quite a few runners missed the last checkpoint and we passed them as they were having to run back. This meant I was quite a few places higher than I should have been, but I will gladly snap up any advantages in a race.

I finished 78th out of 99 runners. Many of the fell running elite were out, including Mr Dave McGuire, for your typical fell race: cost 4 quid, registration out of a camper van and a couple of checkpoints that consisted of you dropping a token in a bucket. The winner was Carl Bell (Keswick), second Joe Baxter (Pudsey & Bramley), third Ted Mason (Wharfedale), Rob Jebb (Helm Hill) was well placed too. The female winner was Sharon Taylor (Helm Hill), second was Rachel Pilling (Pudsey & Bramley) and third Debbie McGowan (Accrington). Helm Hill won the female team prize, Pudsey & Bramley first men’s team. Next year’s race will be going on tour and to fit in with the FRA dinner to be hosted by P&B will be held in Ilkley around the weekend of the 9/10 November 2018.

–Sharon Williams


Sharon with her eyes on the prize. Plus some boars. And a Fishwick. Image by @fellrunninbrief