All manner of hoopla and congratulations to the DP men’s relay team at Patterdale today, with Rhys FR and Kris Jones overhauling the purple vests of 19-in-a-row-times-champions Borrowdale on the final leg of four to claim DP’s first open men’s victory at the event for twenty years (or ever?). Magnificent stuff from all concerned … and to put all sorts of lavish icing on the cake, the twittersphere is reporting victories also for DP’s vets (10th overall) and womens’ teams. Wow!
Looks like Borrowdale led at the end of each of the first three legs, with Rhys and Kris having to close a gap of about half a minute to Kim Collison and Phil Davies at the start of leg 4, before going on to win by a total margin of 4mins 40secs at the finish. Furthermore, @KeswickAC, Fitz and others are suggesting on twitter that the overall winning team time of 3:34:50 is a record for the event. A quick search on the HBMR website has drawn a blank as to the current (previous?) record time, but we’ll look to confirm this when we can.
John Hunt and Spyke ran the final leg for the Vets, which must have been a tense affair with them coming in just 43secs ahead of Ambleside Vets in second. Our pair were behind at Brotherswater, but levelled it up at St Sunday Crag, and pulled away just far enough.
Waiting for the twitterati to give us some more news on the Women’s Team, who are thought to have led home Helm Hill in 2nd and Keswick in 3rd.
More news in due course.
DT – Indeed it was a good day for the Relay Teams. At the prize giving it was announced that the old record for the men was beaten by 5 seconds (I think..) . Yes, Helm Hill and Keswick followed the Ladies home, and were closing in fast, but not fast enough.