“Eta 9pm”. Does Nicky want us to put the babycham on ice?
8.20pm. Just through Newlands. Evidently they’re not running backwards.
7pm. Another 40 mins gained against the schedule on leg 4 – impressive stuff from Kirsty, Alice and Penny – and Helen E, Clare O and Rachel H are off on the glory leg. It was only half an hour ago in the pub, whilst awaiting a rather fine curry order, that your correspondent finally bothered to check the actual current record (assuming no one else has posted a sneaky improvement this rainy June). It stands to Helm Hill at 21:48 in 2011, which means Helen et al have about four hours to get back to the Moot Hall … assuming, therefore, that they’re not running backwards, I think it’s safe to say they have this in the bag.
I’d like to claim I was stringing out the suspense over the day, but it’s actually just a case of shoddy journalism (where’s Dave Holmes when you need him?). The schedule I’ve been looking at is worked out on the basis of the best individual women’s legs over the past two years of the Billy Bland challenge, not the legs of the actual the Helm Hill record. So, as things stand, there’s a fair chance our rather talented ‘girlies’ (the webmaster’s term, I hasten to add, not mine), are about to smash the cumulative best women’s time for the BBR over the last two years. Can’t say fairer than that. Then again, I might just have got it all wrong again.
Should be through Honister about 7.35pm, if all goes well.
4.46pm. Sounds like Nicky and Pippa had a storming leg, in more senses than one – “we got all weathers – wind, rain, hail, clag, then some sun”. So far as I can tell they’re all now five minutes ahead of their tentative schedule – and therefore nearly half an hour ahead of record schedule … but I may have got that wrong (and Davids B and McG have just poured two pints of Blonde down my ever resistent gullet).
I see from a previous email that “I [Ms Spinks] think Leg 3 has room for massive improvement while on Leg 5 the record is only 5 minutes behind the men’s record and seems really fast so I’ve gone for midway [between the record and a DP 23:30 schedule]” – clearly got the first half of the prediction right; here’s hoping the rest of the schedule works out, and that Kirsty, Alice and Penny C, who’s also running leg four (as back up for Alice’s dodgy achilles, I think), can hold enough of this advantage for Helen E, Zanthe W (this time carrying plantar fasciitis), and Clare O (again as back up?) to bring home the bacon. What with all these injuries they’re carrying, perhaps we should put ’em all down once it’s over?
The news is good out of Wasdale. Back on schedule and Kirsty and Alice are on their way. Pippa’s had a bit of a tumble. Hopefully she’s got nowt worse than a bruise.
3.10pm. I’m assured it’s definitely them this time …
3pm. Sadly we need someone with better eyesight on the binos … It’s not Nicky and Pippa.
2.40pm. First sighting of leg 3 runners on screes descending Scafell. That sounds very promising. Does mean your correspondent is updating from a showery Mam Tor mind.
12.55pm. Leg 4 runners are en route to Wasdale. “Brightening up on coast, fog on fells, still windy”. It’ll no doubt be some time before we get a report out of Wasdale – 4pm at the very earliest is my guess. Good cheer to Kirsty and Alice R who (injury permitting) are next up.
10.30am. Nicky S and Pippa W just set off up Steel Fell. “Liz and Heather bang on schedule despite desperate conditions”. I think this means that there’s still a good deal to be made up over the remaining three legs if the record’s to be broken … and I’m guessing the rocks across to Scafell ain’t going to be pretty. Weather “OK” at Dunmail, but the forecast for the afternoon and early evening looks decidedly showery. Our crack leg five (gala – tee hee) runners may not have quite the dawdle that the original schedule allowed for. Careful on those rocks now, folks.
8.46am. Leg 3 runners getting ready to head up to Dunmail from the campsite at Thornthwaite (are you listening, Richard!!). Cleared a bit at sea level, but still showers on and off. Fingers crossed for more news around 10am (I’ve found my schedule – phew. Let’s hope it’s the correct one).
Through Threlkeld at 6.10am. “Horrid on tops. Nav hard in clag.” Don’t suppose the darkness will have helped there either. It’s Liz B, Heather M and Laura (G?) on leg 2. “Showers, but wind dropped a little”. I’ll have to go dig out that schedule Mistress Spinks sent round (on no accounts tell her I didn’t have it immediately to hand) … but it looks like they’ll be needing some better weather if they’re to have a realistic shot at the record. Go gals!
Ruth B and Debbie S set off past the Moot Hall night clubbers at 2am on the first leg of the Billy Bland relay. Wind’s dropped, and it’s warm and claggy, with a bit of rain. Good luck to all involved.