Black Combe. On the start line ( a new improved road start, rather than that mad dash up the fields to that narrow gate) it was hot, sunny, near the top of Black Combe it got colder a bit. Those young fastun’s , including Mick and Gavin, saw the impending storm and scurried down to the valley bottom , with the protected climb back up. For us others, the hail lashed across, as we were heading for White Combe. Stinging, hurting hail. Runners sat down, out came leggings, tops, hat and gloves, and the warmth came back again. Of course the sun later came out all the way home.
A very strong field, and especially good to see so many Dark Peakers realising the importance of getting that first Lakeland hill in the legs. Rob Jebb was first, ahead of Carl Bell who, by 2 minutes, managed the fastest final descent. Mick and Gavin deprived other hopefuls of the V50 prizes. A welcome visit from Clare Oliffe, and hopefully more Ladies on the starting lines?
As for kit, this was the perfect example of why we take it. Hot and sunny at the bottom, potential dangerous exposure up top. Full body cover goes in the bag to every race, now’t more to be said. Results 
On that final descent…..
Cloud Nine. - Results. Another of these huge fields, 406 runners.
Lad’s Leap. A mention was made (at Silecroft) of nesting birds, maybe on that part between the top path and the loop circuit, so we may??? be flagged over nearby rough stuff, rather than the path. Men’s Entry List. Ladies Entry List
High Peak Marathon- from the Sport Ident website
| 1st | Flipper’s Gang | M | 09:08:22 | |
| 2nd | High Peak Rollerbladers | MIX | 09:25:31 | |
| 3rd | Avon Mountain Athletes | M | 09:32:01 | |
| 4th | 3 Blind Mice and a Farmer’s Wife | MIX | 09:34:18 | |
| 5th | Crazy Diamonds | M | 09:36:19 | |
| 6th | Return of the Dark Side | M | 09:37:30 | |
| 7th | Tiggers Brown Vests | MIX | 09:50:30 | |
| 8th | Carnethy HRC | M | 09:51:37 | |
| 9th | Questionable Bearings | M | 10:10:33 | |
| 10th | Run MDC | MIX | 10:11:00 | |
| 11th | Young and Old | M | 10:17:47 | |
| 12th | Aston Roller Skaters | M | 10:21:01 | |
| 13th | Team Accelerate | MIX | 10:21:41 | |
| 14th | Team Krypton | M | 10:22:34 | |
| 15th | Half Man Half Totley | M | 10:49:33 | |
| 16th | Calder Somnambulists | M | 10:49:34 | |
| 17th | Bowline bog trotters | M | 10:54:17 | |
| 18th | Ollie Burrows Memorial Team | M | 11:10:48 | |
| 19th | Mahogany Ridge Runners | M | 11:14:16 | |
| 20th | Tötley Crüe | M | 11:15:31 | |
| 21st | Bog Warriors | M | 11:18:51 | |
| 22nd | Dark Peak Ladies Accelerate | F | 11:26:59 | |
| 23rd | Team Pot Noodle | M | 11:37:35 | |
| 24th | Team Flapjack | M | 11:45:20 | |
| 25th | Tritrytriagain (Derby) | M | 11:47:05 | |
| 26th | Nine nails and a roll of gaffer tape | MIX | 12:00:36 | |
| 27th | The Eldon | M | 12:03:23 | |
| 28th | For Goodness Shakes! | MIX | 12:14:54 | |
| 29th | Penny Lane | M | 12:18:38 | |
| 30th | Buxton | M | 12:21:24 | |
| 31st | Retford Rogues | M | 12:28:26 | |
| 32nd | Highly Peculiar Clowns (HPC 1) | M | 12:38:08 | |
| 33rd | No Sheep Till Buxton | M | 12:48:20 | |
| 34th | Dallam Doofers and a Furness Flatlander | M | 12:55:58 | |
| 35th | Sleepmonsters | MIX | 13:07:24 | |
| 36th | White Peak 1 | M | 13:20:17 | |
| 37th | Totley in Tiaras | MIX | 13:24:00 | |
| 38th | The Equine Behind Strikes Again | F | 13:48:08 | |
| 39th | Sheffield Bog Sinkers | M | 13:48:58 | |
| 40th | Just Popping Out For Some Bread | M | 13:50:40 | |
| 41st | Carteghena Wolves | MIX | 13:52:44 | |
| 42nd | Rodney Rawlinson’s Pocket Rockets | MIX | 13:53:33 | |
| 43rd | Lost Lads | M | 14:15:41 | |
| 44th | CamRacers | MIX | 14:17:51 | |
| 45th | Fat Bottomed Girls +1 | F | 15:13:18 | |
| 46th | Royces Rollers | M | 16:45:35 | |
| 47th | Brandon and the Bagmen | M | 17:51:17 | |
| DNF | PremierQuest | M | rtd |
March 1st – entries. Jura - The required entry form is on the Homepage. Also the AL English Championship – Great Lakes Run,maybe from Ambleside website , but more likely to go direct with the standard FRA Entry Form.
and Arrochar Alps, on the Westerlands site ( AL British Championships).
Tuesday – Sedbergh 3 Peaks. Yet a third Championship course….
Weekend after. Our carload is calling in for the Sunday Ian Roberts race, and then drifting over to Crowden, so if anyone wants to join us for a plod round Lad’s Leap, look out for us in the afternoon.