Confusion -15 April 2026
The Serious Warts had decided that this week’s venue was to be Strines at 5pm but, in the meantime, we were told that DPFR were reviving the Way Out West race as part of the Read more
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Having been warned off Fin Cop by the Chatsworth Estate because it had been declared an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), I took the race route over on to the other side of Monsal Dale through Brushfield Hough farm, this year. Interestingly I spoke to the farmer at Brushfield who tenants land including Fin Cop from Chatsworth Estate, and he had no idea that an SSSI had been declared.
A small but select field of ten assembled at 1 lam in the sports field of Ashford village. The heavy rain of the previous night had cleared, leaving us with sunny, warm conditions. As the church clock chimed eleven for the start we were still lacking our starter, Frank Galbraith, who some how had got lost between Thombridge and the sports field... so we started without him!
Roger Freeman soon pulled out a good lead on the track leading up to Monsal Head which he maintained on the descent into Monsal Dale. On the steep climb up Putwell Hill, Dave Holmes forced his way briefly into the lead but was then unable to hold off the strong climbing of Roger and Mike Pedley who were leading at Brushfield Hough Farm. Mike had been muttering before hand that he wasn\'t very fit for racing as he\'d just returned from a walking holiday in Iceland, so we expected him to go well.
From Brushfield the route descended steeply back into Monsal Dale to the crossing of the A6 at White Lodge. Soon Sheldon race route was joined with a fine steep and rocky ascent leading up from the date to the field below Sheldon. Roger began to open up a good lead with the field well spread out behind him. Misunderstanding between the race organiser and his chief marshal Colin Henson (who had not been given a map of the course) caused Colin to send the leaders on different routes into Sheldon than was intended. However Alan Yates and Hugh Cotton, who were having their own private battle, were unable to take advantage and close on the leaders.
The final descent from Sheldon took the runners down a lovely sward to finish by the river Wye at the bottom of the hill. If not finishing in the river we all plunged in afterwards. Times are somewhat provisional because although our starter and timekeeper had by now reappeared, he then had trouble with his stop watch!
Young Hamish Harmer, age 9, was followed home by Dad Andy and set a very useful time for future junior entrants. Helen Pedley said she enjoyed her third Ashford race except for an unintentional detour up Deep Dale. As for Geoff Harrison... we were still trying to work out next day how he managed to divert from the race route altogether and visit Litton Mill and Cressbrook Dale!
Next day a second group who had been unable to run the official race on the Saturday ran the course. What with the benefit of cooler conditions, an excellent and restful Saturday night BBQ laid on by Paul and Tracy Sanderson, and the absence of the official time keeper, comparisons between the two sets of times are somewhat meaningless. All were agreed on the excellent course which we will use again next year.
Hugh Cotton
Members can click on their name to see a results history
Thornbridge on Sat 15th Aug 1998
The third running and the third \"new\" courseHaving been warned off Fin Cop by the Chatsworth Estate because it had been declared an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), I took the race route over on to the other side of Monsal Dale through Brushfield Hough farm, this year. Interestingly I spoke to the farmer at Brushfield who tenants land including Fin Cop from Chatsworth Estate, and he had no idea that an SSSI had been declared.
A small but select field of ten assembled at 1 lam in the sports field of Ashford village. The heavy rain of the previous night had cleared, leaving us with sunny, warm conditions. As the church clock chimed eleven for the start we were still lacking our starter, Frank Galbraith, who some how had got lost between Thombridge and the sports field... so we started without him!
Roger Freeman soon pulled out a good lead on the track leading up to Monsal Head which he maintained on the descent into Monsal Dale. On the steep climb up Putwell Hill, Dave Holmes forced his way briefly into the lead but was then unable to hold off the strong climbing of Roger and Mike Pedley who were leading at Brushfield Hough Farm. Mike had been muttering before hand that he wasn\'t very fit for racing as he\'d just returned from a walking holiday in Iceland, so we expected him to go well.
From Brushfield the route descended steeply back into Monsal Dale to the crossing of the A6 at White Lodge. Soon Sheldon race route was joined with a fine steep and rocky ascent leading up from the date to the field below Sheldon. Roger began to open up a good lead with the field well spread out behind him. Misunderstanding between the race organiser and his chief marshal Colin Henson (who had not been given a map of the course) caused Colin to send the leaders on different routes into Sheldon than was intended. However Alan Yates and Hugh Cotton, who were having their own private battle, were unable to take advantage and close on the leaders.
The final descent from Sheldon took the runners down a lovely sward to finish by the river Wye at the bottom of the hill. If not finishing in the river we all plunged in afterwards. Times are somewhat provisional because although our starter and timekeeper had by now reappeared, he then had trouble with his stop watch!
Young Hamish Harmer, age 9, was followed home by Dad Andy and set a very useful time for future junior entrants. Helen Pedley said she enjoyed her third Ashford race except for an unintentional detour up Deep Dale. As for Geoff Harrison... we were still trying to work out next day how he managed to divert from the race route altogether and visit Litton Mill and Cressbrook Dale!
Next day a second group who had been unable to run the official race on the Saturday ran the course. What with the benefit of cooler conditions, an excellent and restful Saturday night BBQ laid on by Paul and Tracy Sanderson, and the absence of the official time keeper, comparisons between the two sets of times are somewhat meaningless. All were agreed on the excellent course which we will use again next year.
Hugh Cotton
Members can click on their name to see a results history
| Position | Name | Club | Class | Time | Comment | Bonus | Course |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roger Freeman | Dark Peak | OSEN | 00:58:15 | Main event | ||
| 2 | Mike Pedley | Dark Peak | M | 01:00:45 | Main event | ||
| 3 | David Holmes | Dark Peak | MV40 | 01:01:11 | Main event | ||
| 4 | Paul Sanderson | Dark Peak | M | 01:01:20 | Main event | ||
| 5 | Alan Yates | Dark Peak | MV50 | 01:02:40 | Main event | ||
| 7 | Hamish Harmer | 01:21:35 | Main event | ||||
| 8 | Andy Harmer | Dark Peak | MV50 | 01:21:36 | Main event | ||
| 8 | Andy Harmer | Dark Peak | MV50 | 01:21:36 | Main event | ||
| 9 | Helen Pedley | 01:35:00 | Main event | ||||
| 999 | Jeff Harrison | Dark Peak | MV55 | 00:00:00 | Main event | ||
| 3 | Chris Barber | Dark Peak | MV45 | 00:56:38 | Sunday re-run | ||
| 4 | Richard Hakes | Dark Peak | MV40 | 00:56:46 | Sunday re-run | ||
| 5 | Roy Small | Dark Peak | MV40 | 01:04:41 | Sunday re-run | ||
| 11 | Tim Tett | Dark Peak | M | 00:52:03 | Sunday re-run |