A select group of hard men (it was all men) turned out on a mizzly autumnal morning for a running of the queen of Dark Peak races. The vanguard of Roy and Eoin left first followed by Paxo a short while after. The main phalanx heading off at 0930. Dave, Rich and Glen quickly formed one grouping whilst Ashley, Paul and myself another. However coming off Grindslow Knoll Paul failed to follow Ash and I despite a vocal localisation/ shouted route description - he merrily headed for Grinsbrook rather than Upper Booth - realising his error when descending out of the clag.
Dave Lund carried off the the winners Prosecco whilst I kept the women's version ( now drunk). At the debrief in The Traveller's there was appetite for a re-running in February as this is really a winter route and does make for a fine early season hard race. I would be happy to oblige were this the case. The chosen route did avoid any difficulties with access; stiles and gates were used throughout and there was not a quad-bike-riding-shotgun-toting landowner anywhere to be seen. Consensus has it that the route was 15.6 km (9.7 miles) and 1168m (3830ft) - the climb up to Rushup Edge proving a particularly stiff sting in the tail.
Dave Sykes
| Position | Name | Club | Class | Time | Comment | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Glen Borrell | Dark Peak | M | 01:55:48 | ||
| 3 | Richard Hunt | Dark Peak | MV40 | 02:02:01 | ||
| 4 | Dave Sykes | Dark Peak | MV40 | 02:14:53 | ||
| 5 | Ashley Kay | Dark Peak | MV55 | 02:14:55 | ||
| 6 | Paul Elliott | Dark Peak | M | 02:37:00 | ||
| 7 | Eoin Connaughton | Dark Peak | MV55 | 02:49:39 | ||
| 8 | Jim Paxman | Dark Peak | MV55 | 02:53:35 | ||
| 9 | Roy Small | Dark Peak | MV60 | 03:11:45 |