JOHN EDWARDS – A short remembrance
It was with great sadness that I heard of John’s death in March. He was a distinguished “character” in the Dark Peak Fell Runners as evident by the soubriquets he was given, Gentleman John, Squire Read more
Export result
As I opened the school door I was joined by a governor who had volunteered to help
Marshall this event. He tried to confirm that as it was cold, windy and sleeting we
should cancel as these surely were not suitable conditions for a race, and that nobody
in there right mind would turn up. In the end twenty seven competitors arrived for
the first running of this Long Loxley event cunningly devised by Messrs. Holmes and
Hakes. As competitors changed into their gear the school hall looked a very different
place as 200 children\'s beaming faces were substituted by a scene more reminiscent
of a lifeboat station. I looked at the prizes of children\'s drawings and perspex blocks and wondered if it would really come off and panicked that we perhaps had missed the vital word out of the disclaimer ..
After a few teething problems, (the starter and official timer not coming to the start line, preferring the shelter of the ‘boys’ entrance), the race gathered pace as the leading group of Rob Davison, Roger Woods, and Richard Hakes shot off just ahead of Alan Yates, Tom Westgate and Willie Gibbins arriving at Bar Dyke and into the teeth of an icy Westerly wind peppered with sleet. Such was the ferocity of the conditions that many wished they had taken Pete Dykes example and retired at Bar Dyke. At Back Tor, Rob and Roger were \"tramming\" along nicely in front and opted for the official path round to Moscar, the next check point.
At this point local knowledge proved a useful thing as those who had run the 46 miles of the Bradfield Boundary six weeks earlier, tended to go down the line of boundary stones across the ankle twisting heather. Local lad, Tom Westgate, a man fired on by his almost complete immersion in a sphagnum bog on the approach to the cheek point, knew that to maintain or increase the two minute lead on Rob and Roger, he needed to get sufficiently far enough ahead not to be followed . Taking little time to stop for a break at Moscar he shot off quickly leaving his partner Willie who at this point retired. The plan worked and as Rob and Roger later visited the Plough Inn and other tourist sites in the Loxley Valley in their attempt to find the correct route home, Tom managed to gain another eight minutes on his rivals.
Notably it was not a race enjoyed by either Paul Sanderson, who retired at Moscar or Colin Henson who managed to get lost before Moscar and discover a direct route down the A57 road to Malin Bridge where he got a lift. Roy Small must surely get a mention arriving at Wadsley Common in good time and then uniquely including a tour of the Wisewood Council estate and then being the only competitor to *come up* to the finishing posts via Rodney Hill. Most competitors were surprised at the four enormous ostriches at Moscar
For many it was a make or break race in terms of preparation for the B.G. Afterwards Dave and Karen Green stated that if they could cope with the Lollop nothing could be worse and they would go for the B G !
It is also worth mentioning the group of walkers from Glossop who joined the competitors, getting in so late that the governor/marshal had long gone home muttering \"nutters\' and John Gunnee\'s birthday party was in full swing.
I was grateful to have received support from Dark Peak for the school and the race which raised an impressive £117.20 for our classroom fund Thank you to all the marshalls and competitors for a memorable day.
Dave Markham
Members can click on their name to see a results history
Loxley Lollop on Sun 18th Feb 1996
16 startersOr every dog has his day!As I opened the school door I was joined by a governor who had volunteered to help
Marshall this event. He tried to confirm that as it was cold, windy and sleeting we
should cancel as these surely were not suitable conditions for a race, and that nobody
in there right mind would turn up. In the end twenty seven competitors arrived for
the first running of this Long Loxley event cunningly devised by Messrs. Holmes and
Hakes. As competitors changed into their gear the school hall looked a very different
place as 200 children\'s beaming faces were substituted by a scene more reminiscent
of a lifeboat station. I looked at the prizes of children\'s drawings and perspex blocks and wondered if it would really come off and panicked that we perhaps had missed the vital word out of the disclaimer ..
After a few teething problems, (the starter and official timer not coming to the start line, preferring the shelter of the ‘boys’ entrance), the race gathered pace as the leading group of Rob Davison, Roger Woods, and Richard Hakes shot off just ahead of Alan Yates, Tom Westgate and Willie Gibbins arriving at Bar Dyke and into the teeth of an icy Westerly wind peppered with sleet. Such was the ferocity of the conditions that many wished they had taken Pete Dykes example and retired at Bar Dyke. At Back Tor, Rob and Roger were \"tramming\" along nicely in front and opted for the official path round to Moscar, the next check point.
At this point local knowledge proved a useful thing as those who had run the 46 miles of the Bradfield Boundary six weeks earlier, tended to go down the line of boundary stones across the ankle twisting heather. Local lad, Tom Westgate, a man fired on by his almost complete immersion in a sphagnum bog on the approach to the cheek point, knew that to maintain or increase the two minute lead on Rob and Roger, he needed to get sufficiently far enough ahead not to be followed . Taking little time to stop for a break at Moscar he shot off quickly leaving his partner Willie who at this point retired. The plan worked and as Rob and Roger later visited the Plough Inn and other tourist sites in the Loxley Valley in their attempt to find the correct route home, Tom managed to gain another eight minutes on his rivals.
Notably it was not a race enjoyed by either Paul Sanderson, who retired at Moscar or Colin Henson who managed to get lost before Moscar and discover a direct route down the A57 road to Malin Bridge where he got a lift. Roy Small must surely get a mention arriving at Wadsley Common in good time and then uniquely including a tour of the Wisewood Council estate and then being the only competitor to *come up* to the finishing posts via Rodney Hill. Most competitors were surprised at the four enormous ostriches at Moscar
For many it was a make or break race in terms of preparation for the B.G. Afterwards Dave and Karen Green stated that if they could cope with the Lollop nothing could be worse and they would go for the B G !
It is also worth mentioning the group of walkers from Glossop who joined the competitors, getting in so late that the governor/marshal had long gone home muttering \"nutters\' and John Gunnee\'s birthday party was in full swing.
I was grateful to have received support from Dark Peak for the school and the race which raised an impressive £117.20 for our classroom fund Thank you to all the marshalls and competitors for a memorable day.
Dave Markham
Members can click on their name to see a results history
| Position | Name | Club | Class | Time | Comment | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Westgate | Dark Peak | M | 03:36:00 | ||
| 2 | Roger Woods | Dark Peak | M | 03:46:00 | ||
| 3 | Rob Davison | Dark Peak | M | 03:46:10 | ||
| 4 | David Holmes | Dark Peak | M | 03:57:00 | ||
| 5 | Richard Hakes | Dark Peak | M | 03:57:30 | ||
| 6 | Alan Yates | Dark Peak | MV50 | 04:12:00 | ||
| 7 | Mike Hayes | Dark Peak | MV40 | 04:26:00 | ||
| 7 | David Markham | Dark Peak | MV40 | 04:26:00 | ||
| 9 | Mike Cochrane | 04:41:30 | ||||
| 11 | John Myers | Dark Peak | MV40 | 04:42:00 | ||
| 12 | Dave Green | 04:54:30 | ||||
| 13 | Karen Green | 04:54:30 | ||||
| 15 | John Gunnee | Dark Peak | M | 05:00:00 | ||
| 16 | Roy Small | Dark Peak | MV40 | 05:00:10 |