Buttermere Sailbeck

Buttermere Sailbeck on Sat 21st May 2016

Fifteen brown vests, including six women, enjoyed the customary fine day out on this challenging horseshoe route out from Buttermere over Knott Rigg, Ard Crags, up Causey Pike, and back along the ridge via Sail, Crag Hill and one of the most runnable and enjoyable racing descents in Lakeland off Whiteless Pike to the finishing field. Dave Lund was well up the field once more, Nicky P took the honours in the women's race, taking home a prize for third FV40, and Ash won the battle of the mid-field. Fi had a strong run to lead home the third wave of Dark Peakers, and yours truly was relieved to just keep his nose in front of the quickly gaining Greg and Jenny at the finish. Meanwhile, Sarah and Penny, fresh from overnight BG support duties, chatted their way around the course, and Jim was only a little bit too smug about having beaten Rose home on this occasion. Somewhat to our surprise, it appears that Fi, Rose, Jim and myself may also have taken home the carshare league team prize, largely by dint of superior numbers.

Thanks, as ever, to Mike Robinson (standing in for Rhys FR as RO) and to all the marshals for putting on this really excellent race - and for taking pity on us all by delaying the start by half an hour to allow the worst of the weather to pass before we got going. This race cannot be recommended too highly. Willy.