From Forrest Hamilton…
Heptonstall Fell Race, in its 11th edition, is a category BL 15 mile race with 3200ft of climbing up, down and around the Calder Valley. Without the benefit of a recce, the only thing one could be sure of was plenty of bog… at least the sun was shining.
The start on the Heptonstall cobbles (without the untimely appearance of a bus) was a flurry of chaos with barely anyone having had a chance to organise themselves appropriately. Tom Adams nevertheless raced off at the front to defend his 2022 title.
Having prepared myself for the bog, I was pleasantly surprised to find lots of fast, flowing descents to stretch out on, with the bog skipping sections mercifully short, although plenty leg sapping! Although the route is punctuated by steep, sharp climbs out of the valleys, the majority of the race is characterised by rolling hills on which you can settle into a rhythm and admire the views (perhaps I wasn’t racing hard enough).
Aside from the final climb incorporating the dreaded steps (you know a climb is bad when you’re pre warned about them) and the final leg sapping push through the field, it was a really fun day out and a cracking race. Definitely one to try out if you’re looking for an early season rust buster!
Tom did defend his title, at least being made to sweat by Harry Holmes coming home ‘only’ a couple minutes behind. We’ll put his time being a few minutes slower than last year down to extra bogginess rather than his new V40 status.
1 Tom Adams – 1:50:57
23 Forrest Hamilton – 2:18:21
143 Sacha Jones – 3:01:05
164 Robert Hamilton – 3:06:26
244 ran