From Nick Kealey…
Eager to not miss the opportunity for a race on a free weekend, I found and liked the look of the Windy Hill Fell Race on Saddleworth Moor organised by Craggrunner. A 12-mile route over the bleakest bit of the Pennines as you travel on the M62 between West Yorkshire and Manchester.
Having persuaded a car full to join me (Dave Robson, Kate Archer, Martin Peace), we arrived with some trepidation, knowing we were required to navigate the course without knowing the area and made all the more difficult by thick fog. However luckily no wind despite the name.
The route started with a sharp drop down a rough track. A track we would get to know well on our return. The majority of the run was undulating hills with four crossings of the M62. But don’t let that put you off. There was something quite exciting about watching the cars fly past and I would like to think those drivers and passengers looked on with some envy – well maybe not.
The one long climb got you to the top of Blackstone Ridge followed by a few flat miles along the Pennine Way. On arrival at Windy Hill (the decapitated mast you see from the M62) there is then a couple of miles of rough moorland made all the more trickier by recent snow and bikes. Finally, back to the track we saw at the beginning for a last mile murder climb that took all my will power to avoid the humiliation of walking the finishing straight.
I was really pleased to finish first in my age category with category prizes for Kate, Martin and Dave too. Well, there would have been prizes if we had stayed to collect them. A 2hr wait between finishing the race and the prize presentation being my only criticism. Otherwise a great day out on an enjoyable and challenging course. Despite our concerns, navigation was simple and flagged all the way round. Would definitely recommend.
Results:
(1st – Doni Clarke – Todmorden Harriers)
17th Nick Kealey (1st MV45)
23rd Dave Robson (3rd MV50)
37th Martin Peace (Bingley Harriers, 2nd claim IH) (1st MV55)
57th Kate Archer (3rd Female and 1st F45)