After Storm Babet on Friday, Buxton teams travelled up to Braithwaite, Keswick for the annual British Hill and Fell team Relays. Buxton were represented by two teams who braved the hills and testing terrain along with 241 other teams from all around the UK. It was great to see the former Junior team members come together to race with each other again. The exciting event consists of four legs which all vary in distance. The race sets off with a fast, short, steep 4.6km route – the shortest leg of the race. Setting off the Buxton teams were Jason Brunnock for the Open Men’s team and Paul Markall for the Vet Men’s team. Jason Brunnock completed the leg in 31.53 handing over to leg 2 in 35th position overall (29th in age cat). Paul Markall also had a great race to round off leg 1 in 45.50 placing the Vet team in 29th in their age group and 179th overall.
Leg 2 is the first paired leg of the race and is longer than the first. Tackling this course for Buxton were Ed Diamond, who finished a phenomenal 7th in the Manchester Half Marathon the previous Sunday, and Tom Spencer for the Open Men’s team, and Nick Jones and Jon Sewell for the Vets. The course was 12.6km with 1030m of climbing which tested the Buxton athletes. Leg 2 finished with the Open Men’s team in 40th overall (31st in age cat) and the Vet team gaining places to finish Leg 2 in 23rd in their age category and 151st overall.
Leg 3 is the second paired leg but for this section teams have to navigate themselves around 12km of rough terrain which doesn’t always stick to main paths. Duos Sam Soles and Stu Diamond maintained 40th place (32nd in age cat) with David Newton and Andy Lidstone for the Vets negotiating the grueling course before handing over to the final leg in 26th in the Vets and 155th overall.
Will Longden rounded off the Open Men’s team to finish 38th out of 243 teams which placed them in 30th out of 86 teams in the Open Men’s age category. The Vet team’s final leg was run by Robert White who finished the Vet team’s race in 24thout of 32 teams in the Vet age category and 151st overall.
It was an excellent day out with the weather holding off – there was even the occasional glimpse of the sun! The fell relays are always a fun and exciting day out for both spectators and runners with all competitors receiving a free meal at the end to warm up.
There was another fine turn out for Buxton the next day at Windgather Fell Race. The 13.5 mile route was completed by ten Buxton runners with many winning their age groups. First Buxton to finish was Nick Jones in 13th (2nd in age cat) which was very impressive after racing in the Fell relays the day before. Chris Rushworth was next to finish in 22nd followed by Dave Reeves in 25th, Samantha Willis in 39th taking the win in her age category. Joanne Bednall finished in 54th (2nd in age cat) knocking 7 minutes off last year’s time! Next Buxton across the line was Math Nadin (99th), Jasmine Reeves (105th), Pete Bailey (106th), Claire Parker (114th), Shelia Bradley (115th and winner of her age category) and Tracy Gregory (118th).
