Roger Smith (M65) – 22 June 2014

 

It was good to have a resting week, leading up to the big day, but I got so rested that, by Saturday, I was also getting nervous, thinking about all the things that could go wrong. Of course, nothing did go wrong. The weather was perfect and I could have asked nothing more from my support team. Its humbling to know what people will do for you.

 

Pooley Bridge

 

We left Pooley Bridge at midnight, Pete Kidd supporting me and Iain Smith-Ward supporting Mike. After half a mile, we found ourselves stumbling around in the wrong field, in the dark, trying to find our way out, but this proved to be the only navigational error of the whole trip. We hit every summit on Leg 1, within a minute or two of the schedule, arriving at Kirkstone after 4.39 hours to be greeted by my daughter Jo and her infectious enthusiasm. Well navigated Pete. And thanks to Mike and Iain for the gentle chat and company through these hours of darkness. The experience of daylight slowly developing in the sky to the north of us, the moon rising to the east, the hills slowly emerging, first as silhouettes and then in detail, will all remain in memory for a long time.

We had got a bit ahead of Mike and Iain after Stoney Cove Pike (where we debated whether or not to wake up the inhabitants of two tents so that they, too, could enjoy the sunrise. We decided against it.) I expected to see Mike reappear later in the day, but, as it turned out, he finished a little later than me. But it was good to meet Tony and Pauline at Kirkstone, waiting for Mike.

Breakfast of cold pasta and Complan and the onward, with Pete and Jo supporting me through Leg 2, over the Fairfield group and down to Dunmail Raise. No problems. A beautiful sunrise and clear horizons. There was a large group of people at this pit stop. Mke’s support team were here plus others, unknown. Dick Towler, very competently took over the management of my food and kit. We took leave of Pete and continued with Jo, Dick and Barbara, leaving at 7.53. Halfway in distance and 40% of the climbing completed. 24 miles and 10,000ft still to go.

Steel Fell went easily, but then I started to feel nauseous. Finding it hard to eat or drink anything. This lasted over 2 hours and was the only time in the trip when real self-doubt set in. My support were excellent, gently encouraging me, keeping the pace steady and drip feeding me. We met Selwyn and Lecky at Stake Pass, waiting for Mike. Cheerful as always, they were a great boost and then Cliff and Izzy on top of Rossett Pike. Cliff gave me a magic tangerine and, suddenly, I felt good again. I climbed Bowfell much faster then I had scheduled and then everything suddenly got easy.

 

Great Gable

 

We reached the next pit stop at Sty Head 45 minutes up on schedule, to be greeted by Dave and Helen Neild plus Mike’s supporters. Dick again managed the changeover and he and Ann organised my needs for the final leg. We left Dick, Jo and Barbara here and continued with my wife Ann, and friends Rosie and Robin in support. Solid, reliable and made for the job. I was drinking well and taking in plenty of energy. This, coupled with the end being in sight (well, 13 miles and 5000ft away), seemed to invigorate me and the last leg was a delight. Apart from a bit of cloud on Great Gable (the only cloud we met all day) the weather and the views were superb, and the company was good.

I got to the top of the final hill, Middle Fell with 17 minutes to go before 18.00hrs and thought I would try to beat the 18.00. Suddenly, there was no pain or tiredness. Just the joy of running downhill to the finish. And I got there with half a minute to spare!

 

Greendale Bridge

 

Heartfelt thanks to all those who supported me, and particularly to Ann who has put up with quite a lot over the last few weeks/even months.

Carol McNeill (W65+) – 13th June 2014

 

When I was 52 (14^th June 1996) I went for the challenge which had to be completed in 14 hours. It all seemed quite feasible having done the Bob Graham a few years before and a tankard to aim for. However it was such a lovely day I suffered from the sun and heat, I was sick going up Gable and lost too much time but finished in less than 15 hours. I threatened to do it again when I had 24hours. Now aged 70, 2014 was the perfect opportunity with Dick Towler whipping us into shape with his training plans. – No time to stop to eat and drink, - reorganise yourself Carol. I had a new left hip in 2008, I had reluctantly given up fell running but thought I should manage the JN with a good steady ‘plodding’ walking pace.

I recruited Jenny Helme to join me and keep me company while the ‘lads’ made off ahead. Jenny was pretty fit and could easily keep up at the front but was always there to keep me going.

We planned a 23 hour schedule, starting at 10pm so we would finish in moral lifting daylight if we were cutting it fine. We both organised our own support and sorted food and drinks for the day.

 

Under a Full Moon

I had Jo Cleary on Leg 1, Natalie Beadle and her mum Rebekah on the sunrise leg - Leg 2, Mike Pearson on Legs 3 & 4 and Mike Walford on Leg 4. Mike P had done the whole round with me 20 years before encouraging me along so I needed him this time too. Clare Evans was my efficient Dunmail and Styhead support. The week before I was becoming really motivated with some good camping/bivvy trips and leg recce’s with Jenny and thought I could do it as long as my hips held out and it wasn’t too hot.

 

Natalie, Carol, Jenny & Rebekah on Leg 2

High points: – an absolutely magnificent full moon, seeing Selwyn Wright on Rossett (and coming with us to Styhead), coming off Great End via our reccied route, the top of Gable which had been a bit of a brain block, the hot sun going behind some cloud, jelly babies dished out by John Helme, meeting Ian Charters & group below Pillar and having time to stop & chat knowing that we would make the 24 hours.

Low points: - getting up Steel Fell with the hot sun coming out, struggling through the long grass going up Raise then wondering how I would get home when I gave up!

 

Carol, Joss & Jenny at Greendale Bridge

Jenny and I were delighted to arrive at the bridge in 20 hours 20 minutes to be greeted by Joss and lots of supporters. Joss reminded me that our friend Chris Brasher had been an initiator of the challenge and would have been proud of me finishing. That was my training done for the GR20 in Corsica (completed 2 weeks later). I celebrated by having my first ever tattoo on my ankle – something to jog my memory in later years!!

Geoff Briggs (M55) – 05 July 2014

 

I had my first attempt at this run back in 2009 when I was a spritely 50 year-old. Unfortunately I wasn’t really that spritely; it was at the start of my ankle problems and the training hadn’t gone well. To cut a long story short, I missed out on the 12 hour limit by about 3 minutes, but Ian Warhurst had found the strength to keep going strongly at the end and finish with about 10 minutes to spare.

Fast forward 4 years and after 2 lots of surgery on my right ankle (including a tibia – talus fusion) and I was back running again, despite what the surgeon had said! On Easter Monday 2013 I had a great day out with Lee Langdon and Howard Whittaker, running around the Dark Peak 4 Counties Tops route in 12 hours. It was this outing that persuaded me I was perhaps ready for another go at the JNLC.

September 21^st 2013 was the chosen date, but things didn’t go too well. A combination of mist, rain, wet rocks and a couple of painful falls slowed me down somewhat, and by the time we reached Great Gable it was clear that the 12 hour limit was out of reach, so we took the direct route down to the valley.

Although I’d had my 55^th birthday in February 2014, I still fancied my chances of getting under 12 hours, so on April 12^th I set off again, knowing that if things didn’t go too well I could always fall back on the 15 hour schedule. As it turned out the weather was much worse than expected, with heavy rain and very strong winds. After struggling to stay upright on Bowfell and Esk Pike we decided it wasn’t safe to continue over Great End and the decision was made to call it a day and come back another time.

July 5^th, and finally the weather was good, I was feeling reasonably confident and I’d discounted the thought of a sub-12 hour crossing. Anything under 15 hours would be fine, but the schedule I worked out looked comfortable at 13 hours 30 minutes.

I awoke at 5.15am to the lovely sound of rain on the tent, but I had every confidence in the forecast; the rain would clear and the worst we’d get during the day might be the odd shower. Sure enough, we were stood on the bridge at 7am in fine weather with just the hint of a breeze.

 

Bruce, Geoff and Ian

 

When we (Stefan Bramwell, Bruce Owen, Dave Ward and me) arrived at the first summit, Arthur’s Pike, Dave pointed out that we were actually ahead of the 12 hour schedule, let alone the 14 hour one. I decided it was time to slow down a bit. The rest of the leg went pretty much to plan and we arrived at Kirkstone 15 minutes early.

Ian Warhurst was waiting with the kettle on, so we had a decent rest. Larry Day arrived to run the next section with us, somewhat surprised at how good the weather was. In fact I changed into a short-sleeved t-shirt here. Bruce was tempted to carry on with leg 2, but with his BG only 7 days away he was persuaded to leave it at that.

So, as the sun shone pleasantly, I headed off up Red Screes with Stefan, Dave & Larry. At the top of the climb from Scandale Pass, as we contoured below Dove Crag, we saw a runner approaching us. Dave thought it looked like Ian Charters, and sure enough, with camera in hand, it was indeed Ian.

Ian joined us for a few minutes, but then went his own way as we headed towards Hart Crag.

The next section, between Hart Crag and Fairfield, is always an emotional time. We paused for a minute at the cairn and plaque in memory of our great friend, Daz Holloway, who tragically died at this spot during the Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay in 2012.

 

Stefan, Dave, me and Larry

 

Fairfield – so many cairns to choose from, and I’m still not certain which is the highest point. It’s usually dark and misty when I arrive here on a BG support, so it makes a great change to have superb views all around. It’s not long before we’re down at Dunmail with Ian’s van waiting and a new set of pacers. We’re 19 minutes ahead of the schedule, so plenty of time to enjoy a coffee and some food. Larry and Stefan leave us here to do some shopping and head home for the TDF respectively. Not surprisingly Dave has decided to stay with us all the way to the end. He needs a long day out in preparation for August’s UTMB, and he was never going to have a 13 hour training run by himself!

We’re now joined by Lee Langdon, Howard Whittaker, Hanno Torn and Sienna – Hanno’s collie. If ever you need some jovial company on a long day out, you could do worse than invite Lee and Hanno along; they’d make a great double-act! Almost at the top of Steel Fell and Howard looks over his shoulder “You’re making great time up here, Geoff”. I point out that he’s at the front setting the pace; all I’m doing is sticking with him. He’s right, though, as we take another 2 minutes off the schedule. It’s good to make the most of the run over towards Calf Crag, which we don’t need to visit today, as this second half of the route is going to involve plenty of walking. The climb up Birks Gill to High Raise is probably my least favourite of the route. It seems to be a long, slow, grassy plod. But there’s no comparison to the April attempt; this was where we all donned every item of clothing we had to try and keep out the weather. However, High Raise is a hill of contrasts as we now have the delightful run down to the top of Stakes Pass. We pass another group on our way down here – they are doing a recce for a future JNLC attempt. Good luck guys!

Water bottles were topped up from the spring below Bow Fell and then we had the long, steady climb to the rocky summit. Dry rocks and a gentle breeze this time – perfection! I didn’t pick the best grassy line down to Ore Gap, but I wasn’t too concerned; we were soon up and over Esk Pike and on our way to Great End. The descent down the Band to Styhead always seems to be a bit of an adventure (I almost went head first down a gulley on my September attempt), but today’s went ok.

 

Descent from Great End

Ian Warhurst and Neil Walker had come up to Styhead for the final leg, and they’d brought food and water with them. 5 years ago when Darren Dunn came to meet us here he’d had to shelter under the stretcher box, the weather was that bad. Not today, though, it was perfect. We were 26 minutes up so I sat down and enjoyed the situation – excellent weather and a great bunch of mates together in the hills. What could be better?

The original 12 hour schedule that me and Ian had been sent all those years ago suggested 20 minutes for the climb of Great Gable from Styhead. I think not! 34 minutes was comfortable enough for us today. As usual, the summit was pretty busy, so Ian quickly led us off down the scree slope descent. Looking behind me, half way down, it soon became apparent that most comfortable member of our group was Sienna with her 4 paws. Kirk Fell was next, with another rough descent. This gully seems to have been really badly eroded recently, presumably as a result of the recent snowy winters. On reaching Black Sail Pass, Dave went to retrieve the stash he’d left for the recently rerouted Ennerdale race and I spent a couple of minutes removing all the scree from my shoes. Should’ve worn the debris socks after all! On a 12 hour schedule you really need to run quite a large amount of the Pillar ascent, but I was happy taking it steady. There are a few useful ‘racing lines’ to remember around here and with all the experience around me there was no problem picking them up.

Once we’d left Pillar, Scoat Fell and Steeple come and go pretty quickly, especially as I could leave my rucksack behind for the out and back to Steeple.

We have a pleasant run round towards Haycock now, and for the first time today the steep descent feels a little uncomfortable on the tired legs. Not surprising really, but we’re half an hour up on schedule. Who cares? Lee points out that if we crack on a bit there’d be a good chance of getting under 13 hours. I decide I’d rather just enjoy myself.

 

Steeple summit

The run across Pots of Ashness is delightful; lovely soft grass in contrast to the jarring rocks we’ve had for the past few hours. All of a sudden I remember that High Raise is actually my second least favourite climb on the route. Seatallan always used to fill me with dread. The thought of this ‘in-your-face’ ascent when you’re battling against a tight schedule and the legs are tired was always a bit of a worry. But today I could take an hour over it if I wanted, and still have time to spare! Eventually the trig. point comes into view and the ground levels off. There’s only one more climb to go, the friendly Middle Fell.

We reach the summit and I change into my Pennine vest. This means a lot to me. Daz wore his Pennine vest for the last bit of his BG, and one of his sayings was “Proud to be Pennine”. And so we should be, it’s a great club with fantastic camaraderie.

Hanno takes a few photos and then it’s time to head off to Greendale to see Joss.

As we approach the bridge we can see Joss with Dave and Margaret Jones waiting for us. It’s probably fair to say that I had a pretty broad smile on my face as I ran up to the bridge. It had been a long time coming, but I’d finally made it.

 

Middle Fell - the final top

 

 

Arriving at Greendale (Hanno, me, Neil, Lee, Dave, Howard & Ian)

We had a long chat with Joss, but eventually we had to leave as we were being eaten alive by the midges!

It’s just a short walk to the parking area, and I’d had the forethought to leave plenty of beer in Ian’s van. This went down very well. Then it was back to Keswick for fish and chips at the Old Keswickian and finally the campsite in Pooley Bridge for a well-earned sleep.

 

 

Lee, Joss, Sienna, me, Dave J., Margaret, Howard, Dave W.

A small postscript to the story comes in October, when there is the presentation dinner for new members of the ‘club’. Existing members are also invited, so quite a large crowd of over-50s gathers at the Bridge Hotel in Santon Bridge for an evening of good food, fine ale and pleasant chat. New Pennine member, Steve Watts, is the only the person there younger than me. Not surprisingly he is asked to produce his birth certificate to prove he is actually over 50!

Joss presents us all with an inscribed pewter tankard. As I shake his hand, Joss congratulates me on eventually achieving my goal and asks me if I intend to return for another, even more leisurely, crossing when I’m 60. All being well, I’ll certainly give it a go.

Geoff Briggs

Peter McNulty (M55) – 31 May 2014

 

May 2011 a cold sad figure is helped up off the floor at Greendale after failing on the
Challenge. A runners rather than mountaineers decision to delay putting on warmer clothing
meant the onset of hypothermia and with only one hour left when standing on Haycock the
attempt ground to a halt.
 
Fast forward to May 2014 and after starting the year from scratch following an ankle injury,
I am again standing on Pooley Bridge with my supporters Mick Bull and Peter Potter waiting
for Sheila to wave me off on another attempt.

The weather conditions were perfect and Mick had been asked not to let me go off too fast
and he managed the pacing perfectly with him and Peter delivering me to Kirkstone a few
minutes up on schedule. When Mick completed the Challenge I arranged for wild horses
below Loadpot Hill and a herd of deer on Kidsty Pike and I expected the same. Unfortunately
all he could provide was a solitary deer on Rampsgill Head.

Sheila was all prepared for me at Kirkstone along with my Leg 2 support Carol + George
Critchley, Brummy John (Mayall) and Mark Walker. After a brief stop my hill support took
me off up Red Screes and kept me fed and hydrated to Dunmail. The leg passed without a
hitch and as we dropped off Seat Sandal I could see the gathering at the side of the road.
There was Monica Shone and Mike Langrish undertaking “meet and greet” duties. Sheila,
with my food, Leg 3 hill team of Gerry Dewhurst , Dave Garner together with Wendy Dodds,
an unexpected but welcome supporter. Also making a first appearance were Michelle Fuller
and Derek Dewhurst before driving to Wasdale and meeting me at Sty Head.

 

I always feel that the challenge starts at Dunmail with the pull up Steel Fell, and long drags
to High Raise and Rossett Pike but this time everything clicked into place, hills were ticked
off on schedule and the team ensured that I kept eating and drinking. Gerry then organised a
game of who can keep a fruit sweet in their mouth the longest that was won by Wendy.
Time seemed to fly by and we were soon dropping to Sty Head where Sheila was again,
this time again accompanied by Derek and Carol Makin. Rachael Stoney who had been hill
support on my previous attempt had also come up with Mike + Bethan Kelly to offer their
encouragement.

 

Gerry and Dave were continuing along the final leg with me and we were joined by Linda
Lord, Michelle Fuller, Steve Foster together with Jem and Dexter the Patterdales. Things
continued to go smoothly and even the never ending grind up Pillar went to schedule.
Gerry arranged another round of keeping a sweet in the mouth while Dexter provided some
entertainment by “grounding” himself on a boulder ascending Scoat Fell.
Seatallan was reached exactly on schedule and I saw no reason to rush to the finish.

My aim had been to have a day in the hills enjoyed by me with a group of friends and that is exactly
what happened. The handshake off Joss at Greendale is the icing on the cake.

 

Sheila, Joss and Peter