Scoffer enquired last year at the start of autumn when I was turning 50? And ‘had I thought about doing the Joss Naylor Challenge’(JNC)? ‘Yes’ was my reply but I hadn’t really looked into it. I decided at that point to try make an attempt on the day of my 50th birthday. Scoff was confident I could go for the record (his record!) and offered his support. Unfortunately it turned out to be a very wet autumn so my attempt was shelved for the following year.
2020 was my first year as a vet 50 and I had all the British and English championship races pencilled in on the calendar. The JNC was never far from my thoughts and was looking at when I could fit an attempt into what was a very busy race and recovery schedule. Then Covid hit and everything was off! As the travel restrictions were being eased and the Fell championship races had been cancelled I started to focus my thoughts on when it would be possible to safely and responsibly make an attempt at the JNC. I kept in touch with Ian Charters to get a feel for when attempts would be allowed? Finally news that Joss would make an announcement regards attempts towards the end of July. Joss subsequently allowed attempts to commence from the 25th July with the appropriate social distancing measures in place. I had kept myself fit throughout lockdown but didn’t have any mountain running in my legs. I was still keen to make an attempt as soon as I could but Scoffer wisely suggested I wait a bit longer and get some more mountain running in. Turned out to be great advice! Making an attempt without Scoffer involved was out of the question. Therefore, I arranged my attempt for after he had returned from his holiday and also selected a midweek day to minimise contact with the hoards of weekend Lakeland tourists.
I was constantly searching for favourable weather forecasts in the days leading up to my attempt. Thunderstorms were initially looking likely and it was looking like another delay might be required. I had seen pictures of Mike Robinson’s attempt in the sun and heat and reminded myself to be careful what I wished for. The forecast of thunderstorms thankfully subsided but were replaced with a day of Lakeland rain. Not to be deterred I at least took the positive that at least it would be cool conditions and decided to go for it.
Driving up early on the day was an introduction to what I’d be in for…Rain! I arrived at Pooley Bridge 30 mins before the start but from the wrong side and the bridge was closed! Oh no! A mini panic ensued on where to park the car? It didn’t take long though and I soon arrived at Ben’s and Kirsty’s campervan in the main car park in plenty of time to get changed and prepared.
I set off on leg 1 supported by my good friends Ben Mounsey and Gav Mullholland. I was setting off on a 10 hour 15 minute schedule which was Scoffer’s record time. I had found out from my earlier recces that keeping to this schedule is certainly not to be taken lightly. The conditions soon deteriorated and I knew I’d have my work cut out. Ben and Gav were on strict orders not to let me get carried away and try to stick closely to the schedule. My plan was to save my legs in order to try and push on on legs 3 and 4. Despite the weather I felt I had a relaxing first leg with no mishaps arriving at Kirkstone pass a surprising 12 minutes up on schedule.
Leg 2 resposibility was given to more of my good friends and CVFR team mates Daz Kay and Shaun Godsman. There was never a consideration of anyone other than Daz navigating this leg. His obsession and dedication to Hodgson Brothers Mountain Relay leg 3 is unequalled!! And he knows pretty much every blade of grass on these hills. His knowledge was invaluable in the claggy wet conditions and with Shaun looking after my hydration and food intake we didn’t put a foot wrong thus I arrived in Dunmail raise feeling in great shape and 13 minutes up on schedule. All going to plan.
Leg 3 is where Scoffer and Math Roberts would take over. This leg is certainly where this route starts to get serious. The terrain starts to ramp up in its severity and fatigue is starting to build. Math asked me if I wanted to be kept informed of my split times? I replied ‘only if I start to drop of the pace’ and at that point Scoffer said not to worry about the splits as we’d be making time not losing it! Math was meticulous in making sure I was eating and drinking enough and Scoffer’s navigation was awesome to witness! I knew these legs pretty well from the recces I’d done but in those conditions I would have struggled to nav and stay on route never mind keep to the schedule. We had a brief discussion on the climb to Great end regards dropping straight off or back tracking to Esk hause and running around and down the path. We decided we were fell runners and would just drop off Great end. It is certainly not for the faint hearted but scoffer again picked a great line off and my legs were still feeling good so we made good time to Styhead. At this point Math informed me I was 38 minutes up on schedule which took me completely by surprise. My initial hope of possibly going under the 10 hour mark was now certainly on!
Scoffer and Math were always going to be doing both leg 3 and 4 with Ben making the trip up to Styhead to refuel us. However, with our surprisingly quick progress we arrived prior to our support team and had to push on. We’d worked out that we just about had enough food and we’d be able to fill some bottles from the stream coming off Gable on the way up. Think Scoff regretted this decision filling the bottles and then trying to catch us back up. Again Scoff’s nav was superb and Math was doing a good job of rationing food to keep us all going. I had the last gel on the way up Seatallan just in time as this is where for the first time all day my legs started to complain. I recovered enough to make the climb and final descent of Middle Fell a pleasure arriving at Greendale Bridge at 5.32pm. Total time of 9 hours 32 minutes.
Distance challenges and the support it brings from the fell running community is special. This was certainly reflected in the support and commitment Scoffer the record holder had given me! The covid restrictions didn’t affect my attempt as it was always going to be minimal and kept under the radar of social media. Even Thirza Hyde didn’t know about it until the day!!
I might have my name on the record but I couldn’t have achieved this without my good friends and club mates to whom I am truly grateful! Ben Mounsey, Gav Mullholland, Ben Frechette, Mark O’Connor, Kirsty Hall, Emma Smyth, Daz Kay, Shaun Godsman, Helen Buchan, Math Roberts and Andrew ‘Scoffer’ Schofield.
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