Simon Patton (M55) - 24 September 2022

Back in 2018, myself and fellow Dark Peakers, Jon Morgan and John Boyle, all agreed that as MV50’s we would have a joint attempt at a low key JNC in the late summer for 2019. Injury meant that John Boyle and myself missed out on Jon’s run in September that year, and then Covid spoilt our fun the following year. In September 2021, John completed his JNC and I had to settle for supporting him on legs 1 and 2 (as the fitness wasn’t back to normal following yet another injury). Both Jon and John got round in under 12hours and so the pressure was on for me to deliver on our agreement. However, the day-out with John and friends was enough to ensure that I committed to a September 2022 attempt as a first year MV55.

After a gloriously hot summer, I wasn’t optimistic of a warm, clear, and sunny day out over the Lakeland fells late in September. However, the weather gods were on my side on the 24^th September and the forecast was near perfect – mid to high teens with clag above 600m for legs 1 and 2, clearing by lunchtime to leave a sunny afternoon, with a gentle breeze all day.

Leg 1 Supporters: Stephen Pyke and Andrew Schofield

After a meet up in the car park next to Pooley Bridge, we are off just a few mins late. The light of dawn is sufficient to see where we are going meaning that we don’t need our head torches as we head out on to the open fell. We’re on an 11:49 schedule and all goes to plan although we overshoot the turn off to Rampsgill Head and end up having to cut across country to pick it up. Despite this small mistake, we get to Kirkstone just one minute down on schedule (2:51 hrs) where we are greeted by other members of the support team including Greg Rimmer. Despite feeling good on this leg, trouble is brewing – my stomach has shut down already and I’m feeling sick! I can’t stop thinking of the torrid time I had on my Bob Graham back in 2010 as a consequence of the same thing happening – surely not again….

Leg 2 Supporters: Stephen Pyke and Andrew Schofield

We leave Kirkstone after a quick 2 minute stop – that’s 3 minutes of schedule time banked for later. The climb up Red Screes is harder than it should be but by the time we get to the top I’ve perked up. Eating is out of the question, but I do manage a few dried apricots, as well as plenty of sports drink. The rest of the leg is uneventful, and we get to Dunmail five minutes down on schedule (1:55 hrs). I’d planned 5 mins at Dunmail but it turns into eight as I struggle to hold any food or liquid down, it eventually coming back out the way it went in!

Leg 3 Supporters: John Boyle, Paul Stopford and Jon Morgan

The skies have cleared and the sun’s out. The climb up Steel fell is always hard but my legs are feeling OK and the casual banter from John, Paul and Jon helps me to forget about feeling sick. We lose a few more mins on the legs to High Raise and Rosset Pike but the benefits from Paul’s bottle of flat coke start to turn things around and I’m climbing well up Bowfell, Esk Pike and Great End. We take the direct line off the back end of Great End and end up slightly too far right as we try to pick up the ridge line running down to Sty Head. Once we’re back on track we get to Sty Head 16 mins down on schedule (3:26 hrs) and decide to carry on to leg 4 without stopping, allowing me to claw back 5 minutes on the schedule.

Leg 4 Supporters: Mike Nolan, Andy Barnett and Jon Morgan

John and Paul depart us and hand over to Mike and Andy. Jon Morgan is feeling good and has decided to carry on to the end. As we climb Great Gable, my climbing legs are still feeling good despite not eating properly since leg 1. We nail the line off the back of Gable and make good progress up Kirk Fell and Pillar too – four more minutes clawed back on schedule. I’m starting to tire on the Scoat Fell to Haycock legs and we lose all the time gained earlier – it’s going to be touch and go to get to Greendale Bridge under 12 hours! We get the line wrong coming off Haycock and end up having to cut back to pick up the obvious trod that runs across the Pots of Ashness towards Seatallan. Despite this mistake, I’m running strongly, and Jon and I manage to drop Mike and Andy as we start the penultimate climb, neutralising the time lost on the previous 3 tops. The final climb up Middle fell is over quickly (another 7 mins gained) and we’ve pulled back a further 4 mins on the descent by the time we arrive at Greendale Bridge (3:44 hrs).

In the end I clocked 11:57 – job done and delivery of the final part of the tripartite agreement I had with John and Jon back in 2018. Joss unfortunately wasn’t there to greet me, but my fantastic support team were. Thank you to Spyke, Scoffer, John, Paul, Jon, Mike, Andy and Greg for a memorably grand day out on the wonderful lakeland hills - I couldn’t have done it without you!

For all you V50+’s thinking of having a go at the Joss Naylor Challenge – do commit to it. It’s a wonderful high level route across the lakeland fells and well worth the effort. Best of all though is to make a proper day out of it with your pals – you definitely won’t regret it!