Nick Hewitt (M70) - 13th June 2025

 

JNLC at 70

 My aim with the Joss Naylor Lakeland Challenge at 70 was to finish in good order, without sustaining any injuries or getting overly tired and hopefully getting to Greendale in daylight.  Although I’m not at my best with dawn starts, a 4 am start around the longest day seemed sensible, so on 13^th June 2025 I met Ali Welsh at Pooley Bridge just before 4 am. I was pleasantly surprised to also find my friend and Bowland club mate, Ian Roberts, at the bridge, wishing me well. The weather was cloudy and windy but mild, with an improving forecast for the afternoon. However thunderstorms were expected later in the evening and night.

 

The first leg to Kirkstone passed easily as Ali and I reminisced about my first JNLC, 20 years ago, and about our many encounters with Joss over our combined eight decades of fell running. Our only hitch was missing the trod across to Pike Howe in the mist, but we soon realised the mistake and had to backtrack for a couple of minutes. We got to Kirkstone at 7.50 am, to be met by Ian and the new recorder of the challenge, Simon Franklin.

 

After a quick cup of coffee and a tin of rice pudding I was off again, accompanied by club mate Nickey Russell. The weather was now clearing up so no more mistakes were made. We chatted about Nickey’s Bob Graham attempt in a couple of weeks and the time passed quickly as we ticked off the tops. We reached Dunmail Raise at 10.24 am, 6 hours 24 mins after leaving Pooley Bridge.

 

The welcome party at Dunmail was larger than expected. As well as Ian, I was delighted to see Wendy Dodds, who helped me 20 years ago, and friends Mark Irving, Paul Neild and Charlie Lowther. Bowland club mates Chris Reade and Cris Halsall were waiting to take me on to Greendale and after a quick 10 minute refuelling stop we set off up Steel Fell.

 

The grind up High Raise was as long and draggy as ever, but we kept moving forward and by the time we were over Bowfell I began to feel the worst was behind us and Greendale began to beckon. My aim was always just to finish the challenge within the allowed 24 hours, not worrying about the time, as I knew Ken Taylor’s amazing record time for the over 70s was unassailable. We reached Sty Head at 4.06 pm, just over 12 hours after leaving Pooley Bridge. It was only slightly disheartening to reflect that 20 years ago, I would have been in Greendale for over an hour at this point. Anyway, it was a relief to shelter from the wind behind the stretcher box but after a very brief stop for refuelling we began the long trudge up Great Gable.

The big climbs of Gable, Kirk Fell and Pillar passed by smoothly, but I began to significantly tire on the way up Scoat Fell. I felt myself running out of steam as it suddenly became very difficult to eat, so we agreed to have a sit down and refuel after I had done the out and back to Steeple. This was an excellent decision and after a good 15 minute stop I felt much better. 

 

The last three tops of Haycock, Seatallan and Middle Fell passed by relatively easily and we jogged onto Greendale Bridge at 8.41 pm. I was really delighted to finish in 16 hours 41 minutes, and even more delighted to successfully completing the challenge for the fifth time, at five year intervals from the age of 50.

 

Out of the wind on the grass at Greendale, the evening sun was pleasantly warm but black clouds were looming to the southwest and shortly after leaving for the drive home, at about 9.15 pm, the heavens opened. That night over 20,000 lightning strikes were recorded over the country. Our timing had been perfect and the early start at 4 am turned out to be an excellent decision and well worth the effort.

 

Thanks are due to my amazing support crew, ferrying me to and from the start and finish, on the hill and at the road crossings, for their enthusiasm and care and for all the laughs and banter along the way. Most importantly, we remembered Joss for his inspiration and for everything he did for the amazing sport of fell running.

 

Nick Hewitt

Bowland Fell Runners