COLEDALE HORSESHOE FELL RACE

COLEDALE HORSESHOE FELL RACE,
BRAITHWAITE, KESWICK.
Saturday 8th April 2017

Four Morpeth Harriers toed the start line for this Catergory A race over 8.5 miles with 3002' of ascent. 
It was to be a baptism of fire for Gwenda, Les and Paul Waterston
who were 'competing' in their first proper lake district race.

For Gwenda things didn't start too well when she opened her bag
to find that she had left her shoes back home in Bothal !
It was a surprising 2 minutes before poor Les got the blame for not packing them.........!!!
Anyway it was the perfect excuse to visit Pete Bland's shiny red van
and splash out sixty quid on some new lovely bright yellow Walsh'es ! 
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She looked very smart but the effect was ruined when she went
onto her 'derriere' in the only muddy patch of the whole race about
100 away from the finish line - it was quite a spectacular skid and slide
rather than an out and out splat in the mud !

Gwenda Cavill at Braithwaite

As for the rest of us - well we got round unscathed on a route that took in a
huge climb up Grizedale Pike followed by a rocky scramble up the face of Eel Crag
and some fast technical descents and a climb up to the top of Barrow.

I came in 223rd just scraping inside 2 hours in 1.59.15, followed closely by Les Cavill in 230th in 2.00.14.
Paul was next, (with very sore feet!) in 237th in 2.01.39
and Gwenda in 23rd in 2.12.33 - well done to the three of them !!

We refuelled and rehydrated on tea, sandwiches and an ample supply of cake
all included in the £10.00 entry fee and then had a post race debrief
in the garden of the Coledale Inn with our mates from NFR.
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 A really good day out !

Les Cavill, Gwenda Cavill, Kevin Bray and Paul Waterston at Braithwaite

The race was won by Chris Steele of Borrowdale Fell Runners in 1.11.35
and first lady in a new course record was Victoria Wilkinson of Bingley Harriers
in 1.17.38 a really amazing performance. She finished in 8th position overall !

Well done to Ellenborough Running Club for hosting a superb event !
​
Kevin Bray