Kielder Borderer

Kielder Borderer

(Britain’s Worst Fell Race)

Photos and other reports can be found on NFR website here:

http://www.northumberlandfellrunners.co.uk/

David did this race two years ago and it didn’t inspire me much, but somehow this year I found myself looking at the route and being interested in what would be both a challenge and a change from the usual Lakeland runs and races.

My running was going well until the end of January when a bug got me. I thought I’d recovered early Feb but not so. A trip to the doctor 10 days before the race and subsequent ECG and blood tests had me worried. Results however proved to be OK and so I thought if I felt OK on the day I’d still go.

David said he would do it again but did not seem to keen. I had other ideas which I will come to later. So we set off at 7am Sunday morning therefore missing my usual lie in and bacon and egg. Fresh snow the day before and a poor forecast added to the prospect of an interesting day.

Arriving early not many people were around. I was good to see a car load from Dallam and some familiar faces. To say this race is low key would be an understatement. Registration opened about half an hour before the start in a caravan. Numbers were a mix and match from the organisers own collection. Mine was from the Ian Hodgson relay. (49).

The race briefing stated that the route through the forest from the start was marked but we could go any way we chose. Similarly from the last checkpoint to the finish. Local knowledge would prove vital! So, on the sound of a whistle 37 brave (foolish) souls set off. 32 turned right to follow the marked route and 5 went left. David and I chose left to follow Louise. A local to these parts.

David was soon off into the lead and into the mist followed by one other runner. Louise, Joe and I stayed together to the first checkpoint. Arriving we were in 3^rd 4^th and 5^th. David must be leading the race. Shortly after leaving the checkpoint we met the main group coming the other way. Local knowledge!!

Two years ago David had a good run in a reasonable time. I knew that time and also the winners’ time. As we all know from training and racing David is going well at the moment. I had secretly encouraged him to come as I thought he would do well.

At checkpoint two we were passed by a small group but I could see Davids footprints so knew he was still leading. My plan was working. We followed the border to the Kielder Stone, checkpoint 3, crossing from England to Scotland several times. How many races run into another country and back?

Continuing along the border we left what could only vaguely be described as a trod and cut off uphill through thick heather to checkpoint 4. The mist was getting thicker and footprints in the snow going all over, compass needed. However it was not much use. Perhaps some magnetism in the area. The needle swung through 180 degrees and would not settle. So I pressed on and it eventually settled down and the cairn appeared.

On a bearing again and through more heather until the bridleway (vague trod) is reached. A good time to eat again. Running with Louise and Joe again and local knowledge gets us a good line to checkpoint 5. Then finally a good descent through a forest break, mud, snow and tussocks make it interesting.

By this time my feet are completely numb. So running for a mile on a farm track was not the best experience. Then a river crossing, only knee deep. At least the water was warmer than the snow. Now the final climb, set a rhythm and keep going. I spot David footprints again. It knew there must be about 9 or 10 runners in front of me so seeing his prints clearly on the trods meant he was no longer in the lead. I hoped he was still near the front. More boggy trods as we climb gradually to the final checkpoint.

The taped  route to the finish went down dark forest breaks, along mountain bike tracks and forest roads. I was trying to keep up with Louise and Joe (local knowledge). She headed of the marked route into the trees a couple of times but it seemed to work out as we were soon down and heading along the final track to the finish.

I found David sitting in the caravan smiling. Drinking tea. Had he won?

It had been close. He was in the leading group on the last climb and stayed with them.

The racing was close through the forest and neck and neck until the final 100yds when David decided to go for it winning by a few seconds. I did not know he was so competitive!

No ceremony and no prizes. Just a small stone trophy to all finishers. Money going to charity. I said it was low key.

Thanks to organisers and hope you keep the race going.

Russell