Members present: Mark Garrod, Michelle Harvie, Alan (L) Jones, Chris Thickett, and Peter Walker.

Guests: Jane Crosthwaite, Sarah Partridge, Debie Powel and Lin Thickell.

Apologies to the hundreds of people who must have turned up on the original date, as hardly anybody turned up on the actual day of the Race. Unfortunately we were unable to find a hut available on the date listed in the Handbook. In these days of luxury, showers are an essential item. In the old hut, when we used to get over 40 competitors, there wasn't even a flush toilet. I cannot believe Mr (B) Smith's theory that everyone got lost trying to find the hut. KMC has been to Tranearth before and it is a club of super-fit mountaineers, many of whom have navigated themselves to the farthest corners of the globe.

The Meet Leader spent the Friday evening in the pleasant company of a small party of ladies from the Lancashire Climbing and Caving Club who had escaped their families for an outdoor activity weekend. Varied as their activities were, they had not reckoned on a Fell Race. Saturday morning was spent getting the hut (or at least the men's section) into a state fit to receive the hoards that were still expected. Mark and Michelle arrived at lunchtime and Michelle led an afternoon recy of the area. The meet leader had to follow a respectable distance behind, lest any secrets were let out accidentally. She took us up the Walner Scar track, over Dow Crag and then on to Brim Fell and Swirl How. She descended by Prison Band and then traversed over the shoulder of the Old Man to return by the lower part of the Walner Scar Road from near Coniston. On the way, I was impressed by the precision with which she checked the position on the map of every large boulder, m case it turned out to he a checkpoint. When we got back to the hut, another member was reported to be doing some last minute training: it turned out to be Peter Walker.

Sunday dawned bright and clear, ideal cool weather for a fell race. By ten o'clock, when the route was published, it was evident that everyone must have got the date wrong. No more runners, no check point marshals, no coaches, no support teams, no medical officers, no catering team, no rescue services! It was clearly going to be a hard day for the organiser, fulfilling all these posts. Could he run round the course ahead of the competitors, get to each checkpoint before the competitors, and then back to the hut and have the refreshments ready in time for the winner? Hardly, when the reason he was organising rather than competing was that he was not fit enough this year. He had however actually run the course the previous week, together with a bad weather alternative. Perhaps taking part is actually the easiest option. The problem was solved by setting questions about the checkpoints that competitors were unlikely to be able to answer without going there. Refreshments were to be an haute cuisine DIY arrangement. Competitors were left to go when they were ready and ordered not to get lost or injured. No sooner had these arrangements been agreed, than Chris and Lin arrived to offer their services. They were thus let off the hook to go their own walk, having conveniently come without their running gear, although Lin had a doctor's note. The three girls from the LCCC were roped in to make up the numbers and chose an early start with Pete Walker, whilst Mark and Michelle, being more laid back about fell races, left about ten minutes later.

Mark was first back, having chosen a quicker route between check points 2 and 3, which I had not thought of, quickly followed by Michelle. About an hour later the three LCCC girls came in, having just been to the first checkpoint by what they realised was not the shortest route. Their excuse was that they had to be back for their appointment at the riding stables, but they did at least admit that there was perhaps more to a fell race than they thought. That just left Pete, who claimed to have crept in sooner than he was seen: fancy an experienced athletics coach like Peter arguing with the referee! Nobody took the expected shortest route between points 2 & 3, but were probably put off by the safety warnings. The best way between Tranearth and Low Water remains a closely guarded secret for use on another occasion. The official results are shown below.

The Prize Giving was a bit of a non-event with no spectators to cheer. There was no argument about who the fastest male and fastest female were. The Sheilagh Manning Trophy was decided by a newly invented handicap list on which every single club member was given a percentage handicap, based on their age, years of club membership and support for the fell race in the past, but a negative handicap was given to those who had previously won the SM Trophy. (The Holy Grail from the original handicapper has not been handed down to me). Hard luck Pete, it was inevitable that Michelle would get SM's pot, as she was the only one who had not won it before. There was a spot prize to be drawn from the positions of those completing the course but not otherwise a prizewinner. I need not say what number was drawn. There were no contestants for the Concordia Trophy for first-time competitors. (Perhaps I should award it to myself this year, having recently been to Concordia in the Alps whilst aiming for Mont Blanc, but thats another story).

Thanks to those who took part, to Mark and Michelle for the DIY gourmet refreshments and to the LCCC for use of their hut. Sorry we were unable to fill the 16 places booked for 2 nights. Thanks also to Alan Shepard (ex KMC member), who helped me with checking out the route: he made me run it as part of his Tour of Tameside training, I was just going for a walk. Thanks also to Alan for kindly providing computer-produced colour maps with the checkpoints marked. The spare copies of this rare work of art will be auctioned to defray expenses, minimum bid: the cost of 2 bed-nights at the hut. Thanks also to the few regular fell race supporters who did telephone me with their apologies

The Club needs to have a serious debate at the next AGM about whether to continue the Fell Race, and how and when it should be run to get more support, if there is a demand. I, for one, would be very sad to see it go, but it is no use flogging a dead horse. At least 15 competitors are needed to make the event worthwhile. The question of hut bookings with uncertain numbers also has to be addressed. In addition to the organiser/meet leader, there needs to be 2 people at each check point, for safety, and a catering team, to make it a social occasion. As inevitably the date will be inconvenient to some, this means that at about a third of the Club has to be committed to the event in principle. The handicap system I have suggested makes it attractive for all ages to take part, the older members can walk and still be in with a chance for the SM Trophy. How about competing for it yourself Sheilagh? It would be like the good old days having all the young men running after you!

KMC Fell Race Results 16 April 2000

* - Not at Checks 2 & 3

Check Points:

• Tranearth (start/finish) - GR 281 957
• Low Water - GR 276 983
• Ruin by junction of paths - GR 263 992
• Blind Tarn - GR 262 967

Please note later date than shown on the provisional meets list in the December Newsletter.

The Fell Race this year returns to the Lake District, which is the natural home for this sort of event. There will be new attractions to make the event an occasion not to be missed. The well-appointed Lancashire Climbing & Caving Club Hut at Tranearth, Torver, near Coniston (GR 281 957) has been booked as the venue. This offers excellent access to Dow Crag for climbers on the Saturday, if they are so confident that they do not need to prospect out the route for the race, which will be held on the Sunday. The hut fees are £4 per person per bed-night. Please book as soon as possible by sending a cheque to me made payable to KMC. Places are limited, but you can always turn up for the day if all else fails. (There may be a day fee, I need to check on this). Access to Tranearth is via the A593, turning off at GR 285 945. Follow the lane past Scar Head and continue along the dirt track. Park on the left about 100m past the first gate. Continue along the track on foot for about 10mins (if you are not over-loaded) to reach the hut.

The race will be between 2 and 20 miles; there will be down hill sections as well as up; it may or may not be on recognised paths; there will be one or more check points; the weather will be fair or foul; a new handicap system may be released in due course; you may or may not win one of the much-prized KMC Trophies. However two things are certain: a good time will be had by all; no further information about the course will be released unless the bribe is extremely high. The custom of starting in three groups, according to fitness, at 11.00, 11.30 and 12 noon will be retained, so that nobody should be back too late even if they only walk. The route will be published about an hour before the first group leaves, giving plenty of time to confuse your rivals with unhelpful suggestions for the best route. Refreshments will be served following the race if volunteers come forward to organise them. Whilst this is a fun event. do not forget that mountains can be a dangerous environment and it may still be Winter in high places in April. Please therefore come appropriately equipped for all weather. Whistles and compasses are essential but use of GPSs will result in disqualification (except for check points).

Newcomers to the KMC should note that the Concordia Trophy is specially for them, open only to members who have not previously taken part in a KMC fell race as a member. It was intended to encourage the young members who were expected to achieve a fast time. However, as young members are few and far between these days and I will not be running to set a minimum pace, the field is wide open. The field is also wide open for the famous Sheilagh Manning Trophy which goes to the winner on handicap. If I can win it, so can you all: I did not discover that I could even complete a fell run until I was nearly 50! There are also trophies for the fastest male and the fastest female. Only Members (Full, Honorary or Associate) are eligible for trophies, but there will be something for the overall winner whether or not a member. Prospective members are advised to turn out to gain good Brownie points for when they apply to join, and keen fell-running guests are always welcome to show us how it should be done. The older members will be expected to turn out to show the younger members that they are not past it yet. The Committee will be expected to turn out in full to catch votes for the next AGM and to settle any disputes. The President should replace his 1980s hair style with a 1990s skin-head shave to keep him cool and give that aerodynamic advantage that he will need to retain his supremacy. By then, I will have moved from my 1990s style to something more appropriate for the new millennium, leaving him behind again. I hope there will be some serious rivalry at the sharp end and that all previous winners will turn out, that includes my name-sake who will give most of the younger end a good run for their money. Alison will be expected to set the pace for the ladies, after her Bob Graham success, but I am sure she will he challenged by Michelle. All in all, I expect everyone to be there so that the event once again becomes the most well attended meet, apart from the Dinner, which was the case in its earlier years. So get training, and it should set you up for an excellent climbing season. especially if you are aiming at the big mountain ranges of the World.

I shall need some volunteers to act as marshals at check points and to provide refreshments. Priority will go to those with bone fide doctor's sick notes. Please remember though that events of this kind can only take place with willing helpers and these should not be the same people year after year. I shall be looking forward to taking part next year. rather than organising, if I can get back to fitness after sundry operations, injuries and ailments. I know that Kevin will welcome the opportunity to take part this year having organised them in his own inimitable style for the last two years. I also hope that Ken will amble round, with an eye on Sheilagh's pot, after organising the event so successfully for very many years.

Will last year's trophy winners please dig them out of their attics, clean them up and return them to Mark Garrod, or any other Committee member, so that they are all available on the day. For further information and moral support please ring me.