Pennine Bridleway Relay Organised by Rossendale Harriers & AC
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Running Reklay
Rossendale Harriers

Click here for 2005 Pennine Bridleway Relay results.
Click here for 2004 Pennine Bridleway Relay results.
Click here for 2006 Pennine Bridleway Relay results.

Click here for 2007 results. (exel format)
Click here for 2007 results. (pdf)

click here for 2008 results (excel format)
click here for 2008 results (pdf)

For interactive results and graphs for results 2004-2007 click on the link below :
www.felljunior.org.uk/PBRelay/main.php
(thanks to Jim Godwin)
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2008 event report

The problem is, I suppose that by organising an event at the beginning of February chances are that the weather might not be kind to you ! We have until now been lucky with the weather and despite some worries in the days leading up to the event this year apart from a bitter cold wind the weather “held out”
I had several emails prior to this years race from clubs understandably worried about the weather forecast and a large dump of snow the day before the race did nothing to alleviate matters. My reply then was that we would only call the race off if we couldn’t drive to and between the checkpoints due to snow. On reflection my reply was ill judged as any responsible organiser must take into account the running conditions on the day when deciding whether to call an event off or not. On the evening before the race I consulted the Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue team and we agreed that there should be a dynamic risk assessment made with regard to the weather conditions on the day.
The other problem of course when organising an event of this kind is that it attracts non fell running clubs and with that runners inexperienced at competing in what is a unique form of the running spectrum. We would not want to discourage non fell running clubs at all although I think that those clubs have a responsibility to ensure that the teams and the individuals they enter have some of the basic skills required when entering an event of this nature which is essentially five fell races. I did put this point to several teams in my reply to their query about weather conditions and advised them to reconsider entering a team, which might well be considered “ at risk “ should conditions deteriorate. One team did pull out at the very last minute citing that very point as their reason and although we were disappointed to lose a team they have to be applauded for their action and we would encourage other teams to adopt this type of stance.
We have now added an extra page to the relay website titled “ Safety “ and we will be filling this page with help and advice relating to safety matters and basic skill requirements needed when deciding whether to enter this type of event in the middle of Winter.
We had once again a record entry for the 2008 event. Although 83 teams entered only 76 teams started which was 8 teams more that our previous high. The extra parking space at Callis Bridge sorted for us by our friends from Todmorden Harriers spared us the problems of last year and the extra numbers didn’t seem to cause problems at the other changeover points.
Several new teams entered this year and it was pleasing to see Halifax Harriers entered for the first time and doing so well by finishing in 6th place in their first outing. Good too to see local rivals Blackburn Harriers entered for the first time, eventually finishing in 9th after being 2nd at the second change.
The race up front was once again well contested with last years winners and record holders Horwich RMI battling it out with past winners and past record holders Borrowdale Fell Runners for the honours. The race was only decided on the last leg where the pairing of British Fell Champion Simon Booth and Chris Steele overhauled the Horwich pairing to take the lead and the 2008 title.
Past winners Bowland finished strongly again in 3rd place whilst the hotly contested Vets prize was once again won by Clayton Vets in 5th spot. Clayton fielded no less than 9 teams and we thank them for their support. Ilkley Harriers claimed the much coveted mixed team title and the ladies title again hotly contested was won by the ladies from Dark Peak.
We received lots of emails after the event thanking us for a great day out and we much appreciate your feedback. We put a lot of time and effort in trying to make the event go as smooth as possible for the runners and we have learned things from this year which we will put to good use for the 2009 event. Same weekend next year Sunday 1st February

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Thanks to all of the team captains for their efforts it takes a lot of work to organise the teams and it is appreciated. .
Our thanks to The Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team , to Pete Bland Sports,The Rossendale Free Press,Martin Stone and to everyone who helped on the day. Hope to see you all again next year,any comments please contact me (See the links page on this site)
Graham Wright. Rossendale Harriers.

 

 



 
Pennine Bridleway Relay
Fell Running Relay
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