BLIZZARDS added to the treachery for 235 runners in the CONISTON FELL RACE, a tough eight-miler at the best of times which navigated 3,300 feet of ascent.
Wise behaviour from the runners, ensuring that they clustered and kept an eye on each other – plus the stamina of the marshals and mountain-rescue volunteers – meant that only five starters had to retire.
One of these, Sarah Chalmers from Nidd Valley Runners, summed it up by saying: "Thanks to the marshals and Coniston Mountain Rescue, who were a very welcoming sight at Wetherlam.
"As the last runner, I had got detached from everyone else and had managed to find the girl just in front of me ahead of the summit in ever-deteriorating conditions.
"We then took the decision to retire as we would not have made the cut-off at Swurl How. It was a very difficult decision as this was the first race I have pulled out of. But I will be back next year and won't be defeated!"
Emily Whitehead, from Keighley & Craven, added: "Thanks to the guys who kept our group together and waited. It was much appreciated.
"I didn't see them at the end to say thank you but it was much more fun doing it together."
Likewise, coming down from the second-marker point at Swurl How, Paul Reilly thought he was on his own until he looked around to see 20-odd runners following him.
The final marker was Coniston Old Man itself, from where a couple of descents – more or less severe – are offered.
The camaraderie of Sunday's event was summed up by the ceilidh afterwards.
The final race results and times were not available at the time of going to press but race organisers congratulated: "Tom Addison (Helm Hill), who won for the second year running, with another past winner Ted Mason (Wharfedale) a close second.
"Ian Holmes (Bingley) came in third. Amazingly, at nearly 50, he was still with the leading two at Miner's Bridge but the after-burners didn't kick in. That would have been a sweet tenth victory."
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