After the snowy excitement of Runners & Riders and the lovely weather joys at Ilkley, the next 2 races in the Nidd Fell Champs are Buckden Out Moor on 6th April and The Cake Race on 4th May. I’ve added some detail here but I also wanted to alert you to 2 pre-entry only races in a few months time, Wharfedale Trail ½ Marathon and Blackfell.
Buckden Out Moor (Fell 3)
Unfortunately, I’ll be holiday so won’t be able to join you for this one. It’s a fairly new race so to be honest I don’t much about it, but please do tell me about afterwards.
Date: Saturday 6th April
Start time: 11am
Entry fee: £8 On Day – £6 Pre Entry
Distance/Climb/Grade: 8.2K/472m/AS
FRP summary: Course partially marked but will have some steep bits. Hope a map will be available before the day.
Details: The link on the FRA website currently doesn’t work so I’ve emailed the organiser for more info. That’s the low-key nature of the fells for you!
Race HQ: Buckden Car Park BD23 5JA
Kit: Always take full kit to fell races just in case the organisers insist. You may wish to carry it anyway. Technically, if the weather is poor you could be asked to wear/carry full waterproof body cover (that’s including trousers), hat, gloves, whistle, map, compass. If the weather is good it’s likely the organiser will be OK with a lot less kit.
The Cake Race (Fell 4)
So far 20 Nidds have entered. Don’t delay if you’re interested, < 40 places left.
Date: Saturday 4th May
Start time: 11am
Entry fee: £5 Pre Entry Only – bring a home-made cake and get your entry fee back!
Distance/Climb/Grade: 16K/518m/BM
FRP summary: Course partially marked, but be alert in the latter stages of the race as the field spreads you may need to think a bit – print organisers map off. They have introduced a cut-off of 1.5 hours around 10K in. For guidance purposes, I took 62mins to get there last year.
Details: www.saddleworth-runners.co.uk/cake-race
Race HQ: Kiln Green Church, Diggle OL3 5JZ
Kit: Always take full kit to fell races just in case the organisers insist. You may wish to carry it anyway. Technically, if the weather is poor you could be asked to wear/carry full waterproof body cover (that’s including trousers), hat, gloves, whistle, map, compass. If the weather is good it’s likely the organiser will be OK with a lot less kit.
There are 2 Entry On Day (EOD) races in May (Charlesworth Chase and Jack Bloor) as you’ll see from the diary on our website, but 2 future races to watch out which are pre-entry only are:
Wharfedale Trail ½ Marathon (Fell 7)
So far 4 Nidds have entered so plenty points available. Get in there.
Date: Saturday 1st June
Start time: 11am
Entry fee: £28 Pre Entry Only (gulp quite a bit, but it’s the word Trail and all the flagging that shoves the price up). Early entrants got it £10 cheaper.
Distance/Climb/Grade: 21K/590m/BL
FRP summary: Flagged throughout and all on good tracks with brilliant scenery so should be a delight. You should print off the organisers map though.
Details: www.wharfedalemarathonevents.com/
Race HQ: Wharfedale Rugby Club, Threshfield BD23 5BS
Kit: Full kit will be necessary (it’s an BL). Wear/carry full waterproof body cover (that’s including trousers), hat, gloves, whistle, map, compass, emergency food.
Blackfell (Fell 8)
This was included as it’s local and an English Championship race in Kettlewell. It’s the toughest race in the Nidd 2019 Fell Champs. I’ve diarised a recce for the weekend before having done it in 2018. Entries open on 27th April but will go quickly.
Date: Saturday 6th July (Recce run on Saturday 29th June)
Start time: 1pm
Entry fee: £14 Pre Entry Only
Distance/Climb/Grade: 15K/777m/AM
FRP summary: Not beginner friendly, that’s for sure. Essential to print the organisers map.
Details: http://www.bingleyharriers.co.uk/events/blackfell-race/
Race HQ: Kettlewell Village Hall BD23 5QX
Kit: Full kit will be necessary even if a scorcher (it’s an AM). Wear/carry full waterproof body cover (that’s including trousers), hat, gloves, whistle, map, compass, emergency food.
FRPhil