Well, the prospect of Time Trial racing wasn't very appealing was it ?! Christmas excesses, the feisty storm Eleanor and continuous rain beforehand seemed to confirm the billing of 'The Tough One'.

Race number 2 attracted a lower turnout than the first race. This is often true in December as members have succumbed to seasonal colds or are maybe just out Christmas shopping....

I knew this one was going to hurt and it didn't disappoint...

 Which Witch?

The classic Tour of Pendle fell race is generally acknowledged to be one of the hardest on the calendar at about 17 miles and nearly 5000ft of ascent with many boggy sections, very steep climbs and descents and the infamous drop that is "Geronimo" I knew this was going to be a very, very tough race....

or once a bright sunny day greeted us for the last event of the Burley “summer” festival; to wit- the fell race up t’moor and the runners congregated around the cordoned-off cricket pitch under the strange glow of a bright ball in the sky. A pig was quickly sacrificed to appease the Gods to make sure the ball didn’t destroy us and 14 Fellandalers (I’m including the pesky second-claimers) signed the sheet to promise not to sue anyone if they died with their leg in the air as they were fully aware that fell running is a bloody silly pastime.....

On a calm, cool but fine night, a reasonably total of twelve runners turned out for the first time trial race in our 2017/18 Winter Handicap series....