Race Date: Saturday 9th September 2017

A quick dash up to Graves Parkrun to get a complete soaking was followed by another dash over to Longshaw for the annual Sheepdog Trials fell race. £5 to enter the trials and the fell race is thrown in for free. However, with the weather being as it was, I think everyone who entered this race wanted to home as quickly as possible afterwards to get cleaned up and warmed up.

215 hardy souls braved the cold and heavy rain, conditions that can be classed as character building. The marquee was a warm place before the race with runners huddled together, keeping out of the rain.

The same race briefing as last year – the route was, ‘follow Stuart Bond’ and thankfully he got it right this year so no requirement to cut diagonally across boggy fields at the beginning. It was wet, it was muddy, it was boggy, it was slippery. There were numerous fallers, including yours truly (and Mark Platton as Rob delightedly told me) during the 5.8 miles. We picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves down and carried on.

The race was, as predicted, won by Stuart Bond of DPFR in 40.52. The first woman home was Anna Hoogkamer, also of DPFR, in 50.45. The weather played havoc with the timers and some times were lost but the only time missing from the Striders competitors is Amy Duck. Well done to all 20 Striders taking part.

Striders Results: