Race Date: Sunday 22nd June 2025

The Kettlewell Anniversary Fell Race, is part of the Fell Runners Association English Championships and is not to be confused with the Kettlewell Fell Race which took place on 1^st June and is part of the British Open Fell Runners Association Championships. Louis Wood recommends a reading of chapter nine of Feet In The Clouds by Richard Asquith to understand how this state of affairs came to be.

Organised by North Leeds Fell Runners, The Kettlewell Anniversary Fell Race, 8 km/5.1 miles; 554m/1800’ AS category is described as “A short but steep fell race that packs a punch. Starting from the heart of Kettlewell, runners face a lung-busting ascent before a fast and furious descent back to the village. A true test of grit and gravity!”

After being selected to run for England at the Snowdon International, Abbie Pearse has is packing in the fell races in preparation. There is a saying that the first to the top rarely wins but accurate information available as competitors have to ‘dib’ at the summit before returning to the village informs that the first three women to arrive at the top finished in the same order. Abbie, third at the turn, finished in that position maintaining the gap over the fourth placed woman but losing ground on second placed Eve Pannone who is also racing at Snowdon. In a good run of form this is the first time that Abbie has had a podium finish in a (FRA) Championship race. The women’s race, run separate from the men, was won by Sara Willhoit (Mercia) in 40:57 who has previously raced at the 2019 World Mountain Running Champs in Argentina.