Race Date: Saturday 11th October 2025
Apparently tradition has it that when you go to pick up your Bob Graham certificate at the biennial dinner, you should race the Langdale Horseshoe fell race on the morning beforehand to work up an appetite. At least this was the codswallop that was told to me in order to get me to do the race. Having been to the Bob Graham dinner before, and due to the quality and portion size of the food, vowed never to go again, it was a surprise even to myself that I agreed to such nonsense. However, anyone who knows me, will testify I’m easily led astray and with Dan Abbott asking me to be his ‘plus one’ at the dinner and Nigel Barnes requesting me to run the Langdale Horseshoe, how could I decline?
Nige hired an AirB&B in Kendal and we went up for the weekend. The weather was amazing for the race with cloud inversions over Bow Fell making the race phenomenal. Considering the potential weathers that are available in the lakes in October, we got a peach of a day.
The race itself is tough. 12.5 miles and 5700 feet from Old Dungeon Ghyll up to Stickle Pike, round Pavey Ark to Thunacar Knott. Over to Angle Tarn, round the back of Bow fell, down Crickle Crags, up to Pike O’Blisco then straight back to Old Dungeon Ghyll. It was hot and I felt sick again at the end. Took me a while to get my appetite back in order to eat the free pie afterwards but the views and the terrain made it all worthwhile.
The male race winner was Finley Wild 0f Lochaber AC in 2.00.33. The female winner was Bryony Halcrow of Ambleside AC in 2.38.20
Striders Results:
| Pos | Name | Cat | Time |
| 107 | Dan Abbott | MV 40 | 3.40.28 |
| 120 | Nick Burns | MV 50 | 3.50.23 |
| 121 | Nigel Barnes | MV 50 | 3.50.25 |
Full results: here
The Bob Graham Dinner
There were a load of my friends collecting their Bob Graham certificates at this year’s dinner and having supported all of them on either their successful round or a previous attempt, I really wanted to be there to cheer them on and support them. The Bob Graham round is a phenomenal achievement and it was a privilege to be there and be part of the celebrations.
Current striders collecting their certificates were Nigel Barnes and Dan Abbott. Ex Striders also getting their certificates were Amy Duck, Liam Turner and Jason Brannan. Our good friends from Dronfield RC of which Liam is a member also had certificate collections by Oli Harrison and Andrew Ellwood.
The food was still bad, the Ceilidh was as weird as last time, the compere, well, let’s just say he was unique. However, we all had a great evening. Would I ever go again – absolutely not…..well maybe
