It was a very warm week and it looked like it could be a hard slog on the none stop ascent from Earby to the summit of Pin Haw.  As things turned out, the hot spell started to change and on the night, there was a very welcoming cool breeze on the summit to greet the runners.  As they came into view in the new plantation the top ten was made of names you would expect to be there.  But the question on everyone's lips was, "Who is that runner at the front"?  Given the current form of Jimmy Craig, there was a great expectation that he would be leading out the pack.  But it was not to be.  Jimmy had been forced into second place by this unknown runner.   It has been so long since there had last been some proper racing that the crowd were battling to recall the names of many of the runners. But is was nonetheless good to see those old familiar faces back out on the fells doing what they are so good at.  In the top echelon were all the names names you would expect to see there, amongst which were Stephen Corbishley Jonathan Cleaver, Jack Vlliiers, Julian Hood and Christian Homes. 

No sooner had the top ten gone past then the first lady came into view.  Looking very fit and as always running with such effortless elegance was Helen Smith, still probably known to everyone as Helen Glover.  Not too far behind her was Hannah Jarvis of Accrington Road Runners.  The field had become very strung out, but as the tail end came up the hill, into view came those faces which seem to have graced the fell running scene forever.  Karin Goss and Christine Leathley, both of Clayton.  Bringing up the rear was one of the nicest men around in the running scene - Jack McGuire of Clayton.  He was battling with the ascent but he was tackling it with his usual grit and determination.  No matter how long it took, he was not going to be beaten by the course and so it proved, he ended up as a finisher and not as a DNF.

When the runners had reached the summit and were returning, it was still nip and tuck with Jimmy Craig and the talented unknown runner.  He turned out to be Thomas Hodgson, formerly a member of Esk Valley, but now running unattached.  Jimmy Craig is very much on form at the moment, so Thomas was certainly a worthy winner.

It was a good atmosphere out on the course, possibly because everyone, both runners and spectators were relieved to back out on the fells enjoying this quite remarkable sport.

Full Race Results 

12 Ben Whitehead 25:02
18 Stuart Heaviside 26:14
19 David Pease 26:18 
41 Shane Muller 30:35
71 Nicola Muller 38:41

40 Emma Taylor 02:40:02 

1.5K Swim - 28:25
T1 - 02:19 
43.8km Bike - 01:25:12 
T2 - 01:10 
10K Run - 42:56