The Fellsman is famous as test of endurance: a high level traverse covering over 60 miles of tough rugged moorland in the Yorkshire Dales. Saturday’s event was even more challenging given the adverse weather conditions, with the 323 runners (of 398 entrants) who started the event faced with driving rain, hailstorms and wind as well as the 12000+ feet of ascent. Todmorden Harriers boasted two runners at the event: Jo Daniels and Elise Milnes. The route took Jo and Elise up Ingleborough, down to the Hill Inn and up Whernside (two of the famous Yorkshire Dales Three Peaks Walk). From the summit of Whernside the route drops down into Kingsdale then up over Gragareth and Great Coum and down into the picturesque Dales village of Dent. Next Blea Moor was traversed and the route dropped back into Dentdale at Stonehouse. The route then leaves Dentdale behind and climbs to the summit of Great Knoutberry before dropping down to cross the Ingleton to Hawes road at Redshaw. Next the route climbs Snaizeholme, crosses to Dodd Fell, and meets the Hawes to Kettlewell road at Fleet Moss. In an additional twist to the tale this year runners were obliged to drop down into the valley bottom to take a 2 mile detour, before climbing to Yockenthwaite and then on to Middle Tongue and Cray. They then headed up to Buckden Pike, and down (slightly) to Park Rash above Kettlewell; this is the last roadside checkpoint. The final leg takes the entrant across the top of the hills to the east of Wharfedale, drops down into the village of Grassington then crosses the river Wharfe to finish at the Upper Wharfedale County Secondary School, Threshfield. Jo completed the event in 16.44.34 in 61st place. Elise finished in 23.19.51 in 170th place. There were 221 finishers. The outright winner was Stuart Walker in 11.18.38.
