Race Report by Neil Taylor.
Woh … ohoh … aaaagh … were some of the anguished cries from inadequately shod athletes, as they tried to negotiate the slippery slope rising from the start of the Morning After fell race on New Year’s day 2025.
After a further short climb, a descent through the woods took runners onto the diagonal track down towards the Carding Mill visitor centre. The short climb up to the golf course was the first of several sections on narrow ‘single file’ tracks. But as the wily old fox Guy Whitmarsh observed later, this is a great time for overtaking. If you can charm, squeeze or elbow your way past the next runner ahead, then you can steal a good few metres on any rival caught behind. This is exactly what Stuart Austin did to me and another runner, as he side-stepped into the heather, while we traversed the cold, windy ridge of Nover’s hill. “Good manoeuvre” I said, through gritted teeth, before he disappeared down the steep bank the other side. We’re not normally in such close competition but one of us had an early night , while the other by all accounts had not.
A refreshing dip in the stream took us soon to another narrow section, where I tried to gain some time on my friendly rival and sometimes nemesis, Clive Richardson of Ludlow Runners. A final scramble up from the Carding Mill road took us into the final kilometer or so back to the top of the wood, before plunging back down the field to the finish line, now much muddied by an excellent turnout of 174 runners, enjoying the renaissance of this great little race, resurrected by Mercia Fell Runners, after a five year hiatus.
Great running by all 18 Croft Ambrey finishers over quite a challenging, 5 mile course, with over 1300 feet ascent (8.2km/400m). Special mention to the first two home in a Croft vest – Gareth Leek and Grant Womack, Nigel Taylor (2nd M55), Clare Preece (2nd W55), Liza Austin (2nd W60), Neil Taylor (2nd M65) and of course, the legendary Guy Whitmarsh (1st M80).
Hot soup and and a roll finished a great start to 2025. Thank you, Mercia.
Full results can be found on the Mercia Fell Runners site
