Many races are described as being a "classic", but this race truly lives up to the term.  It is a tough race with diverse challenges spread out over eight miles.  When you run this race for the first time, you learn how best to run it.  The subsequent times give a truer reflection of your ability.  Against this background twenty intrepid Barlickers made the mid week trip to the Lakes to to take on this challenge.

There were some who should have perhaps never taken it on at this stage of their running careers.  Scott Boardman, Stuart Bryan, Jack Ingham and James Stead come to mind.  But they all showed great character, dug deep and finished the race and incredibly James Stead did not even come last.

At the other end of the field, Ricky Lightfoot once more showed has class and by Check Point One, he had already built up a comfortable lead. Surprisingly, at this stage, there were four Barlickers in the top ten, running as a group and occupying positions seven to ten.  By the end of the race, this group had split up slightly, with Jimmy Craig finishing in 5th place and demonstrating his ability to cope with all types of fell running.  This race was vastly different from the 15 minute up and down Bofra race where he finished 2nd last Sunday.  In 7th position and showing some of the talent that made him an awesome junior runner, was Luke Maude.  Our final top ten finisher was Nick Treitl and although he put in a cracking performance, he was somewhat shell shocked afterwards at the experience he had just been through.

Chris Smale dropped a little behind the leading group, but was still 4th Barlicker home in 15th position.  Shaun Chew came home in 24th position, looking very comfortable leading our next batch of runners who all put in incredible performances.  In the midst of this group was Chewy, who was finding that the hilly fells is much more of a serious challenge than flat tarmac.  Des perhaps struggled as he came home amongst the old hands of fell running Glenn Whittaker and Pete Jackson.

Those were terrific performances from the whole team and to take on a race of this caliber shows just how far the club has come in its brief history.

Lastly, thanks should go to Eden Runners for putting on this race.  It was well organised, well marshaled and the helpers from Eden Runners are such a friendly group of people that they add that extra special something to what is already a special race.  And there were no midges at the finnish tonight!

The group left the pub at around 11:00 pm so there will be some tired workers trying to get up in the morning, but they are sure to carry to work with them memories of an incredible night.

1 Ricky Lightfoot 1:01:20

5 Jimmy Craig 1:08:16
7 Luke Maude 1:08:26
10 Nick Treitl 1:08:43
15 Chris Smale 1:11:12
24 Shaun Chew 1:13:40
25 Sam Gibbs 1:13:57
26 Andy Berry 1:14:38
38 Andrew Driver 1:19:41
44 Stephen Chew 1:20:57
50 Jock Boothman 1:22:03
69 Lee Edwards 1:25:58
75 John Boothman 1:26:59
96 Glenn Whittaker 1:32:11
97 Derek Walkden 1:32:30
103 Pete Jackson 1:34:35
117 Scott Boardman 1:37:17
123 Stuart Bryan 1:38:46
149 Jack Ingham 1:49:31
155 James Stead 1:58:25

158 Starters

Jimmy Craig was taking part in his first Bofra race after he missed Sedbergh the other week.  He finished second to Jack Smith of Wharfedale Harriers by 14 seconds.  Jack has maximum points now after the first two races due to finishing second at Sedbergh and Rob Jebb not competing in the overall series.