Pontesbury fell race
19 JUNE 2022
Near to Shropshire’s County town of Shrewsbury, there is a village called Pontesbury. A hill sits just on the boarder, with two peaks, called Pontesford Hill and Earls Hill. This used to be the location of some very old forts. Standing at 350m high on the drive towards Pontesbury it stands out and looks somewhat punishing.
Why am I driving there at 5pm on a Wednesday, in the middle of June? Well, we are about to compete in one of the Shropshire summer series fell race’s, this one run by Mercia Fell Runners, and the Race Director is John Atyeo.
This race is approx. 2.5 miles and 354m/1161ft climb, depending on which watch you wear, the route you take and how nice the gps data is on the day. A little shorter this year as the field we start in is being used for school sports.
The summer races are good for beginner fellies…
After arriving, we attended the Mercia tent and registered, applied my race number and dibber, and caught up with club friends, a bit of banter and examining the map of the route. The summer races are quite good for beginner fellies as quite a few have the races marked rather than requiring a map.
After warming up and mobilising, it was soon 7:30pm, we were on the start line and ready to go. It was hot and humid, exciting, and the adrenaline was pumping. Charlie Leventon was the race starter, and with a loud ‘GO’ we were off, straight to the corner of the field and left onto the tracked road, a slight hilly climb and then left into a field for a short flat section and then before we knew it, we were over a stile and onto the climb.
I remember examining the ground for the way down…
It started steady and runnable, and I looked at my watch to see we were only 0.5 miles in, then in the short distance you could see the climb increase as the dirt path became tricky underfoot, tree roots, rocks, and an ever-increasing climb. I remember briefly examining the ground for the way down and looking for sections to ‘sprint’ down. Needless to say, that’s all it was, I never remembered on the way back!!
The fell hike then began, along with heavy breathing and sweaty bodies all around, and we still hadn’t hit a mile. As we progressed further up, we went through a gate and out of the woods, onto the open land. The route sent us to the right, my legs were on fire as I tried to get them to run, trying to move the thighs higher than a shuffle. Once you got going it was nice to shake the legs out.
Then we hit Earls Hill. As I look up, I see a long line of bodies climbing up this very steep section, passing head high ferns and then the grassland.
Calves burning, breathing like I was running fast..
Calves burning, breathing like I was running fast but only hiking, I managed to get past two with a burst of speed, then back into a steady climb, trying to maintain a consistent cadence. Thankfully I clock Jack Agnew, one of the marshals at the top of the climb taking photos, so I compose myself, look up and smile. Then it was back to gritting my teeth.
The route then took you to the left and you contoured round to the final climb of Pontesford Hill. Once at the top, you checked in with your dibber, and it was brain off, breaks off and go!!
brain switched, the race is on…
The first section was steep, and I controlled the descent to the gate that we went through on the climb, this got the legs ready for the work to come.
Into the woodland we went, and the rocky and root covered ground meant fast feet, picking up the knees, and scanning ahead for the line you felt confident to run. Breaking, accelerating, breaking, accelerating, at this point one of the marshals, Dave Farrow was shouting encouragement and goading the younger lad behind me to sprint past as I was at least 20 years older!! Ok, brain switched, the race is on.
To be fair this lad was more confident on the rocky section than I was, but I saved a bit of energy and knew where I could use this. As soon as the ground smoothed out, I was off. #Gohardorgohome.
I opened my stride and started to close the gap, we then crossed the road section as I passed him, I knew I would have to hold this pace otherwise his younger heart and lungs would do me over. We re-entered the field and this was a nice flat section straight to the corner, and I knew the final few hundred metres was downhill, then flat to the finish.
driving the knees and holding on for dear life…
Up to the final gear, driving the knees and holding on for dear life. It was a sprint. I could see the corner of the finishing field approaching, had one final glance over my shoulder and knew I would finish ahead, but only just, by 2 seconds.
What a fantastic race that had a bit of everything you would want in a fell race. Tough climbs, runnable climbs, technical sections, fast neck breaking descents and a hard fast finish, not to mention the views if you managed to have a glance at the top, it was amazing.
I took one of my regular group athletes for his first fell race and what a race for him to try out. His face at the end said it all, he was spent. His words, ‘I loved that, but nothing at all can prepare you for THAT’.
After recovering our breath, catching up with team members, exchanging a few stories of the race, it was time to head home.
There is nothing like fell running, its welcoming community, friendly atmosphere, and brutal racing. Everyone has their own experience, whether front runners, mid pack, or tail end charlie, but everyone has an amazing time which makes this the best running community that I know.