Simonside Cairns Fell Race, 11th December 2022

Chris Jones braved the wintry weather to enter the Simonside Cairns Fell Race. This is his report:

I was introduced to this fell race nearly 25 years ago by Claremont/Northumberland Fell Runners (NFR) legends John Dallinson and Jane Saul. It was a regular pre-Christmas favourite, often with a decorated tree hauled up to the summit and fairy lights in the woods, but I haven’t done it for a few years. A change to the bad weather route avoided the ice on the slabs and steps over Simonside, though the farm track out of Rothbury was still pretty dicey. It was a relief to get out on to the moors and tracks where there was good grip and most of the bogs were frozen. Good to see Jeremy Smith and his daughter Rachel taking part too and both winning prizes. We all agreed it had been great fun, superbly organised by NFR with brave marshals standing out on the freezing hillside, and a welcome mug of soup at the end.
11 miles, 400m ascent. 1 hour 39 mins (23rd out of 56 hardy souls).

Must have been a cold one! Well done, Chris.