The first fell race was conceived by Ian Rooke, Dave Bayliss and Pete Bland as a race for the adults at the country fair, where the childrens sports were already popular. (See fair page for history). Just a handful of runners took part in the first race, but over the next couple of years, they honed the route and the race emerged in its current form in 1985. This is considered the first Official race and it has been run annually since then.
This race helped to raise funds for the new Village Hall, then under construction. Runners were registered in the porch of the new hall – the only part that could be used at the time! The hall was completed during the year following.
Ian Rooke was the race organiser up to 2003 when John Dickinson took over to allow Ian and Liz a holiday in May for the first time in almost 20 years!
The winner of the race receives the Sheepskin Warehouse Challenge Trophy, donated by Mark Birkbeck of Jumpers Ltd.
Pete Bland was involved in the birth of the race and has supported and sponsored the race ever since. Pete Bland Sports supplies the numbers for all the runners and contributes to the prizes.
1985 FRA article 
1985 Results 
1986 Results 
1988 Results 
1989 Results
Click on a button to see photos and records from our Fell Race archives.