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22nd Annual High Peak Relay : ARC Permit awaited

SUNDAY 11 NOVEMBER 2012 at 10.00

RACE HQ : ARKWRIGHTS MILL, MILL LANE, CROMFORD           LOCATION : www.multimap.com - then type in DE4 3RQ

Results of the 2011 Relay appear at the foot of this page by clicking the icon or on the results page in the index.

NEWS

1 : from 2011, the number of stages has been reduced from 10 to 8; withdrawing the original stages 5 & 6

2 : there is a good refreshment cafe at the turn around at the end of stage 4 & start of stage 5...good place for teams to get together

Come and run in the very popular all off-road out and back relay along the High Peak Trail in Derbyshire, starting and finishing in the village of Cromford on the A6 just south of Matlock. All stages are run as a RACE - when the winner of one stage finishes, all runners are set off on the next one. Stages vary in length and some are suitable for juniors, the not so fit as well as your club superstars!!! The total distance is 28.48 miles.

We are indebted to both Derbyshire County Council and the Peak Park Board for granting access to the Trail for the past 20 years and to the Arkwright Society for access to the Mill.

LOCAL SITE : www.thebestof.co.uk/belper

  • Leg 1 : 3.81mls (800' climb) and Leg 10 : 3.81mls (800' descent)
  • Leg 2 : 2.50mls (very slight uphill first 800m) and Leg 9 : 2.50mls (downhill at end)
  • Leg 3 : 5.47mls (flat) and Leg 8 : 5.47mls (flat)
  • Leg 4 : 2.46mls (flat) and Leg 7 : 2.46mls (flat)

The entry fee is £25 per team - but NO entries on the day...close on 10 November 2011. In addition, teams need to pay £2 extra for each runner who is NOT a member of an affiliated running club. The Relay starts and finishes in Intake Lane, a short distance from the Mill and the start time is 10am prompt. Part of the entry fee will be donated to our charity, IDEAS (International Development through Education, Art and Sport), where we are raising funds to build a school for poor children in the southern Indian State of Kerala. Donations in addition to your entry fee are always greatly appreciated.

Prizes will be awarded to the first 2 teams, the first women's team and the first MIXED team (to qualify, a mixed team must consist of 4 women and 4 men) and all teams qualifying for prizes must have had 8 different runners making up- the team....but teams can run runners twice if need be but are not eligible for a prize

Stage descriptions

Stage 1 & 8 (minimum age - 15) : From the start in INTAKE LANE, across the A6 from the race HQ, there is a steep road ascent for about 200m after which the surface is compacted earth and shale when, after going under a bridge, you climb on the the High Peak Trail itself to continue the uphill run passing Black Rocks. There is a flat section in the middle of the lap before the climb up to Middleton Tops and on to the fast flat run to the finish. The final stage is the reverse and care should be taken to leave the Trail on the right to descent to the finish

Stage 2 & 7 (minimum age - 11) : A short stage with a slight uphill run of about 800m immediately after the start after which the stage os flat, finishing at Longcliffe Station. After 500m, there is a road crossing - it leads to a quarry and should not be taken.

Stage 3 & 6 (minimum age - 15) : These are the longest of the 8 stages. It is perfectly flat. There is a very minor road crossing at halfway and a major road crossing about 500m from the finish. Take care at both but there will be a marshal on the main road

Stage 4 & 5 (minimum age - 11) : Another short stage and flat. At the end of the stage, runners on stage 4 should KEEP LEFT so as not to get in the way of the outgoing runners at the start of stage 5....who should remember that they must FORK LEFT to stay on the High Peak Trail and not go straight ahead on to the Tissington Trail......you will land up near Ashbourne!!!!

High Peak Relay Records (as at 13/11/2011)

MEN : North Derbyshire RC 164.34 (2011)  WOMEN : Strollers Pink Runners : 190.00 (2011)

  • STAGE 1 - 3.81m:
    • Dem Whiting: Hallamshire Harriers: 1999: 22.33
    • Channah Patton: Hallamshire Harriers: 1998 : 26.23
  • STAGE 2 - 2.50m:
    • Dave Archer : Hallamshire Harriers: 2008: 12.50
    • Tara Kryzwicki: Barrow Runners: 2006: 14.02
  • STAGE 3 - 5.27m:
    • Jason Ward: Hillsborough Harriers: 2001: 27.52
    • Ellie Stevens: Sunday Strollers: 2005 31.25
  • STAGE 4 - 2.46m:
    • Daniel Yates: Matlock AC: 1997: 12.40
    • Jacky Jackson: Derby Ladies: 1994 & Christine Howard: Matlock AC: 2000: 14.43
  • STAGE  5 (formerly Stage 7)- 2.46m:
    • Jason Ward: Hallamshire Harriers: 2003: 11.50
    • Christine Howard: Matlock AC: 2004: 14.29
  • STAGE  6 (formerly Stage 8) - 5.27m:
    • Jason Ward: Hallamshire Harriers: 1999: 27.00
    • Channah Patton: Extended Families: 2000: 31.13
  • STAGE  7 (formerly Stage 9) - 2.50m:
    • Adam Dyson: Hallamshire Harriers: 1999: 12.09
    • Abbie Westley: Hallamshire Harriers: 2005: 12.54
  • STAGE 8 (formerly Stage 10) - 3.81m:
    • Scott West: OWLS: 1993: 18.06
    • Gemma Steel: Hermitage Harrier: 2007: 21.23

Stage maps

High Peak Relay Course Maps

Records (35.16 Miles)

  • MEN: 191.42 : HALLAMSHIRE HARRIERS 2007
  • WOMEN: 226.30 : HALLAMSHIRE HARRIERS 2008

Roll of Honour (mens champions followed by womens champions)       

  • 2010 North Derbyshire RC 208.37  Hatton Darts 269.53
  • 2009 Hatton Darts 218.05 Holme Pierrepont Lite 264.19
  • 2008 Hallamshire Harriers 175.40 Hallamshire Harriers - record 226.30
  • 2007 Hallamshire Harriers - record 191.42 Hallamshire Harriers 228.11
  • 2006 Hallamshire Harriers 197.49 Hallamshire Harriers 232.49
  • 2005 Hallamshire Harriers 195.46 Hallamshire Harriers 229.24
  • 2004 Hallamshire Harriers 197.03 Hallamshire Harriers 235.42
  • 2003 Hallamshire Harriers 193.02 Harborough AC 250.49
  • 2002 Hallamshire Harriers 197.03 North Derbyshire Running Club 253.46
  • 2001 Hillsborough Runners 194.02 Harborough AC 254.54
  • 2000 Matlock AC 198.25 Mansfield H & AC 273.15
  • 1999 Hallamshire Harriers 190.13 Hallamshire Harriers 247.37
  • 1998 Hallamshire Harriers 195.03 Hallamshire Harriers 253.55
  • 1997 Brache Joggers 193.24 Hallamshire Harriers 244.47
  • 1996 Mansfield Harriers & AC 195.39 Holme Pierrepont Running Club 253.33
  • 1995 Mansfield Harriers & AC 203.19 Ashbourne RC 231.48
  • 1994 North Derbyshire RC 200.12 Derby Ladies AC 302.22

Original, Shorter Course

  • 1993 Sutton in Ashfield H & AC 208.42 and Derby Ladies AC 239.44                
  • 1992 North Derbyshire RC 196.50 No womens race
  • 1991 Blackheath Harriers - 185.00 No womens race
  • 1990 Burton AC 203.25 No womens race

Race Results

Race Photos

Comments on the 2011 Relay from a member od Derwent Runners

THE JOY OF SIX

Lovers of skimpy singlets and low-lying mist were in their element again on Sunday as runners from far and wide descended on Cromford for the annual High Peak Relay.

One of only three clubs in the 38 strong field to enter three teams, Derwent Runners were well represented by a strong men’s team and two enthusiastic mixed ones.

As in previous years, a testing 800ft climb began proceedings as competitors raced uphill to join the former railway line that makes up most of the trail.

Muddy underfoot and cloaked in the aforementioned mist, the course flattened out to follow the cinder path once taken by steam trains on their way to Dowlow, near Buxton

After doubling back on themselves, athletes running the latter legs then retraced the steps taken by their colleagues to return to the cheering crowds stationed on Intake Lane.

In such trying conditions all efforts were herculean. But special mention should be made of Matt Cartwright and Mike Marshall, who finished second and third in their respective legs

.

James Watt, in his first High Peak start in the green and white hoops came eighth, as did Oliver Meek, and Neil Thurlow’s hard work earned a highly impressive fourth place.

Not content with running one leg, Ian Doherty ran two, with Andy Morgan going one better in managing to turn out for all three teams.

Having squeezed into ninth overall in 2010 with a time just over 238 minutes, the men’s team went three places better to finish sixth, shattering their previous record (albeit on an altered course) by almost fifty minutes.

They were within 15 minutes of North Derbyshire Running Club’s winning one and less than four minutes off their nearest rivals, Porter Valley Plodders. Surely a top five finish beckons next November?

Despite a slight slip down the rankings from 18th and 27th to 31st and 36th, our mixed teams proudly flew the flag too, proving the Hoops are Derbyshire’s friendliest running club as well as one of its best.

And with the post-race debrief at the Mill House in Milford in full swing, the ever-growing band of green hoodies took over a corner to toast their achievements.

Frothing pints and curly chips were on the menu, but, as ever, it was camaraderie and Corinthian spirit that sustained them and soothed their aching limbs.

Roll on 2012.