Fell Series
The Chepstow Harriers 'Joc Dodd Fell Series' is a series of races in the calendar year that club members are encouraged to take part in. These races are chosen at the start of the year by the Fell Series Co-ordinator. Points are awarded in each race and an overall table of positions showing accumulated points is produced.
2024 Fell Series
Niki is the co-ordinator for 2024
There is a growing contingent that are drawn to the wild, wonderful mountains of south Wales. Contrary to popular opinion, you don’t need to be gnarly, wizened, have quads of steel or a VO2 max of 92 to participate. I (Niki) have picked some nice ‘fluffy bunny’ races that everyone can have a go at. You can be old, navigationally-challenged, female (I am all 3) – as long as you like stunning views, undulations, camaraderie, cake, and cheap and chips entries (chips are often included – both electronic and edible), then this is the genre of trotting for you.
There are 8 races in the series. You only need to do 4 to score, and everyone who does the minimum will get a superb hand-made wooden sheep memento and mention at the awards bash. Obviously the people who actually win, will get stuff too.
The scoring system will be simplified for all (including me) to understand – first Harrier man or woman gets 100 points, second gets 99, etc. For the races which are a bit tougher, like Waun Fach, where you do need to know where you’re going as it’s not marked, then this scoring system will favour those that man/girl up accordingly.
Do remember to take full kit (link to what this includes below) regardless of what the weather is doing when you leave Chepstow. The race organiser may still insist on this even if conditions are good. The worst that can then happen is you took a few extra items that stayed in the car.
So, here are the races:
Craig y Allt - 3.91 miles/984ft - Saturday 20 Jan – pretty well marked and marshalled so no nav skills required. RESULTS
Pentyrch Hill race (7 miles/1340ft) – Tuesday 30 April – marked and marshalled course, no nav skills required. RESULTS
Coppett Hill – 5.3 miles/1000ft) Saturday 22 June – marked and marshalled – really lovely route and extremely beginner friendly.
Sugarloaf summer evening race – 5.5 miles/1150ft - Tuesday 25 June - partly marked great course (same course as Night Sugar – but with visibility).
Waun Fach – 7miles/2000ft - Sunday 21 July, superb classic route, along the Dragon’s back – with sting in the tail at the finish. It’s not marked so you definitely need to do a recce or two, or need to navigate. I will probably organise a recce for it nearer the time.
Llanthony Show – 3.9 miles/1150ft Saturday 03 August – partly marked, but not very – makes for a genuine adventure.
Twmbarlon Terror – 7.27 miles/1489ft - sometime in November, organised by Fairwater – not really a fell race although has a fair amount of ascent/descent – fully marked and marshalled course – no nav skills required.
Skirrid – 3.2 miles/1078ft Saturday 21 December. Legendary fell race organised by our very own Andy Creber. It’s marked so no nav skills required – just follow the flagged route.
Remember that you only need to do 4, and at least five of the selected races are well marked and marshalled with no navigational skills required. I very much look forward to seeing lots of you on the fells in 2024. That cute sheep memento is waiting for you.
Fell Races are all categorised in terms of length and difficulty:
Length - S (short), M (medium), L (long).
Difficulty A, B, C.
These are combined to denote the severity of the race. Eg: Pen Tir Drop BS (moderate difficulty and short)
Myth busting
Any club member can do a fell race. Many people assume that fell racers are slightly mad and hard as nails. Well, some are, but like all running genres, the races contain runners with a wide range of speed, age, experience and skills.
Anyone can do fell races - running in the hills can be a truly amazing experience and some might say almost spiritual.
You do not need to be a brilliant navigator as some races are well marked or follow easy paths or ridges.
You do not need to run up the hills - there is often a fair bit of walking to be done.
See www.fellrace.com for some general guidance.
Arhived Results
2012 Results here
2011 results here
2010 results here
2009 results here.