The Old Crown Round 2022 – Saturday 23rd July 2022
This year’s race is an English Championship Counter and will take place on Saturday 23rd July, start time 11:00am.
Entries will be via Si-entries and will open 8 weeks before the race, as in 2021 Championship races, entries will be staggered. Maximum field is 400 runners, so I hope anyone who wants to race will be able to do so.
Entries will open for
- Guaranteed place Monday 30th May
- FRA members Monday 6th June
- All other entries Monday 13th June
Cost will be £15 for FRA members and £18 for non-members.
Enter Online
https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?event_id=9865
There is a carparking fee of £3, it would be helpful if you could bring the correct change.
FRA Category: AL NG
Distance: 36km / 22.4m
Climb: 2200m / 7218ft
Skills & experience: ER, PM, LK, NS
Check points: Carrock Fell, Blencathra, Skiddaw house, Skiddaw summit, Knott and High Pike
Minimum age: 18
Race records: Male: H. Bolton 03:31:44 – 2021 Female: S. Brett & N. Hawkrigg – 04:50:00 – 2017
The OCR is a long, hard fell race. In poor conditions you could be in cloud, on open high fells and alone. You need to be confident in your ability to cope under these circumstances.
Venue: Old Crown Pub, Hesket Newmarket
Post code: CA7 8JG
Start grid ref: NY 340 386
What 3 words: (arrival. paler. screamed) appropriate for finishers!
The Old Crown are offering runners a pre-race meal on Friday 22nd July, consisting of a pasta bolognaise and pudding for £10 (vegetarian options available). If you are interested, please pre-book on 016974 78288.
If you would like a post-race meal, it is essential that you also pre-book.
Family Friendly
Families/ supporters are welcome to the village, we have a pub, shop, playground and there is a scenic 3km walk to the river and back (ideal picnic site).
Directions to Hesket Newmarket
M6
If you travel from the North, South or just cross the M6 at Penrith
- Go to Junction 41
- Head on the B5305, towards Wigton
- Stay on the B5305 for 6.5 miles
- Take the left turn Signposted Hesket Newmarket
- Follow this road though the village of Millhouse to Hesket.
- The car park will be signed to the left as you enter the village.
- This is the quickest route.
South Lakes
Over Dunmail Raise
- Just after Thirlspot, turn right at sign to Threlkeld and St John’s in the Vale.
- At the A66 Junction Turn right.
- Follow A66 Passed Scales Farm and the White Horse Pub and take the left turn signed Mungrisdale and Caldbeck
- Stay on this road through Mungrisdale and Mosedale until it ends at a T junction. Turn Right and then left at the junction at the bottom of the hill.
- The car park will be signed to the left as you enter the village.
West Coast / Carlisle
- Various routes to Caldbeck and then on to Hesket Newmarket
- The car park will be signed to the Right at the far end of the village
Carpark
Is in a large field close to the start and will be charged at £3 per car. Please bring the correct change if you can.
Registration
Registration will open at 8:30.
At registration, apart from getting your race number we will do a full kit check and make sure your emergency contact details are up to date.
This is an AL category race, and the mandatory equipment is required
FRA Mandatory Minimum Kit (for Long A, Medium A and Long B races) comprises:
waterproof whole body cover (with taped seams and integrated attached hood),
hat, gloves, map of the route and compass (see Note 3), whistle and emergency food
Note 2: The use of any GPS watch or device (or equivalent) for navigation is strictly forbidden in all FRA races.
Note 3: Maps must be physical (not electronic) and compasses must be traditional (non-
electronic) type. The use of electronic compasses is not permitted.
Depending on conditions you may also be asked to bring a long sleeve thermal layer. So, bring one to the event just in case.
Route Description
The Race starts and finishes on the Village Green in Hesket Newmarket. and completes a loop of the higher summits of the Northern Fells in the Lake District. The terrain includes road, track, paths, open fields and open fell in some remote areas, Navigational skill are essential. There will be check points on the summits of Carrock Fell, Blencathra, Skiddaw house, Skiddaw summit, Knott and High Pike.
- From the village take the road to Wood Hall Farm (1 mile or 1.6 km).
- Follow directions given.
- At Wood Hall Farm directions will be given into the first field Public Foot path.
- Two options in the first large field.
- Head to the bottom of a long thin stand of trees, to a gate. Please close the gate. The route from the gate onwards will be flagged, you will pass through two more gates to open fell.
- Head up the field to the intake wall, stile next to gate. Over the stile (open fell) and turn immediately left to follow a good trod next to the wall.
- Once on open fell there is a free route choice to Check point 1 Carrock Fell. There will be a marshal at the stream crossing used in the Carrock Fell Race.
- Carrock Fell to Swineside follow suggested route to the valley and river crossing (do not take a direct line down the steep gorse infested slope unless you are training for the Barkley Marathons or want to give everyone else a 45 min head start).
- There is a choice of 3 river crossing points each will have a marshal; you must cross at one of these crossings. The first crossing will have a rope in place.
- There are many Route choices to Checkpoint 2 Blencathra.
- Blencathra to Skiddaw.
- Take the direct line to the fence line at the col (The Stake GR 296 288).
- Follow Bob Graham route towards Gt Calva for a bit, then head to the Cloven Stone and down to the col (The Stake GR 296 288).
- Take any line between the two lines above to the col.
- From col pick up the main path to Skiddaw House (suggested route).
- Skiddaw House is a check point and may have shelter and water.
- Follow main path up to Skiddaw summit.
- Skiddaw to Knott.
- From the summit head towards Bakestall then take the Bob Graham route right over Hare Crag and up to Great Calva. Follow fence line to stile then follow good path to Knott (suggested route)
- To Dash Falls via Bakestall Edge, then direct line to Knott (very rough going).
- Knott to High Pike
- Take the Fellside Fell Race route to High Pike.
- Go direct (if you dare).
- High Pike to the finish
- Down to the stile next to the gate in the intake wall large field, this is the field you ran through on the way out.
- Straight down the field to Wood Hall Farm.
- Turn left onto the road, 1 mile downhill to the finish (5min/mile pace)
- Extreme Care!! There are two blind junctions that must be crossed into the village. Marshal will stop runners if cars are coming.
- Run down the road to the left of the village green and finish on the green opposite the playground.
There is a cut off on Carrock Fell at 12.10 pm, you have 70 min to reach the summit of Carrock, this is a runner friendly cut off.
In the event you do not make this cut off you will be given a choice.
- Continue to the river crossings then along the Cumbrian Way to Skiddaw House check point, to re-join the race route via Great Calva and Knott, this will mean you avoid the summits of Blencathra and Skiddaw this option is 27km and 1200m of ascent, you will get a time but there are no prizes.
- Return to the Start by retracing the route out.
There are a limited number of maps for sale at registration (£2.50).
Camping
Camping is available in the village (in the same field as the carpark).
The campsite is more of a wild camping site. It has toilets, hot and cold water but no showers or electric hook-up.
Contact, Graham Todhunter on 07825684075
Race Contact: John Horne, Smithy House, Hesket Newmarket, Wigton, CA7 8JG, 016974 78219, j.horne145@btinternet.com
Please click on the links below for more information:
Please note that Skiddaw House is listed on the maps as a shelter, it is now a compulsory checkpoint (checkpoint 3), sorry that the maps don’t currently reflect this.
Runners will have a choice of three flagged river crossing points: stream crossing
Northern Fells Running Club are grateful to the The Old Crown Pub for allowing us to use their outdoor covered area for registration.
A note on poles: poles will only be allowed for runners that otherwise would be unable to take part in the event. The ethos is to be inclusive not exclusive
Race Results
2022 (English Champs race): https://www.sportident.co.uk/results/Northernfellsrc/2022/OldCrownRound/
2021: https://races.fellrunner.org.uk/results/3f9696cf-ffbb-4fd6-b5d8-a3dacc2c2053
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