The Great Lakeland 3 Day Mountain Trial April 2004 Well done everybody. GL3D 2004 was one of the toughest yet, due to the terrain and weather. Yet again the weather made big demands on you; I think the cold really saps your energy. Thank you for contributing to the event, I hope you enjoyed our foray into the far reaches of Cumbria and beyond. I’d also like to thank my great team of helpers who do a wonderful job of anticipating what needs doing, despite my best efforts to manage the event. The decision to spend two nights at Yore House, a first on GL3D, was made due to it being a good location within the area, and that we were welcome at the wonderful Moorcock Inn. Yore House was central to the area we wanted you to sample, but ironically you didn’t go over Wildboar Fell due to the shortened course on Day three. This decision was made because of the weather conditions and rising tide, and the fact that the descent into Mallerstang has recently become a gnarly surfaced cycle track. Overall, I was generally satisfied with the route, and pleased we visited the area for a change, but look forward to getting back to The Real Lakes in 2005. This year’s route required too many controls and didn’t give you as much route choice or good running as we’d have liked. The times you recorded are about right for the distance I hoped for, with the exception of Day Three, of course which was slightly short, but the full course would have been a touch too far. Next year the date will remain similar to this year – the weekend after Easter, (Friday 8 th, Saturday 9th and Sunday 10 th April?) and the intended area is Central, to South and West Lakes. I shall be aiming for a minimum of tussocks and plenty of nice short grass and rock too ! If you have a suggestion for an overnight location ( camping, barn, pub? good route choices . etc, ) please let me know as overnights are very difficult to find. I do intend for 2005 to be of the original format of three linear days with separate overnights and have had a quick sly look at the map already . . . but don’t tell Lindsey. As you know we don’t make a song and dance about the results or ‘race’, and I find it hilarious that the Daily Telegraph phoned me up for the results on Sunday evening. They wanted all the categories, ie age, club, sex, home town, even the times down to the hours, minutes and seconds ! Perhaps we should get a bit more publicity although a few lines of small print in the Telegraph doesn’t seem worth it. Entrant numbers were down on previous years, perhaps due to me moving house. GL3D is an expensive event to stage, and it would be great to have a few more entrants in 2005 so please spread the word and bring some friends along in 2005. I sincerely hope I have got the results right. I have left your names in alphabetical order. I hope the aches and pains have subsided and you all have a good summer on the fells. Yours on the fells - Joe Faulkner Results
S = Short routed |