More than 350 runners and walkers will take to the high ground of the Yorkshire Dales this weekend to tackle one of the most challenging long-distance events in the country. The Fellsman (it’s dropped its ‘Hike’ sobriquet) involves 100km (62 miles) of running or walking across almost every sizeable hill in the Dales national park. More than 3,350m (11,000ft) of ascent are involved in a route that can take more than 24 hours non-stop walking to complete.

Last year’s victor and ten-times winner Mark Hartell told grough he will be challenging for the Fellsman Axe trophy again. If he succeeds, he will enter the record books for the most wins of the gruelling event. The super-long-distance expert and instigator of the Vasque Ultra Running Championships says he will face stiff competition this year.

Hartell said: “I will be there for sure. I’m expecting to be about 95 per cent because I had a horrible cold and virus about ten days ago, but I’ve rested lots and ran today and felt frisky.

“Without knowing for sure it looks as though I am going to have some serious ‘Steve’ competition: Steve Birkinshaw winner of multiple mountain marathons and two minutes ahead of me at Calderdale and Steve Pyke, 2006 [Ultra Running Championship] series winner, Scottish 4000s record holder, Everest base camp to Kathmandu record holder and just too fit at the moment.”

More than 350 runners and walkers will take to the high ground of the Yorkshire Dales this weekend to tackle one of the most challenging long-distance events in the country.

Ten-times Fellsman winner Mark Hartell

The Fellsman (it’s dropped its ‘Hike’ sobriquet) involves 100km (62 miles) of running or walking across almost every sizeable hill in the Dales national park. More than 3,350m (11,000ft) of ascent are involved in a route that can take more than 24 hours non-stop walking to complete.

Last year’s victor and ten-times winner Mark Hartell told grough he will be challenging for the Fellsman Axe trophy again. If he succeeds, he will enter the record books for the most wins of the gruelling event. The super-long-distance expert and instigator of the Vasque Ultra Running Championships says he will face stiff competition this year.

Hartell said: “I will be there for sure. I’m expecting to be about 95 per cent because I had a horrible cold and virus about ten days ago, but I’ve rested lots and ran today and felt frisky.

“Without knowing for sure it looks as though I am going to have some serious ‘Steve’ competition: Steve Birkinshaw winner of multiple mountain marathons and two minutes ahead of me at Calderdale and Steve Pyke, 2006 [Ultra Running Championship] series winner, Scottish 4000s record holder, Everest base camp to Kathmandu record holder and just too fit at the moment.”

He is a great fan of the event, and waxes lyrical about the scenery of the Fellsman. He told us: “I am looking forward to a great day out in ‘God’s Own’. Spring has been slow to arrive this year but the abundance of wildlife is a joy to behold and, whatever happens, it will be a privilege to run in those hills and benefit from the support of the dozens of helpers.

“ It’s also highly gratifying to see that numbers are back on the up – over 350 this year – and to think that it is in part due to the Ultrarunning series.”

More at www.grough.co.uk

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