56th Chevy Chase Fell Race Results and Report

Wet conditions on Cheviot reduced the Classic 20 mile Fell Race to a 15 mile course under the advice of the Mountain Rescue. This years race included such notable runners as Carl Bell of Howgill Harriers who was last years sensation of the fell running world having come from a football background. Nick Sanderson from local clubs Morpeth Harriers and Northumberland Fell Runners, who won a British Championship Race back in 2008 was also competing after breaking the record in Tuesday nights Saltwell Harriers Fell Race. In the ladies event Angela Mudge, who was World Mountain Running Champion back in 2000 and has won the British Fell Running Title on five occassions.

Bell won the day with Mudge taking the women’s event. Phil Sanderson (ex Northumberland Fell Runner now running for Elswick) took the vets title finishing in 3rd place after leading for most of the race. This run is particularly impressive after as Phil has had a long lay off due to an Achilles Tendon injury early in the season and hasn’t been running much on the fells.