A Trigger Tale - Robin Clough

The Trigger race, 13th January 2013 - Robin Clough

This mini epic takes you from Marsden to Edale via the three trig points at Black Hill, Shelf Moor and Kinder. This was the first time I had done the race in this guise. Previously I had done the Tankys race which was one of the most painful running experiences ever, as I set off far too quickly and didn't give the race the respect it needed. I also got a complete beating from the hailstones on Bleaklow.

 A cairn on Bleaklow

Photo - courtesy of Ray Green - Saddleworth runner

Anyway, to this years Trigger, which set off from the rather pleasant surroundings of Marsden Cricket Club. Sarah dropped me off early and I had come with Paul Minns, a triathlon dude from Wakefield Triathlon. We were some of the first to register apart from those that were doing the double! These guys (Simon Rippon and Mark Pearce) had set off from Edale at midnight and had arrived at Marsden to do the race back! Amazing stuff, they looked pretty fresh and were busy getting grub down their necks. The two Sarahs were there and showed me through to kit check. Ian Winterburn kit checked me and I eventually got the green light and picked up my number from Andy Plummer. Plenty more folk were now turning up to register including familiar faces from Penistone and the few nutters I'd convinced to do it from Wakey Tri.

The race kicked off at 9 with Andy Plummer doing his usual pre race briefing instructions and then go! I had already decided to take it really easy and ran with Paul Minns and Andrew Thompson, also of Wakey Tri. Early on  I saw Nick Cable who was looking strong along with the doublers! Just before the first crossing at Wessenden Head there was a 5 minute queue at the stile. There I saw Geoff Dimelow and Nick Whittingham. Everyone seemed very relaxed and so far so good. I'd seen Brent, Richard and Steve - I guessed they were ahead of me now. So over to Black Hill where there was little time to wave at the Flaming Photography chap and also take in some stunning views as we were being treated to some very nice conditions after a number of damp soggy weeks.

After Black Hill and over a wonderfully decorated stile that we had to go over we had one of the easier parts of the run which is a gradual descent down to Crowden from Toolleyshaw Moss. I still had to pull a young lady out of a bog on the way down as she was pretty well stuck! After checking in at the Crowden checkpoint it was decision time and I and my fellow group went for left side of Wildboar Clough, which was a tough old drag and the lack of footprints in the snow suggested that there had not been many going that way. Lawrence Edge seemed to be the route of choice but I hadn't reccied it enough to be confident. I would have been fine though as the conditions were so good with excellent visibility. I found out later that Steve and Richard had gone up Wildboar so I guess it was their footprints in the snow I was following.

A steady canter on the edge took us up to the infamous Bleaklow and from there on to the Shelf Moor trig point which was very easy to pick out thanks to the mountain rescue aerial . Legs still felt pretty good at this point though I did have a bit of a fall which slightly winded me. From here it was down to Snake Pass and the welcome site of Heather Parkin and her family. Chatted to them for a little while and had a feed before crossing over Snake Pass and on to Kinder. We went for the option of going straight up with the Boxing Glove Stone as our target at the top of the climb. At this point I left my Wakey Tri mates behind as they were starting to suffer whereas I was still feeling pretty good. I hit the checkpoint at Kinder and then headed on to Kinder Downfall. I knew I was in the final stretch but I also knew I was onto the section I felt least confident on, navigationally. Again the conditions were wonderful, so I was able to pick out a good route over towards Grindslow Knoll. By this time my legs were getting very heavy and I was ready to finish. I made my way down steadily to Edale and the finish which was a most welcome sight. Nick and Brent had finished and my Wakey Tri mates were not long finishing. As I headed down to the village hall for grub the doublers were coming in! Fantastic stuff from Mark and Simon. I'm never hungry at the end of these races but I did manage to sink a bottle of Rescue Ale which went down without touching the sides! My total distance was 22 miles which was 2 miles less than Steve and Richard but they finished well in front of me! Well done to all completed this epic:

Steve Stead
Richard Mackie
James Pierce
Brent Lindsay
Nick Cable
Mark Pearce (x2)
Simon Rippon (x2)
Geoff Dimelow
Nick Whittingham
Sarah Jones-Morris
Sarah Halstead

Thanks to Mark Pearce who was also able to give me a lift home! Thanks to Ian Charlesworth for the Kinder recce, shame you were too ill to run.