The day of the 2022 Old Crown Round fell race was warm and calm in the valleys and cold on all the tops, frequently covered in cloud with the wind gusting to 35 mph.
These conditions are generally known as “fine” weather in the English Lake District “summer”, but this doesn’t deter fell-runners; a total of 182 competitors from all over England started, and 175 of them finished. No injuries, thankfully, just the 36kms of speed, power, endurance, sweat and pain on rough country over 5 peaks and 2200m of ascent. And the result? The existing record of 3hrs 31 mins, set last year by local Harry Bolton, was broken by no fewer than 5 runners, including Harry himself. Here are the top 5 results:
| 1st | Billy Cartwright | Matlock AC | Derbyshire | 3:19:16 |
| 2nd | Brennan Townshend | Keswick AC | Cumbria | 3:19:44 |
| 3rd | Ben Rothery | Ilkley Harriers | West Yorkshire | 3:24:03 |
| 4th | Harry Bolton | Keswick AC | Cumbria | 3:24:58 |
| 5th | Doni Clarke | Todmorden Harriers | West Yorkshire | 3:28:18 |
The full race results by SPORTident are here.
Welcomed across the finish line by the Race Organiser, John Horne of the Northern Fells Running Club, all the runners were fed and watered by Sue and her team at Denton House and there was time to recover and get together before John presented the prizes in front of The Old Crown on the village green. All the winners in their different categories received a bottle of The Hesket Newmarket Brewery’s Old Carrock strong ruby ale, and we can report that none of them looked at all unhappy to receive this liquid prize instead of the usual medal on a little ribbon.
It had been a great day, a fantastic race, and a heroic effort from all the runners who completed this particularly gruelling fell race in such great spirit. It was a happy occasion – and capped off perfectly with a pint (or possibly more) of this year’s Old Crown Round Vanilla Pale Ale, specially created by the Brewery team, and enjoyed by everyone in The Old Crown!
