Durham Fell RunnersCronkley Fell Race 2015

Mountain Marathons

There are an increasing number of weekend navigation events that are becoming popular with the fell running fraternity. Below is a (reasonably) comprehensive list of events throughout the year ... updated in early 2012.

The Original Mountain Marathon (OMM)

Formerly the Karrimor International Mountain Marathon (KIMM). The oldest established MM on the calendar, the OMM is always held on the last weekend of October (when the clocks go back), various courses including three Score classes (avoid the crowds!). www.theomm.com

Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon (LAMM)

‘The connoisseurs mountain marathon’. Always in Scotland, always hard, always worth doing for the scenery alone (and the midges and the slit trenches).   www.lamm.co.uk

Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon

As the name suggests, always held in the Lakes ) although it has strayed as far afield as the Howgills in the past). First weekend in July. www.slmm.org.uk

Mourne Mountain Marathon

The Mourne Mountain Marathon is sponsored by Lowe Alpine and Jackson Sports of Belfast. This is a two day endurance and navigation event held each year in the beautiful mountains of Mourne in Northern Ireland. www.mourne2day.com

Highlander Mountain Marathon

A relative newcomer, began in 2007. Event area is in the Highlands, with five courses to choose from. Due to the time of year (April) and need to get a lot of grub inside competitors, a mid-camp meal is provided as is a marquee in which to eat it.  www.highlandermountainmarathon.org.uk

Rab Mountain Marathon

Also began in 2007. Competition area is in the north of England. Entrants can be solo or teams of two and the event is a score format. Good training for the OMM and still relatively low key. www.rab.uk.com/news/latest_news/article/default.asp?article=26

Lake District Mountain Trial

The Mountain Trial is a severe test of fellrunners’ mountaineering ability and stamina in the safe and fast traverse of difficult and often dangerous terrain where navigational skills and route choice have a direct bearing on each competitor’s safety. Evolving from a race organised by the YHA in 1952, it is run on orienteering principles and is the longest established event of its kind in Great Britain.
Long Trial: around 16 miles and 7000ft climb. Estimated winning time = 4.5hrs. Minimum age for entry: 18yrs 
Medium Trial: around 12miles and 5000ft climb. Estimated winning time = 3.5hrs. Minimum age for entry: 18yrs 
Short Trial: around 10 miles and 3500ft climb. Estimated winning time = 2.5hrs. Minimum age for entry: 18yrs 
www.ldmta.org.uk

Kinder Trial

Held very early in the year (late Jan/early Feb) this is a low key Fell Orienteering Event. See FRA calendar for further details.

Dark and White Mini Mountain Marathons

Each Autumn/Winter,organised in the Peak District, a series of shorter mountain marathons (mini-MM's). These are 3 hour events aimed at testing both competitors' legs and brains. Each entrant is supplied at the start with a bagged colour OS map extract, over-printed with all the required event information.
www.darkandwhite.co.uk/mountain-marathons.asp

Copeland Chase

The Copeland Chase is an orienteering event, held in West Cumbria, in late autumn. The event follows a traditional format of short (~10k), medium (~15k) and long (~20k) cross-country courses, each having a number of 'controls' which are to be visited in the specified order. Some navigational skills are required. The controls are generally easier to find than in traditional orienteering events, but a bit less obvious than in normal fell races (i.e they are not all on the tops of hills). Control sites are similar to those used in a typical mountain marathon event, and we aim to supply quality, pre-marked and bagged orienteering maps on a 1:20,000 scale or better. In 2007, the event was resurrected by members of the West Cumberland Orienteering Club (WCOC) after an absence of 7 years. 
www.copelandchase.org.uk

Warrior Winter Warmer O Trial

Gnarly Long, Short and Medium O Trail usually held in January in the Lake District. 
www.waroc.org.uk

New Chew

This is a traditional O event in the finest sense. Remember MM's when you were given more food than you could eat at the end with a few pints to wash it down? And far cheaper than the average regional Orienteering event. Three courses for solos, held in March.
www.saddleworth-runners.co.uk

Gritstone Tryal

Held in late July, one day O type event, see: www.staffsmoorlands-ac.co.uk

Peak O Trial

See the FRA Calendar for further details (held in December), one day O type event

Grampian Mountain Challenge

New in 2010, this event was held two weeks after the OMM in mid November, organised by Grampian Orienteers and is a typical two day event with options including solo entry and pairs. Three courses in 2010: A,B and C Class. It was held in 2012 after taking a gap year in 2011 (though even the organisers admit that they didn't really advertise it) but there are looking at a strong list of entries 2014. Organisers say "It really is a great event with great party atmosphere at the overnight camp. It's every two years hopefully from now on. We're all heavily involved in the Scottish 6 days orienteering event in the intervening years."
http://www.grampoc.com/

 

 
Gone but not forgotten...

Sadly, a number of mountain marathons/Long O type events have bitten the dust. Indications are that some of these are unlikely to be revived, but we list them here as they may be worth checking as some may simply be taking a couple of ‘gap years’:

Capricorn

The Capricorn is a two day mountain navigation competition run by the Pendle Forest Orienteers on an annual basis. Competitors carry only sufficient clothing, equipment and sustenance for a day on the fells and return to the event centre overnight. www.thecapricorn.co.uk

Mountain Navigation Challenge

The ultimate low key event. Not clear what the future holds for it, but check the website. A score format of seven hours on Day One and five hours on Day Two. Usually held in the Lake District, but recently based in the south of Scotland. www.mtnavchallenge.co.uk

Force Ten (Phoenix) Long O

www.newcastleorienteering.org.uk/phoenix/phoenix.html

Dartmoor Mountain Marathon

www.endurancelife.com/event.asp?series=13

 

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