Black Combe
Black Combe is a tough race for its distance, with a long second climb and usually quite a lot of late winter weather. Registration is in Silecroft village hall from 10am and the start is at midday in a field nearby. Entry is £7 on the day and includes pie and peas. One day I will get round to organising a barrel of beer too.
There’s a checkpoint map on the right. Click for a bigger version or click here to download the map at full size. This is the bottom corner of OL6: South West Lakes. Race maps will also be available from Pete Bland’s van on the day.
Silecroft railway station is 100 yards from the village hall and might be the best way to get to the race: there’s a direct train from the south arriving before 11 and one from the north at 11.30. You can get changed in the hall.
Parking will depend on the conditions: if it’s in the field there may be a contribution of a couple of quid to the farmer.
Entrants must be over 18 and full waterproof body cover is always required. As well as the usual there are prizes for the fastest descents from the final checkpoint on the south summit and modest bounties on the course records, both of which were set in 1997.
The race will not be cancelled for conditions on the fell, so be ready for ice and snow. The only likely grounds for cancellation are if snow makes it impossible to get to Silecroft. In that case we’ll post a notice here and on the fellrunner forum.
Enquiries to Will on 01229 588098 or will at bcrunners.org.uk.
Checkpoints
- Sea Ness SD129831
- Black Combe SD135855
- White Combe SD155863
- Fodder Rack SD157858
- Stream Junction SD151858
- South Summit SD135851
- Finish SD132825
Records
- M: 1:05:18 by I. Holmes in 1997
- L: 1:18:49 by M. Todd in 1997
More races: Caw, Dunnerdale, Kirkby Moor.
Black Combe photographed by (and ©) John Parminter. His site has many more landscapes of the Lake District and Scotland.
Be careful to avoid the cliffs to the east of the summit. The straight line to checkpoint 3 is not a good route.