Mardale Magic 2017 - Report and Results


 

OFF THEY GO 

Mardale Magic is Cumbria LDWA’s successor to the Three Rings Of Shap.  The inaugural holding of the challenge event took place on Saturday 30 September 2017.  It started and finished at Shap Memorial Hall and involved 34.5 km (21.4 miles) and 1,064 metres (3,490 feet) of ascent.  From Shap the route was Wet Sleddale Reservoir, Mosedale Beck, Swindale Head, Old Corpse Road, Mardale Head, western shore of Haweswater Reservoir joining Wainwright’s Coast to Coast to return to Shap.  There were two checkpoints (Wet Sleddale Reservoir Car Park and Mardale Head) where participants were monitored and timed and offered refreshments.  Refreshments were also available at Burnbanks.  A hot meal was provided at the finish back at the hall.

 

A warm pleasant day would have been appreciated by all involved in the first running of Mardale Magic.  The Weather Gods had other ideas, with incessant rain until after lunch!  64 entrants had signed up for the event but only 46 were present at the mass start at 8:00 a.m.  It is a pleasure to report that the event ran smoothly and safely.  Feedback from those taking part in the event was very positive.  This is reproduced below.

 

‘Thank you to the marshalling team today on a great event.  I thoroughly loved it and was a great challenging route.  My legs are suffering now, but it's a pleasant reminder of the day's activities.  We were wet in running but the marshals at the three checkpoints deserve special credit for giving up their time and assisting us all in the deluge.  Best part of today's route, seeing Mardale Head from the top of the Old Corpse Road.  Never been over there before.’

 

‘Just to say that despite the weather, the route was excellent and the hot food at the end a godsend.  I'll be back next year to do it in the dry (hopefully).’

 

‘Thank you for staging an excellent event (hopefully the word will spread for next year) - there is always a perverse sense of achievement in completing an event in challenging conditions!’

 

‘Thanks to all the organisers especially the guys at the checkpoints out in the rain helping us all get around.  What a mad fun batty exercise.  Despite questioning my sanity occasionally during the day there was some great camaraderie helping each other over some of the larger streams.  And my evening pint tasted very good that evening!  Good luck Cumbria LDWA hope to see you next year!’

 

There was a magnificent response and performance by all the volunteers from Cumbria LDWA.  The occasion augured well for the future of Mardale Magic.  The results for the event are given below.

 

Position

Number

Name

Time (HH:MM)

CP 1

CP 2

Finish

 

1

47

Mike Gilpin  

0:26

2:04

4:12

2

46

Michael McKenna  

0:26

2:04

4:13

3

19

Denise Tunstall  

0:27

2:21

4:35

4

48

Bridget Houlston  

0:29

2:29

4:46

5

15

Stephen Hall  

0:29

2:29

5:00

56

Isaline Kneale  

0:29

2:29

5:00

7

26

Richard Mavin  

0:30

2:36

5:11

27

Helen Mavin  

0:30

2:36

5:11

39

Geoff Holburt  

0:30

2:36

5:11

10

1

Robert Cullen  

0:30

2:40

5:19

11

59

Darren Baker  

0:35

2:55

5:54

12

54

Paul Flintoft  

0:50

3:29

6:16

13

42

Laura Ruxton  

0:36

3:25

6:22

57

Chris Ridley  

0:36

3:25

6:22

58

Nicola Ridley  

0:36

3:25

6:22

16

8

David Findel-Hawkins  

0:54

3:39

6:41

17

51

Andy O'Sullivan  

0:47

3:41

7:00

18

63

Jaqueline Peaks

0:47

3:44

7:01

19

2

Andrew Wood  

0:50

3:41

7:07

52

Derek Mitchell  

0:47

3:44

7:07

21

10

Susan Dews  

0:46

3:38

7:08

11

Kevin Dews  

0:46

3:38

7:08

38

Mark Hawker  

0:46

3:38

7:08

24

49

Jayne Taylor  

0:56

4:03

7:44

50

David Collins  

0:56

4:03

7:44

53

Graham Unwin  

0:56

4:03

7:44

27

25

Alf Short  

0:47

3:49

7:49

61

Mike Allison  

0:46

3:47

7:49

62

Lesley Allison  

0:46

3:47

7:49

30

28

Peter Ford  

0:48

4:09

8:00

36

Kate Thompson  

0:55

4:13

8:00

41

Alan Yeats  

0:55

4:13

8:00

33

23

Phil Rutter  

0:56

4:20

8:28

24

Gill Colling  

0:56

4:20

8:28

35

43

Martin Brockett  

0:54

4:17

8:43

44

Deborah Lester  

0:54

4:17

8:43

37

60

Graham Jones  

0:55

4:20

8:52

64

Bill Glaister

0:50

4:33

8:52

39

34

Tracey Wilman  

0:56

4:22

8:54

35

Patsy Bamber  

0:56

4:22

8:54

41

12

Nicola Law  

0:52

4:54

9:18

13

Andrew Murphy  

0:52

4:54

9:18

43

16

Harold Sach  

0:56

4:56

9:32

55

Sue Burton  

0:57

5:07

9:32

45

18

David Green  

0:35

3:30

Retired

46

40

Ian Millican  

Retired

Retired

Retired