Chelmorton Chase – five miles - 2018 Sept 23rd eleven thirty am – enter on the day – six pounds fifty
Sunshine through the storm for a morning race in the heart of the Peak National Park.
Luke Cook set a record of 32.31 for the new course of Chelmorton Chase FRA five mile run.
Dark Peak took a hundred pounds of club vouchers for first team of four home, Amy Mellor came in first lady to win the Windross shield and Reg Cooper wins the Veteran 60 class.
A fast new course, Chelmorton village, south of Buxton eleven hundred feet above sea level, the Chelmorton Chase run is rich in Peak District National Park vistas, signposted by blue arrows, a downhill finish, more than a race, it’s a village event and not to be missed with tea, coffee and snacks in the village institute organised by Debbie Race.
Tracey Worth, Lady of Hollinsclough started the 2018 race and welcomed runners, old and new. Matlock AC had made it part of their championship but were pipped to the team win by Dark Peak, Buxton AC in third team place.
A Main Street start for a climb to Five Wells, then heads down for the field push courtesy of the Coopers as runners made for a giant Derbyshire flag before turning for some tarmac and a flat section toward High Stool with magnificent vistas of the limestone rolling hills.
The limestone track of High Stool Lane followed; Paul Mellor and his drone team got the race cinematography for you to take a look from the sky .
One last climb and then the last mile downhill for a super-fast finish. The finishing road section was guided by a smart little retro Nissan Figaro track car as they raced toward welcoming cheers from the villagers for a Main Street finish.
The vicar of the White Peak benefice, Revd. Richard Benson blessed the race and was on hand for the presentations, including the Windross Shield for first woman to finish - taken home by Amy Mellor.
The Chelmorton Chase race was run under Fell Race Association rules and sits in the FRA September calendar, in the very heart of the Peak National Park of Derbyshire.
Medals presented to the first hundred finishers were sorted by medal secretary Dawn Atkinson. Manny runners made a full day of it; ran the chase and took the afternoon in the spa water town of Buxton or headed south for Bakewell, puddings and even a look around Chatsworth.
Marshals team ran a great course, Derbyshire flag on the top of the course. Smart blue arrows signposted the way, Debbie Race and her refreshment team sorted the tea and coffee at the Institute.
UPDATE Sunday 1:15pm - Photo gallery of the runners now available !
UPDATE Sunday 2pm full results now available - summary and downloadable PDF of individual finishing positions
UPDATE Sunday 5pm winners with their certificates
UPDATE Sunday 9pm High-definition drone video of the race at the end of the article
The course for 2018 has been re-worked. Approx five miles, historic climb of the Low has gone, bringing access to more runners. 2018 sees a more sensible five hundred feet of climb with magnificent views across the rolling limestone patchwork of fields. It’s a downhill finish into the heart of the village of Chelmorton. You can be sure of a hearty response to your return to the finish line.
The race covers five miles, following a string of blue arrow markers, climbing the side of Low, heading for Taddington village before returning via High Stool and down to Main Street. A mixture of soft tracks, grass fields, stiles and gates, short sections of tarmac including start and finish on Main Street.
Buxton runner Andy Wilton holds the original thousand feet climb course record at thirty minutes thirty one seconds and villager Ian Hulse holds the locals' record. The 2004 winner was Kev Lilley from Hathersage and Andy Wilton returned to win again in 2005. A double winner for the Dark Peak Running Club is Stuart Bond who took first place in 2008 and 2010.
The 2018 course is new; softer climbs, a new record awaits. The Windross Shield is awarded to the first female runner. There are medals for the first one hundred finishers. A team prize of one hundred pounds of sports vouchers is given to the first team winners. A team is considered as the first four individuals, who having entered under the same club or stated team name; pass the finish line.
Alongside the Windross Shield and team prize, winning prizes will be provided for the first three men to finish, the first three women and the first local runner. The awards ceremony is scheduled for one hour after the start - to begin after the last race finisher.
2018 Results
Team
- Dark Peak: members Austin Frost, Pes Holda, Majka Kunicka and Helen Elmore
Men
- 1st Luke Cook
- 2nd Austin Frost
- 3rd Ricky Wood
Women
- 1st Amy Mellor
- 2nd Majka Kunicka
- 3rd Helen Elmore
Veteran 60 winner
- Reg Cooper
Finishing Positions - All Runners
Runners from all parts of the UK in the late September sunshine at the start line for the Chelly Chase 2018
Runners' Gallery
click on a stage to see the entrants - hope we haven't missed you out !
Prize presentations
Vicar Richard Benson presents the Windross Shield to first lady winner at Chelmorton Chase 2018, Amy Mellor
Dark Peak Running Club scoop the£100 Chelly Chase team prize for 2018, presented by Tracey, Lady of Hollinsclough and Vicar Richard Benson
Luke Cook scoops the record time for the new five mile, five hundred foot Chelly Chase for 2018
Amy & Luke's certificates include their course photo; the tech team were flat-out to place the whole gallery of runners on the web at by the time the race ended.
Junior Race presentation
Race Marshalls 2018
Hatton Darts team
Team Buxton
Team Otley Cool Kids with Revd. Richard Benson
Clwb Athletau Aberystwyth dros y llinell - Arthur Youd across the line - all the way from Mid Wales
Primitive Fields on-the-day car parking and views of the village
Marshalls' race briefing
Route Map
click to view at full size and scroll on your device or
Video
HD 1080p version on YouTube - photography, flight planning, editing © Paul Mellor 2018
Sunday 9th September
Vicar Richard Benson, head of the White Peak Benefice of Chelmorton, has blessed the runners' medals.
Tracey Worth joined Vicar Richard for the Sunday blessing in preparation for the Chelmorton Chase running race which will take place at eleven on Sunday Sept 23rd. Vicar Richard will be on hand to celebrate the finishing runners on the day.
