Race Report
Dear Competitors,
At last, the results of your endeavours in 1997.
For our twelfth running of the event the weather was reasonably kind to us.
Despite a cold start, the day improved and the marshals were able to perform their duties in relative comfort. They were, however, kept on their toes as it became apparent fairly early on that a fast time was a possibility.
By Tideswell Dale (26 miles) Tony Okell of Stockport was leading the field having taken the same time as the record set in 1989. Two others were in close contention and by the next checkpoint both Mikk Bradley and Les Footitt had overtaken Tony. For the ten mile run home, Mikk gradually pulled away and by the finish was a clear winner in a new record time of 5.02.41 – eight minutes inside the previous best. Les finished second in 5.14.46 and Tony third in 5.32.07.
Congratulations to these three but also to all of you for completing the Challenge. Commiserations to the rest who for one reason or another were unable to make it all the way round.
As many of you are aware on the day there was some doubt as to whether the event would continue in 1998 and beyond. The majority of the organisers have been involved with the event since day one and feel it is time for a rest. Many of the entrants comment that the event is one of, if not the best of its kind in the country. Obviously to earn that accolade many hours of hard slog go on behind the scenes. Doris in the canteen spends countless hours the weeks leading up to the event organising people and provisions and on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday rarely leaves her post, preparing, cooking, serving and cleaning up. Martin Gostick makes sure all the computerisation is in working order as well as ensuring, along with Richard Hough, that no one has dug up holes, put up barriers or whatever around the course prior to putting out the hundreds of signs. Sue Henshall, of course, spends many happy hours throughout the year dealing with landowners, authorities, charities and runners and producing paperwork, ordering T Shirts and prizes etc whilst Sue de Silva and her team gather sponsorship prior to manning base for 18 hours on the day. I just hold the whip.
Alas three of these key people and myself feel it is time to call it a day and with great reluctance I have to announce that the 1997 event was the last of the Otter 40’s. We have some feelers out to see if someone else would like to take the event on board. (Obviously we would give whatever assistance we could in getting them organised) but as yet no definite interest. If anything develops we will write to all 1997 entrants with details.
Many thanks to all of you for taking part, a lot of people have happy memories of the event over the years and we must have given well over £20,000 to charity since we started.
Not bad for a one off event organised to celebrate Otter’s 40 years in business in 1986.
Ken Atkin
Event Organiser
Results Files
High Peak 40 – 1997 – Results and Checkpoint Timings