The first of the Club’s three annual fell races took place on Saturday 6th April. Thanks to Tony Shanley for organising the event. Unfortunately entries were down due to clashes with several other races but all who attended had a good run in the Langdale sunshine. Thanks to Mark Birbeck for taking some great photos, a small selection is shown below. Click here for a race report. More photos can be found here.

A big thank you to all those who turned up at Bishop’s Scale last weekend and worked so hard. We now have clear gutters and moss free roofs, a clean hut and Chapel, no cut down tree branches in the fields, no logs waiting to be cut and chopped, no parts of a dismantled kitchen in the wood shed, a fence around the water tank, an extended wood shed, a part painted metal container, a heater in the ladies toilets, less mouldy and re-painted walls in the ladies toilet, a brighter lounge and a less cluttered drying room and hallway. Click here to see photographs showing some people at work.

The annual fell runners meet at Bishops Scale took place on the last weekend of January. A group of approximately 30 runners, walkers and helpers congregated at the hut. Some effort was made to improve the profits of the Old Dungeon Ghyll on the Friday evening but most had hit the sack by midnight in preparation for a day on the fells whatever the weather.

With the weather forecast not looking too promising and with most of the snow that had fallen the previous week having melted it looked like the bad weather option of the Langdale Horseshoe would once again be the route choice for the runners. As is often the case the weather forecast proved to be correct and by the time we reached Esk Hause what had been a reasonable morning had changed into very strong winds and heavy rain. It was good to see spirits were still high when we reached Three Tarns and everyone opted to continue over the Crinkles rather than dashing down The Band. Spirits weren’t so high by the time we reached Red Tarn and only Ozzy Kershaw and John Thompson set off up Blisco, the rest of us opting for the more direct route to the Old. In the Old we met up with the walkers who had just finished their walk to and from Cathedral Quarry. It wasn’t long before Rob Green (jnr) and Dave Jackson turned up – they had left us on the climb up to Stickle Tarn opting to include a few more tops. The cold got the better of most after a pint or two in the pub and we were soon on our way back to the hut for tea and showers.

Everyone was fully recovered in time for the traditional pie and peas supper at 7pm. Just like old times we were served a wonderful meal of soup followed by pie, peas and baked spud all for the cost of £4. Janet Makin I do believe that Arthur would have been proud of you. Thanks so much to Janet and her helpers who worked so hard to feed us. It was really appreciated by all those present. It was great to see so many people at the meet and it was especially good to see some who have been keeping a low profile recently. Lets hope for a drier day next year.

A large group of members arrived at Bishop’s Scale on 30th December to see in the new year. New year’s eve activities included the long route to the Old for those shown in the photo opposite (via Seargent Man, High Raise and the Langdale Pikes) and a trip to Cathedral Quarry for others. Most managed to get to ODG by 3pm. A couple of pints were consumed before we all returned to the hut to prepare the annual Jacob’s Join. As can be seen the contributions from all produced a wonderful feast leaving no one hungry.

Some made an effort to empty the barrel of beer before we headed down to the New Dungeon Ghyll to be entertained by Bodger’s Mate and a rather fabulous firework display. On return to the hut the traditional dram or two of whisky was consumed before bed, with silence (except for snoring) descending sometime around 03:30 am.

New year’s day morning saw the annual Side Pike dash taking place. Entries were low, with Alex Pollard, Owen Pollard, Natasha Fellowes and Chris Lloyd being the only four of the fifty or so people in the hut who couldn’t come up with a reasonable excuse. On route we were caught up by Daz Graham who started late having already done the Whinlatter and Keswick park runs.

Fell Race Results:

1. Owen Pollard 37 mins 53 seconds
2. Daz Graham 38 mins ?? seconds
3. Tash Fellowes 41 mins 53 seconds
4. Chris Lloyd 46 mins 39 seconds
5. Alex Pollard 55 mins 39 seconds

Most people returned home on New Year’s day. Those that remained spent the afternoon carrying out a few maintenance jobs, chopping wood and enjoying the sunshine on what was a very mild and sunny winter’s day. The New Dungeon Ghyll in the evening was a mellower place than the previous night but Bodger’s Mate were on fine form as always. We look forward to more of the same next new year.

Thanks to Robert Green, Dave Makin, Sean Makin, David Ogden and Terry Kitching we now have a drying room at Little Ground House.  The alcove in the utility room has been partitioned off and fitted with drying racks, a heater and a dehumidifier.   A facility that will be appreciated by all those who visit LGH when its wet.  

As you know, Sue Carter retired from being Membership Secretary at this year’s AGM. She was presented with a gift of a rose bowl to say thank you for her enthusiasm and hard work over the years. We have received a note from Sue, and some of it is below:

“To ARCC Management Committee, please would you pass on my sincere thanks to all members of ARCC for the beautiful bowl presented to me at the AGM when I retired as Membership Secretary after 11 years in the “job”. I really enjoyed the job and corresponding with all of the members – new and long standing, young and older! …. I have loved every minute of it and thank everyone for their friendship over the years. My very best wishes to all, Sue Carter”

A small group gathered at Bishops Scale over the weekend of 1st and 2nd December to chop wood from a tree that had been felled a couple of weeks previous.  As a result of their efforts the wood shed is now almost full with wood which will need to be left to dry and therefore cannot be burnt until next winter.

Stocks of burnable wood are low at Bishop’s Scale at the moment and efforts are being made to address this.

The weekend of the 8th and 9th December saw the fourteenth and final Christmas at Tyn Twr meet to be organised by John and Ann McGonagle along with help from their faithful assistants Pete and Hilary McGonagle.

For some of us the weekend started early, arriving at the hut on thursday evening to give time for the beer to settle and the opportunity for an extra days walking.  On the Friday Chris and Tash had a very windy shuffle over some the Carneddau, whilst the Makins and Poolers opted for the lower level walk around the forest of Betws Y Coed and Pete and Hilary went over the water to Anglesey.  Paul Charnock opted to stay at the hut and chop wood whilst John and Ann went to Tesco’s to do the big shop.

Most of the other attendees arrived on Friday afternoon in time to sample the barrel of Rudolfs Best Bitter – it had settled nicely and it went down very well.

All those not involved in food preparation were ushered out of the hut at 09:30 on Saturday morning and following a brief photo shoot we jumped into cars and headed off to Beddgelert.  The planned route for the days walk, being one of John’s favourites, involved walking along the swollen Afon Glaslyn, up Cwm Bychan, past the ancient copper workings, down to Llyn Dinas and back to Beddgelert.  It rained for most of the time, but the spirits of most remained high and we were fortunate that the longest dry spell coincided with the butty stop at Llyn Dinas.

An hour or so was spent rehydrating in the Tanronnen Inn before returning to the hut where Ann and Hilary were well on with the preparations for the evening meal.  Pre dinner drinks were enjoyed in The George (Y Sior) at Rachub and everyone returned by seven to sit down to a wonderful Christmas dinner.

Many thanks to John, Ann, Pete and Hilary organising the weekend and particularly to Ann and Hilary for preparing the dinner.  The meet will be held next year although the format will change slightly – always a popular meet  – booking essential.