Burnsall Classic

Does running through bogs, over craggy rocks, and hurtling down steep fell sides appeal to you? For some it’s compelling - almost addictive - to pit themselves against other competitors and the fells themselves.

The Yorkshire Dales has a strong tradition in the sport which began back in the 1800s when wealthy Londoners inspired by poets such as Wordsworth wanted to spend more time in the mountains and needed experienced guides. Who knew the fells and hills better but the shepherds and competition for this new leisure guiding business led to guides’ races being organised.

Many events became an extension of the village feast or gala such as the Burnsall Classic, one of the oldest fell races on record and is still going strong. In August you can watch in awe as competitors snake their way up the steep hillside to the top of Burnsall Fell.

There’s the dramatic Crag Race, part of the Kilnsey Show, or the Ingleborough Mountain Race which is an extension of the village’s gala, where runners are tested to the full as they tackle the formidable climb of over 1900 feet during the 6.8-mile event.

Of course, the Three Peaks race has to be one of the most well-known but there are numerous smaller events such as the Litton Birks 3.1-miler ending at the Queen’s Arm at Litton for a pie and a pint where the winners’ names are engraved onto the ‘ewes and tups’ fell race plaque.

Many runs take place as part of the programme of Dales' agricultural shows. Some of these are fiercely contested, with records standing for years and years before they're finally broken by young bloods keen to have their name ingrained on the cups passed down over the generations.

Nowadays most runners wear the latest running shoes and train for the events. In times gone by, fell races were run in whatever clothing and footwear competitors happened to be wearing at the time. Imagine running up some of those hills in heavy hob nailed boots!