Old County Tops    20th May 2000

Old soldiers never die, they just keep on competing for Glossopdale Harriers.   At Easter a pair of harriers received a 'long service' award for competing in a long established race.   Messrs. Buckley and Poole returned leg weary but satisfied with their unequalled record in the Old County Tops, a 35 miler in the Lake District.   The event began in 1988 and Bill Buckley and Rob Poole are the only pair to have completed every one.

A elite field participate in this demanding event which has strict rules to ensure mountain safety is not compromised.   The grueling event which takes in the old county tops of Westmorland (Helvelyn), Cumberland (Scafell Pike) and Lancashire (Coniston Old Man) has a total ascent equal to climbing 9000ft from sea level, and all in a long day.   For Glossop's old soldiers it was a very long day for they have a combined age well in excess of one hundred.   Only last year did they relinquish the Vet's 100 trophy.

Nevertheless, it was not all plain running up Helvelyn and down Little Narrow Cove off Scafell Pike.  Our intrepid heroes, who were outright winners in the Mourne Mountains Marathon in 1991.   For their support of the event over the years, they both received a specially framed print of the "Scafells" from "Coniston Old Man".    "Nowadays, for an event to keep going for more than ten years it is an institution.  Certainly this one is a classic.   Winning did not matter, it was being there" said an elated Rob in the true spirit of an athlete.

Neil Shuttleworth     May 2000

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