By chance I was up in the Lakes on the day of the Arnison Crag Horseshoe so couldn’t miss the opportunity to run this classic fell race. Just a few kilometres away at the Helvellyn youth Hostel, we set off early Saturday afternoon to take the scenic route down the hill to the Patterdale Playing Fields.

 I knew very little about this race besides it was ‘only’ 5km distance which I assumed I’d have no trouble getting around (by ‘only’ I mean that this is the kind of distance that most people can get around even if they have to walk!) Thursday, I had done a recce of the Hodgson Brothers Mountain Relay leg 1, Friday I had done the Fairfield Horshoe route, and then the Saturday – the morning of the Arnison Fell Race – I ran the Ambleside Park Run, so my legs were maybe not as fresh as I’d like them to be for a Lakeland fell race.

The race is part of the Patterdale Dog Day – a traditional country show in one of the most scenic Lakeland locations and includes sheep dog trials, food, drink, ‘sticks & crooks’ competition, and many other attractions. Taking place on the King George V Playing Fields, it’s one of the few remaining genuinely traditional shows. 2025 was the 119th show to be held at Patterdale.

The fell race is a very low-key event and free to enter provided you’re aged over 14 and have paid to attend the main event. I attached my number to my vest and headed into the showground for the start. Suddenly I had my first panic. There weren’t many other runners – only 63 of in total as it turned out – and a lot of them appeared to be from Lakeland fell running clubs such as Keswick AC and Ambleside AC. My second panic was when I looked up at Arnison Crag. We were herded through the sheep gates as we were manually counted in. After a quick introduction from the race organiser, we were off.

One of the biggest fears for a fell runner – or at least my biggest fear – isn’t falling off the top of a mountain or even getting lost. It’s actually finishing last in a race. As we set off from the playing fields and started running up an increasingly steep hill onto the moorland, my legs were screaming, and I was starting to have my third panic. I wasn’t sure how many were in front of me and I certainly had no idea how many were behind me. I pushed on hoping no more runners would overtake me and that I wasn’t last. Through bogs and marshes, we pushed on upwards until we finally got to the first marshal at the top of the hill and took a left turn only to find more uphill. By the time the path levelled out and the majority of the 320m ascent was done we were still only just over halfway into this 5km race. Finally, we reached a short scramble to the summit of Arnison Crag and started descending.

One of the nice things about this race for the spectators is that they get a good view of the runners throughout the majority of this race. Sadly, as most fell runners have also experienced, during a race of this nature you can’t really look anywhere other than a couple of metres directly in front of you at any time. A did, however, manage a few quick glances towards the bottom of the valley and the showground – it was a very long way down.

The descent was equally difficult to the ascent, just in a different way. The trail back down was steep, rocky, windy and very technical. As you try to move as fast as you can, your feet slip and slide on the rocks and gravel, feeling very out of control. You try your best to brake where you can but for me it often feels more like a controlled fall more than running. To do this type of descent quickly you need to fully concentrate. Not only focussing on where your next couple of steps are going to be, but at every second you’re also planning a contingency in case you don’t manage to turn or slow down where you need to.

Finally, I reached the bottom of the descent for a final sprint over the last part of grassy moorland and back into the arena where my name and club were announced on the tannoy as I crossed the finish. I looked behind me and realised my worst fear hadn’t come true – I wasn’t in last place!

The race was won by Mark Lamb of Keswick AC in an astonishing 22:27 (the previous course record was held by Rhys Findlay-Robinson of Dark Peak in 2014 and equalled by Carl Bell of Keswick AC in 2018). First lady back was Kate Marriott of Keswick AC 27:59. I was very happy to have simply finished this very challenging race. My final time was 34:23 in position 36 of 63.

A huge thank you to the organiser Christine Kenyon, and all the volunteers on this very well marked and mashalled course. For more info, the Patterdale Dog Day official page is here: www.patterdaledogday.com

Arnison Crag Horseshoe Fell Race results 23rd August 2025

Pos.	Name	Club	Time	Cat
1	Mark Lamb	Keswick AC	22.27	M #
2	Toby Antcliff	Leeds City AC	24.02	M
3	Sean Leckey	Ambleside AC	24.04	M
4	Mike McGleenan	Keswick AC	24.54	M
5	Matthew Wade	Tring RC	25.23	M
6	Daniel Bateson	Scarborough	25.27	M0/40
7	Julian Hood	Skipton AC	25.4	M0/40
8	David Hewett	Ambleside AC	25.52	M
9	Arthur Raffle	Altrincham	26.01	M
10	Ros0s Langley	Tring RC	26.1	M0/40
11	Tom Fryers	Penistone	26.36	M
12	Samuel Barton	Eden Runners	26.49	M
13	Jonathon Milton	Keswick AC	26.52	M
14	James Broom	U/A	27.44	M
15	Daniel Hood	Skipton AC	27.57	M Junior
16	Kate Marriott	Keswick AC	27.59	Lady
17	Steve Angus	Keswick AC	28.53	M0/50
18	Ross Butler	Keswick AC	29.05	M0/40
19	Mac Findlay	U/A	29.11	M
20	Jonathan Cade	U/A	29.33	M
21	Luke Waller	U/A	29.4	M
22	Robert Tansey	Keswick AC	29.41	M0/50
23	James Fryers	Penistone	30.04	M
24=	Archie Tweed	U/A	30.05	M Local
24=	Ed Gamble	Keswick A/C	30.05	M0/60
26	Corrie Brogan	Manx Fell Runners	31.17	M Junior
27	Robyn McGleenan	Keswick AC	31.19	Lady
28	Edward Taylor	U/A	31.33	M0/40
29	Jonathan Lyon	U/A	32	M0/40
30	David Baglee	Eden Runners	32.11	M0/60
31	Neil Brogan	Manx Fell Runners	32.3	M0/50
32	Dave Sargent	Eden Runners	32.41	M0/60
33	Peter Goodfellow	U/A	32.45	M0/50
34	Graeme English	Helm Hill	33.26	M
35	Duncan Carr	U/A	33.3	M
36	Chris Day	Totley AC	34.23	M0/50
37	Alice Gamble	Westerlands XC	34.51	Lady
38	Pete Francis	Haywards Heath	35.2	M0/40
39	Andrew Campbell	Pennine FR	35.22	M
40	Ben Newton-Fryers	Brecon AC	35.56	M Junior
41	James Butterworth	U/A	36.15	M
42	Jack Davy	Manchester Tri	36.17	M
43	Sophie Owen	Ambleside AC	36.35	Lady
44	Georgia Beets	U/A	36.4	Lady
45	Roy Gibson	Ambleside AC	36.43	M0/60
46	Colin Webb	Cumberland FR	36.47	M0/70
47	Jane Verity	Howgill Harriers	36.51	L0/50
48	Abi Wolfe	Eden Runners	37.04	Lady
49	Colin Valentine	Keswick AC	37.1	M0/60
50	Paul Fryers	Penistone	37.41	M0/50
51	Laura Brown-Howe	Glossopdale	37.43	Lady
52	Ashley Garnham	U/A	37.55	M
53	Joseph Francis	Haywards Heath	38.33	M Junior
54	Stephen Libby	Eden Runners	39.04	M0/60
55	Jill Libby	Eden Runners	40.52	L0/60
56	Paul Hargreaves	Low Fell RC	41.35	M0/50
57	John Martin	U/A	41.48	M0/50
58	Kate Hood	U/A	41.49	L Junior
59	Andy Fryers	U/A	42.18	M0/50
60	Lucy Gamble	Cheshire Hill Racers	42.48	Lady
61	Steve Howe	U/A	43.41	M0/70 Local
62	John Vernon	U/A	47.22	M0/70 Local
63	Claire McMyler	St Pol Striders	49.55	L0/50

Race report by the organiser, Christine Kenyon

Arnison Crag Horseshoe is one of the country traditions that combine to make Patterdale Dog Day such a great day out.  The scenic fell race is only a 3 mile/5 km route but it punches above its weight.  It combines grassy uphill running and muddy squelchy uphill running, with a bit of flatish track and a lovely undulating run from Trough Head to Arnison Crag.  The descent from Arnison Crag is steep, grassy, slippy and rocky in places – fabulous if you love downhill running.

August Bank Holiday Saturday was dry and not too warm and conditions underfoot were superb.  63 runners were on the start line and 63 runners crossed the finish line, with a good representation from Keswick AC and Eden Runners.  We were hoping for some record breaking runs and Mark Lamb from Keswick AC didn’t disappoint.  He had a fabulous run to finish in 22.27, taking 3 seconds off the record held jointly by Rhys Findlay-Robinson (2014) and Carl Bell (2018).  Second runner was Toby Antcliffe of Leeds City AC who finished 2 seconds ahead of Sean Leckey from Ambleside AC in respective times of 24.02 and 24.04.

First male over 40 was Daniel Bateson from Scarborough in a time of 25.27.  Keswick dominated the male over 50 and male over 60 categories with Steve Angus finishing in 28.53 and Ed Gamble in 30.50.  The prize for first male over 70 went to Colin Webb from Cumberland Fell Runners in a time of 36.47 (46^th overall).

Keswick ladies weren’t going to be outdone.  Kate Marriott sprinted across the finish line to be first lady home in a time of 27.59.  Second lady, also from Keswick AC, was Robyn McGleenan in 31.19 and third lady was Alice Gamble from Westerlands Cross Country Club in 34.51.

No lady runners in the over 40 age catagory but first lady over 50 was Jane Verity from Howgill Harriers in 36.51 and first lady over 60 was Jill Libby from Eden Runners in 40.52, nearly 5 minutes faster than last time she ran the race!

It was great to have 4 juniors putting the seniors through their paces.  First male junior was Daniel Hood of Skipton AC in 27.57 in 15^th place overall and first female junior was Kate Hood in 41.49.

Finally some thank you’s.

Thank you to all the runners for supporting the fell race and being such a friendly bunch.  And BIG congratulations to Mark Lamb on the new record.

This was a record year for the number of helpers who make it all possible. John Varley was our man on the top of Arnison Crag; Sue Jones was on duty at the ladder stile and Simon Jones made sure everyone took the correct route through Trough Head; Lucy Hall showed the way to the top of Arnison Crag; Mike Parsons and Marian Parsons were on gate duty;  Jane Saul, Sarah Martin and Sarah Sowerby proved to be a professional registration team; Jane Saul, Sarah Sowerby, Christine Pullan and Stephanie Hill did a fantastic job on the finish line; Sara Hodgson and Tilly acted as sweeper and collected all the flags.

Thank you to all the runners for making it such a superb event and for finishing with a smile; thank you to Catstycam Outdoor Shop in Glenridding for sponsoring the prizes; thank you to Arnison Crag for being such a great little fell; and a BIG thank you to Stephen Wilson for yet more amazing photographs.

Hope to see you all next year! 

Happy running.

Christine