On the 28th June 2020 four intrepid Tattenhall Runners Rob Arden, Simon Duckett, Tom Leather and Alli Grundy took on the Long Mynd Tops round. The challenge was devised by the Mercia Running Club in memory of one of their members, Gill Harris.
The challenge takes in 22 principal named tops in the National Trust open access area on the Mynd, a couple of the summits are just outside of the open access, a few tricky to distinguish and one just a finger post! The challenge has the essence and pays homage to "the Bob Graham" the Lakeland Classic. This, the Shropshire mini-equivalent, starts and finishes in the square in Church Stretton.
The map-loving members of the team, Rob Arden and Tom Leather poured over all the possible routes beforehand. Rob Arden and Alli Grundy actually reccied the middle section to work out the best lines from one summit to the next and Simon Duckett led the charge like a train knocking off all summits with ease even though the largest of the climbs were concentrated in the last third of the round.
The best estimate in terms of distance is around 20 miles and ascent and descent of about 5300ft. The team completed the round in 4 hours 18 minutes and unofficially looks like it's the quickest women's' round by 6 minutes.
Tattenhall Online is powered by our active community.
Please send us your news and views using the button below: