Bill Smith (fell runner)
Encyclopedia
Bill Smith was a notable fell runner
and well-known author on the sport. He was considered a "legend" in the fell-running community."The word legend is all too often rolled out in sporting circles. A footballer who scores a few goals, a cricketer who enjoys a few good days, they sometimes earn the tag as memories of their greatness often exceed their actual achievements. Few legends are actually responsible for a genuine shift in their sport, few legends become synonymous with their sport. Bill Smith was, without any question, a legend in the world of fell running. In the wake of his dreadfully sad death, lavish tributes have been paid to a man who changed the perception of his sport." He died in September 2011. His body was discovered on 7 October in a peat bog in the Forest of Bowland
, Lancashire, England, after a three-week disappearance.
who left school at age 15, Bill Smith earned his livelihood by working as a porter at a Liverpool department store
for most of his adult life.The Guardian named his employer as Lewis's
and The Economist says it was Blacklers department store. (See and .) Smith took up fell running in 1971 and quickly became one of the sport's best-known competitors. Peter Booth, chairman of Clayton-le-Moors Harriers, said that Smith "did so much for fell running ... and will be greatly missed by all."
In 1969, 1970 and 1971 he put in respectable performances in the Fellsman Hike, a race that is said to be the "ultimate fell running challenge." Second place finishes were attained in 1973, 1976 and 1977 and he "quickly became a member of the prizewinning team" at the Clayton Harriers. The 1970s saw him train 80 to 100 mi (128.7 to 160.9 km) per week.
In 1973, Smith became the twelfth person to complete the Bob Graham Round
, considered "one of the most demanding challenges in the country", and breaking its record (with Boyd Millen) by scaling 42 Lake District
peaks in under 24 hours. He built on the feat by traversing 55 peaks in 24 hours, and in 1975, 63 peaks in 23 hours and 55 minutes. The latter established a new benchmark in fell running, second only to the record of 72 peaks set by Joss Naylor
.Naylor and Smith were setting records in roughly the same era, at what some might consider to be an advanced age, and both were born in 1936.Erroneously reported as 65 peaks at His conquest of Marilyns
, Tors and Peak bagging
was renowned. He successfully competed in long distance fell races, e.g., the Lake District Mountain Trial and the Wasdale "Horseshoe" Mountain Fell Race.
Smith lived alone in Everton, and was said to enjoy "Cajun
... [and] gypsy music
." He eschewed telephones and cars, often walked rather than rode, and was a devotee of public transportation. He constantly acted as a mentor at events, took photographs which he would share for free, and when not running, he acted as a marshall.
In July 2011, Bill Smith was part of a relay
that carried Fred Rogerson's ashes "around their beloved Bob Graham Round ..." Despite 40 years of supporting the event with his "heart and soul", Rogerson never completed the Bob Graham round himself. However, as a tribute and memorial his ashes were borne by his associates "in a pocket watch case presented by Bob Graham to his pacer Phil Davison in 1927." Rogerson, Stan Bradshaw and Bill Smith, were a trio that "formed part of the bedrock of modern-day fell running." All three died within the span of 18 months.
In August 2011 he was named as "Honorary of Clayton-le-Moors
Harriers", to recognise his service to the club and sport.See Road Runners Club (UK)
. From 1972 he was member #172.
to Preston
by rail, but never made the return trip. On 25 September, race onlookers and participants became concerned when Smith did not appear at the rendezvous point for the Thieveley Pike race near Burnley
, where he was expected to serve as a marshall.
His body was discovered by a walker
in a remote location outside the range of mobile phone signals and from which "it took several hours of hiking ... [to] raise the alarm." The remains were recovered by the Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team in a five-hour extraction that required a helicopter.See Mountain rescue in England and Wales
. There was a return ticket in Smith's pocket.The Economist opines that it was a train ticket, and that he was taking an indirect route to the beginning of a race. The Guardian said it was a "bus" ticket.
As The Independent
article commented: "The rescuers paused for a few moments to pay their respects to the man they found submerged in a peat bog on the remote Trough of Bowland
last weekend. It is an honour afforded all those that perish out on the wild Lancashire fell sides." However, the recovery party was largely clueless that the "elderly man, discovered the previous day but thought to have lain undiscovered for up to three weeks, belonged to one of the legends" of British sport. He is thought to have "fallen as he ran across Saddle Fell
."
Peat bogs are "a potent menace to all runners and walkers." Although said to be among the most tender and threatened British habitats, in the northern uplands they are a common landscape feature. A deceptive appearance as solid ground can mask "little more than a veneer
of soil floating on often ice-cold water." According to survival experts, anyone who falls into a peat bog should move slowly and swim broadly in an effort to reach safety. As with being stuck in quick sand, panic and errant movements can exacerbate a bad situation and make "it impossible to escape without help."
Filing a 'flight plan,' having a buddy system
, and carrying proper equipment could be possible preventatives of similar tragedies. "[M]ountain rescuers said the tragedy showed that even seasoned runners needed to let someone know their plans", know where they are and have a cell phone, and to make sure they carry a full complement of equipment.This was the second tragedy for the Clayton Harriers. In April of 1994, an uncharacteristic and strong blizzard killed Judith Taylor at the Kentmere Fell Race. See also, In some fell running events, e.g., mountain marathon
s, a buddy system
is sometimes used, and there are teams of two. Required equipment can be extensive and finely detailed. See, e.g. Original Mountain Marathon Believing when he made the statement that a "walker" was involved, Phil O'Brien of the Rescue Team stated "I urge walkers not to take any unnecessary risks and where possible, to use appropriate maps." "They should tell someone where they are going and when to expect them back. They should make sure they are wearing appropriate clothing and footwear and to check the weather forecast before setting off. Inexperienced walkers should make sure they are with someone with them who knows the area well."
Blurred eyesight
was suspected to be a factor in his final fall; he skipped several scheduled procedures to deal with the ongoing problem. He found his prescription eyeglasses to be ineffective. He refused to wear glasses whilst running, and considered them to be a needless nuisance. Nevertheless, he was troubled seeing persons with whom he conversed; but was said to be "fearless" as he careened madly (and perhaps blindly) down mountains. Thus, he may have misjudged distances and fallen into the bog. In any event, "Friends ... said Mr Smith's failing eyesight could have been the cause of his tragic accident", but whether blindness "was the problem, or ... his heart gave out, nobody knew."
Ron Hill said Smith's death "will be felt by many ... He was relatively young at 75 and tremendously fit and his death is a real shock to everyone. His loss is huge – but I suppose you can say that he passed away while doing what he loved doing, running across the moors
."
His funeral took place on 14 October 2011, at the Church of the Good Shepherd in West Derby
. Reverend Sandra Trapnell officiated, noting his "great" contribution to the sport, and the many tributes that had appeared. A future memorial event by fell running organisations is anticipated. Donations were made to Mountain Rescue in his memory.
Smith's treatise, Stud Marks on the Summits started out as a fifty page flyer, and was thereafter expanded into an "1800 page opus." In print it is 581 pages. The book was privately published after the publishing houses all turned it down; and possession is now a mark of being a fell runner aficionado. It sold out in 1986, and is available electronically on line from the British Open Fell Runners AssociationThe hardback copy being deemed too valuable to loan out. The Association says: "Fortunately, Bill has granted us permission to hold an electronic copy of the work on the website ..."). It has been called "the definitive guide" on the sport. Out of print, its internet price exceeded £100 several times. Commonwealth Games
gold medal
winner and long distance runner Ron Hill
In 1970, Hill won the 74th Boston Marathon
in a course record 2:10:30. He also won gold medals for the marathon at the European Championships
in 1969 and the Commonwealth Games
in 1970. Hill held numerous national and world long distance running records. described the book as a "bible for future generations."
Despite its epic saga of fell running, Smith is mentioned only six times in the tome. Smith was held in high regard both for his running and for his encyclopaedic knowledge of the sport.Sources in The Economist characterized him "a walking encyclopedia of amateur fell-running. He knew all the history, the records, the meetings, and had set them down with exacting care in a book ..."
The president of the Fell Runners Association, Graham Breeze, published a posthumous encomium and long-belated book review: "Considering the masterpiece that bears his name Bill Smith was a staggeringly modest and unassuming man ... I am privileged to have known him slightly and corresponded with him occasionally ... A few years ago I wrote a short piece about Stud marks on the summits and sent it to Bill for his approval. I wrote that I knew he would hate it but I would like it to appear in The Fellrunner in homage to his masterpiece. As I partly anticipated, he wrote back and asked me not to publish because it would embarrass him. We later talked about the piece at a race and I promised that, since all writers hate to waste material, it would only appear when he could no longer be embarrassed ... Fellrunners come and go, Champions come and go, but no-one will ever be as important to the development and history of fellrunning as the man who died in September on the Bowland fells
."
, lead guitarist of Chumbawamba
, recorded a song called "Stud Marks on the Summits", which was inspired by a chance meeting with Smith. Whalley took up fell running as a result. He was paraphrased as having said Smith "encapsulated the ethos of the sport – its emphasis on self-reliance and nature and its history."
}
} John Morgan|publisher=Annual Grasmere Sports and Show|accessdate=16 October 2011}}
} Lakeland Runners in Yorkshire Vests|publisher=Annual Grasmere Sports and Show|accessdate=16 October 2011}}
}
}
Fell running
Fell running, also known as mountain running and hill running, is the sport of running and racing, off road, over upland country where the gradient climbed is a significant component of the difficulty...
and well-known author on the sport. He was considered a "legend" in the fell-running community."The word legend is all too often rolled out in sporting circles. A footballer who scores a few goals, a cricketer who enjoys a few good days, they sometimes earn the tag as memories of their greatness often exceed their actual achievements. Few legends are actually responsible for a genuine shift in their sport, few legends become synonymous with their sport. Bill Smith was, without any question, a legend in the world of fell running. In the wake of his dreadfully sad death, lavish tributes have been paid to a man who changed the perception of his sport." He died in September 2011. His body was discovered on 7 October in a peat bog in the Forest of Bowland
Forest of Bowland
The Forest of Bowland, also known as the Bowland Fells, is an area of barren gritstone fells, deep valleys and peat moorland, mostly in north-east Lancashire, England. A small part lies in North Yorkshire, and much of the area was historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire...
, Lancashire, England, after a three-week disappearance.
Career
A lifelong resident of LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
who left school at age 15, Bill Smith earned his livelihood by working as a porter at a Liverpool department store
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
for most of his adult life.The Guardian named his employer as Lewis's
Lewis's
Lewis's was a large department store in Liverpool city centre. It was formerly the flagship of a chain of department stores under the Lewis's name, that operated from 1856 to 1991, when the company went into administration. Several stores in the chain were bought by the company Owen Owen and...
and The Economist says it was Blacklers department store. (See and .) Smith took up fell running in 1971 and quickly became one of the sport's best-known competitors. Peter Booth, chairman of Clayton-le-Moors Harriers, said that Smith "did so much for fell running ... and will be greatly missed by all."
In 1969, 1970 and 1971 he put in respectable performances in the Fellsman Hike, a race that is said to be the "ultimate fell running challenge." Second place finishes were attained in 1973, 1976 and 1977 and he "quickly became a member of the prizewinning team" at the Clayton Harriers. The 1970s saw him train 80 to 100 mi (128.7 to 160.9 km) per week.
In 1973, Smith became the twelfth person to complete the Bob Graham Round
Bob Graham Round
The Bob Graham Round is a circuit of 42 fells in the English Lake District, including the peaks of Skiddaw, Helvellyn, Scafell and Scafell Pike...
, considered "one of the most demanding challenges in the country", and breaking its record (with Boyd Millen) by scaling 42 Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
peaks in under 24 hours. He built on the feat by traversing 55 peaks in 24 hours, and in 1975, 63 peaks in 23 hours and 55 minutes. The latter established a new benchmark in fell running, second only to the record of 72 peaks set by Joss Naylor
Joss Naylor
Joss Naylor MBE is an English fell runner. Naylor is a sheep farmer, living in the English Lake District...
.Naylor and Smith were setting records in roughly the same era, at what some might consider to be an advanced age, and both were born in 1936.Erroneously reported as 65 peaks at His conquest of Marilyns
Marilyn (hill)
A Marilyn is a mountain or hill in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland or Isle of Man with a relative height of at least 150 metres , regardless of absolute height or other merit...
, Tors and Peak bagging
Peak bagging
Peak bagging is an activity in which hillwalkers and mountaineers attempt to reach the summit of some collection of peaks, usually those above some height in a particular region, or having a particular feature.Peak bagging can be distinguished from highpointing...
was renowned. He successfully competed in long distance fell races, e.g., the Lake District Mountain Trial and the Wasdale "Horseshoe" Mountain Fell Race.
Smith lived alone in Everton, and was said to enjoy "Cajun
Cajun music
Cajun music, an emblematic music of Louisiana, is rooted in the ballads of the French-speaking Acadians of Canada. Cajun music is often mentioned in tandem with the Creole-based, Cajun-influenced zydeco form, both of Acadiana origin...
... [and] gypsy music
Gypsy style
The term gypsy style refers to the typical way East European music is played in coffeehouses and restaurants, at parties, and sometimes on-stage, in European cities. Music played in this style is known by the general public as "gypsy music"....
." He eschewed telephones and cars, often walked rather than rode, and was a devotee of public transportation. He constantly acted as a mentor at events, took photographs which he would share for free, and when not running, he acted as a marshall.
In July 2011, Bill Smith was part of a relay
Relay race
During a relay race, members of a team take turns running, orienteering, swimming, cross-country skiing, biathlon, or ice skating parts of a circuit or performing a certain action. Relay races take the form of professional races and amateur games...
that carried Fred Rogerson's ashes "around their beloved Bob Graham Round ..." Despite 40 years of supporting the event with his "heart and soul", Rogerson never completed the Bob Graham round himself. However, as a tribute and memorial his ashes were borne by his associates "in a pocket watch case presented by Bob Graham to his pacer Phil Davison in 1927." Rogerson, Stan Bradshaw and Bill Smith, were a trio that "formed part of the bedrock of modern-day fell running." All three died within the span of 18 months.
In August 2011 he was named as "Honorary of Clayton-le-Moors
Clayton-le-Moors
Clayton-le-Moors is a township in Hyndburn in Lancashire, England. The town is locally referred to as 'Clayton'. To the west lies Rishton, to the north Great Harwood, and two miles to the south, Accrington. Clayton-le-Moors is situated on the A680 road alongside the M65 motorway.-Description:It is...
Harriers", to recognise his service to the club and sport.See Road Runners Club (UK)
Road Runners Club (UK)
The Road Runners Club is an association of road runners formed in 1952 to encourage the athletic discipline of road running in the United Kingdom.-History:...
. From 1972 he was member #172.
Death
On 10 September 2011, Smith travelled from OrmskirkOrmskirk railway station
Ormskirk railway station is situated in the town of Ormskirk, Lancashire, England. The station is an interchange between Merseyrail services from Liverpool Central and Northern Rail services from Preston...
to Preston
Preston railway station
Preston railway station serves the city of Preston in Lancashire, England and is a major station on the West Coast Main Line.It is served by Northern Rail, Virgin Trains, and TransPennine Express services, plus First ScotRail overnight sleeper services between London and Scotland.-Station layout...
by rail, but never made the return trip. On 25 September, race onlookers and participants became concerned when Smith did not appear at the rendezvous point for the Thieveley Pike race near Burnley
Burnley
Burnley is a market town in the Burnley borough of Lancashire, England, with a population of around 73,500. It lies north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River Brun....
, where he was expected to serve as a marshall.
His body was discovered by a walker
Pedestrian
A pedestrian is a person traveling on foot, whether walking or running. In some communities, those traveling using roller skates or skateboards are also considered to be pedestrians. In modern times, the term mostly refers to someone walking on a road or footpath, but this was not the case...
in a remote location outside the range of mobile phone signals and from which "it took several hours of hiking ... [to] raise the alarm." The remains were recovered by the Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team in a five-hour extraction that required a helicopter.See Mountain rescue in England and Wales
Mountain rescue in England and Wales
Mountain rescue services in England and Wales operate under the umbrella association of the MREW - Mountain Rescue...
. There was a return ticket in Smith's pocket.The Economist opines that it was a train ticket, and that he was taking an indirect route to the beginning of a race. The Guardian said it was a "bus" ticket.
As The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
article commented: "The rescuers paused for a few moments to pay their respects to the man they found submerged in a peat bog on the remote Trough of Bowland
Trough of Bowland
The Trough of Bowland is a valley and high pass in the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Lancashire, England.The pass, reaching above sea level at the head of the valley, links to Wyresdale, dividing the upland core of Bowland into two main blocks...
last weekend. It is an honour afforded all those that perish out on the wild Lancashire fell sides." However, the recovery party was largely clueless that the "elderly man, discovered the previous day but thought to have lain undiscovered for up to three weeks, belonged to one of the legends" of British sport. He is thought to have "fallen as he ran across Saddle Fell
Fair Snape Fell
Fair Snape Fell is one of the larger hills in the Forest of Bowland in Lancashire, England. It occupies a position in the very south of the main range of fells, alongside and just to the north of Parlick, joined by a ridge...
."
Peat bogs are "a potent menace to all runners and walkers." Although said to be among the most tender and threatened British habitats, in the northern uplands they are a common landscape feature. A deceptive appearance as solid ground can mask "little more than a veneer
Veneer
A veneer is a thin covering over another surface. More specifically, it may refer to:* Wood veneer, a term used in architecture and woodworking...
of soil floating on often ice-cold water." According to survival experts, anyone who falls into a peat bog should move slowly and swim broadly in an effort to reach safety. As with being stuck in quick sand, panic and errant movements can exacerbate a bad situation and make "it impossible to escape without help."
Filing a 'flight plan,' having a buddy system
Buddy system
The buddy system is a procedure in which two people, the "buddies", operate together as a single unit so that they are able to monitor and help each other.-Advantages:...
, and carrying proper equipment could be possible preventatives of similar tragedies. "[M]ountain rescuers said the tragedy showed that even seasoned runners needed to let someone know their plans", know where they are and have a cell phone, and to make sure they carry a full complement of equipment.This was the second tragedy for the Clayton Harriers. In April of 1994, an uncharacteristic and strong blizzard killed Judith Taylor at the Kentmere Fell Race. See also, In some fell running events, e.g., mountain marathon
Mountain Marathon
Mountain Marathon is an extended form of fell running, usually over two days and often with a strong orienteering element. Competitors usually participate in teams of two, and have to carry their own food and tent...
s, a buddy system
Buddy system
The buddy system is a procedure in which two people, the "buddies", operate together as a single unit so that they are able to monitor and help each other.-Advantages:...
is sometimes used, and there are teams of two. Required equipment can be extensive and finely detailed. See, e.g. Original Mountain Marathon Believing when he made the statement that a "walker" was involved, Phil O'Brien of the Rescue Team stated "I urge walkers not to take any unnecessary risks and where possible, to use appropriate maps." "They should tell someone where they are going and when to expect them back. They should make sure they are wearing appropriate clothing and footwear and to check the weather forecast before setting off. Inexperienced walkers should make sure they are with someone with them who knows the area well."
Blurred eyesight
Blurred vision
-Causes:There are many causes of blurred vision:* Use of atropine or other anticholinergics* Presbyopia -- Difficulty focusing on objects that are close. The elderly are common victims....
was suspected to be a factor in his final fall; he skipped several scheduled procedures to deal with the ongoing problem. He found his prescription eyeglasses to be ineffective. He refused to wear glasses whilst running, and considered them to be a needless nuisance. Nevertheless, he was troubled seeing persons with whom he conversed; but was said to be "fearless" as he careened madly (and perhaps blindly) down mountains. Thus, he may have misjudged distances and fallen into the bog. In any event, "Friends ... said Mr Smith's failing eyesight could have been the cause of his tragic accident", but whether blindness "was the problem, or ... his heart gave out, nobody knew."
Ron Hill said Smith's death "will be felt by many ... He was relatively young at 75 and tremendously fit and his death is a real shock to everyone. His loss is huge – but I suppose you can say that he passed away while doing what he loved doing, running across the moors
Moorland
Moorland or moor is a type of habitat, in the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome, found in upland areas, characterised by low-growing vegetation on acidic soils and heavy fog...
."
His funeral took place on 14 October 2011, at the Church of the Good Shepherd in West Derby
West Derby
West Derby is a suburb in the north of Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is also a Liverpool City Council ward. At the 2001 Census, the population of the ward was 14,801 .-History:...
. Reverend Sandra Trapnell officiated, noting his "great" contribution to the sport, and the many tributes that had appeared. A future memorial event by fell running organisations is anticipated. Donations were made to Mountain Rescue in his memory.
The book
For over a quarter century Smith published a "stream of immaculately researched historical articles" in Fellrunner magazine (which he helped popularise) and other publications.Smith's treatise, Stud Marks on the Summits started out as a fifty page flyer, and was thereafter expanded into an "1800 page opus." In print it is 581 pages. The book was privately published after the publishing houses all turned it down; and possession is now a mark of being a fell runner aficionado. It sold out in 1986, and is available electronically on line from the British Open Fell Runners AssociationThe hardback copy being deemed too valuable to loan out. The Association says: "Fortunately, Bill has granted us permission to hold an electronic copy of the work on the website ..."). It has been called "the definitive guide" on the sport. Out of print, its internet price exceeded £100 several times. Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
winner and long distance runner Ron Hill
Ron Hill
Ronald "Ron" Hill, MBE, BSc, PhD , is a noted runner and founder of Ron Hill and Hilly Clothing Company. Hill was born in Accrington, Lancashire, England. He was the second man to break 2:10 in the marathon; he set world records at four other distances, but never laid claim to the marathon world...
In 1970, Hill won the 74th Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
in a course record 2:10:30. He also won gold medals for the marathon at the European Championships
European Championships in Athletics
The European Athletics Championships is an event organized by the European Athletic Association. It is organised every four years, the same year as the Commonwealth Games and between the Summer Olympic Games cycle. After the 2010 Championships in Barcelona, the European Championships will take...
in 1969 and the Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
in 1970. Hill held numerous national and world long distance running records. described the book as a "bible for future generations."
Despite its epic saga of fell running, Smith is mentioned only six times in the tome. Smith was held in high regard both for his running and for his encyclopaedic knowledge of the sport.Sources in The Economist characterized him "a walking encyclopedia of amateur fell-running. He knew all the history, the records, the meetings, and had set them down with exacting care in a book ..."
The president of the Fell Runners Association, Graham Breeze, published a posthumous encomium and long-belated book review: "Considering the masterpiece that bears his name Bill Smith was a staggeringly modest and unassuming man ... I am privileged to have known him slightly and corresponded with him occasionally ... A few years ago I wrote a short piece about Stud marks on the summits and sent it to Bill for his approval. I wrote that I knew he would hate it but I would like it to appear in The Fellrunner in homage to his masterpiece. As I partly anticipated, he wrote back and asked me not to publish because it would embarrass him. We later talked about the piece at a race and I promised that, since all writers hate to waste material, it would only appear when he could no longer be embarrassed ... Fellrunners come and go, Champions come and go, but no-one will ever be as important to the development and history of fellrunning as the man who died in September on the Bowland fells
Forest of Bowland
The Forest of Bowland, also known as the Bowland Fells, is an area of barren gritstone fells, deep valleys and peat moorland, mostly in north-east Lancashire, England. A small part lies in North Yorkshire, and much of the area was historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire...
."
Song
Boff WhalleyBoff Whalley
Allan Mark "Boff" Whalley is the lead guitarist for the band Chumbawamba.-Early life and education:Whalley was born Allan Mark Whalley in 1961 in Burnley, Lancashire...
, lead guitarist of Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba is a British musical group who have, over a career spanning nearly three decades, played punk rock, pop-influenced music, world music, and folk music...
, recorded a song called "Stud Marks on the Summits", which was inspired by a chance meeting with Smith. Whalley took up fell running as a result. He was paraphrased as having said Smith "encapsulated the ethos of the sport – its emphasis on self-reliance and nature and its history."
Published works
}}
} John Morgan|publisher=Annual Grasmere Sports and Show|accessdate=16 October 2011}}
} Lakeland Runners in Yorkshire Vests|publisher=Annual Grasmere Sports and Show|accessdate=16 October 2011}}
}
}
- W.R. Smith, "Runners on the Three Peaks", The Dalesman, 37 (1975–76):966-68. - Total pages: 581
See also
British orienteers- List of orienteers
- List of orienteering events
- MunroMunroA Munro is a mountain in Scotland with a height over . They are named after Sir Hugh Munro, 4th Baronet , who produced the first list of such hills, known as Munros Tables, in 1891. A Munro top is a summit over 3,000 ft which is not regarded as a separate mountain...
/ "Munro Bagging"