Dawdle or Dash 2022
New faces dominate the Dawdle or Dash
On a cold clear Boxing day morning 150 Dashers aged from 5 to 70 tackled the stiff climb to the Devil’s Chair and the treacherous descent to return to the Stiperstones Inn. Several in the field had run this annual challenge many times before, and were accustomed to the slippy grass slopes and the rocky ridge which threatens to trip even the most sure footed but they were put in their place by unattached Callum Mitchelmore and Ludlow’s Oliver Perrat winner and second in their first appearances at the event. Shrewsbury’s Dan Elliot repeated his third place of 3 years ago with Croft Ambery’s Aidan Yapp and Connor Middleton of Shrewsbury AC filling the top 5.
The gap between men and women in fell racing continues to close. English trail running international Sara Willhoit broke her own women’s record to finish only a minute and a half behind the winner, with teenage stars Bethany Trow, Mackenzie McCourt, Maggie Preece and Chloe Stuart all finishing in under 30 minutes. Bethany from Shrewsbury AC shaved a few more seconds off her own under 18 record.
The Preece and Stuart families have supported the event for many years and along with Maggie, mother Alison Preece was second in the W50, and brother Charlie Preece was second in the M18, Charlie Stuart took the honours in M11 with Dad James a strong 7th in the M40s.
Shrewsbury’s Adam Bentham was once again victorious in the under 18s achieving another top ten finish against his elders. Pennerley based Liam Bennett was first local runner home followed by Graham Chidley and exile Rob Evason. Sally Tonge claimed the first local lady prize.
In the older classes M40 Adam Booth out sprinted Sam Allwood from Waverley, and Coventry Godiva’s Petyer Ecclestone. M50 Justin Wyke was too strong for Maldwyn’s Garry Jerman and Matthew Bishop. W40 Holly Sheldon narrowly held off Hereford Triathlete Deanna Mammatt and Roisin Reeves while W50 Fiona Williams was only a minute outside the course age record in beating Alison Preece and Helen Davies.
Many more Dawdlers with dogs, push chairs and baby carriers enjoyed the fine sunshine to create a great atmosphere like the pre-covid days.
As always thanks are due to the Shropshire Cavers and Mines Trust members for providing support and refreshment at the summit, Andy, Tim, Chris and James for setting up the festive finish, Liz, Heather, Jo and Evelyn buried beneath a mountain of bread and awash in a lake of soup, Zilla and Tom in the car park and Lara and Phil for letting us take over the pub for a day.
Donations are still coming in and I will post the totals as soon as I have them. All proceeds to Lingen Davies and the Severn Hospice.