UK fell race relay championships

Race: Fell race relays, Shropshire (leg 3-navigation)
Time/Position: 1:13:34 (45th from 155)
Our first appearance in the relays since they came to Llangynhafal in 2008. This year, its Shropshire location meant it became feasible for our small club again and we managed to get six runners together initially. However, we lost two key men to injury last week, so we had to desperately cast around for replacements at the eleventh hour, just managing to gather six runners together on Friday evening. So a somewhat weaker team finally made the startline in Church Stretton, a delightful location on a delightful day: frosty, very clear, very sunny. Simon got us off to a good start, before John and Dawn put in a strong performance on the tough second leg - which echoed parts of the classic Long Mynd Valleys race that I last did three or four years ago. We'd just entered the 'holding pen' when they arrived, and it was time for Jeff and I to set off on the navigation leg. This replicates Mountain Marathon style navigation - in that it contains relatively long macro legs. However, the course was well set out and there were fewer crocodiles of runners, and more route choice, than I'd expected. We set off up a steep climb with a good path to the obvious col between Yearlet and Ashlet. I picked up a trod and we contoured SW to a very steep direct descent to the lovely steep-sided Ashes Hollow, which I remembered well from the Long Mynd Valleys race. Up this to the first checkpoint, gaining a few places, then I was surprised to see 20+ runners ploughing up the steep direct route to CP2. I resisted the urge to follow, opting for the northern continuation of the valley then striking NW up a tiny side valley in a direct line towards the checkpoint. Looking behind me, I saw that I was being followed by another 20+ runners! We crested the boggy plateau of Pole Bank/Long Mynd and had clearly made a decent decision as we were now ahead of several of the teams who'd gone direct. From the summit at Pole Bank, superb fast running along the Mynd to a well-hidden third checkpoint in the upper reaches of Carding Mill valley, before a steep climb up another spur led to more decision-making. I went direct to the south across awkward heather, with Jeff slowing slightly, and went a tad too far east before righting myself to pick up CP4 below Yearlet. The run-in was absolutely superb, taking an obvious exposed contour line along a narrow path poised above the valley before dibbing the fifth CP on top of the small hill above Devils Mouth. Fantastic running down to the finish, with wonderful clear, sunny views over to Caer Caradog and the Lawley - reminding me of the Skyline race and the Cardington Cracker which both take in these hills. Jeff struggled a tiny bit on the steepest descents and climbs, although in general he did really well considering this was all fairly new for him. The final run-in took in some lovely woodland before the steep and atmospheric final descent to the crowds at the finish. An excellent and enjoyable outing, with the team just about squeezing into the top half of the results.