The Bob Graham 24 Hour Club

News

Wynn Cliff

It is with great sadness that we learnt of the death of Wynn on 11th March of this year.

Wynn helped on many rounds with road and moral support. She's listed as having helped over 30 successful attempts. In light of this she was awarded Associate Membership of the club (still only 18 of these have been awarded). Together with her husband Steve they founded and organised The Anniversary Waltz fell race to mark their wedding anniversary and then some years later the Teenager With Attitude race. The two were profiled on - iRunFar in 2017. Wynn is survived by two daughters and nine grandchildren.

Jan 2024

Here's the annual figures for last year (2023) for attempts and successes on the Bob Graham Round.

Fastest times were 18:58 for the men and 16:54 for the ladies.

The average age of successful contenders was 40yr 8mths. The age of successful contenders ranged from 19 to 63.

Previous attempts

Successful qualifying Rounds by month and direction

As with last year 2023 was bookended by winter successes but this time it was the women showing the way. Eleanor Davis starting things with the fastest women’s winter round to date (20:21) then just before Christmas Henriette Albon bettered that time and became the first woman to complete a winter round in under 20hrs. Her time of 17:55 is the second fastest winter time overall (only Kim Collison being quicker) and is the fastest mid-winter time to date.

There were very few fast times this year, just six under 20hrs with the fastest time of the year, a rapid 16:54 by Anna Llewellyn, being unusual in that it was by a woman, 2021 is the only other year this has happened.

Andy Berry gained the 24hr Fell Record traversing the same 78 peaks as Kim Collison but was 20 minutes quicker in doing so. Two existing members, Chris Welton (#2112) and Phil Vincent (#1462) added a 50@50 to their palmares, Chris actually did 57 tops. There were five completions of the Steve Parr Round including the second success in winter by Jack Oliver (#2611) continuing his winter campaign from last year, the fastest women’s round by Carol Morgan (#1766) and the first solo, unsupported round by Mingma Tshering Sherpa

Jan 2023

Here's the annual figures for last year (2022) for attempts and successes on the Bob Graham Round.

Fastest times were 12:23 for the men and 21:39 for the ladies.

The average age of successful contenders was 37yr 1mths. The age of successful contenders ranged from 21 to 61.

Previous attempts

Successful qualifying Rounds by month and direction

2022 was bookended by winter successes, Jack Oliver kicking things off in January with a qualifying round and Paul Wilson (#2067) and James Gibson (~) achieving solo and unsupported rounds on the same bright crisp day in December just before the weather broke.

The early part of the year was significant for the number of female successes - by the end of June some 25% of successful rounds were by women. This figure dropped later in the year ending on 18% which is still significantly higher than the usual 10-12%. Hopefully this will continue.

There were just 12 times under 20hrs with the most significant being Jack Kuenzle's new record time of 12:23 took just under half an hour off Kilian Jornet's previous record. This brings the total of sub 20hr rounds to 175.

The extended rounds weren't quite as busy but Fiona Pascall (#2257) took the ladies' crown with her new 24hr fell record of 68 tops is 23:26. The Wainwrights Round saw four successes including a new record time of 5 days 12 hours 15 minutes by John Kelly (#2289). Sabrina Verjee (#2259) added to her palmares with the fastest ladies time on the Steve Parr Round with 39 hours 11 minutes.

Wynn Cliff

It is with great sadness that we learnt of the death of Wynn on 11th March of this year.

Wynn helped on many rounds with road and moral support. She's listed as having helped over 30 successful attempts. In light of this she was awarded Associate Membership of the club (still only 18 of these have been awarded). Together with her husband Steve they founded and organised The Anniversary Waltz fell race to mark their wedding anniversary and then some years later the Teenager With Attitude race. The two were profiled on - iRunFar in 2017. Wynn is survived by two daughters and nine grandchildren.

Jan 2022

Here's the annual figures for last year (2021) for attempts and successes on the Bob Graham Round.

Fastest times were 12:59 for the men and 19:48 for the ladies.

The average age of successful contenders was 38yr 11mths. The age of successful contenders ranged from 18 to 59.

Previous attempts

Successful qualifying Rounds by month and direction

Things were a bit uncertain heading into this year, partly shown by the time distribution of registrations - most were within a week or two of the attempt as people tried to work out if we were heading into another lockdown. In the event there was little disruption for activity on the fells.

As is common these days most who succeeded did so on their first attempt with only a small number making a second attempt and just a handful of very persistent individuals. Female participation remains low at around 13% of the total.

There were just fourteen times under 20hrs including the very fast time by Finlay Wild whose 12:59 was just seven minutes off Kilian Jornet's record, impressive. Fiona Pascall was the fastest lady this year with a time of 19:48. That brings the total of sub 20hr times to 163.

Beyond the standard round Nicky Spinks reclaimed the women’s 24hr fell record traversing the same 65 tops as Carol Morgan but was eight minutes quicker in doing so. Dougie Zinis (#2268) became the eighth person to complete a double BG in a new fastest time of 45hrs3mins. The Wainwrights Round saw increased attention culminating in Sabrina Verjee (#2259) setting a new overall record time of 5 days 23hrs 49 mins and is thus the first to complete this challenge in under six days. James Gibson bookended his year with winter completions of both the Steve Parr round in 53hrs 48mins and the Wainwrights Round in 8days 6hrs 44mins. This latter included a prolonged stop at Mungrisedale to sit out Storm Barra. The Steve Parr Round also had quite a bit of attention with four completions include Andy Berry’s (#2003) new fastest time of 33hrs 45mins.

Jan 2021

Here's the annual figures for last year (2020) for attempts and successes on the Bob Graham Round.

Fastest times were 16:05 for the men and 14:34 for the ladies.

The average age of successful contenders was 36yr 0mths. The age of successful contenders ranged from 17 to 55.

Previous attempts

Successful qualifying Rounds by month and direction

There was a definite thought that 2020 might be like 2001 when Foot and Mouth shut down the countryside for the year and we'd see no attempts or even successes. Then at the beginning of July things eased. Fifty registrations were made in the first week following the announcement of easing. Races weren't going to happen, people were bursting with energy.

With lockdown having barely been put to bed Kim Collison went for Mark Hartell's Lakes 24hr record. Haycock was going to be his extra peak but on the day he skipped that and went instead for Fleetwith Pike, which incidentally was going to be Mark's extra peak, and eventually arrived back at his starting point after 23hrs 45 minutes on the go so not only did he extend the number of peaks but did it quicker.

Jack Wright was the first of the year to succeed on the standard Round, on the same day as Kim Collison was speeding around the fells as it happens, and was similarly quick becoming the first member of the "16hr club". He would be the first of eighteen to get under twenty hours this year, out of eighty four successes that's a high proportion.

It's only four years since Jasmin Paris set a new women's record for the standard Round, at the time it was the fifth fastest, but on the 24th July Beth Pascal knocked a measly 50 minutes off it to set the fifth fastest time ever with 14:34, this was also the fastest qualifying time of the year. Beth was faster from the off, seven minutes quicker up Skiddaw for starters and she ending up taking ten minutes or more off the record on each of the first four legs and just six from the last.

September is normally a quiet time, not this year, there were 49 registered attempts with 26 successes. October was also busy and also saw a very fast time of 13:44 by George Foster, the second fastest time on record.

The year ended with the fourth fastest winter Round to date with Richard Anderson becoming the second to get under 20 hours in mid-winter.

Sadly we were informed of the deaths of two members during 2020: George Foot and Simon Halliday.

Jan 2020

Here's the annual figures for last year (2019) for attempts and successes on the Bob Graham Round.

Fastest times were 17:25 for the men and 18:45 for the ladies.

The average age of successful contenders was 38yrs 5months. The age of successful contenders ranged from 23 to 60.

Previous attempts

Successful qualifying Rounds by month and direction

As can be seen the vast majority of Rounds were in the midsummer months of May to June. A few hardy souls eschewed the delights of summer and the rigours of winter with April and October Rounds and two individuals went full Monty and achieved winter Rounds

The year's fastest time isn't actually listed above since those figures only relate to qualifying Rounds. Kim Collison did his second winter Round (and his third Round overall) at the start of December in a stunningly quick time of 15:47. This is not only the quickest winter Round by some margin, bettering Jim Mann's 2012 time by some 2 1/2 hours, but was also quick enough to be in the top ten fastest ever times. Another impressive winter Round was Tom Gibbs' fastest mid-winter Round of 20:20 in early January.

Jan 2019

There were 199 registrations (24 ladies) with 88 successful rounds (14 ladies).

There were 84 successful clockwise rounds (12 ladies) and 4 successful anticlockwise rounds (2 ladies).

Fastest times were 12:52 for the men and 21:41 for the ladies.

The average age of successful contenders was 39yrs 7months.

The age of successful contenders ranged from 20 to 71.

Previous attempts

June 2018

As a club we don't normally promote goods or charity rounds but the committee thought that the following were worthy of attention. Just follow the links in each piece.

OS Locate

While we never think anything can go wrong whilst out on the fells, occasionally things don't go as planned. The Ordnance Survey have an app for your smartphone that can text your current location in standard OS Grid ref form. Quite a few may already have this as some long distance races mandate that you have it installed.

Cardiac Risk in the Young

In April 2017 we lost Stephen Owen suddenly and unexpectedly to a cardiac arrest during Loughrigg Fell Race in Ambleside. He was an extraordinary young man, with so much to offer. He was a conservationist, environmentalist and like so many fell runners and walkers his love and passion lay outside - amongst nature and the fells. Since his death, Katie (his partner) has been attempting to fulfil the plans they had made together, as well as his personal bucket list - finishing his final Munros, Wainwrights and numerous fell races and walking challenges. One of these "to do's", was his desire to complete a Bob Graham Round.

This isn't something we can do on our own, as it out-stretches our capabilities, but is something we would like to complete as a journey - something to commemorate Stephen Owen. Stephen was an advocate of inclusion and enjoyment. He didn't run with a watch, or care about analysis, he was a skillful runner but one who ran for joy and who encouraged all abilities. On the day he died it was his fell running community, including many of his friends from our own running club (Eden Runners in Penrith), who stayed with him and attempted to save his life. Because of this, and his values, we wanted to complete this piece of his bucket list with a 'Bob Graham Journey' - a relay of runners (his friends and team-mates) carrying an item of his across each leg. Not for a 24 hour aim, but in as long as it takes in honour of him.

We were hoping to be able to encourage sponsorship from doing so. We're raising money for CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) who raise awareness of Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS) and offer free national screening.

Jan 2018

There were 233 registrations (27 ladies) with 115 successful rounds (13 ladies).

There were 111 successful clockwise rounds (13 ladies) and 4 successful anticlockwise rounds (0 ladies).

Fastest times were 14:59 for the men and 17:57 for the ladies.

The average age of successful contenders was 39yrs 0months.

The age of successful contenders ranged from 20 to 56.

Previous attempts

Funeral of Steven Cliff

A service will be held to celebrate Steve’s life on 31st January 2018 at 2.00pm

Lancaster Crematorium 
Powder House Lane
Lancaster
LA2 6AD

Please join us for refreshments afterwards at:

The Crofters Hotel
A6 Cabus
Garstang
Lancashire
PR3 1PH 

Please let Alex ( alex.whittaker@sky.com )know if you are thinking of joining us so that we can cater as accurately as possible.

Family flowers only, donations to Steve's just giving page

Aug 2017

Tickets for the biennial dinner are now available to existing members.

More information and a downloadable ticket application form may be found on the members' information page.

Brian Covell

We’ve recently heard that long time member and servant of the Bob Graham Club, Brian Covell, is unwell and has been admitted to Westmorland General Hospital with an as yet undiagnosed illness.

We wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him once more walking his beloved hills.

Mend our Mountains

We received the following from club member Dominic Oughton who happens to be a BMC trustee.

I’m getting in touch to encourage you to support the BMC Access and Conservation Trust’s campaign Mend our Mountains. The campaign will use crowd funding to raise significant amounts of money for a number of mountain path projects spread across the country. Working with eight national park authorities, we aim to enable repair projects on some of Britain’s most significant summits, including Scafell Pike – the most iconic point on the BG. We’re targeting to raise over £100,000 in The BMC’s biggest ever campaign, and we need your support.

First and foremost, you can get involved by donating and receiving some fantastic rewards in return, at – Mend our Mountains. You can focus your support specifically for the Lake District. Please also promote the campaign to friends and contacts through social media.

Jan 2017

Here is a short summary of 2016's attempts and successes.

• There were 166 registrations (28 ladies) with 79 successful rounds (13 ladies).
• There were 76 successful clockwise rounds (13 ladies) and 3 successful anticlockwise rounds (0 ladies).
• Fastest times were 14:30 for the men and 18:54 for the ladies.
• The average age of successful contenders was 37yrs 11months.
• The age of successful contenders ranged from 20 to 55.

There was a resurgence in interest in winter rounds in 2016 with seven recorded successes, five of these were first rounds with that of Jasmin Paris being the fastest female winter round to date.

The ladies dominated the news during summer with Jasmin also recording the fastest female time which at the time was the fifth fastest ever time and Nicky Spinks becoming the first lady to complete a double Round also in the fastest time for that extraordinary feet. Rob Jebb posted the fastest every qualifying round with 14:30, only Billy Bland's record being better.

Previous attempts

Jan 2016

Here is a short summary of 2015's attempts and successes

• There were 142 registrations (15 ladies) with 71 successful rounds (9 ladies).
• There were 71 successful clockwise rounds (9 ladies) and 0 successful anticlockwise rounds (0 ladies).
• Fastest times were 18:28 for the men and 21:51 for the ladies.
• The average age of successful contenders was 39yrs 11months.
• The age of successful contenders ranged from 17 to 56.

The table below shows the number of previous attempts made by each successful contender.

Jan 2015

Here is a short summary of this year's attempts and successes

• There were 144 registrations (19 ladies) with 57 successful rounds (6 ladies).
• There were 56 successful clockwise rounds (6 ladies) and 1 successful anticlockwise round (0 ladies).
• Fastest times were 18:47 for the men and 22:46 for the ladies.
• The average age of successful contenders was 39yrs 4months.
• The age of successful contenders ranged from 27 to 53.

The table below shows the number of previous attempts made by each successful contender.

Notable completions this year included the first two rounds by Americans: Scott Jurek and Ricky Gates were successful in April.

Dec 2013

Here is a short summary of this year's attempts and successes

• There were 147 registrations (19 ladies) with 65 successful rounds (8 ladies).
• There were 63 (8 ladies) successful clockwise rounds out of 130 attempts and 2 successful anticlockwise rounds out of 17 attempts (0 ladies).
• Fastest times were 19:25 for the men and 21:58 for the ladies.
• The average age of successful contenders was 39yrs 11months. (This may be slightly low as a few didn't supply their age)
• The age of successful contenders ranged from 24 to 56.

The poor weather early in the year led to a high failure rate. Things picked up in mid May and most successes were from late May to mid July with only a few successes later in the season despite the generally good weather.

The last successful round of the year was Jim Mann's (Member #1617) winter round in just 18hrs18. Jim already held the fastest time (due to the variability in conditions we talk of "fastest time" rather than record) but this takes over two hours off that time and is the first winter round under 20hrs.

Aug 2013

Tickets for the biennial dinner are now available to existing members.

More information and a downloadable ticket application form may be found on the members' information page.

Oct 2012

Here is a short summary of the attempts and successes of 2012.

• Registrations: 136 (cw=125/ac=11, M=120/F=16)
• Successes: 72 (cw=67/ac=5, M=63/F=9)
• Fastest time: 17:59
• Fastest Ladies time: 20:48

Overall, successes were fairly evenly balanced throughout the April to August period though as ever the weather played a big part with the majority of April and early May attempts being successful and the late June to mid July seeing a large number of delayed successes. In fact the prime weekends around midsummer were a complete washout and many attempts were cancelled or rescheduled. There were only a small number of sub 20hr rounds but the majority of successes were in the 21:00 - 22:59 range. Start times fell in to the usual groups of 0000-0100 and 1800-1900 there being no significant difference in success rate between the two.

One notable round was that of Nicky Spinks who on 28th July, in less than ideal conditions, lowered Anne Stentiford's record for the standard round of 42 peaks to 18hrs 12mins.

Bob Wightman

May 2012 update:

Various news items follow below. First, a short tribute to our retiring Membership Secretary Brain Covell from our Chairman Selwyn Wright:

Brian Covell Retires

It is with some sadness that I report the retirement of Brian Covell from the role of Membership Secretary which he had held most ably and efficiently since Fred Rogerson stopped doing everything himself back in the late 1990s. For the last 15 years all registrations and completed ratification forms have gone to Brian for 42 Peak Rounds whether successful or otherwise.

Brian had been a stalwart member of the Committee for a number of years before that, and could always be relied upon for a thoughtful and calmly expressed opinion on any subject under discussion. Similarly with any task which he took on, most recently with the reprint of the '42 Peaks' booklet, the Committee were always assured that the job would be done on time and within budget, and furthermore that the job would be done to the very best of Brian's ability. One job which Brian had done for years, and which members were entirely unaware of, was the restocking of '42 Peaks' to all our Lake District retail outlets using the 555 Bus Service from his Kendal home with the aid of his bus pass to cut costs!

On the Committee we shall miss Brian hugely, although we will hope to continue meeting up with he and Ann at our Reunion Dinners. We very much hope that members and prospective members of the club do not miss him quite so much. The Club has been most fortunate to obtain the services of Bob Wightman, a well known Bob Graham figure and for many years a member of llkley Harriers to take on the role of Membership Secretary and we are hopeful that, under his guidance, the development of our electronic systems will continue.

This change will take place immediately and Bob's contact details are contained in the Guidance Notes found elsewhere on this site.

I'm sure you will all join with me in wishing Brian a long and happy retirement!
Selwyn Wright, Chairman

Membership Secretary

Bob Wightman takes over as Membership Secretary with immediate effect. In the short term, registrations will still take place manually, but Bob has plans to move to an electronic registration and ratification procedures, and will post occasional updates on progress on this page of the website.

Please bear with him as he wrestles the technology into submission.

Archivist

With completions running into the high 80s in the last 2 years, the volume of paper which the Club receives by way of reports on successful attempts has increased accordingly.

Wynn Cliff, who is an Associate Member of the Club, has volunteered to fill a new role as Club Archivist and the Guidance Notes request that as well as sending a report of a successful attempt to the Membership Secretary, the report should also be sent to Wynn by email at archive@bobgrahamclub.org.uk

Wynn will also be taking over the store of records and papers previously held by Brian Covell and will be hoping to bring some order to these items for us.

Earlier News…

Wasdale Parking Arrangements

The Club has been contacted by the National Trust, which owns and operates the car park at Brackenclose. Many Bob Graham Round support parties make use of this facility.

The NT have been experiencing a number of problems at Brackenclose, some of which have been laid at the door of BG round support groups.

For those groups who do chose to use the Brackenclose car park, please remember that you MUST pay for the time you park there in accordance with NT tariffs; BG support teams are not somehow exempt, unless vehicles belong to NT members or life members and the member has their proof of membership (car sticker/membership card) to hand. The current tariff as at November 2008 is £3.00 for 2 hours, £4.00 for 4 hours and £5.00 for all day parking.

Please also adhere to all other NT rules that govern the operation of the car park whilst you park there.

Please remember that Brackenclose is a car park, not a camp-site. Please do not pitch tents or other forms of temporary shelter in the car park. This disrupts the normal operation of the car park and the activities of those people who wish to use, and are legitimately using, the NT facility. The NT owns and operates the campsite adjacent to the car park. If your plans include sleeping overnight, please use the campsite on a normal basis, adhere to any campsite regulations and respect the other campsite users.

Please also ensure that you always respect other users of the car park and any NT staff with whom you come into contact. Please also co-operate with NT staff. If BG support parties are asked by NT staff to behave in a way that is consistent with NT rules and regulations, please do as they ask; don't argue with them or subject them to any form of rudeness.

Thanks for your co-operation with these issues.

72 miles or not?

The Bob Graham route over the basic 42 Peaks was at times in the past regarded as over 100 miles long. The early pioneers settled on a figure of 72 miles with 27,000 feet of ascent. The use of mapping software and GPS devices has led to a re-evaluation of the distance of the 42 Peak Round. Mapping software gives figures as low as 61-63 miles. GPS systems (which have been carried and operated throughout several successful attempts) give a figure of between 65-66 miles. The traditional ascent figure seems to be more accurate, though some calculations have produced a figure of 26,000 feet. The distance continues to stimulate debate depending on how it is measured, but a figure of something between 60 and 66 miles is more accurate than the traditional 72.

Whatever the correct mileage figure, when coupled with 42 peaks and all that ascent and descent, it is still a long way!