Stella was back in Blighty in August–a month for country shows and summer sports. The tiny village of Langley hosted the Macclesfield & District Sheepdog Trials, which begins with a fell race. A fell is a hill. A fell race is a race up and down many hills. Stella cannot foresee participating in a fell race, but quite enjoyed watching.
First there was one runner.
Then two.
Then many.
Running hard.
Trying to keep up.
The winner was Simon Bailey, the English fell running champion,
who ran 6 miles up hill and down dale to cross the glorious finish line first.
His great honor was to receive the cup from local MP Sir Nicholas Winterton who is among the many politicians caught out in the expense scandal.
During the presentation, two hours after the start of the race and an hour after the champion crossed the line, we cheered the last man home.
He proved that great English belief about all sports and games: it’s not the winning that matters, it’s the taking part.
lovely . . . eh hem, yes . . . lovely, heh , , , quite, lovely, this post . . .
My god, it’s all so terribly English – from the ruddy-faced MP in his hat to the sweet little hand-drawn “finish” to the blinding green of the countryside.
This should have been titled “Stella and the Fellas race.” I especially like that fella at the end, chugging along, thoughts of the celebratory pint to come no doubt in his head.
I opened TGW on my browser and worried slightly that it was Friday and I’d somehow missed the fact! But these lovely and very green photos made up for the heart attack. Fun post!
No ladies running in this race? Is the UK less integrated in this regard?
I do love this post…
Scotty – look closely at the third picture…there’s a lady in the lead!