Fell Running
“Fell running can easily be distinguished from other athletic events, in that it takes place not on a track or on roads but off road, over rough country and preferably with considerable amounts of ascending and descending, usually over some significant hills or mountains……….. they may also involve mountain navigation skills, since a race may involve participants finding their way from one checkpoint to the next, often over terrain that has no paths to guide the way”
Steve Chilton. It’s A Hill, Get Over It. 2013
Have a look at this clip to get a flavour of what fell running is about, and then come along and join us.
Pensby Runners have developed a strong fell running contingent over recent years and are now well known in the fell running community, especially in North Wales. We have a summer fell league and a winter fell league each comprising of approximately 12 races.
Races can be short and only a few miles long (2 – 5 miles) and there are a number of these shorter races in North East Wales mainly around the Moel Famau area, up to the very long events which can be 20, 30, 40 miles or more.
Fell running is governed in England by the FRA (Fell Runners Association). Find out more and join the FRA.
Please note that there are minimum kit requirements on ALL fell races. Please abide by these – otherwise you face a ban from racing and, worse, damaging the reputation of the club.
Pensby Runners Summer Fell Calendar 2026
| Date | Race | Difficulty | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| May | |||
| Sat 2nd May | Coniston | Advanced | AM, 8.7mi / 3000ft |
| June | |||
| Wed 10th June | Hotfoot up Famau | Moderate | AS, 3.5mi / 1201ft |
| Sun 14th June | Foel Fras | Advanced | AM, 12mi / 3000ft |
| Wed 17th June | Race up the Beast | Moderate | AS, 4.5mi / 1500ft |
| July | |||
| Sat 4th July | Moel Siabod | Intermediate | AS 5.4mi / 2297ft |
| Wed 8th July | The Druid | Moderate | BS, 5mi / 1200ft |
| Fri 10th July | Nant Gain | Moderate | AS, 4.7mi / 1200ft |
| Wed 15th July | Green Green Grass | Moderate | AS, 5mi / 1500ft |
| Sat 18th July | Snowdon Race | Intermediate | AM 10 mi / 3200ft |
| Wed 29th July | Ponderosa | Moderate | BS, 4mi / 950ft |
| August | |||
| Sun 16th Aug | Sedbergh Hills | Advanced + | AL, 14mi / 6000ft |
| Mon 31st Aug | Cilcain Mountain Race | Moderate | AS, 4.6mi / 1230ft |
| Sun 6th Sep | Gladstone 9 | Intermediate | AM, 9mi / 2800ft |
| September | |||
| Sat 12th Sept | Raven 7 | Moderate | AM, 7mi / 1460ft |
| Sat 12th Sept | Machlud Sunset Trail Race | Intermediate | 13.1mi / 2500ft |
For ALL races full kit should be carried in strict adherence with FRA / WFRA rules for that distance and in line with the organisers rules (carry full kit to the race to be sure). Numbers are to be pinned to the front of the chest. It is preferable that a Pensby vest is worn. NO HEADPHONES.
Please study race details before entering to ensure you have the necessary skills and fitness to complete the race safely and in reasonable time.
For all races arrangements will be made to meet and share cars from the club car park. See Neil G, Dave G or Nigel C for details about kit, training etc..
Grading guide: A, B or C refers to climb per mile. A = no less than 250ft per mile, B = 125 ft per mile and 100ft per mile. S = Short (less than 6 miles), M = Medium (6 – 12 miles) and L = Long (more than 12 miles).
For full details, including a beginners guide, visit: https://www.welshfellrunnersassociation.org.uk/en/
Levels of Difficulty
Note – all fell races are designed to be challenging, and require a sense of adventure and confidence on your feet. Prior experience is not required for “Moderate” events.
| Level | Course | Navigation | Fitness Guideline |
|---|---|---|---|
| MODERATE | Short(ish) with some steep or technical sections. On lower hills, not too far from civilisation | None (but worth looking at route beforehand) | Club 5 mile handicap in around 45-50 mins |
| INTERMEDIATE | Challenging course with steep or technical terrain. Usually remote or mountainous. | Basic skills, especially in poor weather | Club 7 mile handicap in around 60-65 mins |
| ADVANCED | Very challenging with big climbs and difficult terrain. Remote, high mountains with hazards | Strong nav skills | Half marathon in under 2 hours for shorter races (eg Foel Fras, Arenig Fawr) |
There will be a mens and ladies league trophy. Points for each race are calculated using the WFRA methodology, which is to give each runner a percentage score based on their time vs the average for all runners in a race. So if a runner achieves the course average time, they receive 100 points; if they are faster than the average they receive proportionately more than 100 points, and less than 100 receives proportionately fewer.
If someone starts a race but does not finish (DNF) they will receive 10 points.
Previous League Winners
| League | Men | Ladies |
|---|---|---|
| Winter 2025/26 | Neil Upton | Alex Royden |
| Summer 2025/26 | Keith Dunham | Ellie Wood |
| Winter 2024/25 | Will Platts | Jayne Price |
| Summer 2024 | Mark Samuels | Wendy Lee |
| Winter 2023/24 | Neil Gooding | Alex Royden |
| Summer 2023 | Neil Gooding | Anne Rosbottom |
| Winter 2022 / 23 | Will Platts | Julie Dala |
| Summer 2022 | Warren McNally | Becky Doran |
| Summer 2020 to Winter 2021/22 | COVID-19 | COVID-19 |
| Winter 2019 / 20 | Neil Gooding | |
| Summer 2019 | Nigel Crompton | Lisa Grantham and Carole Morrison |
| Winter 2018 / 19 | David Green | Ursula Moore |
| Summer 2018 | David Green | Lucy Partridge |
| Winter 2017 / 18 | David Green | Lisa Grantham |
| Summer 2017 | Nigel Crompton | Alex Royden |
| Winter 2016 / 17 | David Green | Alex Royden |
| Summer 2016 | Andrew Sumner | Lisa Grantham |
| Winter 2015 / 16 | Nigel Crompton | Lisa Grantham |
| Summer 2015 | Nigel Crompton | Pat Peers |
| Winter 2014 / 15 | Rob Grantham | Anne Rosbottom |
| Summer 2014 | Nigel Crompton | Pat Peers |
| Winter 2013 /14 | Tom Rutherford | Debbie Rutherford |
| Summer 2013 | Nigel Crompton | Pat Peers |
| Winter 2012 / 13 | Tom Rutherford | Pat Peers |
| Summer 2012 | Nigel Crompton | Fiona McGivern |
| Winter 2011 /12 | Adrian Mercer | Pat Peers |
| Summer 2011 | Stuart Barnard | Pat Peers |
| Winter 2010 / 11 | Bill McDonnel | Pat Peers |
| Summer 2010 | David Green | Pat Peers |
