Three Shires Race 2025
SeniorsShortly after the 40th Anniversary Race in 2024, we learned the sad news that we would no
longer be able to use the field in front of the Three Shires Inn as our Race Assembly. This, in addition to no longer having ties to the pub and already having to park cars over two miles away in Tilberthwaite, made a difficult situation, impossible. It left us not just without a logistical hub, but also without anywhere to start and finish the race. We toyed with various ideas, desperate to keep to the original course and maintain the long-standing records and race history but the more we investigated it, the more it became obvious that there wasn’t a practical solution. It became clear that the race we once knew and loved had come to an
end.
Well, you’ll be pleased to know that we didn’t give up, and we’ve arrived at what we think is an exciting alternative which will take in the four core mountains of the ‘old’ route together with the crossing of the Wrynose Pass at its summit; the Three Shires Stone. For two years now we have enjoyed the support of the farmer at Tilberthwaite, whose field we have used for parking. Steven, the farmer, is happy for us to use the same large flat parking field as our assembly and so Tilberthwaite will become the start and finish of the race.
The idea of reversing the direction of the course came up early on in the process. It seemed like a better plan to have the inevitable two miles of flatter track and path at the beginning of the race rather than the end. This raised the possibility of a descent off Wetherlam right into the finish field involving some navigation and route choice. We have also decided to put a checkpoint on Great Carrs, rather than Swirl How, both in order to provide some variation to avoid the established Duddon line, and because the summit is underrated and currently untouched by Lakeland fell races.The rest of the route will be largely the same as before except in the opposite direction.
To a fell runner of course the concept of running the same way up a mountain as they might run down it, is a complete non-starter. So, we’re expecting a lot of recceing and a year or two of runners experimenting with the ‘lines’ between the checkpoints: all the high-level parts of the course are ‘open access’. The race will also still be part of the Lakeland Classics Trophy, as it has been since its inception.
The route is as follows:
Start (Tilberthwaite Farm) – CP 1 (Lingmoor) – CP 2 (Pike of Blisco) – CP 3 (Three Shires
Stone) – CP 4 (Great Carrs) – CP 5 (Wetherlam) – CP 6 (Tarn at SD294993) – Finish
(Tilberthwaite Farm)
There will be two flagged sections to take you out from the farm to the bottom of Lingmoor
near Dale End Farm and then back from the top of Tilberthwaite Gill to ensure all runners
use the southern path to Tilberthwaite – see map.
It’s some years since the Stephenson/Wright family stopped running the Three Shires Inn,
and the change of venue will sadly sever links between race and pub. The new course still
passes through the old ‘shires’ of Westmorland, Cumberland and Lancashire and passes
through the ‘Three Shires Stone’ so we have decided to keep the iconic ‘Three Shires Race’
name intact. And while we hope to keep the low key, friendly ethos of the event, in other
ways what we have created is an almost completely new race – the first new Long A
category fell race in the Lakes for many years.
One other thing will change in 2025. Ever since my brother-in-law, Ian Stephenson stopped
being the main organiser of the race in the late 1980s, I have been Race Organiser. This
seems the perfect time to hand that task to the next generation. Jack, my son, and Sean
Leckey, another club mate, will co-organise the race, alternating the lead organiser role from
year to year. Jack has grown up with the race as part of his life and has run it ever since he
was old enough and Sean has been involved for a few years both racing and helping. But
don’t worry, I’ll still be there next year, if only to cock up the presentation.
We invite you to come and enjoy it! Entries open with SI Entries on July 1st.
Selwyn, Jack, and Sean (Ambleside AC)