Race report by Shutters:
Nicky Nook Fell Race
Date & time: Thu 7 May 2026 at 19:00
Category: BS
Distance: 8.1 km / 5 miles, Climb: 313 m / 1027 ft
I’d heard of this race from Checkers but never made any real attempt to go to it before, maybe cos its a midweek race and a bit further than i normally venture midweek as it can be hard getting out of work in time.
This year a few Lostockers Janet, Greg, Sally and Daniel (now unfortunately injured) had entered and this spurred me on to give it a go. Its pre-entry only no EOD and there are only 125 places.
The race is organised by Garstang Running Club and is billed as ‘a 5 mile fell race taking in the wonderful scenery around Scorton and Nicky Nook’ and this is bob on. I’ve never been to Scorton or the surrounding area before but it is absolutely beautiful, no big hills – N/N is only 700 ft above sea level, but there are great views across to Morecambe and Black Combe.
The race HQ is the Applestore Cafe and the race starts on the road just down from HQ. Greg, Sally, Alan (Janets other half) and myself were chatting before the race and when we were counted thru the funnel we ended up unintentionally right near the front!
Its a downhill start and Greg set off after the front runners dragging me unintentionally along with him, i’m not used to this and although i overtook Greg i was soon back behind him as we went thru some woods on a narrow trail, before emerging onto some tarmac and going decidedly uphill. The 1st climb was on a wiggly path that undulated before opening up to open fell and Nicky Nook itself where there were a good number of supporters as i looked to the right i saw a Bowland vest and what turned out to be the winner already on his way back up to NN. We, however, started our decent down to Holme Wood and a fast flat trail before climbing back up to NN, at some point i passed Greg who had run hard at Astley Park the night before jostling with Gareth to the line – thanks Gareth for slowing the machine down for me. From here it was mostly downhill on narrow trods thru fields, i was with a Rivington Runner and too out of breath to form any chat, another short road section before a decent into the overflow carpark and a short rather twisty run thru woods on a single track not wide enough to pass anyone, the Rivi Runner was not far behind me so i had to make some effort to the finish. I was bushed but soon came round as Greg and Sally finished.
We went straight to the cafe for our complimentary soup/roll and watched the prize giving and yet another fell race age category win and a bottle of Merlot for Sally McCoy (also 1st in her age cat at Heptonstall), now officially known as Super Sally. I can confirm that Super Sally was NOT the only runner in her age category.
This is a wonderful race with a mixture of short road sections, lovely trails and open fell on a flagged course and i’d have to say it is very well organised, oh and the soup was very nice :).
46 473 Mark Shuttleworth MV50 Lostock AC 00:48:12
58 425 Greg Kilshaw MV40 Lostock AC 00:50:39
62 438 Sally McCoy FV60 Lostock AC 00:51:05
114 runners 01:17:27
