Barry's Bob Graham Round
On Saturday 4th August, Barry McElearney touched the Moot Hall door in Keswick to complete the gruelling Bob Graham Round (BGR) in 22 hours and 41 minutes, comfortably inside the 24 hour limit set for membership of the elite Bob Graham 24 Hour Club.
Amongst others, Barry was supported by several SO members - Ali Masson, Matthew Leitch, Paul Luttman, Kenny Leitch, Will Heap and Barry Jones on the fell sections, with wife Claire masterminding logistics at the road crossings.
Barry was inspired by Richard Asquith’s book, Feet in the Clouds, a cult book about fell running with the author’s own attempts, and final success at the BGR, woven through the story. What followed for Barry was six months of many miles, lots of hills and recce-ing visits to the Lake District, culminating in success last weekend.
The Bob Graham Round is a 66 mile, 27,000 ft circuit of 42 of the highest peaks in the English Lake District within 24 hours. First done way back in 1932 by Bob Graham, hotelier of Keswick, at the age of 42, the 42 Peak Round has become a testing ground for the supremely fit. Each summer around 200 ultra-distance fell runners will attempt the 27,000 ft of ascent within the allotted 24 hours...but only one in three will return to the Keswick Moot Hall before the clock runs down. There have been 2,170 successful Rounds up until the end of 2017.
Barry and his fell support team just before setting off up Skiddaw at 8pm on Friday night
Climbing number 42, Robinson, with Barry Jones in support
The final run up Keswick Main Street with full fan club in attendance!
A well-deserved pint of cider, 22 hours and 41 minutes after leaving that same green door