Ground hugging mist slowly dissipating as the day warms

Roseberry was busy this morning. Along with the usual Sunday climbers, there was an abseil down the rock face going on and runners in the ‘Hanging Stone Leap‘ race.

It was the 31st running of the event, although the inaugural race was run in 1988¹‘Take the Plunge with the Walkers the Long | Billingham & Norton Advertiser | Wednesday 05 August 1992 | British Newspaper Archive’. 2022. Britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk <https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003928/19920805/007/0007> [accessed 14 August 2022]. So there’s been a bit of a gap.

Today’s race was from the Guisborough Rugby Club but back in the 90s it started and finished at the Normanby South Park College and took in Eston Nab, Roseberry Topping, Captain Cook’s Monument, Highcliffe Nab and the Hanging Stone itself²‘Taking up the Challenge | Billingham & Norton Advertiser | Wednesday 07 August 1991 | British Newspaper Archive’. 2022. Britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk <https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003927/19910807/007/0007> [accessed 14 August 2022].

Although I have never done this race, I do find it sad that these old routes and events are becoming lost to social memory.

The results for the 1989 race particularly resonates with me. It was won by Jon Williams of the Mandale Athletic Club in a new record time of 2 hours 49 minutes. Second was  club mate Alan Carter 15 minutes down³‘Records go in Hanging Stone Leap | Middlesbrough Herald & Post | Wednesday 06 September 1989 | British Newspaper Archive’. 2022. Britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk <https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003942/19890906/035/0035> [accessed 14 August 2022]. Both Jon and Alan are now sadly no longer with us. I have fond memories of adventures on the moors with them.

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  ‘Take the Plunge with the Walkers the Long | Billingham & Norton Advertiser | Wednesday 05 August 1992 | British Newspaper Archive’. 2022. Britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk <https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003928/19920805/007/0007> [accessed 14 August 2022]
• 2
  ‘Taking up the Challenge | Billingham & Norton Advertiser | Wednesday 07 August 1991 | British Newspaper Archive’. 2022. Britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk <https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003927/19910807/007/0007> [accessed 14 August 2022]
• 3
  ‘Records go in Hanging Stone Leap | Middlesbrough Herald & Post | Wednesday 06 September 1989 | British Newspaper Archive’. 2022. Britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk <https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003942/19890906/035/0035> [accessed 14 August 2022]