At the recent AGM, the committee proposed that the legendary hill runner, Tom Sedgwick, be invited to be the Guest of Honour for 2013. We are delighted to report that Tom has accepted and, as he himself said, he is "chuffed to bits". So are we.

From 1968 until 1980 the man from Kendal dominated the Hill Race at Alva and a brief glance at the old records will show you just what a strangle hold he had on that race. He raced at a time when other greats of the Fell racing scene such as Fred Reeves were competing and followed in the footsteps of Bill Teasdale MBE who had reigned supreme in the old Endurance Race at Alva back in the 1950s. The trophy which is presented to the first lady in the Hill Race carries his name to this day.

Tom still attends Alva regularly and was with us in July quietly watching and encouraging the competitors as they set off out of the arena - and cheering them back in. He was keeping a special eye on another Kendal man, Alastair Dunn as he won his 7th consecutive hill race at Alva and egded ever closer to Tom's own record! He remains a keen supporter of fell racing and of BOFRA. His daughter Helen has run and won at Alva and another daughter Judith still competes regularly with us.

He now lives on and runs a small farm in Lonsdale but still finds the time to remain involved in the sport. He epitomises what the sport is about and we are proud to be associated with him. We look forward to welcoming him and his wife Jenny to the Johnstone Park next July.

08.11.2012.