1954 - The Three Peaks

In 2004, the Three Peaks Association celebrated its 50^th Anniversary, with a booklet outlining its history, written by Dave Hodgson, listing a Preston Harrier as its pioneering organiser for the first two years, namely Fred Bagley, having run in the, ‘53 and ’54 L.D.M.Trials, finishing 2^nd, with team finishing 2^nd in ’54.

From the Dalesman, June 1954: The3 Peaks took place on unmetalled, uncobbled & trackless ways with 4 marshals cum timekeepers and no committee!.

The event was monitored by Andrew Hindle.

A further chapter has been added to the history of achievements at the Three Peaks of North- West Yorkshire, Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen-y-gent. On April 24th, Preston Harriers and Athletic Club organised a Three Peaks Race. They had in mind the existing record of four hours twenty- seven minutes for the circuit, set up in 1948 by international athlete D Birch, of Leeds Harehills, and the chances this record were considered as a definite possibility.

Consequently a similar route to that taken on the previous occasion was chosen, the result being that the first two men home succeeding in finishing the course under the existing time. The winner, F Bagley of Preston Harriers, reduced it by no less than thirty- nine minutes, and so became the first man ever to complete the twenty-three mile circuit in under four hours, his actual time being three hours forty-eight minutes.

Following him closely home was Stan Bradshaw, of Clayton-le moors Harriers, who running a fine race clocked a time of four hours six minutes, thus clipping twenty one off the old record. The third man home was clubmate Alf Casey in five hours two minutes.

The Race: Was started by M T Withnell (Preston Harriers), from the Hill Inn, Chapel-le –Dale at 11-10am. The weather was fine and reasonably clear, but a strong easterly wind, made the day extremely cold, a fact noted both by competitors and time-keepers on the peaks. The peaks were occasionally veiled by light mist, but ground conditions proved fairly good because of a recent dry spell.

The times recorded on the peaks were as follows: On Ingleborough (time–keeper A Bibby, Lancaster Primrose Harriers and Athletic Club, all the competitors were well bunched together and were timed in at 11.37am (actual time twenty seven minutes. On Pen-y-gent, the race was beginning to open out, although the leading three were still close together as the following times show. Leading in first position was F Bagley who reached the summit at 12-58pm (actual time one hour forty eight minutes), followed by S Bradshaw (Clayton-le-Moors) at 12 59pm (one hour forty-nine minutes) and third A Casey at 1.00pm (one hour fifty minutes). Time-keepers were H Eccles and C. G. Shorrock.

From Pen-y-gent F Bagley steadily increased the lead after resisting one challenge by S Bradshaw lead and topped the third summit Whernside, at 2- 38pm( thre hours twenty eight minutes) with Bradshaw at 2-50pm( three hours forty minutes) and A Casey 3-27pm(four hours seventeen minutes). Timekeeper was M. T. Withnell.

These positions were held to the finish when F Bagley clocked home at the Hill Inn, in a very fresh condition 2-58pm (three hours forty eight minutes) with S Bradshaw at 3-16pm (four hours six minutes) and A Casey 4-12pm (five hours two minutes).

F Bagley, the new record holder, is a keen cross country and track athlete. He was Cross Country Champion of the Club for the1952-3 season and is the 1953-4 three mile Club Champion. He is also a keen fell walker and a regular visitor to the Three Peaks country and the Lake District . The event was very successful and Preston Harriers and Athlete Club are thinking of making this an annual event.

Although the entries for this first race were modest in number they are hoping to increase the entry in the future.

Preston athletes placed in Mountain Race: Preston Harriers gained second and third places in a field 25 athletes who competed in the 18-mile mountain marathon race from Abergavenny, the climbing of seven peaks including the Holy Mountain and Sugar Loaf, on Saturday.

Bagley led with three miles to go, but went off course. The winner was 45year-old L Williams, the international, who was third in the 1952 London - Brighton run.

Under 4 in 3. Fred Bagley (left) of Preston Harriers