So after more edits than you can wave a fell shoe at I’ve eventually finished my, really our, latest film.

As a rule, I tend to film on my own, but I had help from Andy Holden (aka Wharfeego), Pauline Charters, Brian Cunningham and Alex Fowler filming on this project.

The best way of describing what we have here is a collage of fell running film footage, in real time, taken from 2012 and 2013 at the Winter Hill Race.

Darren Holloway features a few times in the film. Daz was aware of my intentions regarding the making of the film and I told him at the Scafell Pike Race in 2012 that he was going to have a starring roll in the finished article. The film is dedicated to him.

As you may or may not know, the Winter Hill Fell Race no longer exists. For more information click HERE

The music was recorded at my friend’s (Mike Bent) studio. I have a drum kit set up there and decided to put a track down. It’s used in its entirety for the third track. The other two tracks have been recorded on a Korg Micro XL. For the drummers out there who have noticed that my track is flawed, I can’t run down hill either, that doesn’t stop me from fell running.

Anyway, hope you like the film and thanks to Wharfy, Pauline, Brian and Alex for giving me a lift with the filming. Oh yeah, and thanks to Collin Jones’s (race organiser) idea of using a few people to do the filming. It really made a difference in acquiring a collage of film footage.

felly.

Hello,

This is the Vimeo version of the Youtube film I put on the Fell Runners Association web site. Below is a version which can be clicked on and played on this page or there is also a link directly under it (click on SUMO below). This can take you to the higher quality version on my Vimeo page.

This is an on the move record of one of my favourite fell running events of the year, Dave Woodhead’s race Auld Lang Syne. The footage is erratic and all over the place, but I kind of like it, as it represents my memory of it perfectly.

This year was quite a wind-swept rainy affair (again), which only added to the fun of the race. Three of us dressed up in inflatable suits to brave the elements. Andy Holden (aka Sumo & Wharfdale Harrier) and my nephew Thomas Irwin (Sumo Ninja Warrior & Ochill Hill Runner) and myself (Sumo Ninja Warrior number 2 & Horwich RMI Harrier).

Many thanks to Andy for capturing some cracking footage. Namely Toms face plant and my slide. The video wouldn’t be the same without those two scenes.

Also Tim Done for his filming assistance and the marshal for filming us cheering at the top of the fell.

Many thanks also to Dave for putting on this cracking event. Brilliant.

Click SUMO for full HD Vimeo page version.

felly.

Hello,

Below is my latest fell running film called Fellraisers. Its been filmed in 1080 HD.

The inspiration for this film came directly from injury. My thought, whilst injured, was to make a film which represented the way I felt during that period, notably the speed in which races come and go when I can’t be in them.

My film Fellbound (published last year and on My Films entry above) was not the prequel to this film even though it was published before. The concept for Fellbound was forged on the back of Fellraisers. A contradiction as it were. Fellbound was also an exercise in making a film without the use of any type of eyepiece or viewfinder.

Fellraisers has been captured on a Leica V Lux 2 camera with the use of a viewfinder, mainly attached to a tripod, either stationary or on the move.

Footage was filmed in 2012\2013 over the period of a year in Wales and England at Foel Fras, y Moelwyn, Ovenden, Barbondale, Great Lakes, Scafell Pike, Great Whernside, Walsh Two Lads, Paddy’s Pole, Crowhill Reverse, Blisco Dash, Borrowdale and Belmont Winter Hill.

I think I had two days where it didn’t rain during filming. It was a nightmare, but ultimately worth it because of the type of footage I acquired.

My intention is to make one more fell running film this year. It will be made from footage taken directly from Winter Hill fell race over the last three races. I will be using my own music again, but unlike my other projects other people have helped with the filming. Alex Fowler, Pauline Charters, Andy Holden (Wharfeego/Sumo Man) and Brian Cunningham have all contributed. Hopefully the film will be put onto DVD and given to the runners at the 2014 race.  I suspect Mr Holden may start his own film making again soon. The return of the mighty Wharfeego.

This next year will also be a return to medium film photography and medium format polaroid photography for me personally. I intend to take this medium out on the fells and photograph accordingly. Hopefully in time I would like to exhibit my photos both here on the internet  and also at a venue at a later date. It would be great if a few of us could get together and exhibit some photos at one of the championship races.

felly.

Sumo Man (Andy Holden aka Wharfeego).

Footage captured at Barbondale fell race (a Kendal Winter League race).  This video doesn’t give any justice whatsoever to the steepness of the hill. It makes the footage look almost flat by comparison. This was a truly Herculean feat by Sumo Man.

Andy is a former winner of the Barbondale fell race. His descending skills are shown here in all their glory.

All hail Sumo.

Photo © Andy Irwin.

Aka Silver Machine.

Running for Chorley on his way to 101 races in 2012. Here we have 1.45 minutes of film footage taken from a mere four of those races.

Click here to see a personalised list and account of Darren’s races during 2012.

I love the comment Darren has made in his entry list by saying “I can honestly say that it was never my intention at the start of 2012 to do over 100 races. In 2011, my first full year of fell running, I did 86 races, of which 64 were fell.”

Brilliant.

f.

My blog is now in development. It isn’t as easy as I thought it would be setting this thing up, so it’s taking me longer than I anticipated. Two years longer.

OK, I’ll be honest, I laid off after a while when I first engaged in the whole concept of these blog things, but after seeing some inspiring blogs on the Fell Runners Association forum, I thought that I would give it another go. So thanks for kicking me up the shunter fellow FRA bloggers and, it must be said, a cracking post idea by dan.