SINFIN RUNNING CLUB
FELL RUNNING
An introduction to fell running
“Fells” are open, often moor‑covered hills. Fell running means running on this type of rough, hilly ground.
On a fell run you might come across:
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Steep climbs and descents
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Open moorland and rocky grass
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Bogs, tussocks and heather
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Boulder fields
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Stiles, gates and narrow stone gaps
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Plenty of sheep
There is also a short video called Fell Running: An Introductory Guide (featuring former British Champion Morgan Donnelly). It shows what fell running looks like and what to expect.
Fell racing in Derbyshire
Fell racing takes place all over the country, but Derbyshire is especially popular because of the beautiful Peak District.
Many races are linked to local events such as:
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Village fetes and shows
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Wakes weeks
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Local carnivals
Races run:
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At weekends all year round
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On weekday evenings, mainly between April and September
Typical features of local fell races:
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Usually fewer than 150 runners
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Low entry fees (often around £2–£12)
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Distances from about two miles upwards
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Many races suitable for beginners
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Tougher, longer races for experienced runners
Fell running can be hard work on the climbs and can feel technical on the descents. Many people find it one of the most enjoyable types of running because of:
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Stunning views
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Attractive villages
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A friendly atmosphere before and after the race
The Chelmorton Chase is a good example of a small, friendly village fell race. Sinfin Running Club (SRC) had a great turnout there in 2023, which you can see in the event’s official race video.
Fell running at Sinfin Running Club
Sinfin Running Club has an active fell running community.
We have a Fell WhatsApp group where members:
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Share race information
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Post results and photos
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Encourage and support each other
If you would like to join the Fell WhatsApp group, please speak to any of the Fell Support Crew members.
Club Fell Championship
The club runs an annual Fell Championship. This is age‑ and gender‑graded and has a full race calendar. All races are within about 15 to 90 minutes’ travel from Derby.
The championship is designed to be inclusive:
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It gives beginners plenty of chances to take part
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It also offers challenges for more experienced fell runners
You can find full details on the Club Fell Championship page.
Club members also run in many other fell races that are not part of the championship. There is a year‑round list of races on the FRA Race Calendar (Fell Runners Association).
If you prefer not to race, the club also organises occasional social fell runs.
Fell Support Crew
A small team of members helps to run The Fell Championship and promote fell running within the club. They support each other, and each person leads on particular areas.
Martin – Fell Captain and Race Organiser
Martin is one of our Fell Captains. He is the Race Organiser (RO) for the Bluebell’s Revenge Fell Race and leads our fell running club championship.
Caroline – Fell Captain and Club Representative
Caroline is our other Fell Captain. She helps organise the National Fell Relays and speaks for fell running on the club’s main committee.
Trevor – Championship Calendar and Points
Trevor helps plan the Fell Championship race calendar and manages the points system, making sure it is fair across all races.
Georgie – FRA Ambassador, Photos, Artwork and Calendar
Georgie is our Fell Runners Association (FRA) Ambassador. She coordinates information for championship races and works closely with race organisers. She collects and organises race photos, designs artwork for Bluebell’s Revenge and our fell merchandise, and puts together our yearly fell running calendar, which members can buy.
Simon – Navigation Skills and Chief Marshal
Simon leads our navigation skills sessions and is the chief marshal for the Bluebell’s Revenge Fell Race, helping to keep everyone safe on race day.
Jane – Club Treasurer
Jane looks after the club’s finances and shares clear, easy‑to‑understand finance updates with members. She also updates our Facebook page with fell running reports.
Iain – Fell Merchandise and Events
Iain looks after our fell kit and merchandise. He supports new members who join as Fell Runners Association (FRA)‑based members, organises our annual fell running weekend away, and manages admin for support crew meetings.
Dawn – Fell Pages on the Club Website
Dawn keeps the fell running pages on our club website up to date, accurate and easy to use.
Brendan – Post‑Race Socials
Brendan organises our post‑race social events so members, friends and families can spend time together after races.
If you have any questions about fell running at Sinfin Running Club, please contact a member of the Fell Support Crew in person, via WhatsApp, or by emailing sinfinrc.fell@gmail.com.
Kit, safety and governance
For many fell races, all you need is a suitable pair of off‑road running shoes. However, some races require you to carry extra kit for your own safety. This might include items such as a waterproof jacket, hat, gloves and whistle.
You can find more information about recommended and required kit on the Kit, Maps & FRA Information page.
Fell Runners Association (FRA)
Fell running in England is overseen by the Fell Runners Association (FRA). Their main focus is safety and fairness in the sport.
Sinfin Running Club has a designated FRA Ambassador and encourages anyone who is interested in fell running to join the FRA.
You can find more details on the FRA website, linked from our Kit, Maps & FRA Information page.
