On Saturday 5 August 2023, the Dovedale Dipper took place on a fairly miserable wet morning with conditions grim enough for the organiser to insist on full FRA kit. Although the rain cleared after a couple of hours, the conditions underfoot were very wet and boggy in places.
There are two courses, both of which start and finish in Hartington, with the long route measuring 27 miles with 1,042 metres of ascent and a shorter one of almost 16 miles, which has only 704 metres of climbing.
The long route heads out to Parsley Hay, Earl Sterndale and Longnor, before being joined by the 15 mile runners at Revidge, who have taken a more direct route through Sheen. Both routes then take in Warslow, a challenging steep climb up Ecton Hill and through to Wetton. At which point the course splits and the short route takes a direct route to Milldale through Alstonefield, whereas the longer route adds another couple of miles on for good measure. Once at Milldale, all runners return to Hartington along the River Dove, but miss Beresford Dale as they are sent up one final hill to see what they are made of.
Despite being a local race there was one sole representative from Matlock Athletic Club in the 27 mile race as other club mates were doing equally brutal races in the peak district on that day. Dan Ashcroft finished in 30th place out of 81 runners in a time of 5:16:45.
Full Results can be found at:-
