Frieth Hilly 10k Report by Justin Byworth
On a fog bound, chilly October morning, when hardier souls were braving the Oxford half, a small
band of ERRs were heading deep into the Chilterns for the first appearance of the Frieth Hilly 10k in
the club championships.
Hats off to Graham and the all surpassing wisdom of the ERR committee at
selecting this lovely little race to replace the cancelled Hanney 5. As woody as Wytham. As friendly
as Sonning Common, but not quite as steeply hilly as Henley XC! After a primary school playground
warm-up the local vicar welcomed and blessed us before we set off. As Katherine nicely put it,
doubly blessed – first by the vicar and then by the countryside. A super mix of road, field and
woodland glimpsing views of autumnal Chiltern valleys as the route wound from Frieth through
Fingest, Skirmett, Parmoor and back. Having survived the long but lovely woodland hill at 4km I was
less impressed by the steep road ramp in last few hundred metres, but the tea and cakes spread
soon had me right again. And what rewards for Rob, Nick, Graham, Rhea, Katherine with club points
shared among so few.
