St John's Fell Race 2026
/It looks like another big entry on New Years Day for the David Cretney supported St John`s Fell Race. Entries have closed having reached the cap of 300 and no entries can be taken on the day. A big thank you to everyone for supporting the race. It will be the opening rounds of the 2026 Callin Wild IOM Fell League, the Junior League and the Short Course Series. Here is a bit of info for all runners and spectators.
Registration is from 12.00 until 13.00 at the St John`s football clubhouse. Please try and arrive in good time to help our hard-working registration crew. On registering you will be issued with a Fabian timing wrist band. You will use the band three times. Firstly, when being checked on to the start line. Then at the Safety Control which will be stationed at the stile into the plantation on the return leg. Finally at the finish.
The road outside the football club and the cricket ground will be closed from 13.00 until 15.00. If you park your car at the football club, you will not be able to leave until the road reopens.
Please do not warm up in either the football or cricket grounds. There is plenty of room to loosen up on the old railway lines and of course the road outside the clubs will be closed to traffic from 13.00. No dogs in either sport grounds please.
The start and finish will be in the St John`s and Peel cricket field.
There are two gates into the cricket field on Foxdale Road. We will be checking runners on to the start line through both gates so if you could make your way to one of them by 13.20 please. You can use either gate, you do not have to be in numerical order. When we have everyone lined up there will be a quick race briefing and then hopefully away for 13.30. All categories will start together.
Fancy dress is optional but please do not carry anything as part of your costume. Race numbers must be worn on the chest and be in full view. Safety gear will not be required but we would strongly advise everyone to carry a waterproof jacket. A lot of the course is within the shelter of the plantation, but it can get quite hostile on the ridge up to the summit and back in bad weather. If we are unlucky to have a poor forecast, we may have to make carrying a jacket compulsorily. We will make an announcement on this on Wednesday.
If for any reason you retire from the race it is vital that you inform a marshal on the course and also the officials at the finish. Every runner must be accounted for.
Dixie and Svetlin have worked wanders to produce another exciting route through the plantation sections which will be fully flagged.
The infamous river crossing at Mullen Y Cloie is always very popular with spectators and they always create a great atmosphere. But please take care when moving around in the lane and watch out for runners who are heading for the finish.
As things stand, we will have a dry week which should make underfoot conditions a tad easier on the long muddy descent. It should be great fun and what a way to kick off the New Year. Good luck to everyone.
This year’s race has added meaning to all the folk in the closely knit fell running community. We have dedicated the race to our great friend Phil “Motters” Motley who is sadly no longer with us. All the money raised from the race will be donated to the Manx Heart Foundation at the request of Lisa and the Motley family.
The hill awaits you.
(Richie Stevenson)
