Foel Fenlli fell running race cancelled over dive-bombing buzzard
Fell running is a type of hill or mountain running, and often involves routes with no paths.The race in the Clwydian Range has been held since 2023 and is one of the races in the English Junior Fell Championships, with participants from seven years old.Mr Crompton described looking up and seeing the buzzard fly away from him after swooping down."Within seconds it circled round and headed straight back towards me. My initial instinct was to run faster and get out of there but several times I felt and heard it swooping down against the back of my head."Apparently, you're not supposed to run. I know that now. I was divebombed several more times but found that by stopping and facing it the bird was more likely to stay high."It continued to circle around menacingly, however, until I was clear of the area. It was magnificent and yet unnerving."
Mr Crompton said he raised concerns about junior athletes being targeted by the bird."Thoughts quickly moved from survival to the race in just a few days. "I had by now Googled buzzard attacks and discovered them incredibly prevalent in the Highlands, in the Lakes and in Shropshire, especially targeting runners. The advice, after all, is not to run."After speaking to the Fell Runners Association and local Rangers in the Clwydian Range, Mr Crompton was then advised the race should not go ahead."Concerns were obviously for the safety of our junior athletes with fears that more runners in the area may further distress and agitate the birds and concerns for the disturbance of a protected species," he said."The main message, for me, is for people to be aware. I have been running in these hills for years and never encountered this before and yet now find that buzzard attacks are not uncommon and runners seem to be most targeted."Knowledge is powerful, however, and if we are aware then we can both hopefully continue to co-habit the hills in harmony."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
5 hours ago
- BBC News
Harry relishes home Open - with boyfriend Olesen as caddy
AIG Women's OpenVenue: Royal Porthcawl, Wales Date: 31 July - 3 AugustBBC coverage: Live radio and text commentary across all four days of the championship Darcey Harry was at Royal Portrush earlier this month, cheering on boyfriend Jacob Skov Olesen as he shared the lead after round one of the men's Open week it will be Olesen in the supporting role as rising Welsh golf star Harry makes her AIG Women's Open debut at Royal Olesen will not be backing Harry, 22, from behind the Dane is to caddy for his partner, just as he did when the Ladies European Tour (LET) rookie claimed a memorable victory at Belgium's Hulencourt Women's Open in June."Originally I was going to caddie for myself for a little bit, but then my boyfriend had an off-week that week [in Belgium] so I said 'ooh you can come and push my bag'," Harry explains."The first time he caddied for me we won, so that was a really nice moment to share with him."I think I learned a lot from him being on my bag. I don't think I would have been able to do it without him." The hope is that Olesen's presence will bring more success as Harry plays just the second major of her fledgling career this week at the course she calls Harry, Olesen is in his rookie year on tour having turned professional after coming through qualifying made quite a splash at the Open, shooting 67 on Thursday to reach the top of the he fell away in round two, Olesen made the cut and ended up 68th, which was a creditable return in what was just the second major of the 26-year-old's it is Harry preparing for her second major appearance having debuted at the Evian Championship earlier this missed the cut in France in what was her first time competing alongside the best players women's golf has to Harry is back home in positive mood after an encouraging display at last week's Scottish Open, where she finished tied-38th in what was another high-class field."I am so excited," Harry says."I just can't really believe that I am going to be playing [in the Women's Open at Porthcawl]. I can't really put into words how much I am looking forward to it." Knowing the course - and 'where not go' A gap in Olesen's schedule saw him parachuted in to carry Harry's bag in Belgium, when a final round of 68 saw her win by three shots – and book her place in Porthcawl in the was further success for the Harry-Olesen combination at the Czech Ladies Open the following week, where Harry finished says Olesen's "knowledge" of different shots has given her "such an advantage" when they have worked truth is that this week at least, she will need little help when it comes to mapping her way around the has been a member at Royal Porthcawl since she was in her mid-teens and has played the links hundreds of times."I wouldn't say there will be a huge advantage, but I will know some of the lines and I'll know where not to go," she says."But we are talking about the world's best coming to play here, so they will learn the course in one or two days." 'A lot of concentration and a lot of nerves' Harry has never played Royal Porthcawl with fairways and greens lined with the sort of crowds expected on the south Wales coastline this golf fans are crying out for some success in either the women's or men's games, and there are high hopes for Harry given her impressive start to life on the Wales' highest-ranked golfer at 221st in the world, will stay at home in Dinas Powys this week, and is looking forward to "some food cooked by mum and dad and having all my washing done".While she plans to "give a wave" to the many friends and family members who are likely to be in the galleries this week, Harry says focus will be key to her prospects of competing."I have got to treat it like every other week, try to be in my own zone and try not to get distracted by other things," says Harry."There will be a lot of concentration because there will be a lot of nerves."I definitely think if I play my best golf, then I will have a chance to hopefully climb up the leaderboard."
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
‘I felt down.. I just didn't want to play' – Ex-Premier League champion nearly QUIT darts as he opens up on heartbreak
EMOTIONAL Jonny Clayton has revealed he came close to QUITTING darts as he struggled to cope with the death of his dad. The Welshman enjoyed an great run at the World Matchplay, reaching the semi-finals where he was then knocked out by James Wade in an all-time classic clash. 2 Their last four match went down as the longest ever semi-final in World Matchplay history, as 2023 runner-up Clayton fought back from 16-10 down to force a tiebreak. The Machine eventually won it 20-18 to set up a final clash with eventual winner Luke Littler, who clinched glory with a 18-13 victory. Despite narrowly missing out on a shot at the trophy, there were plenty of positives for Clayton to take from an impressive week in Blackpool. The 'Ferret' thrashed world No.4 Stephen Bunting 16-7 to book his spot in the last four, which was his fourth major semi-final this year. But Clayton was prepared to walk away from darts altogether after a tough period following the sudden death of his dad John in 2023 on the eve of a flight Down Under. But after beating Bunting, the 50-year-old revealed he has now rediscovered his love of the sport. He said: 'I've changed my mind! I've got the hunger back. I don't know what it is. I felt a bit down in darts, but I want to be one of the best. 'It hurts that I've dropped from world number five to nine with the rankings, but I'm climbing back up slowly. I want to be with the elite. 'When you're there, people respect you more than what they do when you are further down the rankings. 'If you're not playing well, no matter your ranking, people pick up on it. Luke Littler sends Blackpool wild as he wins World Matchplay Darts 'But if you're playing well, it's a step in the right direction. I had to do a job against Stephen, and I did." Clayton then opened up on how his tragic loss has affected him, as he admitted losing all motivation to play the sport. The former plasterer added: 'I don't think I have hit top gear here yet. "But I am back on the practice board and that is something I have not done for probably a year and a half. 'We all know two years ago with my dad passing I just did not want to play. 'I have a smile back on my face now and I have two kids who want me to do well.' Clayton has certainly managed to bounce back this year, having picked up a Euro Tour title at the Dutch Darts Championship in May. He also narrowly missed out on glory at the World Cup of Darts, as he and Wales team-mate Gerwyn Price were beaten 10-9 in the final by Northern Irish pair Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney. The Welsh darts star is a four-time major winner, with all of these titles coming in 2021. In one-year, Clayton tasted glory in the Premier League, World Masters, World Grand Prix and the World Series of Darts Finals.
BBC News
5 hours ago
- BBC News
Wrexham eye Sheffield United's Wales striker Moore
Wales forward Kieffer Moore is among a number of players Wrexham are interested in, manager Phil Parkinson has 32, joined Sheffield United on a three-year deal in July 2024 and scored five goals in 28 Championship appearances for the Blades last promoted back to the second tier of English football for the first time in 44 years, have been linked with the 49-times capped international."Kieffer's under contract at Sheffield United. He's one of a number of players we've looked at over the summer," Parkinson said."Like I said, the landscape changes in the transfer market very quickly from one week to the next."We're looking at lots of options here and abroad." Wrexham have signed goalkeeper Danny Ward, forward Ryan Hardie, defender Liberato Cacace, midfielders George Thomason and Lewis O'Brien and forward Josh Windass during the close said the club have had dialogue over the idea of signing Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen, but it "had not gone further".The Wrexham boss is still hoping to add to his squad before their Championship opener at Southampton on Saturday, 9 August."Obviously in an ideal world you want all your signers in prior to pre-season to work with," Parkinson told BBC Sport Wales."But it just doesn't work like that. People sometimes say, why doesn't it?"It's just a variety of reasons - clubs don't want to sell players, competition for players, negotiations over transfer fee or wages."Of course, ideally, we'd like to make a couple more additions. Is that going to happen before the start of the season? It's difficult to say."But the most important thing is by the end of August we've got a squad in here which we feel can compete.
