Keswick AC, club runner, Rob Allen, completed the demanding Bob Graham Round on Saturday evening in 23 hours, 22 minutes. The challenge is named after the Keswick hotelier, who was the first to scale the 42 peaks in 24 hours in 1932. 

In a break with the recent good weather, the clag was a big hindrance as Allen successfully negotiated his effort. “I pushed hard on legs one and two, but the visibility on legs three and four was as bad as I’ve known it,” he said.

“The first clear view I had was on Snab Bank after Robinson on leg five [the final leg].”

Allen was 40 minutes up on his time after leg two (Threlkeld to Dunmail), but was a long way down after the pivotal third leg (Dunmail to  Wasdale). “the clag made the rock very slippy.” 

Allen paid tribute to his navigators for legs three and four (Wasdale to Honister), “they did a grand job,” he said. 

The round was first repeated in 1960 by Alan Heaton and since then over 2,000 people have completed the feat, which has achieved near mythical status among fell runners.

Allen was the 56th person from Keswick AC to complete the Bob Graham Round.