A possible afternoon/evening walk in Surrey
by M1960I have a route description and sketch map for the now longtime-defunct Tanners 50 (last held in 1989). The first 20 miles was a loop which passed quite close to Reigate (where I live), and I was wondering if anyone would be interested in trying to follow this with me sometime over the next few weeks. I would suggest starting at about 2pm, so that anyone who wants lunch can have it before we set off – I much prefer to walk with a fairly empty stomach and keep stops to a minimum (not to mention having a lie-in 🙂 ), although if it is hot it might be necessary to avail ourselves of a hostelry en route to rehydrate and replenish liquid supplies. I would hope to go at quite a brisk pace and fini
Posted on 24/06/18
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I would hope to go at quite a brisk pace and finish well before dark, although a 1989 route description could obviously be well out of date and difficult to follow, so it would be prudent to bring a torch 😮. (I have OS maps and a compass, and I know the area reasonably well, so shouldn%u2019t get too badly lost 😀.) We would join the loop at Colley Hill %u2013 from there it goes to Walton on the Hill, Langley Vale, Leatherhead, Mickleham Downs, Box Hill and then re-ascends the North Downs before arriving back at Colley Hill, so the second half is quite hilly.
on 19/06/18 @ 21:19I don't work so I'm very flexible over dates, and if anyone is interested I would suggest choosing a day at fairly short notice, when we know the weather forecast (not least because I currently have a finger in a splint which I need to keep dry as much as possible).
M1M1960 on 19/06/18 @ 21:19Would have liked to join in as this was my home territory - I grew up in Langley Vale - but have just had a week off work and can't take any more for a while. Have a good walk 🙂
gegem1000 on 19/06/18 @ 22:53jem1000: A weekend day would be fine if you could manage that 🙂. I ran for Epsom and Ewell Harriers, and the Epsom 10 went through Langley Vale (a hilly course 😮 !)
on 20/06/18 @ 0:11Hi June - the Winter Tanners was originally introduced as a route-proving exercise for the summer event. Ironically, the last (summer) Tanners Marathon (30 miles) was held in 2010 but the Winter Tanners has continued. The Tanners 50 (a 20-mile loop followed by the 30) was held biennially (in conjunction with the summer 30) on the even years until 1986 %u2013 it wasn%u2019t held in 1988 due to route problems resulting from the great storm of the previous year: it was held in 1989 instead, after which it was discontinued due to dwindling support. The 40-mile option on this year's Winter Tanners was a one-off to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the event.
on 20/06/18 @ 0:17The 1976 Tanners Marathon was my first challenge event %u2013 I did them all from thereon (including all the 50s from 1978), and I did a lot of the Winter Tanners up to 2005. In recent years I have been on checkpoint duty (a good excuse! 😀)
on 20/06/18 @ 0:22There is a detailed history here, June:
on 20/06/18 @ 20:42https://www.ldwa.org.uk/lgt/downloads/Surrey/WT_Docs/History_of_WT.pdf
I hope all goes well on Saturday. 😀
Hi Ian: the Tanners 50 consisted of a 20-mile loop followed by a 30-mile loop, starting and finishing at Leatherhead, so splitting it into three 15 mile sections would involve quite a bit of organisation with car-shuttling etc. The attraction to me of the 20-mile loop is a ready-made route close to where I live which starts and finishes at the same place %u2013 almost no organisation required, and if necessary (eg, car trouble) I could even walk from home and not let people down. If I get no takers, then I'm not worried at all 🙂. My finger is just a great nuisance: a minimum of 8 weeks in a splint 24/7, followed by 2 weeks removing the splint 4 times daily for exercises 😮 %u2013 I'm seeing the hand t
on 20/06/18 @ 23:47I'm seeing the hand therapist again tomorrow to check on the condition of the skin. I hope you have great time in Snowdonia 🙂%u2013 wish I could join you!☹
M1M1960 on 20/06/18 @ 23:49Sounds good but a bit too far from home , specially with the prospect of a 2 hour drive home in the dark ! Better for me as previously suggested if split up and also over a long weekend 🙂
PhPhiltheetiler on 23/06/18 @ 19:57If anyone would like to organise splitting the 50 miles into sections / a long weekend, then I will willingly send them the route description and sketch map by post or e-mail. 🙂
M1M1960 on 23/06/18 @ 21:16Back to top
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