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Gear up for record breaking week
9:26am Thursday 25th October 2007
Over 40 powerboat enthusiasts from around Britain are setting their sights on breaking world and national speed records on Coniston Water in Cumbria from 5th to 9th November.
Coniston Powerboat Records Week is the finale to the UK's racing season and the only event in the powerboat racing calendar to bring together all classes of boat, reaching staggering speeds of up to 140mph.
National speed records on Coniston Water
5th to 9th November
The adrenalin-fuelled event attracts hundreds of spectators to this beautiful corner of the Lake District.
2007 is the 40th anniversary of Donald Campbell's fatal crash on Coniston Water during an attempt to beat his own water speed record in Bluebird.
Last year, local competitor Ted Walsh achieved a new national and world record for the S3000 powerboat category on Coniston Water. Mr Walsh entered the record books after driving his catamaran TerrorDACtyl' at an average speed of 138mph, beating his previous record of 132mph.
The event is organised by Windermere Motor Boat Racing Club, whose past members include Donald Campbell.
Alison Whalley, Chairman of the organising committee, says: "The event attracts visitors from all over the UK and overseas who come to experience the thrills on Coniston Water, as well as the breathtaking lake and mountain scenery.
"People can expect to see everything from tiny hydroplanes and inshore circuit racers to the largest offshore boats all attempting to break waterspeed records."
For almost a hundred years powerboat record attempts have been made on several of Cumbria's lakes, including Coniston Water. The annual powerboat speed Records Week had been held on Windermere since 1970, but an enforced 10mph speed limit resulted in the move to Coniston three years ago.
Phillip Johnston, owner of The Coppermines & Coniston Lakes Cottages and a sponsor of Coniston Powerboat Records Week, says: "Coniston has been the spiritual home of record breaking since Donald Campbell's famous world speed record, so it's the perfect venue for this event and we're proud to be hosting it here.
"The event provides a real boost to the tourism industry in the Coniston area at what is usually a quiet time of year."
In the village of Coniston, the Ruskin Museum has a display of Donald Campbell memorabilia, including sections of his record breaking boat Bluebird'.
For more information on the Coniston Powerboat Records Week visit: www.conistonpowerboatrecords.co.uk
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Prehistoric walk
The interesting brochure you can obtain from the car park at Foulshaw Moss says that more than several thousand years ago the Witherslack Mosses were part of an extensive wetland in what is now the Lyth Valley and on the flat ground west of the Kent Estuary. The Mosses - Meathop, Foulshaw and Nicols - are raised peat bogs brought about by sphagnum moss that draws up, acidifies, and holds water like a giant sponge, creating waterlogged conditions as it grows. Sphagnum grows from the tip, leaving the lower part to die. Waterlogging halts decay of these dead bits that build up and up over thousands of years, to form deep domed mounds of peat that are raised many feet above the surrounding ground. The Witherslack Mosses have dried out partly as a result of forestry and the invasion of scrub. Over time, drainage and peat cutting led to the loss of more wetland and now only significant fragments remain. Specialised peatbog flora and fauna have been unable to thrive because of the area being too shaded and too dry. Recently conifers have been removed and also masses of rhododendrons have been cleared. Hundreds of peat and plastic dams have been installed to bring about the ‘sponge’ effect of the peat. At Foulshaw, the remains of a 15ft to 16ft wide prehistoric trackway has been uncovered. This is believed to have been constructed in the mid-Bronze Age to allow people to cross the once huge wetland. Trunks of ash and birch were laid side by side and supported on logs. Foulshaw Moss is open to the public. Nichols Moss, a really squelchy one, is only suitable for a hundred yards or so before you encounter pathless very wet moss. It is a delight to stand and look ahead but as there is no walkway do not continue. Pause just on its edge from where you might spot red deer. Meathop is a lovely walk but only for those with a permit from Cumbria Wildlife Trust or if you are a member. The parking is difficult. After the first short grassy track, follow a wider track, left, that winds round right by a pasture and into fine conifer woodland. Beyond this a wide walkway takes you out some distance into the moss, from where you will spot all sorts of interesting lowly plants. To visit Foulshaw Moss, on the A590, it is best to approach the entrance from the direction of Kendal. If coming from the opposite direction continue on past the entrance and make use of the Levens underpass to make a U-turn and approach from the north. This avoids trying to make a right turn across a narrow section of the busy A-road. The entrance is not signposted until you have turned off the road. The entrance turn, a cart track, lies just before a large layby on a narrow section of the A-road. Just beyond the turn, stands a huge sign saying ‘Dual carriageway a mile ahead’. To approach the entrance, drive the dual carriageway at Levens until it ends. Continue a short distance along the two-way road and begin to signal your left turn. Watch out for the large sign ahead. If you reach the layby you have gone too far.
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