The Cheviot 2000

a team fell race in Northumberland

The following article was kindly written by Dave Peart, a founder member of the CHAOS Club and one of the original event organisers.

In the years prior to the existence of the Cheviot 2000, the CHAOS Club used to stage an annual 24-hour mountain endurance walk in the Lake District. This was an event primarily for members of Northumbria Police and it was known as the Lakeland 3000.

The length of the Lakeland 3000 was 44 miles and it was made up of a circular route encompassing the peaks of Skiddaw, Scafell Pike and Helvelyn.

After the event in 1985, and whilst relaxing (falling asleep!) with a beer or two in a pub near Keswick, the conversation amongst members turned to the possibility of organising an event on their own doorstep. Why travel to the Lake District when the Cheviot Hills of the Northumberland National Park are a more than worthy challenge!

The conversation soon turned to questions: "What are we going to call it?". "How far should it be?. "What about the route?". "Who's going to organise it?". All needed answers - and so the planning began!

The conversation soon turned to questions: "What are we going to call it?". "How far should it be?. "What about the route?". "Who's going to organise it?". All needed answers - and so the planning began!

One of the members of the Club, PC Dave Thomson, took it upon himself to research various maps of the Cheviot hills. Before long he came up with a suggested route, circular in nature and traversing eleven high peaks and features all of at least 2000 feet above sea level. For good measure it included the two highest hills in the Cheviot range - the Cheviot and Hedgehope Hill.

The route involved numerous ascents and decents to a maximim of approximately 5000 feet in height and was around 22 miles in length. It would be a new experience for those taking part as much of it takes place over private land not normally open to the public. With the kind permission of local landowners the event began to take shape.

With the course decided, and after a little tweaking, the question of what to call the event came to the fore and before long an appropriate name fell into place. 'The Cheviot 2000 Team Fell Race' was born.

Over the two years that followed two pilot events were staged, one in 1986 and one in 1987.

The pilot events comprised a number of teams of three with the first event restricted to members of Northumbria Police. The following year teams from Cleveland, Durham and Northumbria Police took part, together with the Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary from Cumbria.

In those early days the average time taken to complete the event was around 11 hours. The route has changed only very slightly since then!

In 1988 the Northumbria Police CHAOS Club opened the event to other UK Police Teams, other Emergency Services and the Military and Armed Services.

Since then the Cheviot 2000 has taken place every year with the exception of 2001 because of Foot and Mouth restrictions. Over 100 teams now compete in the event and the current course record was set in 2004 by the Royal Logistic Corps, with a time of 4hrs 35 mins.

The Cheviot 2000 Team Fell Race has grown into a well respected and nationally recognised event. It was conceived as a social weekend with a fell race included. An event where like minded folk may gather to enjoy spectacular scenery, the great Northumbrian hospitality and perhaps a few after race beers to numb the pain and assist in the retelling of adventures and tales of recent or past events.

The Cheviot 2000. Truly an experience. Enjoyed at the time by few. Often spoken of as 'NEVER AGAIN!'. Repeated and remembered with fondness by many!