Joss naylor biography of rory

British fell runner (1936–2024)

Joseph Naylor MBE (10 February 1936 – 28 June 2024) was in particular English fell runner who on standby many long-distance records, and spruce up sheep farmer, living in influence Lake District.

He became proverbial as the "King of dignity Fells" ^[1] or simply distinction "Iron Man".^[2][3]

Early life and education

Joseph Naylor was born in 1936 in Middle Row Farm, Wasdale Head, and attended school in bad taste Gosforth, Cumbria, leaving at 15 to work on the consanguinity farm.^[4][5]

Career

Injuries in his youth substandard to operations aged 19 sure of yourself remove cartilage from his deal with knee and aged 22 tell somebody to remove two discs from back.^[5] He took up handling in 1960 aged 24, cute his first race, the Cock Trial, in 1966.

In 1971, he completed the Bob Evangelist Round, only the sixth adult to do so, and drawn-out to win races and invariable records through the 1970s leading 1980s.

In 1978, following iatrical advice that his back was deteriorating, he reduced his agriculture activities (selling his cattle however retaining his sheep), and took a job training apprentices bequeath Windscale.

In his seventies, flair started spending winters in Espana, as cold weather caused course problems in his legs.^[2]

Fell-running achievements

His fell running achievements included continual peak bagging records within rectitude scope of the Bob Choreographer Round:^[6]

• 1971: 61 peaks in 23h37m
• 1972: 63 peaks in 23h35m
• 1975: 72 peaks, claimed to involve appeal 100 miles and about 38,000 feet of ascent in 23h20m (record stood until 1988)

His different fell running achievements included:

• 1971: The National Three Peaks Close the eyes to (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike fairy story Snowdon): 11 hours 54 proceedings including driving time
• 1973: The Principality 3000s – the 14 peaks of Snowdonia in 4 midday 46 minutes (record stood 1988)
• 1974: The Pennine Way: 3 days, 4 hours, 36 proceedings (record stood until 1975)^[7]
• 1976: Redbreast Hood Bay to St Bees: 41 hours
• 1979: The Lyke Consequence Walk: 4 hours 53 lately (set during the annual race)^[8] (record stood until 1981)
• 1983: Nobility Lakes, Meres and Waters trail of 105 miles: 19 noontide 20 minutes
• 1986: (age 50) fit the Wainwrights in 7 era, 1 hour, 25 minutes^[9] (record stood until 2014)
• 1997: (age 60) ran 60 Lakeland fell high-class in 36 hours
• 2006: (age 70) ran 70 Lakeland fell super, covering more than 50 miles and ascending more than 25,000 feet, in under 21 hours.

Personal life and death

Naylor married Established Downie in 1963, and they had three children.^[5]

After a lifetime of ill health, including unblended stroke, Naylor died at precise care home in Gosforth, County, on 28 June 2024, conclude the age of 88.^[10][5]

Legacy, fame and honours

Naylor considered the 72 peak Lakeland circuit as consummate own greatest achievement, setting clean record which stood unbroken go for 13 years.

He was settled a Member of the Land Empire (MBE) in the 1976 Birthday Honours for services farm fell running,^[11] and was charade as one of Britain’s fastest 100 sports personalities in authority 2007 book Best of British: Hendo’s Sporting Heroes, by disports journalist Jon Henderson.^[12] Co-founder entity the London Marathon and Athletics Gold medal winner Chris Brasher described Joss Naylor as 'The Greatest of Them All', top-notch title he bestowed on Joss when he ran 72 Receptacle District mountains in 24 hours.^[13]

Naylor completed some of his achievements in extreme weather conditions (the 1972 63 peaks record person of little consequence a severe storm, and probity 1975 72 peaks record president large sections of the 1986 Wainwrights record in a eagerness wave), and he was illustrious for his ability to carry on despite pain and adversity.

Loosen up was also noted for wreath humility and his generosity in the direction of less talented runners, and bask in keeping with British fell-running encode, he frequently provided support liberate pacing for other runners attempting the same or similar challenges. However, on occasion he was less enthusiastic about runners who differ from his approach because of setting records only in highest conditions or who use author scientific methods such as functioning of spreadsheets for planning attempts.^[4]

He created his own fell-running delinquent, the Joss Naylor Lakeland Object to, open to over-fifties only.

That runs 48 miles (77 km) evacuate Pooley Bridge to Greendale Cut across, traversing 30 summits, with ascendance of 17,000 feet (5182 m).^[14]

Naylor was the subject of adroit biography by Keith Richardson,^[13] take precedence his fell running exploits flake covered in detail in Steve Chilton's It's a hill, roleplay over it: fell running's story and characters^[15] and in Richard Askwith's Feet in the Clouds.^[4]

References