A mountain running race has been cancelled because of a dive-bombing buzzard. The organiser of the junior fell running race at Foel Fenlli in the Clwydian Range, Denbighshire, said he came into contact with the bird while running in the area. "I was following a path along the valley when I suddenly felt something hit the back of my head accompanied by a swooshing sound," Nigel Crompton said. The Fell Runners Association said it was not safe for people to take part in the event on Sunday, and that it would not be fair on the protected species. Fell running is a type of hill or mountain running, and often involves routes with no paths. The race in the Clwydian Range has been held since 2023 and is one of the races in the English Junior Fell Championships, with participants from seven years old. Mr Crompton described looking up and seeing the buzzard fly away from him after swooping down. "Within seconds it circled round and headed straight back towards me. My initial instinct was to run faster and get out of there but several times I felt and heard it swooping down against the back of my head. "Apparently, you're not supposed to run. I know that now. I was divebombed several more times but found that by stopping and facing it the bird was more likely to stay high. "It continued to circle around menacingly, however, until I was clear of the area. It was magnificent and yet unnerving." Mr Crompton said he raised concerns about junior athletes being targeted by the bird. "Thoughts quickly moved from survival to the race in just a few days. "I had by now Googled buzzard attacks and discovered them incredibly prevalent in the Highlands, in the Lakes and in Shropshire, especially targeting runners. The advice, after all, is not to run." After speaking to the Fell Runners Association and local Rangers in the Clwydian Range, Mr Crompton was then advised the race should not go ahead. "Concerns were obviously for the safety of our junior athletes with fears that more runners in the area may further distress and agitate the birds and concerns for the disturbance of a protected species," he said. "The main message, for me, is for people to be aware. I have been running in these hills for years and never encountered this before and yet now find that buzzard attacks are not uncommon and runners seem to be most targeted. "Knowledge is powerful, however, and if we are aware then we can both hopefully continue to co-habit the hills in harmony."
Dive-bombing buzzard cancels race
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"Junior Fell Running Race Cancelled Due to Buzzard Safety Concerns"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
A junior fell running race scheduled to take place at Foel Fenlli in the Clwydian Range of Denbighshire was cancelled due to safety concerns stemming from a dive-bombing buzzard. The event organizer, Nigel Crompton, shared his alarming experience while running along a valley path, where he felt a sudden impact on the back of his head accompanied by the sound of wings. Crompton recounted how the buzzard swooped down repeatedly, prompting him to initially run faster in fear. However, he later learned that remaining still and facing the bird could deter its aggressive behavior. Despite the magnificent sight of the bird, the encounter was unnerving, leading to worries about the safety of junior athletes who would participate in the race. The Fell Runners Association deemed it unsafe for the event to proceed, expressing concerns that the presence of more runners might disturb the protected species further and escalate the situation.
Crompton's experience prompted him to research similar incidents, revealing that buzzard attacks on runners are not uncommon, particularly in regions such as the Highlands and parts of England. This alarming trend raised significant concerns regarding the safety of young runners. After consulting with the Fell Runners Association and local Rangers, it was determined that the race should be cancelled to protect both the junior athletes and the buzzards. Crompton emphasized the importance of awareness regarding wildlife interactions, noting that he had never encountered such an issue in years of running in the hills. He hopes that by sharing his experience, others can be informed about potential risks and learn to coexist harmoniously with wildlife in these natural areas.
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