Club Road-Championship: Moorclose 10km -Tuesday 19th May

Following the 2009 Keswick AC road-championship ‘curtain raiser’ (the long race Haweswater half-marathon) the championship has taken an interesting turn, after last night's short-counter and second race of the season, the Moorclose 10K. The top three Keswick AC finishers both in the mens and ladies were all different to those in the first race, throwing the championship wide open going into race three of four at the Newlands Round on July 22nd.

There was a good turnout from the club for the altered and re-measured 10K which promised fast times due to the relatively flat nature of the out and back course on the Workington-Whitehaven cycleway. A good breeze on the less sheltered parts of the course however ruled out a super fast race, but largely pleasant conditions and warm evening sunshine prevailed to make an enjoyable run and an opportunity for some good racing.

Photo: Phil Hawley

Rob Walker (Barrow & Furness) posted 33.25 to set the mark for the new course, followed by Phil Winskill (Dark Peak) in 33.39, and Graham Mason (Border) in 33.59. Amongst the Keswick AC runners Pippa Jackson who was only out for a swift training run, notched up another win with a good run to set the par for the newly measured course with 38.28 and 12th place overall –a good run to compliment the win at the Netherhall 10 earlier in the year which in the process, also set a new course record by almost four minutes.

Jo Gillyon ran 43.11 to take 2nd, with Kim Clark making it a Keswick AC clean sweep in the ladies race with 46.39 for 3rd and 1st FV45, Anne Downie (46.47) claimed 2nd FV45, Cathy Colam (49.03) 2nd FV55, Karen Holmes (56.17) and Gillian Brown (60.06) 3rd FV55.

For the men, Steve Hebblethwaite ran 35.34 (5th). Ian Davies continues his return to form, notching up 36.56 for 10th -a time 2 seconds off his pb for 10K. John Beetham claimed 3rd spot with a run of 38.58 (13th), Keith Hill (39.07), and Ian Boit (39.26).

Duncan Overton, who this year is again posting some fantastic times ran 40.28 (RRC standards ‘Gold Star’ time) taking 1st MV60 by a mile, from Pete Haworth (40.48) -3rd MV50, John Waite (41.56), Peter Bingham (42.03), Andrew Slattery (42.11) Quentin Merritt (44.38), Steve Harwood (45.08) -2nd MV60, Phil Sturgess (45.42), Barry Halsall (46.30) -3rd MV60, and Chris Clark (48.32).

The next race in the championship is the new Newlands Valley Round (details here) from Keswick School on Wednesday 22nd July, with the fourth and final race at the Derwentwater 10 on 1st November. Updated club-championship tables are posted on the club website.