Cross Country - Cockermouth 3rd October

The inaugural Cross Country Club Championship gets underway this weekend in Cockermouth (do I get bonus points for alliteration) Note: The Club Championship status will be subject to ratification at the AGM. Due to some unfortunate date clashes with the fell relays in October it has been decided that in order to qualify for the Championship an individual needs to complete three races from six.

Full details of the Championship programme can be found in the member’s section on the ClubWeb and the qualifying races are:

3rd October – Cockermouth
17th October – Penrith
7th November – Maryport
5th December – Keswick
12th December – Barrow (County Championships)
9th January – Carlisle

So for those not taking part in the relays the Cockermouth Junior races start at noon , & the Seniors at around 1:10pm, at the field just east of Cockermouth School. The cost is a mere £2, Club vests and pins required and X-Country spikes or fell-studs would be suitable for the course.

Anyone wishing to car-share please contact iandavversdavies@googlemail.com

Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay - Ladies Team

The ladies team for the Ian Hodgson Relay has also been finalised as below - 

Leg 1 - Lucy Dunn & Sheelagh Veitch

Leg 2 - Sara Hodgson & Trudy Beetham

Leg 3 - Anne Downie & Suzy Grindley

Leg 4 - Jo Gillyon & Cat Evans

Reserves - Kim Clark, Debbie Thompson, Sarah Bailey & Hayley Hodgson

So far there are two cars going from Keswick around 8am.  If anyone wants to car share get in touch, including anyone not running who wants to offer support - joandchris8@tiscali.co.uk.

Thanks to all for your enthusiasm and support and for Pat's help!  

Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay teams announced

The Keswick AC mens open, and vet team for the 22nd edition of the Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay, which takes place in Brotherswater this weekend, have been announced. The event, first staged in 1985 is a relay over four legs of testing mountain terrain (map here), for teams of 8 -each leg being covered by two runners who run together as a pair.

Last year the event was cancelled due to the start/finish fields being underwater following heavy rains. The Keswick AC open team placed 10th in the 2007 edition of the Relay (results) from a total of 65 teams and will be out to better that result.

Keswick AC
Open
LEG1 -Chris Edis + Steve Hebblethwaite
LEG2 -Dave Birch + Matt Fraser
LEG3 -Toby Cushion + James Luxmoore
LEG4 -Mark Denham-Smith + Will Veitch

Reserves:
Ian Davies
John Beetham

Vets
LEG1 -Dunc Overton + Neil Thompson
LEG2 -Dave Owens + Rob Wynne
LEG3 -Dave Burton + Keith Loan
LEG4 -Nick Ogden + Craig Smith

Reserves:
WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR RESERVES TO STEP IN FOR THE V40+ TEAM -IF ANYONE IS AVAILABLE THIS SUNDAY AND WOULD LIKE A RUN, PLEASE PLEASE GET IN TOUCH stevenhebblethwaite@hotmail.com or 01900 821501

Cumberland Ale 10 -Sunday 13th Sept

Results from Cockermouth club, Derwent AC's 'Cumberland Ale 10' earlier this month are now available. The ten mile road race starts from the Jennings brewery in the town before following an undulating and scenic route on quiet roads to cross the River Derwent at Isel Bridge. The route makes a small loop before returning to the town via Isel Road again.

Three Keswick AC men represented the club, Dunc Frampton posted a super 63.51 to finish second behind race winner Chris Steele (Borrowdale FR) who ran 56.07. Duncan's time qualifies for the RRC 'gold standard' and also places him top in the club ranking at 10M this year -well done Duncan. Derek Harrison too ran a great 73.37 for 11th overall and 1st MV60.

The race was a counter in the Derwent AC 'Grand Prix' -a competition for runners who compete at a minimum of 3 of the Derwent-organised races. Peter Bingham who has had a busy year on the road ran 76.39 for 18th place, and this alongside runs at Isel Cross, the Lambfoot Loop and Hay races secured him 3rd V40 and 6th place overall in the grand prix -well done Peter.

Full results from the Cumberland Ale 10 here.

FRA Relay Recce

Tomorrow's recce will be FRA territory. I am planning to do leg 4, Steve Heb will be looking at leg 1. Meet Keswick (station car park) at 3.45pm, sheep & wool about 4.10pm or at the start around 4.30pm.

There will be no more 6pm recce's due to the nights drawing in.

Let me know if you can make it - joandchris8@tiscali.co.uk

Dalehead 4.5m/2210’ –Sunday 20th September

There was a good turnout from Keswick AC at the ever popular Dalehead race this afternoon –the fine sunny weather saw a packed show field at Rosthwaite for the Borrowdale show which was a welcome change after last year’s washout.

Ricky Lightfoot (Ellenborough) won by a clear margin from Simon Booth (Borrowdale). The race was a Keswick AC club championship counter in 2008. This year Matt Fraser again found third spot with a super run finishing in 48:45 and clipping 50 seconds from his 2008 time. Pippa Jackson was a class above the rest of the women today, running 53.15 for 6th overall and taking over two and a half minutes from her own time of last year.

Keswick AC:

Men
3. Matt Fraser -48:45
11. Craig Smith -58:05
12. Dave Prosser -58.20
17. Pez Bullen -60:37
24. Jim Downie -67:27 (1st V60)

Women
1. Pippa Jackson -53:15
3. Lucy Dunn -77:51
4. Anne Downie -78.40 (1st FV40)

Commonwealth Championship Up and Down Open Race –Sunday 20th September

Bathed in bright sunshine, amongst the pleasant surrounds of Fitz Park in Keswick this morning a good field toed the line for the 8m/2700’ course of the Up and Down Mountain Race. The race was one of several open races offered over three days as part of the ‘Festival of Running’ that was organised under the umbrella of the Commonwealth Championship. The Up and Down race began in the park, and via Briar Rigg and Spoony Green Lane, took in three ‘undulating’ laps over Latrigg before returning to the park, and the finish...

...The fully flagged course was exactly the same as that tackled by the elite athletes later in the day in the Commonwealth Championship Races. Photographs by Pete Richards from the four days of the Commonwealth Championships can be found at www.keswick-ac.org.uk in the news section.

The open race was won by Prasad Prasad of Clydesdale Harriers in 51:04 who made amends for his run last month in the commonwealth trial race that was run over the same course when he recorded a DNF. First woman was Emma Clayton (Scunthorpe & Dist) in 59:39.

Today’s race was the final race in the Keswick AC club fell-championship 2009. For the men, Phil Winskill made his first appearance in the competition in style with a run of 54:29, 5th place overall to claim maximum points ahead of Steve Hebblethwaite -55:50 (6th), Ian Davies -1:02:28 (24th), Toby Cushion -1:02:43 (25th), Rob Wynne -1:04:14 (29th), Dave Owens -1:08:52 (41st), Quentin Merrit -1:08:56 (42nd), Andrew Murray -1:10:59 (47th), Keith Loan -1:11:25 (49th), Chris Clark -1:18:37 (61st), and Patric Gilchrist -1:21:54 (1st MV60/68th).

For the women, Jo Gillyon raced a good 1:13:18 (8th) ahead of Trudy Beetham -1:16:21 (11th), Debbie Edgington -1:19:16 (13th), Kim Clark -1:20:15 (2nd LV50/14th) and Maureen Bridge ( 1st LV60/16th).

picture: Pete Richards

Commonwealth Championship: Festival of Running 10K race and Junior races –Saturday 19th September

On the same day that the elite of ultra distance athletes raced over 100km as part of the Commonwealth Championship, a race over the more modest distance of 10km was held as part of the ‘Festival of Running’ offering open races in conjunction with the championship. The race took advantage of the road closures which had been put in place for the 100km race to offer an undulating course which took runners out of town on Penrith Road and past Castlerigg Stone Circle, before turning back along the A66 to Crosthwaite and returning to finish in the park. The race was won by Ben Gamble (Stone Master Marathoners) in 33:19 with Lynn Manir Jolley (Wigan Phoenix) the first woman in 41:36. Full results here

Keswick AC:
17. James Walker -39:50
22. John Waite -40:47
35. John Horne -44:35



39. Mike Beechey -45:43
41. Paul Titley -46:52
45. Dianne Shaw -50:45 (1st LV40)

The day started with junior races which were based on the same 1km lap over which the elite Commonwealth 24 hour race athletes had tested themselves just the previous day. Keswick AC was done proud with juniors representing the club in every race.



Arran Horne was 3rd in the under 11, 2km race and brother Joseph Horne was 4th in the under 13, 3km race.



James Hodgson ran a super race in the under 15, 5km event with 19:14 for 3rd after following the pace in the early stages as part of a leading pack that included eventual race winner and English National Cross Country U13 Champion James Knox (Helm Hill).

A big well done to all the volunteers who gave up their freetime (and work-time!) to make the commonwealth championships a world-class event. All the athletes I worked with had nothing but admiration for the organisation, the courses and the local population. I felt very proud to be part of this event and the experience will stay with me for a long time to come.

Keswick AC club fell-championship 2009 finale this weekend -Up and Down Commonwealth race in Keswick

The culmination of the Keswick AC club fell-championship 2009 will take place this Sunday. Some fierce competition between club members competing for championship points expected, with the top 3 for both the men's and ladies championship and vet categories still to be decided.

The championship in 2009 has been comprised of four races; the short counter at Latrigg in May which saw the club walk away with both the men's and women's team prizes, medium counter the Coledale Horseshoe in April, which returned to the fell running calendar after a 1 year absence and saw Keswick AC's ladies take the team prize and a new course record by Pippa Jackson. The long counter, two weeks ago was the 10m/5000' Grisedale Horseshoe from Glenridding in Patterdale with 19 athletic club members taking part and Pippa Jackson claiming her second sucessive club fell title in emphatic style -again coming away with a course record.

This weekend's race, the 8m/2700' up and down mountain race, which is over a lapped course on Latrigg is being run in conjunction with Commonwealth Championship races on same day and promises an opportunity for some exciting racing and a fantastic atmosphere.

The race starts at 11.00 with the 12km course being comprised of three laps both for the senior men and women. Entry is availble on the day, the main hub for the events being in Fitz Park.

There will also be Junior races from 10am, with U12 (over 10) U14,U16, and U18 races. Further details at the website here: www.cumbriacommonwealthchampionships.org

A host of other events take place over the weekend including the 24hr race which begins at 12noon today, the Uphill championship races tomorrow, 100km Championship race and open 10km road race on Saturday and the Mens and Women's up and down Championship races which follow the open race on Sunday.

Relays

Recce of Leg 1 of the FRA relay tomorrow night.  Meet Keswick 5.15pm at the Station car park where we will sort out car sharing.  The leg starts at GR 087184 and we should be there around 6pm for anyone wanting to go straight there.  We'll also do a pick up at the Sheep and Wool Centre on the way - please let me know if you need a lift as this will affect how many cars we bring from Keswick!  Full details of the relay are on the Cumberland Fell Runners website. 

There will also be a recce of leg 2 of the Ian Hodgson next Mon (21st Sept).  Meet either Station car park at 4.15pm or Cow Bridge at about 5pm.  Again let me know if you wish to join us and where you intend to meet up - joandchris8@tiscali.co.uk

Lake District Mountain Trial –Sunday Sept 14th

Well done to Neil Thompson on a good run posting 3:01:51 to place 4th in the short trial, a highly commendable performance to have achieved after summer which has seen his training disrupted by persistent chest infection.

Four Keswick AC men raced in the long trial which this year started in Eskdale, Colin Valentine recording the fastest time of the day finishing in 6:05:18 (19th) less than two minutes ahead of Toby Cushion in 6:07:05 (20th). Dave Troman finished in 6:53:40 for 38th and Andrew Murray ran home in 8:54:06 for 92nd.

Of 123 starters, 99 finished –a high rate of attrition testament to the toughness of this year’s course. Over half the finishers were on the fell for over 7 hours. Data recorded by Toby's wristwatch suggests he covered something like 25 miles with 6800' of ascent for his 6 hours taking in Eskdale > Great End > Glaramara > Coniston > Duddon and back to Eskdale. Well done to all, full results here

Gosforth 10K –Thursday 1st September

The Blengdale Harriers hosted race was a well attended event this year, a field of 137 testing themselves against the rolling 10 kilometre course. Adrian Holliday (Tipton Harriers) was first home in a fast 30.54, followed by Chris Steele (Borrowdale FR) in 33.00, and Russel Maddams (Horwich RMI) in 33.06.

Mark Denham-Smith was pleased with his time of 36.44 and 9th place, enough to nudge himself into second in the club rankings for 10K this year, ahead of Ian Davies (Ian’s time of 36.56 was at Moorclose 10K on May 19th). Rob Wynne ran 38.47 for 15th place –well done both. First lady home was Lindsay Doyle of Liverpool Pembroke in 40.00.

Full results here

Ennerdale Show –Wednesday August 26th

The wet show field at Kirkland Leaps and winds that threatened to carry the beer tent to Buttermere, were not enough to discourage the organisers of this year’s Ennerdale Show -it having been cancelled just once in its 100 year history. With many folk racing at our own Round Latrigg race an excellent run by Mark Denham-Smith went unnoticed, Mark placing second behind Ricky Lightfoot of Ellenborough AC to earn himself £20 in prize money. Julie Carter (CFR) was the first lady home.

Relays

Change of plan for the remainder of the planned relay recce's.  As the nights are drawing in, and to avoid an overnight camp, the new meeting time for the next three Wed evenings will be 5.15pm instead of 6pm at the station car park / behind Keswick pool.  Please let either me or Steve Heb know if you are planning to join us.

Ian Hodgson Leg 4 Recce

Next relay recce is leg 4 of the Ian Hodgson this Wed (09 Sept).  Due to the length of the leg we are meeting earlier in the hope that we will finish before it gets dark!  Revised meeting time is 4pm at Cow Bridge.  Drop me or Steve Heb a message if you are joining us.

LDMT

I've spotted that a few other Keswick runners are on the start list for the 'Best Fell Race' (Mountain Trial). Anyone interested in a car share to Eskdale?

I'm in Cockermouth so could give/share a lift with those coming from the Keswick direction.

cheers,

toby

toby.cushion@sky.com
01900 826363

Grisedale Horseshoe Results

Keswick AC results from the Grisedale Horseshoe, third of the four race club fell-championship, are below.

Much of the post race crack involved deciding who had lost the most time by making various detours from the standard 10m/5000'. The mist and rain which reduced visibility considerably between Red Tarn and over Helvellyn being to blame for a number of folk finding themselves above Wythburn and Thirlmere when they had decended below the cloud, rather than above CP 3 at Grisedale Tarn.

There were 138 finishers. Well done to everyone from Keswick -it was great to see so many from the club, and congratulations to Pippa Jackson who broke the 14 year-old course record, in a time of 2.03.01 -well done Pip.

Men
Steve Hebblethwaite -1.59.22
Toby Cushion -2.10.50
Craig Smith -2.12.31
Dave Loan -2.15.29 (1st V55)
James Luxmoore -2.15.36
Colin Valentine -2.17.06
John Niccol -2.19.46
Dave Owens -2.21.42
Ian Davies -2.23.40
Rob Wynne -2.33.14
Quentin Merritt -2.38.12
Richard Unwin -2.38.13
Geoff Somers -2.57.00
Patric Gilchrist -3.08.13
Chris Clark -3.08.39
Ken Barclay -3.33.27

Ladies
Pippa Jackson -2.03.01 (new record)
Jo Gillyon -2.41.03
Kim Clark -3.18.35

The final race of the 2009 fell-championship is in two weeks -Sunday 20th September, the 8m/2700' 'open race' over Latrigg which is being run in conjunction with Commonwealth Championship races on same day. The last opportunity to score points for glory in this years fell-championship.

Club Fell Championship -Grisedale Horseshoe

The 2009 Keswick AC club fell-championship continues THIS WEEKEND at the Derek Price Memorial Grisedale Horseshoe on Saturday 5th September.

This is the third in the four-race series. The full mens and ladies fell-championship tables after the first two races can be found HERE


-Lyn Thompson and Dave Owens racing at the mid season counter Latrigg. Picture: Dunc Overton

The final race and culmination of the 2009 fell-championship is on Sunday 20th at the 8m/2700' open race which is over a lapped course on Latrigg that is being run in conjunction with Commonwealth Championship races on same day.

There will also be Junior races on the 20th from 10am, with U12 (over 10) U14,U16, and U18 races. Further details at the website here: www.cumbriacommonwealthchampionships.org

SAT.SEP 5. DEREK PRICE MEMORIAL GRISEDALE HORSESHOE (R). AM. 11.30 a.m. 10m/5000' from Glenridding Village Hall, Patterdale. £5 Entry on the day. Over 18. Records: 1.41.36 P.Sheard 2000; f. 2.04.21 V.Peacock 1995.

Check Points:

Start: Glenridding Village Hall (GR384168)
1. Catstycam Summit
2. Hellvellyn Summit
3. Grisedale Tarn (eastern end)
4. St Sunday Crag Summit
5. Barn GR 370149
6. Wall stile GR 373160
7. Finish (Village Hall)

Carlisle 10K - 30th August 2008

Results: http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.1&thid=1237486e896ae8fd&mt=application%2Fpdf

A number of Club runners were out for this damp 10K run in Carlisle over the weekend:

Andrew Slattery (41:15), Mark Rutherford (41:38), Neil Elsender (45:39), Nicola Butler (52:13), Rachel Slattery (52:55), Susan Denham-Smith (54:35), Ian Milne (60:00), Lindsay Milne (60:02), Michael Brown (66:56) and Gillian Brown (66:58).

Race winner was Peter Newton of Morpeth Harriers (32:37) followed by Russell Maddams (33:59) using a series of 10Ks as preparation for his international ultra race in October. Ladies victor was Clare McKeown in 40:37.

Ian Hodgson Leg 2 recce

Next recce for the Ian Hodgson Relay is tomorrow night (Wed 02 Sept) and will be leg 2.  In the event of the weather being absolutely appalling we will do leg 3 instead.  Meet Cow Bridge at 6pm.  

Let me know if you intend to come along (joandchris8@tiscali.co.uk) and need a lift or will meet us there as more than one car is needed as the leg starts at Kirkstone and finishes at Hartsop.