Keswick's open men's team completed the relay in an outstanding 4:00:43 -the whole time spent swapping positions with clubs who were jostling for positions in the top 10, so well done lads -just reward for the hard work put in to preparation for the day. On leg 1, Chris Edis and Steve Hebblethwaite set off fast and found themselves taking up the chase of a leading group that was made up of a fast running Bingley team lead by newly crowned triathalon world champion Alistair Brownlee, Dark Peak, Calder Valley, Pudsey & Bramley and Borrowdale. Chasing hard on the heels of the Borrowdale pair over Dove Crag and up the climb of Red Screes the Keswick pair then found themselves in 5th as they passed the early leaders Bingley in difficulty on the descent from Red Screes. They handed over to leg 2 duo of Dave Birch and Matt fraser in 58.47 and 5th place. Dave and Matt were not phased and flew round the leg in 1.02.40 to hand over to Toby Cushion and James Luxmoore at Hartsop in 6th. Toby and James ran a good leg posting 38.18 and pulling back a place -handing the baton over to Ian Davies and Mark-Denham Smith just behind Bingley who were by now moving back up through the field. And so for the run to the finish, only 3000+ feet of ascent -over St Sunday Crag, Fairfield and Hart Crag in the way. Ian and Mark took chase out of the handover at the playing fields on the heels of Bingley's Robb Jebb and Andy Peace but couldn't hang on -Peace and Jebb went on to post the 2nd fastest time for the leg while the Keswick lads posted 1.20.58. The team will now be fired up for the FRA Fell and Hill Relays, this year over the Ennerdale Fells on Sunday 18th October.
The Keswick AC Ladies placed 5th covering the four-leg course which starts and finishes at Sykeside, Brotherswater in a time of 5:16:18. Suzy Grindley and Lucy Dunn led out on leg 1, posting 1.28.12 for the the 2848' ascent and 4.5 miles. Trudy Beetham and Sara Hodgson then took up the baton, running hard over the 7.5 mile second leg to gain the team a fantasic 6 positions in a super 1.20.08 -the 3rd fastest ladies time of the day. Anne Downie and 'super-sub' Kim Clarke, who stepped into the breach late in the day when one of the team was lost to illness, fought hard to post 53.04 for leg 3, from Hartsop to Patterdale. At Patterdale playing fields our ladies team's secret weapon -the duo of Cat Evans and Jo Gillyon took the baton up, with the 4th placed team Holmfirth Harriers almost 15 minutes ahead. Running a fantastic leg of 1.34.54 (4th fastest ladies time of the day) Catherine and Jo pulled the Holmfirth pair to within just 90 seconds!
The Keswick AC 40+ team too had a good day. Boasting super-fast V50s and a V60 they placed a fantastic 8th V40 team against some stiff competition (the first V40 team placed 6th overall!). Dunc Overton and Neil Thompson led out on leg 1 negotiating the course to Kirkstone Pass in 1.11.29 where they handed over to Dave Owens and Rob Wynne who dashed round the 7.5 mile leg 2 over Caudale Moor and High Street in 1.12.01, moving thorough the field to pick up 4 places which must have been fun. The pair of Dave Burton and Keith Hill took over at Hartsop sheep folds for the run over Angletarn Pikes and down to Patterdale in a speedy 48.46 where Nick Ogden and Craig Smith were waiting to carry the team through to the finish in 1.24.54 for a total time of 4:37:10 and 27th team overall -A great performance from an injury affected team which was missing one or two runners, and one that could even merrit the inclusion of Birch and Denham-Smith in a team to challenge for a medal next year, also showing promise for the V40 competition at the FRAs in two weeks.
Thanks to all for a great day on the fells. It shows what can be acheived with a little hard work and commitment...and next year a top 5 spot beckons! See you at the FRAs.
Full results are online here. Individual checkpoint split-times are online here.
Photographs courtesy of John Beetham, and Dunc Overton
5 comments:
I agree Steve. It was a superb day and I am so proud of all our girls (& boys!).
You might want to just check your 4th leg time....I know we had a good run but I don't think we were quicker than Mark and Ian!
sorry, i did you an in juststice there -I've now ammended your time. Thanks.
Well done everyone.
Wonder what the results would have been if the race had been on Saturday??!!.
Am looking froward to seeing what we can do at the FRA Relay. Keep on doing the recces and lets hope for at least a bit of mist.
Yes, well done to everyone but a special mention should be given to our respective Club Captains, Steve and Jo, organising the teams in their debut seasons in charge.
They did a great job in rallying teams together, organising reccies and ensuring an enjoyable day for everyone involved.
Some photos by darian bridge of leg 2/3 here...
www.keswicklakedistrict.co.uk/fellraces/ih09/index.htm
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