Blake Fell. 4.5m/1700' -Sat. 30th January

Nearly a hundred runners assembled yesterday for the early season Blake Fell; four and a half miles, with 1700' of climb -first to Sharp Knott, then onto Blake Fell, Burnbank, and finally Owsen Fell before a steep descent to the finish. Bright sunshine, with little wind made pleasant running conditions, with the sometimes soft ground between Blake and Burnbank set hard by the frost.

For those who had competed at the UKA Fell + Hill Relay Championship in October of last year, the race was a return visit to fells much used by the relay. The Blake race this year however followed a slightly different route to that of recent years -the ascent of Sharp Knott being flagged to avoid damage to the erroded path out of the forest.

There was good turnout of Athletic Club members, with some very good performances by several individuals. Pippa, who had a super strong run setting a new course record in 36:02, was a class above. John Niccoll too showed his improving form giving Chris Edis good chase to the line, who along with Matt Fraser and Steve Hebblethwaite took 4 of the top 10 places with a dominant team performance that bodes well for 2010. Well done all.

1. Chris Steele -31.24 (Borrowdale)
2. Steve Hebblethwaite -32.31
3. Simon Booth -32.49...V40 (Borrowdale)
4. Matt Fraser -33.58
5. Martin Amor -34.33...V40 (CFR)

8. Chris Edis -35.52
9. John Niccoll -35.57
21. Ian Davies -37.50
22. Craig Smith -38.19...V40
27. Colin Valentine -39.17...V45
33. Rob Wynne -40.51...V40
40. Dave Owens -41.30...V50
74. Chris Clarke -48.37...V60

11. (1) Pippa Maddams -36.02
46. (4) Julie Carter -42.31...LV40
57. (7) Jo Gillyon -43.55
59. (8) Trudy Beetham -44.19
71. (12) Hayley Hodgson -47.43...LV40

Full results on Cumberland Fell Runners website HERE

Would like to sign up for some circuit training sessions, could you please give me a contact number or email address, many thanks, Nicky

Blake Fell 30/1/10

well done all, good KAC turn out. some excellent runs (the Miss'es did ok!!). Nice one Steve H finishing second and beating no other than simon booth into third.

Running to the limits -TV programme

Channel 4 are showing the programme 'Running to the Limits' again this Sunday morning at 07:45. It is an intersting watch -inspiration before you go out for your long Sunday run!

The documentary was made by a filmmaker -Alex Vero, who was 16 stone, overweight and a heavy drinker, before deciding to take up running, and attempting to see what it would take to become an international marathon runner. The documentary also spends some time with GB distance athlete Ben Moreau and Ethiopian Mengsitu Abebe, in what is an interesting look at distance running, and the marathon.

Blake Fell

Sat Jan 30 Blake Fell 12pm from Lamplugh Green.   4.5miles / 1700' £4.00 on the day.

This is a great little race taking in Sharp Knott, Blake Fell, Burnbank Fell and finally Owsen Fell.  Anyone involved in the FRA relay last year will recognise the area!

Anyone wanting a lift drop me an email on  jogillyon@yahoo.com I will be leaving Keswick about 10.45am.

KAC Club Champs Races for 2010

The Keswick AC Club Championships Races selected for 2010 are:

Fell Championship

Sat 27 March CAUSEY PIKE (S) 4.5m / 1780’
Sun 4 July SKIDDAW (M) 9m / 2700’
Sat 7 Aug BORROWDALE (L) 17m / 6500’
Sun 19 Sept DALE HEAD (S) 4.5m / 2210’

Road Championship

Sun 7 March HAWSEWATER HALF MARATHON
Tues 18 May MOORCLOSE 10K
Wed 21 July NEWLANDS VALLEY ROUND 6.8M
Sun 7 Nov DERWENTWATER 10M

The Club League is the same as last year, any 8 from the 13 Club Races.

Sped's 3 Peaks 2010, 12.5m/3600' -Sunday 24th January

28 folks out today for this scenic route which takes in Catbells, Walla Crag, and Latrigg. Pleasant conditions -little wind, allmost all of the snow of the last few weeks now cleared.

Following a burst pipe and no water at the Pavillion in Fitz Park the clock was turned back 15-20 yrs, the start being from Market Square outside Sped's flat -A very big thankyou to Dave and Vida for their hospitality, rewarding tired runners with plentiful cups of tea and cake and somewhere to rest, thanks both.

The closed suspension bridge at Portinscale this year forced a short detour -via High Hill (B5289) and the A66.

Chris Steele -1.43.13
Simon Booth -1.44.30
Steve Hebblethwaite -1.50.02
Pippa Maddams -1.59.00
Dan Barton -2.16.00
Toby Cushion -2.17.00
John Beetham -2.17.00
Dave Spedding -2.20.00
Quentin Merritt -2.25.00
Dave Owens -2.27.00
Jo Gillyon -2.34.00
Cat Evans -2.34.00
Chris Evans -2.34.00
Gill Conroy -2.44.00
Mikey Cunningham -2.44.00
Caz Cunningham -2.44.00
Hayley Hodgson -2.51.00
Debbie Edgington -2.51.00
Jim Downie -2.51.00
Kim Clark -3.04.00
Chris Clark -3.04.00
Patric Gilchrist -3.06.00
Barry Halsall -3.19.00
Lesley Malarkey -3.15.00
Pete Richards -1.53.10...Catbells/round lake end
Anne Downie -2.11.00...Catbells/Walla Crag
Pat Richards -2.11.00...round lake end/Walla Crag
Rose Gittins -2.11.00...round lake end/Walla Crag

...well done all.

Revelin Moss Race, Saturday 23rd Jan

**Update on Thursday 21st Jan**

Well, the car parks at Whinlatter are still shut and the tracks are either covered in snow or ice. This sadly means that Saturday's training race is postponed.

There is talk of opening some of the car parks by Saturday, but as my route was mostly track-based, running conditions are likely to be slow and slippy.

I have the route set and maps sorted - hopefully we can run it again on a weeknight during the spring.

As an alternative run, don't forget Sped's 3 peaks on Sunday (Fitz Park, Catbells, S end of Derwent, Walla Crag, Latrigg, Fitz Park). 1100 start from Fitz pavillion.

cheers,

toby


For those who are keen, I've organised a low-key orienteering route for this Saturday's race. Nothing too technical (big path junctions; marker posts etc), more about route choice rather than trying to find a small boulder in a small re-entrant in a dark forest. Junior races will be the normal flagged affairs on the tracks.

Had a reccie on Saturday however and can report the following:
- the car parks are full of snow and are locked shut
- the road verges are v soft due to banked snow
- the forest tracks are snow covered, around ankle deep
- the fellsides are better, but trods / paths are snowy, esp higher up Grisedale
- i got cold feet.

I plan to have another look later in the week and will update here. But with further snow forecast later in the week and temperatures remaining relatively low, I may have to postpone for a nicer Thurs evening in the spring.

I'm really keen for the race to go ahead, but want it to be fun, not like the two hour trudge I 'enjoyed' over the weekend!

cheers,

toby

Winter Series Race #2: Sale Fell, 6.5m/1700' -Saturday 16th January

A wet & blustery morning plus patchy ice on the route made for an interesting challenge. Unfortunatley we had no juniors this morning, perhaps understandable given the conditions, but six hardy types turned out for the senior race...Chris & Kim (for a jolly around their backyard), Steve Hebblethwaite, Ian Davies, Dan Barton & Joe Gillyon. Having flagged the course in the morning (with the help of Steve) I opted to run the course behind the field and pick up the markers (I didn't fancy a third run round to collect them after the race!) We decided to handicap the race -Chris & Kim first off followed 5 minutes later by Jo, with Steve, Dan & Ian setting off a further 5 minutes on. This format worked well and by the second big climb from Kelsick Farm all six were grouped together and were able to encourage one another 'over the top'.



By the second lap (a slightly shorter loop) the field had spread out with Steve & Dan leading the way, Dan pushing the 2009 club champ all the way to the finish. Ian came in next having rediscovered his 'fell legs'. Kim & Chris had a good battle, although I think Chris will be doing the washing up tonight! Jo made up a lot of ground given her 5 minute handicap, she had to run mostly by herself except for the final descent where my dog Gem accompanied her most of the way down.......sorry Jo, as if the ice wasn't enough of an obstacle!



Well done all and thanks to Steve Harwood who did his usual time-keeping job, thanks also to Martin & Lesley who turned out to co-ordinate the junior race that wasn't!

The next race in the series is NEXT SATURDAY 23rd, which will be an orienteering-type race from Revelin Moss in Whinlatter, hosted by Toby Cushion.

John Beetham

RESULTS:

Sale Fell 6.6m/1700'

1.= Steve Hebblethwaite -57.00
1.= Daniel Barton -57.00
3. Ian Davies -60.02
4. Jo Gillyon -74.02
5. Kim Clark -76.28
6. Chris Clark -77.07

Sale fell winter training race 16/1/10

I checked the fell conditions today, the snow & ice is thawing so underfoot conditions should be ok by saturday..even if the weather is a bit grotty! Juniors will run an out & back course, distance will depend on age group, but will be up to 2 miles. Seniors will run a 6.5 mile figure of 8 loop, the course will be flagged where required and is open to all.
Juniors 10am Seniors 11am

New K A C logo

An attempt at a K A and C on the untouched snow slopes of Skiddaw at the weekend.....genius I thought

FRA English Championship -Noonstone fell race

The first race in the 2010 English Fell Running Championship is Noonstone on Sat. 27th February

The race is PRE-ENTRY ONLY with a limit of 500, so early entry is essential (i.e. within next couple of days).

Entry is via the official entry form only, which can be downloaded at link below:

www.todharriers.co.uk/noonstone/noonstone_entryform_2010.pdf

Further details about the race on the Todmorden Harriers website www.todharriers.co.uk

The other races in the 2010 English Championship (best 4 to count, 1 at each distance) are:

27th Feb -Noonstone (Medium)
1st May -Coniston (Medium)
12th June -Ennerdale (Long)
26th June -Sedbergh Three Peaks (Short)
18th July -Holme Moss (Long)
5th September -Shelf Moor (Short)

And in the 2010 British Championship (best 3 results, 1 at each distance):

10th April -Silent Valley (N.Ireland) (Medium)
26th June -Sedbergh 3 Peaks (Short)
31st July -Dollar (Scotland) (Medium)
25th September -Black Mountains (Wales) (Long)

Cumbria X-Country League race CANCELLED

The final meeting of the Cumbria X-Country League which was to take place this Saturday at Carlisle's Sheepmount Athletics Stadium has been CANCELLED, and will be re-scheduled for a date later in the season.

The following is a message from Noel Hakeman:

"The snow, thaw, rain, snow, thaw, etc. cycle has left the course in a treacherous condition. As there appears to be no let-up in the forecast until after Saturday, it has been decided to postpone the event until later in the season.
Noel Hakeman"

Video

See the following link for a quickly assembled video of film-clips and snaps taken on my camera during the course of 2009...with thanks to Pete Richards, for additional FRA relay photography, and Dunc Overton for Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay snaps.

'You Tube' link here



Many thanks and congratulations to all who made such a fantastic year. Here's to another one in 2010.