British Championship round #2: Sebergh 3 Peaks, 4.1m/1663' -Saturday 26th June

A very warm afternoon, 4.1m/1663' starting at the Peoples Hall above the town and traversing the three peaks of Winder (1551'), Arant Haw (1984') and Crook (1509'), before a steep descent to the finish by the hall.

The cloud cover that had been present earlier in the day had all but disappeared by the afternoon and the ladies race started at 2pm under the hot sun, followed by the men, one hour later at 3pm.

We were watching the ladies race on the climb of Winder where Pippa and Olivia Walwyn were taking up the pace at the head of the race to the extent that they had gapped the rest of the field at this point. Pip had a cracking descent and was a clear winner in the end by some margin -I didn't see the finish as between trying to warm-up and do a few strides I was seeking any shade I could find from the heat of the sun. Pippa was ably supported with good running from Julie, Holly, Jo, Hayley, and Kim.


Picture: Julie Carter -2nd counter in Keswick AC ladies 3rd placed team on Saturday, courtesy of Peter Thompson

The challenging course and conditions were coupled with a strong field contesting the men's race -the British championship now consisting of only 4 races with only one short-counter meant a stacked field and highly competitive racing. It was great to see the best of the resurgent Keswick AC mens team out for the race -myself, Chris Edis, John Nicoll experiencing a baptism of fire in his first Eng/Brit champs outing, Ian, Jamie and Chris Clark too. A good showing from the lads and tough race made for a great day, and very well done Pippa.


Picture: Gary Jones (Northumberland FR) chases Matthew Roberts (Eryri) and Steve Hebblethwaite, courtesy of Peter Thompson

Ladies:

1. Pippa Maddams (Keswick AC)-37:54
2. Claire Whitehead (Cosmic) -39:09
3. Olivia Walwyn (Altringham) -39:12

31. Julie Carter -46:27
39. Holly Williamson -47:07
53. Jo Gillyon -49:20
68. Hayley Hodgson -51:28
80. Kim Clark -54:31

Teams:
1. Eryri Harriers
2. Dark Peak
3. Keswick AC

Men:

1. Tim Davies (Mercia) -31:59
2. Rob Hope (Pudsey & Bramley) -32:20
3. Andrew Davies (Mercia) -32:27

38. Steve Hebblethwaite -35:55
80. Chris Edis -39:11
87. John Nicoll -39:55
106. Ian Davies -41:00
146. Jamie Luxmoore -43:46
227. Chris Clark -57:37

Video of Chris Thompson 3rd UK all-time 10,000m/Chris Solinsky USA record

There is a great video online here of the amazing 10,000m at the 2010 Payton Jordan Invitational meeting at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California last month, where american Chris Solinsky ran a time of 26:59.60 to break the American Record by 13 seconds, in the same race that AFD athlete Chris Thompson ran 27:29.61 to go to 3rd on the UK all-time ranking.

Simply stunning running, and a very entertaining video with some fantastically excited but knowledgeable commentary too.

In an interview following todays UK Championship 5000m and Euro Trials, Thompson indicated that like Mo Farah, he may double up the 5000 and 10,000 at the European Championships next month in Barcelona. The BBC coveage of this weekends UK Champs action, including the womens 1500m final on day one, and Chris Thompson in the mens 5000m final on day two is available on the BBC iPlayer for the next 7 days.

Sedbergh 3 Peaks

I see from The FRA Forum that Pippa won yesterday's British Championship race.... if so, Well done Pippa, you are a star!!. How did the rest of our club get on?.

Athletics on TV

The UK Championships and European Trials being held at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham this weekend will be televised live today and tomorrow. Coverage starts this afternoon at 16:00 on BBC2, withfurther coverage of the final day tomorrow at 17:30 on BBC 2 -set your video recorders.

The opening session took place last night with the heats of the 100m, 800m, and 1500m, and the mens 10,000m final. Report on UKA here.

West Highland Way Race

8 months of training, 1 race, 95 miles, 14000 feet of climb, 1am start, 9.20pm finish. Hot conditions and 20 odd hours of headwind made the race just that little bit more testing, but everything came together on the day. My two support crews were fantastic and my low moments were very few and not that low!
Without doubt, the best run of my life! Came 15th in a time of 20 hours and 20 mins.
VERY stiff but no major damage (stairs are not something I look forward to at the moment).
The "high" should pass in the next month or so but I've got to get through a session on John's physio table tomorrow which could bring me down to earth with a bump!!!!!

Tebay Fell Race - Sat 19 June

A rather thin field of 50 turned up for this medium race in the Howgills on Saturday. Bit of a difference from last year when hundreds turned up due to it's English Championship status. I think the organiser will be reverting back to a Wednesday night for future years.

The weather was perfect for the 8 mile / 3000ft loop taking in the summits of Rispa Pike, Uldale Head, Linghaw and then up the notorious final climb to Blease fell before a long "fast" run back to the village of Tebay and the finish.

A handful of us travelled south for this and naturally we all did brilliantly. Unfortunately I am not as organised as Ste Heb when it comes to jotting down results but I can confirm that Q got his highest placing on the fells yet (I think) with 16th, I was 2nd lady after Lou Roberts, Hayley was 1st LV40 and Dave Burton (in his green vest rather than his yellow one) was 1st MV50. Well done to Siobhan, new lady member, who took to the fells for the first time as well. Oh and Alistair Dunn of Helm Hill was overall winner.

Sedbergh 3 Peaks Recce

Recce happening of the above this Wed. Depart Keswick 3.30pm, email me for more details if you're interested. jogillyon@yahoo.com

Ennerdale Horseshoe, 23m/7500' -Sat 12th June

Fine conditions for this years running of this classic horseshoe -very clear on the tops with a good breeze to keep the worst of the heat away.

The race was a counter in the English Championship this year. A good turn out from Keswick AC with a strong ladies team and some good results from an young and improving mens team.

Men:
1. Rob Jebb (Bingley) -3:34:06
2. Lloyd Taggart (Dark Peak) -3:35:58
3. Ian Holmes (Bingley) -03:41:08

11. Steve Hebblethwaite -3:59:59
42. Jamie Luxmoore -4:22:25
48. Toby Cushion -4:27:50
63. Craig Smith -4:37:32
141. Chris Evans -5:15:01
178. Derek Queenan -5:31:43
225. Rob Wynne -5:48:28
230. Geoff Somers -5:50:12
243. Neil Elsender -5:57:35
260. Andrew Murray -6:28:36

Ladies:
1. Jackie Lee (Eryri) -4:23:43
2. Jane Reedy (Ambleside) -4:33:00
3. Helen Fines (Calder Valley) -4:38:39

10. Holly Williamson -5:09:33
14. Catherine Evans -5:15:00
18. Jo Gillyon -5:29:33

Well done to Jo for stepping in to make up the ladies team at the last minute -my back of the envelope calculations suggest that in an incredibly close competition the ladies team results are:

1= Keswick (10. Holly Williamson, 14. Cat Evans, 18. Jo Gillyon =42)
1= Ambleside (2. J. Reedy 8. H. Robinson and 32. B. Sendlhofer =42)
2. Dark Peak (4. Nicky Spinks, 11. Liz Batt, 28. Julie Gardner =43)

Does anyone know how teams are separated in the event of a tie? The position of the last counter or first counter perhaps?

Well done also to Craig for taking one and a half hours off his previous best of 6:03:55 set in 2006.

Full results and splits HERE.

The next counter in the English Championship is the short race, Sedbergh Three Peaks on June 26th, also a British Championship counter. This is followed by the British Championship medium race at Dollar on 31st July when entries will be available on the day.

Freckleton Half Marathon Sunday 20 June

I know of a possible 3 entries available for this flat (allegedly) half marathon. More details can be found on John Schofield's website.

Anyone chasing an award time or just fancying a half next weekend (as you do) just drop me an email on jogillyon@yahoo.com. All you have to do is fill in a form to transfer the entry.

Carlisle Tri 10k

It was cold and blustery for last night's Carlisle 10k but that didn't stops KAC from doing the business. Russell, Steve and Ian set off at the head of the field and soon broke clear from the pack. They were too far ahead for your humble correspondent to see, but I gather Steve made the pace until Russell took the lead. Ian and Steve kept him in sight, with Steve just edging ahead of Ian in the final couple of miles. All of which means we got a terrific 1-2-3. Well done, lads. Is this a first for the club? Some good results elsewhere, with Kim Clark winning the 'super-vet' category and PBs for Ian (lopping a whole second off his recent Moorclose breakthrough), Quentin (30 secs off his best time as a vet) and PC John Shaw (freed from the shackles of family responsibility for the night!). Keswick results:

1st - Russell Maddams (33:52)
2nd - Steve Hebblethwaite (34:10)
3rd - Ian Davies (34:35)

18th - John Waite (39:13)
20th - Mark Rutherford (39:26)
26th - Quentin Merritt (40:58)
76th - John Shaw (47:09)
77th - Chris Clark (47:15)
79th - Kim Clark (47:27)

Well done to all.

There were 164 finishers. Full results available here.

Blencathra, 8m/2700’ –Wednesday 2nd June

A good turnout from Keswick AC at this midweek race on Wednesday last week. Some folk even doubling up on the Two Riggs race the previous night, which along with a stern will also requires the ability to coax complaining legs to co-operate.

A few photos HERE.

1 Jim Davies Borrowdale 1:02:42
2 Ben Abdelnoor Ambleside 1:06:36
3 Bill Stewart Holmfirth 1:06:42

7 Phil Winskill Keswick 1:08:11
11 Ian Davies Keswick 1:10:42
15 Nick Ogden Keswick 1:12:05
51 Richard Unwin Keswick 1:21:40
60 John Nicoll Keswick 1:23:35
70 Peter Bailey Keswick 1:26:12
88 John Horne Keswick 1:29:50
110 David Harrison Keswick 1:34:57
121 Chris Clark Keswick 1:43:34
122 Patric Gilchrist Keswick 1:43:40
130 Allan Buckley Keswick 1:47:32
135 Phil Sturgess Keswick 1:50:45

12 Lauren Jeska Todmorden 1:10:51
33 Clare McKeown Border Harriers 1:18:03
68 Karen Bridge Eden Runners 1:25:34

125 Kim Clark Keswick 1:44:03
133 Melissa Hart Keswick 1:50:01
134 Nicky Butler Keswick 1:50:37

Full results HERE.


Picture: Stuart Stoddart

Fred Whitton –Sunday 9th May

Not for the faint-hearted the 112 mile Fred Whitton course starts & finishes at Coniston, and takes in climbs of Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Hardknott & Wrynose passes. This year having clocked up unhuman amounts of winter mileage in the saddle Toby Cushion was targetting the event for a sub-7 hour time. Not all went to plan on the day however –riding on a puncture for 70 miles through the first section Toby did well to offer a smile to me as I watched the riders climbing Whinlatter. On a pleasant day for riding he went on to clock splits of 3:12 through Buttermere, 5:15 at Calderbridge to finish in 7:04. Well done.

A quick scan of the results reveals that Keswick AC had another member out -Dave Spedding going through in splits of 2:57 at Buttermere, 5:08 to Calderbidge and finishing in believe it or not, 7:04! Well done Sped.

The fastest on the day was Rob Jebb in splits of 2:40 at Buttermere, 4:21 for Calderbridge and 5:47 to the finish.

Coiners –Monday 4th May

One that missed our radar: Keswick AC junior Mark Donovan had an absolutely cracking race last month at the Coiners race in Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire. Clocking 16:22 for the 1.9m/400ft course, Mark placed 2nd behind Seth Waterman of Holmfirth who currently leads the FRA 2010 junior championship in the U12 category. Well done Mark.

An new online list of junior races is now being maintained HERE.

Club road-running rankings 2010

The first edition of the club rankings for 2010 is now online HERE.

The list will be updated thoughout the year. The rankings are intended to provide motivation, while highlighting the good performances of club members.

It is worth noting that the fastest times posted so far this year for all of the mens distances; 5K, 10K, 10M, Half-Marathon and Marathon are all faster than the best of 2009, and the ladies Half-Marathon and Marathon 2009 best-times have also allready been bettered. Well done all -I look forward to having to make further revisions to these times.

Should anyone be aware of results that are unlikely to come to our attention or have been missed from the ranking, please submit them to stevenhebblethwaite@hotmail.com

Two Riggs, 6.5m/1350' -Tuesday 1st June

A great club turnout tonight for the evening dash along the top of the Two Riggs, that starts and finishes at Bram Crag Farm in St Johns in the Vale.

Phil, Russell and John were all well up inside the top 10 as they passed me on Low Rigg with Jo leading the ladies. Well done to all who turned out for the club tonight on a pleasant evening for running.

Full results HERE.


Phil back on good form after his lay off due to injuries sustained falling from his bicycle.


Russell giving chase close behind.


Jo looked comfortable leading the ladies.

Helvellyn, 11m/4500' -Sunday 30th May

Full results from the Helvellyn fell race are now available on the club-website HERE.

1. Mike Fanning (Borrowdale FR) -1:39:44
2. Phillip Sanderson (Northumberland FR) -1:44:43
3. Alan Ward (Dark Peak) -1:47:00

8. Dave Prosser -1:54:14
12. Daniel Barton -1:56:09
22. Colin Valentine -1:59:48
60. Rob Wynne -2:12:14
96. Peter Bailey -2:22:58
115. Neil Elsender -2:30:02
129. Chris Clark -2:39:27
137. Patric Gilchrist -2:43:40

1. Christine Howard (Matlock) -1:56:29
2. Jo Waites (Calder Valley FR) -1:58:06
3. Rachel Vincaent (Tynedale) -2:17:23

11. Hayley Hodgeson -2:31:32
16. Kim Clark -2:46:10 (4th FV50)

162 finishers