Ladies Beginners Group Run

From Wednesday the 6th October Keswick Athletic Club will be hosting lady group sessions aimed at ladies who are interested in getting into running.

These sessions will run on a weekly basis and are intended to provide a social and relaxed atmosphere in which new runners can become accustomed to the sport. The sessions will be low-key with the emphasis being on fun and all are welcome, no matter what speed you run at!

So if you want to get into running or are just looking to enjoy some exercise with like-minded people then these sessions would be ideal. They will start at 6:30pm meeting at the Cenotaph, Penrith Road, Keswick. Road running or trail shoes will be required and reflective gear should be worn. Further details from Diane Shaw: diwhys@hotmail.com

Three Shires, 13m/4000' -Sat. 18th September

Results from the Three Shires fell race on Saturday 18th September are on the FRA website here.

1. Lauren Jeska (Todmorden Harriers) -2:13:21
2. Tracey Greenway (Ilkley Harriers) -2:27:02
3. Nicky Spinks (Dark Peak FR) -2:29:53

5. Cathrine Evans -2:36:27
20. Sarah Bailey -2:52:55

1. Ricky Lightfoot (Ellenborough AC) -1:55:49
2. Ben Abdelnoor (Ambleside AC) -1:55:58
3. Graham Pearce (Pudsey & Bramley) -1:57:13

36. Toby Cushion -2:14:59
70. Colin Valentine -2:24:45
107. Chris Evans -2:36:29
164. Richard Unwin -2:48:39
197. Geoff Somers -2:58:18

Black Mountains

Any news from the race?. There are some photos here



Pippa had an admirer!!

Go Zone Racing

OK, I'll admit it, I should be working. But what the heck? Anyway, I have come across a new concept called Go Zone Racing. It is claimed to provide an approach that helps you beat your PB. (Yes, I know, "train harder, lose a stone, then run faster" works too!). You can read all about it here. I am planning to give it a go in the Lancaster 5k on Saturday. If my face looks like this :( when you see me at training on Tuesday, you'll know what happened!

IH leg 2 fri 24/9 5pm

Ian Boit & myself are having a look round leg 2 of the IH on Friday 24th sept, meeting cow bridge at 5pm. Anyone wishing to join us would be more than welcome (particularly if you have a good route knowledge!) I will be passing through Keswick enroute if you need a lift (leaving cockermouth at 3.45ish) my number: 07870195441

Club Fell-Championship race #4: Dale Head, 4.5m/2210' -Sun. 19th September

Rick Cooper at Dale Head -final race in the Keswick AC Club Fell-Championship 2010

It was a damp afternoon at the Borrowdale Shepherds Meet and Show yesterday, making for testing conditions for the final race in the 2010 Keswick AC club championship.

There was some close racing across the age categories. With a number of absentees -Pippa Maddams and Steve Hebblethwaite sealing the top spots in their respective categories last month at Borrowdale, and also several of the ladies whoare in preparation for an attempt at team gold in the British Championship next weekend in South Wales, the door was left open for some good competition for medal positions, and for age category medals too.

Well done to Dave Birch who was first placed Keswick AC runner home in 4th to take 2nd in the 2010 Fell Championship -congratulations Dave. Though it was far from easy run as he was chased home hard by John Nicoll second club counter, and a trio of the club's runners in a close fought battle for V40 honours -Craig Smith, Dave Prosser, and Mark Denham Smith taking it to the wire.


Craig Smith descends beneath the quarries in yesterday's Dale Head race. Photograph copyright © 2010 Darian Bridge

Well done also to Kim Clark, and to Jim Downie who both featured in the prizes yesterday finishing FV50 and MV60 respectively, and in particular Jim who sealed this year's V60 Club Championship in convincing style, with of a clean sweep of category victories in the year -placing 1st MV60 at the Causey Pike, Skiddaw and Dale Head races.


Jim Downie, Keswick AC V60 Champion 2010, at Dale Head

Full results to follow when they're available. Some good photographs as ever by Darian Bridge here.

The 2010 Keswick AC Club Road-Championship reaches it's climax at the final race, the Derwentwater 10 on November 7th -details here.

Results at Weasdale, Grisedale Horseshoe, Derwentwater Trail, Mountain Trial, Great Westmorland Trail Race, Braemar, and Garstang Half Marathon

September is well upon us, a month with some great races. A few select results below:

Garstang Half Marathon -Sunday 19th September

(Distance reduced to 11.75 miles due to flooding on the course)

1. Gary Pennington (Preston Harriers) -1:03:37
2. Steve Littler (Wesham RR) -1:04:13
3. Russell Maddams (Keswick AC) -1:05:32

Petzl Lake District Mountain Trial, Kentmere, Far Eastern Fells -Sunday 12th September

Women's Trial
1. Kate Cooper (CFR) -4:32:22
2. Kirsty Bryan-Jones (Dark Peak FR) -4:39:07
3. Karwn Nash (South Ribble OC) -4:41:42

10. Debbie Thompson -5:15:55

Short Trial:
1. Peter Hodkinson (Notts AC) -2:20:28
2. Ian Davies (Keswick AC) -2:53:24
3. Derek Ratcliffe (Rossendale Harriers) 2:56:35

Long Trial:
1. Rhys Findlay-Robinson (Dark Peak FR) -4:10:58
2. Hector Haines (Ilkley Harriers AC) -4:12:53
3. Steve Birkinshaw (Borrowdale FR) -4:13:55

17. Toby Cushion -4:53:12
24. Mark Denham Smith -5:00:58
25. Colin Valentine -5:01:34

Great Westmorland Trail Race, 7.5m/1200' -Saturday 11th September

1. Morgan Donelly (Borrowdale FR)
2. James Douglas (Border Harriers)
3. Nick Leigh (Pudsey & Bramley)

41. Jim Downie -1:00:52 (1st MV60)
76. Jeremy Anketill -1:07:01

1. Rhiannon Silson (border Harriers) -54:43
2. Suzanne Budgett (Horwich RMI Harriers) -56:59
3. Julia Henderson (Helensburgh AC) -57:19

8. Anne Downie -1:06:47 (1st FV50)

Derwentwater Trail, 8.5m/1350' -Sunday 5th September

1. Nick Swinburn (Northumberland FR) -51:30 (course record)
2. Matt Whitfield (Bingley Harriers) -54:58
3. Russell Maddams (Keswick AC) -55:13

42. Adam Campion -1:08:43

1. Pippa Maddams (Keswick AC) -1:01:56
2. Jenny Watts (u/a) -1:03:08
3. Sarah Ridehalgh (Accrington RR) -1:05:12

Braemar Gathering Hill Race, 6km/310m -Saturday 4th September
1. Scott Fraser (Edinburgh Uni H+H) -25:50

13. Chris Edis -28:58

Grisedale Horseshoe, 10m/5000' -Saturday 4th September

(Course extended via detour on valley bottom)

1. Chris Steele (Borrowdale FR) -1:56:43
2. Rhys Findlay-Robinson (Dark Peak FR) -2:01:42
3. Paul Cornforth (Borrowdale FR) -2:05:29

8. Jamie Luxmoore -2:18:25
11. Craig Smith -2:21:56
17. Dave Prosser -2:24:03
22. Daniel Barton -2:28:17
29. John Nicoll -2:49:09

Weasdale Horseshoe, 8m/2000' -Saturday 21st August

1. Jason Stevens (Calder Valley FR) -1:02:53
2. Gavin Mullholland (Calder Valley FR) -1:02:56
3. Ed Gamble (Cheshire Hill Runners) -1:03:02

6. Chris Robinson -1:07:19

Shelf Moor, 5.9m/1500', English Championships -Sunday 5th September

1. Rob Hope (Pudsey & Bramley) -40:40
2. Lloyd Taggart (Dark Peak FR) -40:44
3. Simon Bailey (Mercia FR) -40:56

8. Steve Hebblethwaite -42:30
51. Ian Davies -48:49
131. Quentin Merrit -58:12
169. Chris Clark -1:08:31

1. Lauren Jeska (Todmorden Harriers) -48:49
2. Helen Fines (Calder Valley FR) -48:52
3. Jackie Lee (Eryri) -50:56

15. Cathrine Evans -56:26
16. Helen Winskill -56:40
19. Julie Carter -57:24
24. Holly Williamson -58:43
38. Jo Gillyon -1:00:19
51. Sarah Bailey -1:02:25
59. Kim Clark -1:05:50
69. Siobhan Brewer -1:09:56

Short notice IH Leg 2 recce - Wednesday

I’m having another look at Leg 2 of the Ian Hodgson on Wednesday if anyone fancies a little stroll round (it’ll be a relaxed pace).

Usual drill – meet at the Rawnsley Pavilion at 17:15 or Cow Bridge car park in Patterdale for about 17:45.

The forecast isn’t great for this week so waterproof gear is advisable.

Contact me at iandavversdavies@googlemail.com or pitch up on the evening.

Lancaster 5k series

The last Lancaster 5k series race is at 6.30 pm on Sat 25 Sept. The route starts and finishes at the Salt Ayre Leisure Centre. The course is flat and fast, so offers a good opportunity for a PB. For further details and entries, see here.

If you are interested in car sharing, give me a shout.

Quentin (q.merritt@tiscali.co,uk; 017687 72730).

Grasmere Guides Race -photos

Photo: copyright © 2010 Eileen Woodhead



Photo: copyright © 2010 Dave Woodhead


Photos from last weekend Grasmere Sports Guides Races online here

Shelf Moor 05 Sept 2010

The last English Championship counter, a short sprint in the Peak District... 8 Keswick ladies and 4 Keswick men made the journey to Glossop for the 5.9mile/1500ft race to fly the Keswick AC flag.

And what a day it was. Perfect conditions (dry and breezy(!)). The ladies set off first at 11.15am followed by the mens race at 12pm.

To summarize Steve Heb slaughtered the opposition to post 8th, his best ever performance in such a competitive field. Ian Davies also had a cracking run with his best ever English ranking to date. Chris Clarke & Q Merritt (on his maiden championship voyage with an impressive knee injury sustained on the descent) both stormed home to the cheers of the over excited Keswick AC Ladies (relieved their race was over).

Cat Evans also posted a superb 15th position, with Helen Winskill chasing close behind in 16th. Julie Carter claimed 18th, followed closely by Holly Williamson, Jo Gillyon, Sarah Bailey, Kim Clarke and Siobhan Brewer. Well done to all the girls and a massive thank you for such a great turn out. Provisional results here http://www.glossopdale.org.uk/races/racessm.html
Top 3 Results:
1st Rob Hope (P&B)
2nd Lloyd Taggert (Dark Peak)
3rd Simon Bailey (Mercia)

1st Lauren Jeska (Todmorden)
2nd Helen Fines (Calder Valley)
3rd Jackie Lee (Eryri)

Ian Hodgson - Leg 2

There will be a recce of leg 2 of the Ian Hodgson next Wednesday 8th September. We will leave Keswick at 17:15 to get to Patterdale for 17:45. Meet at the Rawnsley Pavilion in Keswick or at the Cow Bridge NT car park in Patterdale.

We will be taking two cars to avoid having to run back up Kirkstone Pass at the end.

Experienced hands most welcome!

Drop me a line at iandavversdavies@googlemail.com if interested or just pitch up at the above times.

Racing this weekend

There is a new race on Saturday, from the Hesket Newmarket Show. The senior race is "just over 7 miles long involving a circular route on road, track and fell paths from the show field through Hudscales, over the top of High Pike and back through Nether Row". There is also a junior race for 11-15 years (approx 1/2 mile on the field opposite show field). Details here.

Also on Saturday is the 10m/5000' Grisedale Horseshoe which was a counter in last year's club fell-championship, 11.30am from Glenridding Village Hall. Details on the FRA website here. 2009 results here.

Anyone at a loose end on Sunday could have a look over in Lorton for the 134th Loweswater Show (details). There are junior and senior fell races begining at 1.00pm for U11 boys & girls, 1.30pm for U16s, and seniors at 2.30pm. Goat judging is at 11.00am.

The Ulverston Charter 5K and 1 mile fun run also takes place on Sunday, from the GSK sports club in Ulverston at 2.30pm. Details here.

Then next week there are two 'local' 10K evening races -on Tuesday Blengdale Runners' annual Gosforth 10K, at 6.30pm from Gosforth playing field (details here), and on Wednesday the Gallovidian Dumfries 10K at 7.00pm from the Leisure Centre in Dumfries. Details here.

Club road ranking 2010

The club road rankings have been updated following last weekend and can be found on the club website here.