Cumbria XC League Race #2: Penrith -Sat 23rd Oct

A clash of fixtures on the opening weekend of the 2010 Cumbria XC League meant Keswick AC was unable to field full strength teams as they begun their defence of the 2009 League men's and women's titles at Cockermouth last week (16th Nov).


This was far from the case at Penrith on Saturday as the ladies (Sam Ayers, Jo Gillyon, Deb Edgington, Hayley Hodgson and Kim Clark) took maximum points in the Senior Women's race, while not to be outdone, Keswick AC's men recorded a 1-2-3 in the Senior men's race, only to be denied maximum team points by the pack system whereby two Border Harriers runners had set off with 5 minute, and 2 and a half minute advantages over the main pack.


In an exciting U13 Boys race over 3500m, Mark Donovan came out 2nd in a time of 12:11, Joseph Horne running well for 8th in 13:46, while brother Arran took a super 3rd place in the U11 Boys (1800m). Photographs are now online at www.sportsunday.co.uk


Results:
Senior Men (6900m)
1. Phil Winskill -24:00
2. Steve Hebblethwaite -24:02
3. Dave Birch -27:17
4. Jeff Chadwick (Hoad Hill H) -27:40
5. David Sargeant (Eden Runners) -27:48

12. Craig Smith -29:55
20. Richard Unwin -31:04
25. Quentin Merritt -32:34
33. Chris Clark -37:51

Senior Women (6900m)
1. Karen Bridge (Eden Runners) -31:20
2. Charlotte Douglas (Border H) -31:27
3. Sam Ayers (Keswick AC) -32:48
4. Jo Gillyon (Keswick AC) -33:58
5. Jenn Mattinson (Howgill H) -35:10

6. Debbie Edgington -35:33
7. Hayley Hodgson -35:44
10. Kim Clark -37:25

U13 Boys (3500m)
1. Chris Richards (Helm Hill) -11:54
2. Mark Donovan (Keswick AC) -12:11
3. Elliott Matier (Eden Runners) -12:14

8. Joseph Horne (Keswick AC) -13:46

U11 Boys (1800m)
1. Robson McKay (Nithsdale)
2. Tom Humphries (EdenR)
3. Arran Horne (Keswick AC)

All photographs ©sportsunday -www.sportsunday.co.uk

Cumbria XC League Race #2 Penrith - Sat 23 Oct

Those of us who resisted the urge to do The Screes (well done to those Keswick folk who did) were treated to 4 laps of the French Fields cross country course at Penrith. Lots of flat, fast running with some brutal short, sharp hills thrown in for good measure.

Well done to Phil and Steve at the sharp end, securing 1st and 2nd respectively I believe.

I haven't seen any results yet but a great Keswick turnout I am sure will mean we featured in the teams too.

Next race is in this series is at Maryport on 27 Nov 2010.

The Screes Fell Race - 23rd October 2010

Conditions were cracking for fell-running today with Wasdale looking resplendent as ever. A slight breeze but hardly noticeable once you got running. The last third of the race was testing enough; a boggy, stone-ridden path making for a difficult descent. But a superb race that I can't recommend enough.

Keswick folk out were Julie Carter, John Beetham, Colin Valentine and me. All well up the field with Julie 3rd lady. 57 runners in total, Carl Bell of Howgill Harriers won the men's race and Emma Clayton was first lady.

Dunnerdale Recce

A couple of us are planning a jaunt round the Dunnerdale race route on Sunday morning. The race is on 13 November 2010 and is hosted by Black Coombe Runners. It starts at Broughton Mill and according to their website the checkpoints are as follows -

• The Knott SD224920
• Raven Crag SD224930
• Stickle Pike SD212928
• Great Stickle SD212916

I was thinking of around a 9am start from Keswick.

Get in touch if you fancy it - jogillyon@yahoo.com

FRA Relays

Congratulations Team... looking forward to racing with you soon!

I ran my first race as a Keswick member yesterday: The Llanwyrtedd Wells Trail Half Marathon. It was a very friendly race, small (53 runners), short (11.8m rather than 13.1) but good fun. En route back from a family visit to Swansea.

Worth doing if you happen to be in Mid Wales!

UKA Fell & Hill Relay Championships, Lomonds of Fife -Sun 17th Oct

Congratulations to the Keswick AC ladies who placed 3rd at the UKA Fell & Hill Relay Championships today!


The prizes for the open categories at the relays, this year in Fife, were dominated by two Scottish teams benefitting from the home advantage -in a close contest Shettleston held on for a win over Pudsey & Bramley, and HBT took the 2010 womens title ahead of fellow Scots Carnethy, and bronze medalists Keswick AC.

Full results on the SportIdent website here, leg splits and hill checkpoint splits here.

Well done to all involved today -Keswick AC Ladies, Open Men and Veteran Men. Done us proud. Full report to follow in the next edition of the Pacemaker.

Cumbria XC League, Cockermouth -photos now online

Photographs of the first meeting of the 2010-11 Cumbria XC League at Cockermouth yesterday, are now online at www.sportsunday.co.uk or via the link HERE.

Cumbria XC League 2010, race #1: Cockermouth -Sat 16th Oct

The 2010-11 Cumbria XC League kicked off today over the challenging course at Cockermouth, hosed by Derwent AC. Despite the national 6-stage road relays at Sutton Park today, and FRA's in the Lomonds of Fife tommorrow, the race was contested by a strong field of Cumbrian club runners.

John Nicoll of Keswick AC took up the early pace in the senior race before Ricky Lightfoot of Ellenborough AC, tipped as the pre race favourite, stamped his mark on the fixture with a powerful display at the front. Setting up chase were Phil Winskill (Keswick AC) and Russell Maddams (Kesiwck AC) fresh from a 2:31:53 at the Loch Ness Marathon. An effort from Maddams on the final lap saw him catch and overtake Winskill but he had done too much and Phil was able to ease ahead at the finish for 2nd.

Further back John Nicoll fought well after his earlier exertions at the head of the race which must have taken a lot from his legs and John Beetham completed the strong Keswick team.

2009 Cumbria League runner up Karen Bridge was setting the pace at the front of the wommens race. Last season's champion Pippa Maddams on relay duty this weekend, watched from the sidelines as Debbie Edgington and Amanda Dexter aquitted themselves well in Keswick AC colours over the tough course which varied from firm to very soft in places given the dry start to the month. Thanks go to Derwent AC for their hospitality.


The next fixture in the Cumbria League is next weekend at Penrith -Saturday 23rd October, and the Mid-Lancs league kicks off the following week -Saturday 30th at Barrow.



Photos, top to bottom: Ricky Lightfoot on form at Cockermouth. John Nicoll set the early pace. Russell Maddams carried his form from the roads. Amanda Dexter -Cumbria League debut. Debbie Edgington.

XC season 2010-11

Fixtures for the Cumbria League, Mid-Lancs League, and County Champs are now confirmed. The article 'Cross Country' in the last edition of the Pacemaker, detailed how XC running is a great way to bring on your running over the winter. Below are listed the main fixtures for 2010-11. Time to dig out those spikes!

The Cumbria League caters well for runners of all abilities with a 'group system' whereby two groups of slower runners are set off at 6 and 3 minutes prior to the racing snakes, as well as junior races (Min age 9, Cats: U11, U13, U15, U17, ages as at Sept 1 2011) which start from 12 noon.

The Mid-Lancs League races are contested by stronger fields and will be of real benefit to the faster lads, women and juniors in the club.


Lastly, the dates for the Northern XC Champs, Nationals and Inter-Counties are confirmed -get them in your diaries now.

Cumbria League

Sat 16 Oct -Cockermouth
Sat 23 Oct -Penrith
Sat 27 Nov -Maryport
Sat 4 Dec -Carlisle
Sat 8 Jan -Keswick

Mid-Lancs League (link)

Sat 30 Oct -Barrow
Sat 13 Nov -Blackburn
Sat 27 Nov -Liverpool
Sat 22 Jan -Burnley
Sat 12 Feb -Blackpool
Sat 12 Mar -Skelmersdale

Cumbria County XC Champs
Sat 11 Dec -Keswick*

Northern XC Champs
Sat 29 Jan -Sunderland

National XC Champs
Sat 19 Feb -Alton Towers

Inter-Counties
Sat 5 Mar -Birmingham

*selection of Cumbria team for Inter-Counties

Penrith Rotary Club Trail Run -Sun 10th Oct

Fine weather for the second edition of this race that was new to the calendar last year. The 10K (approx.) mixed terrain course traverses tarmac, farm tracks and grass in and around the grounds of Lowther Park. A faster race up the front this year. Keswick AC results below -well done all.

1. Morgan Donnelly (Borrowdale FR) -34:34
2. James Douglas (Border H) -34:46
3. Jon Fletcher (Border H) -34:58

7. Jamie Luxmoore -40:29
24. Martin Sluce -45:03

1. Mel Hyder (Helm Hill) -44:12
2. Gudrun Ravetz (Eden R) -44:40
3. Rhiannon Silson (Border H) -45:13

10. Sue Wilkinson -49:58
31. Alison Cutts -1:01:20

Appologies if I have missed anyone. Full results here.

Appeal for runners for FRA relay team

Due to injury, we are requiring a further runner to make up the 6-man Keswick AC V40 team for the UKA Fell + Hill Relay Championship in Fife on Sunday, this weekend.

If you would like to have a run out at this fun event, please get in touch. Further details at www.fifeac.co.uk/ukahillrelays.

stevenhebblethwaite@hotmail.com
01900 821501 or 07854 643 274

Langdale Horseshoe, 14m/4000' -Sat 9th Oct.

The final race of the 2010 Lakeland Classics Trophy arrived on Saturday. Some great results in the LCT this year by a number of club runners -well done. Full results here.

1. Helen Fines (Calder Valley) -2:32:53
2. Hazel Robinson (Ambleside) -2:43:38
3. Karen Davison (Dark Peak) -2:45:50

6. Cathrine Evans -3:03:23
10. Sarah Bailey -3:12:10

1. Oliver Johnson (Dark Peak) -2:07:57
2. Mark Palmer (Mynydd Du) -2:08:54
3. Carl Bell (Howgill Harriers) -2:09:48

48. Toby Cushion -2:35:52
57. Daniel Barton -2:37:59
68. Craig Smith -2:43:18
135. Chris Evans -3:03:23
193. Neil Elsender -3:19:28

Wasdale Head Show, 2.5m/2400' -Sat 9th Oct.

Wasdale Head Show, final race in the 2010 BOFRA championship, results here.

Track sessions in Whitehaven

A few of us are going to the all-weather (floodlit) track at Whitehaven to do 400/800 rep sessions. We will probably be going once a fortnight, starting on Thurs 21 Oct. We will be leaving Keswick at 5pm. There is a fee of a few pounds (£2.50 or £3 we think) per person per session. If you are interested in joing us, feel free to contact me or Jo.

IH prize giving & pics

Chris, Matt, Jamie, Ian, Dan, Chris, John & Steve collecting 4th prize in the Open race

Helen, Hayley, Cat, Gill, Sarah, Sarah, Jo and a stand-in for Holly collecting their 2nd prize

Well done to all three teams - epic performances all round, making it a great day out for non-runners despite the conditions. Proud to be in the yellow & green!

For more pics, see here.

Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay -Saturday 3rd October

Well done to all the folks running in the Keswick AC teams in today's IHMR.

Results are on the sportident website here. Splits including hill checkpoint times here.

Open

1. Borrowdale -3:44:21
2. Pudsey & Bramley -3:44:47
3. Calder Valley -3:58:52
4. Keswick AC -3:59:44
5. Ambleside AC -4:11:09

Ladies

1. Ilkley Harriers -4:59:58
2. Keswick AC -5:06:03
3. Holmfirth -5:16:37
4. Bingley -5:18:08
5. Dark Peak -5:24:00

Vets

1. Ambleside AC -4:01:48
2. Dark Peak -4:10:38
3. Clayton-le-Moors -4:24:20
4. Keswick AC -4:35:31
5. Pudsey & Bramley -4:35:25

Special thanks to the lads in the open team:
Matthew Fraser, Myself, Ian Davies, Chris Edis, Daniel Barton, John Nicoll, Jamie Luxmoore, Chris Robinson, John Beetham (reserve)