Cumbria XC League Race #4: Keswick -Saturday 8th January

The 4th race in the 2010-11 Cumbria XC League took place yesterday over the excellent Fitz Park courses which only four weeks earlier had hosted the Cumbria AA County Championships.

In a close run U13 Boys race Keswick AC's Mark Donovan had a super run, negotiating the 2500m course in 8:46, to take victory from U13 Cumbria County Champion Chris Richards of Helm Hill. Keswick AC were also represented well by Joseph Horne who ran a strong race, clocking 10:02 for 7th.


The senior Women's race was dominated by Keswick AC, occupying five of the top six places, although it was Border's Claire McKeown who took the win in 37:30. Julie Carter (41:03) 2nd, Sam Ayers 42:22 (3rd), and Jo Gillyon 42:36 (4th) easily took the team prize that will be a good confidence boost going into the English Fell Running Championship which begins in a few weeks time.

A decent quality senior men's race saw Border's James Douglas triumph on on the Fitz Park course again, posting an almost identical winning time to his County Champs win last month -yesterday's winning time of 30:38 faster by one second!

Douglas set the tempo from the off with only Chris Steele (Borrowdale FR) and Keswick AC's Phil Winskill going with the early pace. Winskill who started 2011 with a win at the Nine Standards fell race last weekend, tracked the Borrowdale man who placed 4th in last years British Fell Running Championship closely but had to settle for 3rd in 31:37, some 16 seconds down.

Phil was followed by Steve Hebblethwaite (32:15) 4th, and Jamie Luxmoore (35:00) 6th, to win the men's team competition from Border Harriers and Cumberland Fell Runners. Yesterday's race also marked the welcome return of Duncan Overton (40:04) 24th, to competitive running who needless to say wrapped up the V60 competition with ease.

One fixture of the 2010-11 League remains -the cancelled Carlisle meeting which has now been rescheduled, for Sunday 13th February. Thanks to Noel, Ken, Steve, the course marshalls and other volunteers who helped put on yesterday's races.

Photographs of the junior races yesterday can be found at www.athletesinaction.co.uk.

Full results HERE.

Keswick AC results:

Sen Women
2. Julie Carter -41:03
3. Sam Ayers -42:22
4. Jo Gillyon -42:36
5. Hayley Hodgson -44:58
6. Rachel Mellor -48:43

Sen Men
3. Phil Winskill -31:37
4. Steve Hebblethwaite -32:15
6. Jamie Luxmoore -35:00
15. John Nicoll -37:27
19. Craig Smith -38:25
23. Richard Unwin -39:51
24. Duncan Overton -40:04

U13 Boys
1. Mark Donovan -8:46
7. Joseph Horne -10:02

Picture: Mark Donovan © www.athletesinaction.co.uk