Gibson Grind

71 brave souls completed the 14k Gibson Grind on Saturday; brave enough to take on Scout Scar in breezy drizzle and mist, but not quite brave enough to have a tilt at the Loughrigg & Silverhowe Chase! The route starts at Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School in Kendal (just behind Kendal College) and works its way steadily up onto the fell via a network of playing fields, tracks, footpaths and a bit of road. From there, it goes directly up to the famous Mushroom viewing point via the old race course and then follows the edge of the Scar due south to Brigsteer. It then heads back towards the Mushroom via an undulating and twisting route that runs roughly parallel to Brigsteer Rd, before reversing the ascent to get back to the school.

Mark McGoldrick (Wharfdale) was first back in 56:40, followed by Paul Dugdale (Kendal) and James Baird (FRA). The first woman was Sarah Sherratt (Wesham Road Runners) in 73:12 (26th overall), followed by Tracey Peters (Southport Waterloo) and Shirely Staveley (Burnden Road Runners). Quentin Merritt was first back for Keswick AC, coming 17th in 72:23 and more than happy to finish ahead of several quicker men who chose more 'scenic' routes! Jeremy Ancketill was the only other KAC runner, finishing 57th in 85:31. (Full results will be posted on the school website here in due course.)

Despite the weather and some navigational challenges, this was a fun and friendly race to do; definitely recommended for those whose ambitions don't quite stretch to the national championships!

Quentin.

Loughrigg & Silverhowe Chase -English Championship race, Sunday 26th June

1. Ian Holmes (Bingley Harriers) -1:08:20
2. Andrew Davies (Mercia FR) -1:08:35
3. Rob Jebb (Bingley Harriers) -1:08:43

10. Steve Hebblethwaite -1:10:47
67. Jamie Luxmoore -1:24:04
69. Dave Prosser -1:24:44
89. Andrew Slattery -1:29:58
174. Chris Clark -2:08:23

1. Lauren Jeska (Todmorden Harriers) -1:27:38
2. Lou Roberts (Kendal AC) -1:27:47
3. Judith Jepson (Dark Peak FR) -1:28:40

14. Julie Carter -1:40:04
16. Sarah Bailey -1:40:23
39. Rachel Slattery -1:47:32
44. Hazel Davies -1:51:21
57. Sarah Bennett -1:58:53
62. Debbie Thompson -2:00:46
64. Victoria Haworth -2:03:51
65. Kim Clark -2:03:54
??. Sam Ayers -??:??:??

Mens race full results
Ladies race full results

Upcoming Racing Action - 25th/26th June 2011

For those not racing at the English Championship counter at Ambleside at the weekend, there are a couple of alternative fell races in the local area. On the Saturday there is the Gibson Grind at Kendal, an 8.7 mile race with 1300’ of climbing. On the Sunday is the Arnison Dash in Ullswater. This is a classic up and down lung-buster, 2 miles in distance with 1000’ of climbing. It’s a cracking race and forms part of the Patterdale Show. Details of both races are on the FRA website.

If anyone is interested in a road race, I’m going down to Lancaster on Saturday afternoon for the 5K race. This is a flat course with potential for PB times. The race starts at 6:30pm from the Salt Ayre Leisure Centre. Drop me a line at iandavversdavies@googlemail.com or 07789 234788 if you want to car-share.

Tebay -8m/3000', Wednesday 15th June

Just over 100 runners had the pleasure of running this challenging mid-week race on Wednesday night. Although the race has an advertised 8 miles of running and 3000' of ascent, several GPS watches recorded over 9 miles for the course, which visits checkpoints at Rispa Pike, Uldale Head, Linghaw, and Blease Fell.

The race was the third in the 2011 Keswick AC Club Fell Championship. There were some closely fought battles in the men's competition, with Phil Winskill in the second race of his Championship campaign posing the biggest threat to the advantage held by Steve Hebblethwaite going into the race, but it was Steve who came out on top after getting involved for much of the race in a chase of the eventual race winner Rob Jebb (Bingley Harriers), that turned into a battle for 2nd place on the long descent from Blease Fell summit. This eventually went to Carl Bell (Howgill Harriers) who had the strength on the night to run clear of Borrowdale's Jim Davies who took the 3rd podium spot, with Steve around a minute later in 1:16:03. Jamie Luxmoore (1:22:14) showed a promising return to form after a poor run at Duddon only the week before to take 3rd in the senior men's championship from John Nicoll (1:26:08) in 4th. Indeed there were some promising runs from several of the emerging crop of runners at the club with Josh Hebson in only his second fell race only around a minute in arrears of John, while Lee Newton who is rapidly improving ran another strong race here.

After just under an hour and a half of racing Andrew Slattery (1:29:04) took maximum points in the V40 competition from Craig Smith (1:29:48) by a margin of less than a minute. In the V50 competition Quentin Merritt handed Peter Bailey a more comfortable ten minute defeat and in doing so reversed the V50 result of last month's Dockray-Hartside, while Dunc Overton had the better of Chris Clark in the V60 category.

With Pippa Maddams away on international duty at the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championship in Slovenia this weekend, the door was open in the Ladies Championship. Cathrine Evans (1:40:56) who is on a great season this year ran a fine race to take 2nd overall on the night behind Amblesdide AC's Hazel Robnson who recorded a winning time of 1:38:17. But it was Lyn Thompson (1:46:38), making her debut in the 2011 Championship who had the run of the night in the ladies race to beat Rachel Slattery who was 1st V40 in 1:50:28.

The remaining races in the six-race Championship are Blisco Dash (20th July), Loweswater Show (4th September), and Three Shires (17th September).

1. Rob Jebb (Bingley Harriers) -1:13:08
2. Carl Bell (Howgill Harriers) -1:14:31
3. Jim Davies (Borrowdale Fell Runners) -1:15:04

4. Steve Hebblethwaite -1:16:03
6. Phil Winskill -1:18:10
13. Jamie Luxmoore -1:22:14
24. John Nicoll -1:26:08
27. Josh Hebson -1:27:13
30. Ian Davies -1:29:04
31. Andrew Slattery -1:29:04
32. Daniel Barton -1:29:17
33. Craig Smith -1:29:48
38. Chris Edis -1:32:15
44. Lee Newton -1:35:19
48. Duncan Overton -1:37:33
54. Andrew Murray -1:40:11
78. Quentin Merritt -1:50:21
89. Chris Clark -1:55:54
95. Peter Bailey -2:02:38

1. Hazel Robinson (Ambleside AC) -1:38:17
2. Cathrine Evans (Keswick AC) -1:40:56
3. Sharon McDonald (Settle Harriers) -1:42:22

6. Lyn Thompson -1:46:38
8. Rachel Slattery -1:50:28
16. Sarah Bennett -2:01:43
17. Kim Clark -2:08:21

Full results HERE.

Keswick AC Fell Championship fixtures 2011 - Best 4 from 6 to count

(S) Loweswater Show, 2.6m/1000' -Sun 4th September
(S) Causey Pike, 4.5m/1780' -Sat 26th March*
(S) Blisco Dash, 5m/2000' -Wed 20th July
(M) Dockray Hartside, 6m/2000' -Wed 4th May
(M) Tebay, 8m/3000' -Wed 15th June*
(L) Three Shires, 13m/4000' -Sat 17th Sept*

Loughrigg & Silverhowe Chase -English Championship race, Sunday 26th June.

Last chance to get entries in the post in the next few days for this one, entries on a universal FRA entry form (here) by Monday 20th June.

SUN. JUN 26. LOUGHRIGG AND SILVERHOWE CHASE 1p.m. 8.5m/2530'. Venue: Ambleside Football Club. £6.00, pre-entry. Entries of FRA universal entry form, by 20th June. Cheques to "P. Bland". Over 18. Records G. Jones, 01.20.02, 2010; f. E Dugdale, 01.42.51, 2010. English Championshiop counter. Race maps available from Pete Bland Sports. Details: Pete Bland, 12, Danes Road, Staveley, Kendal, LA8 9PW. Tel 01539 821688.

Grasmere Gallop

244 finely tuned National Trust supporters (ahem!) completed the Gallop on Sunday. The weather was fine and the new (slightly shortened) course was much nicer than the old one - with a chunk of road in the middle being replaced with trail along the shore of Rydal, and a 10m watersplash to avoid a scramle over rocks.

Howgill's Carl Bell led from gun to tape, winning in a more than respectable 36:16. John Curran was first back for Keswick, coming 15th in 43:47, followed soon afterwards by Martin Sluce (18th in 44.28). Then came Simon Thompson (24th, 45:04), Quentin Merritt (31st, 46:29), Steve Strachan (45th, 49:15) and John Shaw (51st, 50:40).

The women's race was won by Joanna Zakrzewski from Dumries in 41:51. First Keswick lady was Di Shaw (well done Di) in 51:49 (66th overall), followed by Sarah Moir (83rd, 53:56), Louise Brown (94th, 54:46), Elizabeth Finney (184th, 1:05:21) and Sarah Pepper (205th, 1:10:04).

Well done, all - and apologies if I have missed anyone or got your details wrong. Full results available here.

Club Fell Championship 2011 -race #3: Tebay Wednesday 15th June

Next week will see the third race in the 2011 Keswick AC Club Fell Championship -the 8m/3000' Tebay fell race. Used in 2009 as an English and British Championship race, this classic mid weeker in the Howgill fells mixes good running on short grass with one or two good climbs and fast runnable descents, taking in checkpoints at Rispa Pike, Uldale Head, Linghaw, and Blease Fell.

WED. JUN 15. TEBAY (R) AM 7.00 p.m. 8m/3000'. Venue: Tebay Recreation Ground. GR NY618045. £5 Entry on day. Over 18. Records: Male, S. Bailey, 01.09.44, 2009; f. P. Jackson, 01.23.01, 2009

Pete Bland Sports stock a map of the race, which can be found online HERE.

2009 results HERE.

Athletics (and fell running) on TV and video

For those that missed the incredible 10,000m race at the Prefontaine Classic meet last weekend where Mo Farah set a new British and European record and world lead, or were disappointed at the poor highlights (of the last two laps of the race!) shown on the BBC, there is a video well worth a watch of the full race HERE.

There is also athletics on the TV tonight -live coverage of the Bislett Games in Oslo, the fifth meeting in the 2011 Diamond League, on BBC3 from 7-9pm.

There is also a terrific video of the Zegama-Aizkorri Maraton Alpina race from a couple of weeks ago HERE. The record of 3:54:18 for the 42km/2736m course was set by Rob Jebb in 2005. This year's race was the second in the International Skyrunning Federation 2011 World Series.

Recent Fell Race Results

Duddon English Championships Long race 4th June 18m/6000ft

1 Rob Jebb Bingley Harriers M 2:43:54 1st M
2 Ben Abdelnoor Ambleside M 2:45:32 2nd M
3 Ian Holmes Bingley Harriers MV45 2:49:56

71 Andrew Slattery MV40 3:32:18
72 Dave Prosser MV45 3:33:01
91 Jamie Luxmore M 3:40:02
121 Julie Carter LV45 3:54:17
124 Catherine Evans L 3:55:51
126 Chris Evans M 3:57:28
142 Craig Dring MV45 4:05:27
175 Samantha Ayers LV40 4:20:43
178 Sarah Bailey L 4:21:07
197 Jo Gillyon L 4:27:54
247 Siobhan Brewer L 5:07:27
265 Chris Clarke MV60 5:50:59
266 Kim Clarke LV50 5:52:49


Blencathra Race 1st June 8m/2700ft

1 Phil Davies Borrowdale 01:04:13 MV40
2 Carl Bell Howgill Harriers 01:04:39 M
3 Phil Winskill Keswick 01:07:51 M
4 Steve Birkinshaw Borrowdale 01:09:56 MV40
5 Chris Edis Keswick 01:10:00 M
16 David Loan Keswick 01:18:06 MV50
27 Chris Harling Keswick 1:22;21 M
29 Richard Scott Keswick 01:24:25 MV40
53 Peter Barley Keswick 01:31:40 MV50
71 Rachel Slattery Keswick 01:36:02 FV40

Carlisle Tri 10K 2011 -Wednesday 1st June

A good second place to Russell in the second running of this new 10K race which starts and finishes at Carlisle Racecourse.

1. James Douglas (Border Harriers) -31:38
2. Russell Maddams (Keswick AC) -33:14
3. Mickey Breen (Dumfries Running Club) -33:57

1. Mhairi Duff (Dumfries Running Club) -37:52
2. Lisa Finlay (Dumfries Running Club) -39:33
3. Claire McKeown (Border Harriers) -39:39

152 finishers. Results HERE.

Abbeytown 10M

Abbeytown 10M tomorrow -Sunday 6th June, Abbeytown, Wigton.

10M -1.30pm
5M -1.35pm
2M -1.40pm

Entry £7. Entry to all races welcome from junior and senior athletes, however prizes in 5 and 2 mile to juniors only. Refreshments, tea, sandwitches, etc. in the village hall.

Registration for races at playing fields.

New British and European 10k record

Mo Farrah has smashed the British and European 10k record. Astonishing run. Full story here.

Derwentwater 10 - Sunday 6th November

This year we will be using the latest in timing technology at DW10, Chronotrack B-Tag chips which are attached to the race numbers. Obviously this comes at a cost but Keswick AC members will still only be paying £9.
You can now enter HERE - there is no extra charge for entering online.