My new blog

For those who may be interested in following my long road to recovery after surgery, I've started a blog, partly to give me something to do, partly to keep me motivated and partly to save on the number of emails I'm sending trying to keep all interested parties up to date.

http://fromrecoverytobeyond.blogspot.com/

I'm sure at least one or two of you might find it interesting. As well as my recovery, I will go onto discuss training, racing, equipment, how rubbish Birmingham City are doing, how lucky we are to live and run in Keswick, etc, etc.

Dave T

Lancaster 5k results (27th Aug)

Several KAC members turned out for the latest event in our club road champs. Steve Heb led the way with an excellent 3rd place in 16:04, not far behind the winner, Iain Quinn of Barrow & Furness Striders. Josh Hebson was next home for Keswick (12th), followed by Andrew Slattery (25th), Dunc Overton (34th), Quentin Merritt (48th), Rachel Slattery (56th) and Chris Clark (62nd). 91 runners completed the course. For full results, see here.

Car Share to Lancaster 5K - 27th August

Anyone wanting to car share to the 5K on Saturday race e-mail me on: training@keswick-ac.org.uk

Cheers,

Dunc

Ian Hodgson, FRA, and Northern Road Relays

Could all club members please note the dates of the Ian Hodgson, FRA, and Northern Road Relays which are fast approaching.

This year the club has again entered Men's, Women's and V40 teams for both the Ian Hodgson and UKA Fell + Hill Relay Championships, and subject to interest may well send teams to the Northern Athletics Men's Six Stage Road Relays, and Women's Four Stage Road Relays.

The Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay is on Sunday 2nd October this year and there is a measure of expectation that Keswick AC will this year improve on their excellent placings in the 2010 relay where the men's team placed 4th, in addition to the 2nd placed women's team, and 4th veteran team.

The UKA Fell + Hill Relay Championships are hosted by Bingley Harriers this year and will be based at Kettlewell in the Yorkshire Dales on Saturday 15th October. Last year the club again entered strong teams to this event which was held on the Lomond Hills in Scotland, the women taking bronze medals, while the men placed 13th and the vet team placed 22nd.

The Northern Athletics Men's Six Stage Road Relays will be held at Birchwood Park in Warrington on Saturday 24th September. The Six Stage is a relay of six individual legs of approximately 6km. There is also a Women's Four Stage Relay over 4 stages of approximately 4.9km.

IAN HODGSON MOUNTAIN RELAY -SUNDAY 2ND OCT
UKA FELL + HILL RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS -SATURDAY 15TH OCT
NORTHERN 6 AND 4 STAGE ROAD RELAYS -SATURDAY 24TH SEPT

All enquiries and any men interested in running at any of the three events please contact men's captain Steve Hebblethwaite either by email at stevenhebblethwaite@hotmail.com or telephone on 01900 821501 as it is extremely helpful for the organisation of the teams to have enthusiastic runners.

Steel Fell 10/8/11:

A very damp but humid evening welcomed 46 hardy folk for the annual post Borrowdale blast up and down Steel fell. The route starts and finishes from steel end farm and climbs the north ridge, as seen from the A591. An increasingly steep climb which brings most except the elite to a hands on knees grind, I always forget how far back the summit is and their is a lot of running to be done once the climb has been conquered, running into a brisk southerly wind and with the ground soft underfoot made the going hard, but the wind then encouraged the Field back as one by one the drowned rats circled the summit cairn for the return trip. A good turn out from both Keswick and Borrowdale with the two clubs filling all but two of the top 12 positions! Borrowdale took the spoils with Phil Davies holding off Scoffer to take the win. Keswick had six runners in the top 12, Chris Eddis being the first back (4th) and Pippa continuing her fine form to take the Ladies top spot and 9th place overall. Thanks to Scoffer for organisation, Gavin Bland for hosting the race in his backgarden! and a big thanks to Sharon Schofield (and collie) for standing on the summit in torrential rain!

1. Phil Davies (B'dale) 23:17
2. Andrew Schofield (B'dale) 23:46
3. Chris Newman (Warfedale)23:53

Keswick results:
4. Chris Eddis 24:22
7. John Nicol 25:14
9. Pippa Maddams 25:37 (1st Lady)
10. John Beetham 26:25
11. Craig Smith 26:45
12. Ian Davies 26:56
18. Chris Brewer 27:58
20. Chris Harling 28:03
34. Jo Gillyon 33.30
40 David Owens 34:37

46 Finishers.

Borrowdale Race 6th August

Saturday morning saw early downpours but these cleared up and the cloud stayed above the tops to give ideal conditions for the 341 starters.

A leading group formed including including Simon Booth, Ricky Lightfoot, Carl Bell, Jim Davies, Ben Bardsley and Ben Abdelnoor and despite a stunning descent of the Corridor Route Simon couldn't shake the others off. Abdelnoor, Lightfoot and Bell left the rest of the group on the climb to Dale Head and finished in that order with the winning time being 2:52:37.

The ladies race was won by Andrea Rowlands of Eryri Harriers in 3:47:43 ahead of Heather Marshall and Nicky Spinks.

Borrowdale were out in force taking 1st and 3rd team prizes.

Craig Smith led the Keswick runners home in his 11th run with a PB of 3:38:51 finishing in 40th place. Rachel Slattery was first Keswick lady in 4:45:18 just outside the top 200.

1. Ben Abdelnoor - Ambleside - 2:52:37
2. Ricky Lightfoot - Ellenborough - 2:52:56
3. Carl Bell - Howgill - 2:2:53:43

40. Craig Smith - Keswick AC - 3:38:51
52. Andrew Slattery - Keswick AC - 3:42:22
77. Dave Prosser - Keswick AC - 3:53:21
118. Craig Dring - Keswick AC - 4:15:04
201. Rachel Slattery - Keswick AC - 4:45:18
204. Geoff Somers - Keswick AC - 4. 45:55
207. Rachel Mellor - Keswick AC - 4:47:03
265. Sarah Bennett - Keswick AC - 5:14:41
307. Siobhan Brewer - Keswick AC - 5:39:40
317. Alan Buckley - Keswick AC - 6:24:36

Full results are on the Borrowdale website

http://www.borrowdale-fell-runners.org/

Photographs of the race are on

http://www.keswicklakedistrict.co.uk/

http://www.sportsunday.co.uk/

Rydal Round 9m/3000' 28th July

1. Ricky Lightfoot - Ellenborough - 1:17:39 (New Record)
2. Jim Davies - Borrowdale - 1:20:34
3. Carl Bell - Howgill - 1:22:49

21. Craig Smith - Keswick AC - 1:37:06
26. Fiona Hughes - Cambridge University 1:38:07
32. Andrew Slattery - Keswick AC - 1:39:57
120. Patrick Gilchrist - Keswick AC - 2:18:55

Ulverston 10K 10/8/11

Anyone thinking of travelling down to Ulverston next week for this one? I am looking for a lift. Happy to contribute to fuel costs. Race starts at 7.15pm.
John: 07870195441 or johnbeetham@hotmail.com

Beetham Fell Race 30/7/11

If you have a fell race named after you its only right you go and do it! Beetham sports is one of the oldest Cumbrian sports events on the calendar, a great day out for al the family with races for anyone from 2 yrs old! The fell race is a fast 5.75 mile circuit taking in Beetham fell and 1000 ft of climbing. Good running on well marked trails through woodland, limestone terraces and open fell, something for everyone and a good workout!. This year saw a record entry of 104 runners with some local clubs turning out in force (Helm hill , Howgill Harriers and local club - Lonsdale fell runners). Trudy and I were the only Representatives from KAC and both had good runs improving on our previous results in this race 3 years ago. It was a very hot sunny day and dry underfoot, the majority of the race is through woodland so the shade was appreciated. I would recommend this day out for anyone with kids, we had family come up from Preston and made it a real 'Beetham' family day out

1. Craig Roberts (Kendal) 35:49

2. Mark Addison (Helm Hill) 35:59

3. Carl Bell (Howgill) 36:38

12. John Beetham 41:28

46. Trudy Beetham 49:12 (4th Lady)

104 finishers.

Whittle Pike, 5.1m/1400', 2011 English Championship -Sat 30th July

The penultimate race of the 2011 English Fell Running Championship -the Rossendale Harriers organised Whittle Pike, took place down in Lancashire on Saturday. Well done to those Keswick AC runners who raced -some good results (below).

The final race in the English Championship is on Sunday 21st August, Sedbergh Hills 14m/6000', entry is by the official form here, race details here. Anyone wanting to carshare get in touch with me. This is followed by the final race in the 2011 British Championship the short Devil's Beeftub race near Moffat, just north of the Scottish Border on Saturday 10th September. Again a lift is available -get in touch.

Whittle Pike, 5.1m/1400', English Championship -Sat 30th July

1. Lloyd Taggart (Dark Peak FR) -37:30
2. Chris Steele (Borrowdale FR) -38:00
3. Ben Abdelnoor (Ambleside AC) -37:14

179/15th V60. Chris Clark -1:04:02

1. Katie Walshaw (Holmfirth Harriers) -45:47
2. Helen Fines (Caldee Valley FR) -46:43
3. Mel Price (Mercia FR) -47:06

18. Sarah Bailey -54:08
29/5th V40. Sam Ayers -56:11
64/8th V50. Kim Clark -1:05:24

Full results at www.rossendaleharriers.co.uk

Lancaster 5K - 30th July 2011

Results: http://ukroadraces.info/results/2011/lan53.htm

There was a quality field out for the 5K on Saturday evening. The front two both went under the 15 minute mark (Jorge Thomas; 14:43 and James Douglas; 14:59). The first lady was Caroline Betmead of Blackpool Wyre & Fylde.

Four Keswick lads travelled down. On a warm evening Josh Hebson bettered his 5K time at Cockermouth to record a PB of 16:32, finishing 12th. Lee Newton has set down a 5K marker, running his first race at the distance, crossing the finish at 19:28 and 36th overall.

Steve Hebblethwaite, despite his Snowdon exploits the week before, went very close to clocking a sub-16 minute effort finishing 16:02 and 7th place. I was chuffed to break 17 minutes and record my second fastest 5K time; 16:47 and 16th position.

The next 5K in Lancaster is on the 27th August and is the penultimate counter in the KAC Road Championship.