Carlisle Half Marathon Sunday 2nd Oct

Ha ha I've just seen John's post, the previous one. I was wondering if anyone could give me a lift to Carlisle, then John could drive to the Ian Hodgson? My number is 07870 198960. Thanks

IH leg 1 run out

Having been away for most of the month I am going to have a last minute run around leg 1 (patterdale-hartsop) this coming wednesday (28th sept). Anyone wanting to join me or grab a lift to run other legs please get in touch. 07870195441 or johnbeetham@hotmail.com. I am also in need of a lift over to patterdale on Sunday, I need to be there early as leg 1 starts at 9am. If any one as room in their in car please let me know. Cheers John.

Scafell Pike 4.5miles 3000ft 24th September

A total of 78 runners turned up for this short classic race. With no rain, mild temperatures & little wind, running conditions were pretty much perfect. Myself, Chris & Kim Clarke were the small contigent running for Keswick AC. After a very steep climb up Lingmell the gradient eases off slightly which allows for some running. Dalehead winner M.Mikkleson-Barron led the race from the start, with Chris Newman leading the chasing pack, which a group of us followed, but due to a navigational error led us all a little too far right of Lingmell, leaving us a rough & heathery traverse back onto the main track towards Scafell only to find runners ahead of us. Nearing the the summit I felt quite good, and places swapped to and thro with the 2 others runners I was with. After handing in a number tag to the marshall on the summit it was time for a hair raising descent. Following the same stony track down, the main obstacle was to avoid the hordes of walkers enjoying the conquest of Scafell- even in the fog! Still all runners were cheered on by plenty of spectators. Myself and another runner took a slight shortcut of the main track and luckily found a sheep trod where plenty of mud & stud marks were so we knew we were heading in the right direction & managed to get back on to Lingmell. The final descent was an endless leg pounding affair, but once out of the clouds & the finish in sight it was bearable. Eventually reaching the flatish, boggy fields towards the end, it took all but every last bit of energy to cross the finish (the sight of Joss Naylor casualy watching as we finished was nice to see).

1st M.Mikkleson-Barron 59.24 (Borrowdale)
2nd M.Robinson (DPFR)
3rd C.Newman (Wharfedale)

7th J.Nicoll (Keswick) 1.06.35

I believe the first lady to finish was Hazel Robinson (Ambleside), but had to leave fairly soon after race, so full results should be online for all to see on CFRA website or FRA website.

Not sure how Chris & Kim came in but I expect they had a good time!

All said & done this was a most enjoyable race which was well organised with drinks & delicious homemade flapjack for all the runners, some of which traveling far and wide to tackle Scafell. Well worth the trip.

Three Shires 13m 4000ft Sat 17th September

The final Fell Championship race took place on a very wet morning in Little Langdale. The start was delayed to allow competitors to walk from the alternative car park at Hodge Close. The rain meant that the ford was too deep to cross and made for very slippery conditions underfoot.

A total of 288 competitors finished but plenty of injuries were reported with many runners coming in with obvious wounds.

Final results on Ambleside AC's website: http://www.amblesideac.org.uk/


Men
Carl Bell of Howgill led from the start and was first home in 2:00:20 followed by Ambleside's John Helme and Holmfirth's Tom Brunt.

First Keswick runner was Jamie Luxmoore who had an excellent run coming in 11th in 2:10:14. The MV40 was closely fought again between Craig Smith and Andrew Slattery who finished less than a minute apart followed by Colin Valentine and Mike Beechey

Ladies
Ambleside's Hazel Robinson had an good run to take the ladies prize finishing 67th in 2:29:42 ahead of Kendal's Lou Roberts in second and first Keswick lady Julie Carter an excellent third and 92nd overall in 2:40:39

Keswick ladies had a strong performance with Sarah Bailey, Siobhan Brewer, Lesley Malarkey, Sarah Bennett and Rachel Mellor all running well.

1. Carl Bell - Howgill - 2:00:20
2. John Helme - Ambleside - 2:00:43
3. Tom Brunt - Holmfirth - 2:01:11

11. Jamie Luxmoore - Keswick AC - 2:10:14
30. Craig Smith - Keswick AC - 2:21:59
33. Andrew Slattery - Keswick AC - 2:22:37
66. Colin Valentine - Keswick AC - 2:29:21
92. Julie Carter - Keswick AC - 2:40:39
146. Sarah Bailey - Keswick AC - 2:56:28
177. Rachel Mellor - Keswick AC - 3:01:31 (corrected result)
213. Lesley Malarkey - Keswick AC - 3:09:51
221. Mike Beechey - Keswick AC - 3:11:56
242. Sarah Bennett - Keswick AC - 3:18:19
249. Siobhan Brewer - Keswick AC - 3:20:23 (corrected result)

Dale Head 4.5m 2200ft - Sunday 18th September

Borrowdale Show was cancelled due to waterlogged fields but the Dale Head race went ahead as scheduled.

The winner was local lad Martin Mikkelson-Barron in 48:12 followed by fellow Borrowdale runner Ben Bardsley with Chris Edis the highest place Keswick runner third in 51:51.

The ladies trophy went to Rachel Slattery, the first lady home in 74:41 ahead of Nicky Butler of Keswick who was second in 87:39.

Keswick also took the MV70 prize with John Rutter in 95:44

1. Martin Mikkelson-Barron - Borrowdale - 48:12
2. Ben Bardsley - Borrowdale - 50:04
3. Chris Edis - Keswick AC - 51:51

6. John Nicholl - Keswick AC - 56:16
9. Chris Brewer - Keswick AC - 61:45
11. Pez Bullen - Keswick AC - 61:52
17. Rachel Slattery - Keswick AC - 74:41
20. Nicky Butler - Keswick AC - 87:33
23. John Rutter - Keswick AC - 95:44

Scottish Islands Peak Race

I have competed a number of times as a sailor on a friends yacht in the above race and hope to do so again next year on the weekend of 18th May. We are looking for runners for next year. If you are interested then please contact me on enquiries@tirrilfarmcottages.co.uk or tel 01768 864767 to discuss. Full details of the race on www.scottishislandspeakrace.com

September 2011 - Fell Running Round-Up

The first weekend of September saw three races featuring KAC runners. North of the border, four intrepid souls took on the classic Ben Nevis race. Chris Edis had a superb run to finish 14th out of a field of 480. Chris’s time of 1:44:05 saw him placed just outside of the top ten in a high calibre field. Chris was joined by Geoff Somers (287th, 2:32:22), Kim Clark (419th, 2:55:37) and Chris Clark (442nd, 3:00:28). Race winners were Finlay Wild (1:29:21) of Lochaber AC and Angela Mudge (1:51:14) of Carnethy HRC.

Pauline & Kenny’s records remain intact for another year!

At the Hesket Newmarket Show our veterans were on dominant form. The over 50 men took the first three places in that category; Richard Unwin (5th, 1:04:43), Des Varian (9th, 1:07:07) and John Horne (10th, 1:07:46). Debbie Thompson was the other member of the Keswick contingent finishing third lady and first LV50. Overall winner was Billy Edmundson of Ellenborough (59:06) and first lady was Liz Wilson (unattached – 1:08:19).

The popular Grisedale Horseshoe, taking in a circular route of the high fells above Glenridding and Patterdale always attracts a strong field despite falling on the same day as Ben Nevis. This was evidenced by the in-form Carl Bell taking the win (1:56:22) and former national fell-running champion Natalie White (Kendal) finishing first lady (14th, 2:16:18). KAC results: David Loan (33rd, 2:21:44), Catherine Evans (5th, 2:33:39) and Colin Valentine (57th, 2:40:21).

Onto the following weekend and it was the final counter in the British Championship. The Devil’s Beeftub in southern Scotland was selected as the short counter, a fast and fierce blast around the hills near Moffat. Pippa duly did the business securing her third British Championship crown in three years. In emphatic style she romped home to add a Scottish win to those achieved in Ireland and Wales. Rachel Slattery also had a strong run finishing 19th in 34:30. Despite early season injuries, Borrowdale’s Morgan Donnelly has had a tremendous second half of the year and took the British Championship, setting a new course record of 19:45. Morgan’s only challenge came from the newly crowned English Champion, Dark Peak’s Lloyd Taggart, who finished in 19:57 (also within the old record).

Mungrisedale in the north-east of the county was the selected venue for this year’s Lake District Mountain Trial. Severe conditions meant a shortened version was run but the courses designed were still challenging, run over unfrequented hills north of Blencathra and east of Skiddaw. The outstanding Keswick performance came from Catherine Evans; tackling the classic course (2011 being only the second year in which females could run the long course) she was second lady overall (4:55:45) and only ninety seconds behind the eventual victor Helene Whitaker (4:54:17). Well done Cat! Perennial trialist Colin Valentine finished 29th (4:53:52), Chris Evans was 44th (5:09:56), Mark Denham-Smith 58th (5:25:06) and Andrew Murray 100th (6:26:05). The overall winner was Tom Brunt of Holmfirth Harriers AC (3:37:15). Debbie Thompson was the only representative from Keswick in the medium event, finishing 6th lady in 3:38:58.

All results are now on the FRA website. Apologies for any inaccuracies or missing anyone out!

Loweswater Show Fell Race Results

Though it pains me to draw attention to this, the Loweswater Show fell race results can be found here. Some good results for KAC runners (it was a club champs race) - esp Pippa, who broke the course record and finished 4th overall. Well done to her, and also to John Nicholl. John was first Keswick man home and third overall, and not too far behind Simon Booth (winner) and Chris Steele. Amazingly, both Borrowdale men had done the Ben Nevis race the day before!

The final club champs fell race is the Three Shires this Sat (17 Sept), followed by the final road race (Brampton-Carlisle) on Sun 20 Nov. For the latest standings in the club champs, see the club website.

Loweswater Show 2.6m 1000ft 3rd September

A good turnout for the 5th club championship fell race on a warm day in the Lorton Valley. Keswick runners took 5 of the top 10 places.

The race was won emphatically by Simon Booth in a new course record of 23:48 the day after finishing 4th at Ben Nevis. Borrowdale's Chris Steele finished second with John Nicholl the first Keswick runner in third place overall.

The women's course record had been held by Lynn Thompson but it was broken by Pippa who was fourth overall in an impressive 26:50.

Full results on www.c-f-r.org.uk

1. Simon Booth - Borrowdale - 23:48
2. Chris Steele - Borrowdale - 24:44
3. John Nicholl - Keswick AC - 26:34
4. Pippa Maddams - Keswick AC - 26:50
5. Craig Smith - Keswick AC - 27:07
8. Chis Brewer - Keswick AC - 28:10
10. Andrew Slattery - Keswick AC - 28:34
11. Lee Newton - Keswick AC - 28:55
14. Pez Bullen - Keswick - 29:21
15. Duncan Overton - Keswick AC - 29:53
30. Mike Beechey - Keswick AC - 33:42
35. Rachel Slattery - Keswick AC -35:57
38. Rachel Mellor - Keswick AC - 36:20
40. Quentin Merrit - Keswick AC - 37:00
45. Sarah Bennett - Keswick AC - 37:44
46. Lesley MalarkeyKeswick AC - 37:42

The sixth and final club championship race is the 13m 4000ft Three Shires on Saturday 17th September starting at 11am from the Three Shires Inn, Little Langdale. Entry on the day is £7

This race is also the 5th race in the Lakeland Classics Trophy. Keswick are currently 9th in the team standings but should improve with good results on Saturday and the final race in the series, Langdale Horseshoe on 8th October (pre-entry only).

see www.lakelandclassicstrophy.org.uk

Derwentwater Trail Results

The results from yesterday's race can be found HERE
Some great runs from Keswick AC with Russell Maddams the race winner. Is that 'our' Phil Winskill (could there be another??) running for Altrincham & District AC?.

An evening with Kenny Stuart

Tickets for the Evening with Kenny Stuart can be bought online HERE or at The Card Collection, Packhorse Court, Keswick.
The event is being held at Keswick Football Clubhouse, Fitz Park, Keswick on Friday 23rd September 2011, 7.30pm till 11pm. There will be a bar and tickets are only £5.

Richard Askwith has very kindly donated 5 signed copies of 'Feet in the Clouds' which we will raffle during the evening.