Round the Houses -Wednesday 14th April

Another record turnout, of 184, took on the the 5.3 mile race round the streets of Keswick, and on a fine sunny evening with good conditions for running, again the 1989 Ken Stuart/Dave Swanston record of 26:22 went unbroken.


Photo: Phil Winskill and Russell Maddams swapped 3rd and 4th position throughout the race, and led the chase of the leading pair of James Douglas (Border Harriers) and Ricky Lightfoot (Ellenborough).

Keswick AC was represented by 23 of its members, offering a taste perhaps of what's to come, when this year's Club Road-Championship continues, with the Moorclose 10K in Workington next month (Tues 17th May).

Running for Keswick AC, Russell Maddams was the most alert to the fast start, along Station Road and over Briar Rigg, following the early pace set by Ricky Lightfoot (Blackburn Harriers) and Border's James Douglas. Phil Winskill, in Keswick AC colours and fresh from the rigours of a British Championship fell race in Northern Ireland at the weekend gave chase close behind.

As the field was stretched out by the pace, George Thompson (Border Harriers) and Mike Scott worked hard together to close the gap, but it was the Keswick pair that went round the faster, with Phil taking 3rd in 28:37 from Russell, who recently posted 32:53 for 10K, following in 28:40. Ian Davies, another man who had raced in Ireland, and using the race as a fast training run, was next home for Keswick AC in 30:39 to make up the 2nd placed Keswick AC team behind Border Harriers.

At the head of the race, Ricky Lightfoot who had done most of the pacemaking throughout, clocked 27:28 but was edged out in the final 200 yards by a strong finishing James Douglas for the win in 27:24.

With three ladies in the top 10, Keswick AC took the ladies team prize with Gillian Conroy (37:15) 4th, Deb Edgington (39:04) 8th, and Hayley Hodgson (39:25) 10th and 2nd FV40. Very well done.

Full results are online at www.keswick-ac.org.uk

The next Club Road-Championship counter is the Moorclose 10K on Tuesday 17th May. Entry form here. More details on the Road-Championship here.

Junior Training 2010

Martin has put together an excellent programme for the summer aimed at attracting youngsters to running. The below is an article sent to the local press to promote these sessions. I believe word of mouth could also increase numbers at the training. So if you know anyone who may be interested please let them know:

"Keswick Athletic Club is organising a summer programme of running aimed at juniors of all abilities aged 9-16 years. Keswick AC aim to provide opportunities for young runners in the area to learn about training and racing in the grand traditions of Lakeland running. These sessions will provide an ideal base for those youngsters wanting to improve or get into running.

The programme will provide a varied set of events, fully supervised by the Club’s qualified coaches and will include sessions in Fitz Park and local fell runs and races.

The sessions have already started, with the first on the 13th April and will continue throughout the summer on Tuesday evenings between 5 and 6pm.
For full information regarding the junior training sessions please visit the Club website http://www.keswick-ac.org.uk/."

I'm sure Martin will welcome help at these sessions so if you can spare the time then please get in touch with him.

Silent Valley fell race, British Championship, 10m/4500’ –Saturday 10th April

Photo courtesy of Newcastle AC

Saturday 10th April, Mourne Mountains Northern Ireland, the first round of the 2010 British Fell Running Championship held over a new race route -Silent Valley, 10m/4500’. Race winner was Andy Symmonds (Kendal AC) in 1:43:56 from Morgan Donnelly (Borrowdale FR) running 1:44:14, and Rob Hope (Pudsey & Bramley) in 1:45:35. It was fantastic to have some good company for the race yesterday –a full Keswick AC men’s team placed 7th, behind strong teams from Borrowdale FR, Dark Peak FR, Pudsey & Bramley AC, Mourne Runners, Calder Valley FR and Eryri Harriers. Seeing Matthew come through so strong on the first climb was absolutely fantastic and I had to to push hard on some of the frankly brutal descents and climbs that followed to try and keep him in touch –had it not been for some sketchy lines taken over rough ground following Borrowdale vests we both may have pulled through for top 15 or top 10 finishes in what was a quality race at the sharp end.


Photo courtesy of Newcastle AC

The ladies acquitted themselves well too -Pippa picking up a win with a particularly strong effort in the opening British Championship race of the year, despite being quite under the weather, and leading the ladies to 4th in a very close team competition (team results here).


Photo courtesy of Newcastle AC

As I write this I’m now feeling somewhat tired out by a fantastic weekend of fine weather and some great fell racing –good crack. Well done to all who raced. Next British Championship race is the Sedbergh 3 Peaks race, 4.1m/1663’ on Saturday 27th June –If you haven’t got your entries in, do so now as the race will fill up long before.

17 Matthew Fraser 01:53:55
19 Steve Hebblethwaite 01:54:28
55 Jamie Luxmoore 02:09:55
93 Ian Davies 02:24:45
184 Chris Clark 03:35:58

1 Philippa Maddams 02:09:35
17 Julie Carter 02:30:30
20 Joanne Gillyon 02:38:00
25 Holly Williamson 02:45:55
42 Kim Clark 03:18:36 (3rd FV40)

Full results here.

More photographs here, here and here.

Askam fell race, 8.5m/1800’ –Saturday 3rd April

This new 8.5m/1800’ race made its debut in the calendar last year, and as such there was little surprise when Morgan Donnelly (Borrowdale FR) set a new record when he turned out for the second running of the race last Saturday, with a win 57:27. He was followed by road and track man James Douglas (Border Harriers) in 58:59, and Phillip Sanderson (Northumberland FR) in 59:54. The first lady was Claire McKeown (Border Harriers) also setting a new record time of 1:13:31, followed by Suzanne Budgett (Horwich RMI) in 1:20:31, and Jen Mattinson of Howgill Harriers in 1:21:21. Positive comments from all who ran –much of the route is fast running on good tracks with the exception of one steep and rough ascent, of Arthur’s Pike from Swarthbeck. Four Keswick AC men and two ladies raced:


8 Dave Birch 1:07:51 3rd MV40
19 Craig Smith 1:11:56
25 Colin Valentine 1:14:00
73 Chris Clark 1:36:42 2nd MV60

6 Hayley Hodgson 1:25:53 3rd FV40
11 Kim Clark 1:37:05 2nd FV50

Full results here.

Cumbria AA Fell Running Championships 2010/Intercounties selection race

After an absence of some years, a Cumbria County Fell Running Championship race is to be run this year, where Medals will be awarded for the first 3 Men and Women -the Championship will be in conjunction with the Coledale Horeseshoe on Saturday April 17th.

The race will also double as the Cumbria selection race for the UK Intercounties Fell Running Championships 2010, which this year is at the Lletty race in Denbighshire, N. Wales on Saturday May 22nd.

Message from Noel Hakeman:

"There is no additional entry fee (to the Coledale race than as shown), but you must indicate that you are entering the Cumbria Champs before the start -we will have a signing in sheet for this purpose on the day.

You must have been born in Cumbria or have lived there for 9 months to enter.

If anyone wants to compete in Wales and cannot run at Coledale, they can still be considered if they let me know before the 17th. email: noelh@cybermoor.org.uk Tel: 01434 321385"

Noel Hakeman

SAT. APR 17. COLEDALE HORSESHOE (R). AM. 12.00 p.m. 9m/3000'. Venue: Scotgate Caravan Park, Braithwaite. £6.00 pre-entry, £8.00 on day. Pre-entry by April 9th. Teams Men (4), ladies (3). ER/LK/NS. Over 18. Records: S. Booth, 01.11.25, 2004; f. P. Jackson, 01.27.52, 2009. Limited parking. Refreshments available. Details: Mike Robinson, 38 Burneside Road, Kendal, LA9 4RL. Tel: 01539 721202. Email: mikerobinson1969@yahoo.co.uk.

SAT. MAY 22. LLETTY. AM. 2.30 p.m. 9m/2900'. Venue: Lletty Farm, Llangynhafal, Denbighshire. GR 128647. £5.00, on day. PM. Over 18. Records: A. Smith, 01.25.12, 2009; f. A. Rowlands, 01.31.31, 2009. Incorporates the Intercounties Championship race. Details: Martin Cortvriend, Dol-y-Caeau, Llangynhafal, Denbigh, LL16 4LN. Tel: 01824 790534. Email: martincortvriend@yahoo.co.uk. Website: wfra.org.uk.

Keswick AC club championship tables

The championship tables following the opening races in both the 2010 road and fell-championship are now online over on the club website HERE

The remaining 2010 road-championship races are:

Tuesday 18th May -Moorclose 10km
Wednesday 21st July -Newlands Valley Round 6.8m
Sunday 7th November -Derwentwater 10m

The remaining races in the in the fell-championship are:

Sunday 4th July -Skiddaw (M) 9m/2700'
Saturday 7th August -Borrowdale (L) 17m / 6500’
Sunday 19th September -Dale Head (S) 4.5m / 2210’

Full details on the club website HERE

British Champinship -Round #1: N. Ireland.

More details on the race and 10m/4500' course can be found on the NIMRA website HERE.

The entry list for the race is online HERE. 11 Keswick AC runners are travelling this year. There is also entry on the day. Let's hope the wind drops for the ferry crossing on Friday!