CONISTON FELL RACE ENTRIES OPEN TODAY!

The next race of the 2010 English Championship is Coniston, on May 1st. Entries open TODAY (1st March). Forms will be available from the website HERE. With a limit of 400 entries, get your form in quickly! There will be no entry on the day.

A clssic route, the race starts and finishes from the Institute in the village centre and takes in Wetherlam, Swirl How and the Old Man -9 miles, 3500ft of ascent.

Noon Stone fell race, 9m/2300' -Sat. 27th Feb. English Fell Running Championship

The 2010 English Fell Running Championship got underway on Saturday 27th February with the Todmorden Harriers-organised Noon Stone fell race in W Yorks. "The race has a reputation for being a bit of a bog trot, and it is well earned" as Alister Murray put it, on the Horwich RMI blog, "The temperature was barely above freezing, the ground was saturated, and it looked like the clag was going to be down on top" -perfect conditions!


Photograph: Jill Bennett/Northumberland Fell Runners

Keswick AC ladies, missing one or two of the team who had to sit out because the race filled up early when entries opened in January, had a fine race to take 4th placed team at this first counter of the season -Julie Carter was first home, tackling the challenging course well, to finish in 1:32:54 for 4th F45. She was ably supported by Holly Williamson (1:34:13) happy to be back in Keswick AC colours and 23rd, while Jo Gillyon (1:36:04) glided across the moor as per Dunc's instruction in 28th, all three girls scoring points for the individual open ladies competition -no mean feat in what is always a competitive field for first race of the season. Hayley Hodgson placed 9th F40 in 1:47:06, with Debbie Edgington (1:51:52) close behind, and Kim Clark 7th F50 in 1:54:05.


Photograph: www.sportsunday.co.uk

The last time this race was selected for the season opener was 2004, Dave Troman led home a team of Mark-Denham Smith, Nimrod Lockwood, Dunc Overton, Dave Birch that packed five runners into the top 100. In what felt like a resurgent Keswick AC men's team this year Steve Hebblethwaite posted 1:10:53 for 11th, supported by strong runs from Jamie Luxmoore -1:17:59 (63rd), Ian Davies -1:21:04 (94th) and Chris Clark -1:45:49 (391st/15th M60), all of whom ran well in a highly competitive championship field where an improvement of a couple of minutes can gain you 20 places in the race. Keswick AC men did not field enough runners required (5) to place a team.

All in all a good day out, rounded off by a pint in the Top Brink Inn before the minibus back to the sunny Lakes, punctuated by stops to stretch bog-stiffened legs!

The next race of the English Champs is Coniston, on May 1st. Entries open on Monday 1st March. Entry-forms available HERE. With a limit of 400, get your entries in quickly!

Ladies
22. Julie Carter -1:32:54 (4th F45)
23. Holly Williamson -1:34:13
28. Jo Gillyon -1:36:04
68. Hayley Hodgson -1:47:06 (9th F40)
78. Debbie Edgington -1:51:52
85. Kim Clark -1:54:05

Ladies Team
1. Calder Valley
2. Bingley
3. Ambleside
4. Keswick

Men
11. Steve Hebblethwaite -1:10:53
63. Jamie Luxmoore -1:17:59
94. Ian Davies -1:21:04
391. Chris Clark -1:45:49 (15th M60)

423 finished
6 retired

Full results HERE

Sports injury books

Hi. I seem to have misplaced my 2 sports injury books (one on the anatomy of injuries; the other on exercises to treat injuries). They are probably somewhere in my house but it is just possible that I have lent them to someone. Ring any bells for anyone? Cheers. Q

Minibus to Noonstone

A minibus has been procured for the trip to Noonstone. Leaving Keswick at 08.00 -meet outside Booths. £10. Any problems, give me a shout. Spare seats available for anyone who wants a day trip to support.

Dont forget full kit -full body cover, map, compass, etc. See everyone on Saturday!

Steve
01900 821501
07854 643274

High Cup Nick

I am intending to do High Cup Nick on Sat (27 Feb). The race starts in Dufton at 2pm, so I am thinking of leaving Keswick at about midday or just after. If anyone fancies a lift, give me a shout:

Tel: 017687 72730
Email: q.merritt@tiscali.co.uk

Quentin

Lancs Lad In Yorkshire!!!

so I chose a race on foreign soil to open my fell season, the Ilkley Moor fell race was actually the first fell race for me since the Borrowdale last year! Trudy was hoping to repeat the return to form she showed at blake fell. The conditions were at best challenging given the heavy snow fall overnight and through the morning, still it's the same for everyone! This race always attracts a big field being a good catchment area for all the yorkshire clubs. Inspite of the weather this year was no different with 220 runners on the start line. This is home ground for Trudy, her being a Bingley lass, it was nice to see another KAC vest - Colin Valentine had also made the trip to the land of tea, cricket and aunt Bessies puddings. The start to this race has a real bottleneck so it pays to start at the front (something I learnt the hard way 3 years ago), it follows a contrived route to such landmarks as - the cow & calf rocks, pancake stone, rock valley and the badger stone. The course manages some good hard climbs given that the moor never reaches any great elevation, with the snow & ice the desents demanded all those well honed lakeland skills. I managed a new pb knocking 5 minutes off my 2007 time to finish 32nd just behind Colin who had the stronger climbing legs today. Trudy also knocked off 3 minutes from her 2007 time to finish 15th out of 36 ladies (116th overall) getting the better of amblesides Britta in a dogged fight from start to finish, given the underfoot conditions and desending not being Trudy's strong point this was a great performance...well done. Even though this race is on the 'wrong side' of the pennines I definitley would encourage anyone to give it a go, very well organised and a cracking little course.

winner: Graham Pearce (pudsy & bramley) 39:52

KAC Results: Colin Valentine 47:23 (22nd)
John Beetham 48:41 (32nd)
Trudy Beetham 59:51 (116th)

More Pics from the X-Country 20 Feb 10

Some more pics of the Seniors race, in the hospital field part of the course are at this link: http://www.lakelandimaging.co.uk/XC20Feb10/
Check out number 25 of the leaders on their first lap :-)
Anyone wanting high-res versions just ping me on training@keswick-ac.org.uk.
Dunc