Club Winter Training Race #2: Sale Fell figure of 8

Club Winter Training Race #2: Sale Fell figure of 8
Sat 16th Jan 09
Hosted by John Beetham
Juniors 10:30. Seniors 11ish.
Same Junior route as last year. New senior route approx 6.5 miles.
Meet at GR NY 191 301, (if coming from Keswick direction - A66 to C'mouth, take the first turning on left where the Bassenthwaite dual carriageway ends, then left again past the Pheasant Inn) There is some parking, but car share if possible.
Questions: Contact John (johnbeetham@hotmail.com)

Wansfell race -Sunday 27th December

By the look of the photographs below, there was a significant amount of snow on the ground in Ambleside for this year's race up and down Wansfell, but Rob Jebb (Bingley Harriers) revelled in the wintry conditions to win in 22:07 by a clear margin of over a minute. First lady was Jane Reedy (Ambleside AC) in 26:40.


Chris Edis led the Keswick charge with a strong run for his second top ten finish at the race in as many years, finishing in 25:27. Dave Owens was next home, 3rd V50 in 29:28, followed by Chris Knox in 37:20 -well done all.


Results on the Ambleside AC website

Photographs: Steve Harling

Ribble Valley 10K, Clitheroe -Sunday 27th December

A large field of 906 turned out today to stretch their legs over the notoriously fast Ribble Valley 10K course which starts from Edisford Bridge near Clitheroe, East Lancs. The race hosted the 2009 Northern Athletics 10K Championships and a number of GB international athletes and elite runners were amongst the runners who toed the start line. This made for a fast race up the front, with the top 8 running sub-30 minute times, and top 40 running sub-32 minute.

Race-winner was Bolton Harrier and GB international man Tom Lancashire in a new course record of 29:21 that places him in the top 10 of the 2009 UKA 10km rankings. Winner of the women's race was GB international, Helen Clitheroe in a time of 32:53, the fifth fastest time by a female British athlete this year.

Two elite Keswick AC athletes also made the journey! Both returned with pb's for the distance: Pippa Maddams clocking 37:24 with an excellent run. Steve Hebblethethwaite also had a good run, finishing in a new pb time of 33:28.

For more info on the UKA rankings visit www.thepowerof10.info
The Keswick AC club road-running ranking list has been updated here
Ribble Valley 10K results

Club's Pictorial History

I am planning to do an update of the club's history over the next few weeks and am looking for any photographs which can be included. I do have a good selection already but could do with more from the roads and x-country. Please let me know what photographs you have before you send them or better still put them on line with a site such as Picas (http://picasaweb.google.com/home).

Dave Ellison has loaned me several photographs and I need further information such as dates before they can be included. They can be viewed at;

http://picasaweb.google.com/keswickpete/NewHistoryScans02?authkey=Gv1sRgCKWF8ZD11J2D6AE&feat=directlink

The History can be seen at: http://www.keswick-ac.org.uk/history.htm and will also be available on DVD once I have done the update.

Pete.

Winter Series Race #1 -Buttermere, Saturday 19th December

Only 7 hardy souls turned up; 5 seniors and 2 juniors. The race over Rannerdale Knott was run as a handicap event with the juniors running the same course as the seniors. Well done to all those who made the start in difficult travelling conditions.

The actual time result was:
(handicap positions in brackets)

1. Steve Hebblethwaite 24.41 (2)
2. Chris Edis 27.21 (4)
3. James Hodgson (Junior) 32.02 (3)
4. Ben Hodgson (Junior) 32.20 (1)
5. Dave Burton 35.22 (5)
6. Dan Barton 47.46 (6)
7. Becky Law walked in

Dan & Becky spent some time after reaching the summit trying to check the juniors were OK as they had not seen them on the return route – hence the slower than expected times.

Next Race in the Series: Saturday 16 Jan 2010 – Sale Fell

Steve Harwood

Weekend results round-up: Saturday 12th-Sunday 13th December

GREAT LANGDALE XMAS PUDDING 10K
-Saturday 12th December:
John Waite 38:02
Martin Sluce 40:17
Neil Elsender 42:43
Chris Clark 46:18
Leon Crossfield 1:08:56

Kim Clark 48:00
Rose Gittins 49:19
Nicola Davison 49:40
Nicky Butler 49:44

-Sunday 13th December:
John Dawson 41:31
Peter Bingham 42:28
Jim Downie 45:32

Gill Conroy 44:06
Alison Cutts 50:11

Full results here


X-COUNTRY COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS, BARROW-IN-FURNESS
-Sunday 13th December:

Senior Men -9800m:
1. Tom Farrell (Border Harriers) 32:59
2. Ricky Lightfoot (Ellenborough) 33:21
3. James Douglas (Border Harriers) 33:31
11. Steve Hebblethwaite 35:10
14. Phil Winskill 35:39
23. Ian Davies 38:42
27. Jamie Luxmoore 40:21

Senior Women -6300m:
1. Karen Bridge (Eden Runners) 29:49
2. Rhiannon Silson (Border Harriers) 30:45
3. Katie Savage (Barrow & Furness Striders) 32:15

Full results here

NW Evening News article here


CUMBRIA CHRISTMAS CRACKER CYCLO-SPORTIVE, GRASMERE
-Sunday 13th December:
Toby Cushion -4:38:00
Full results here

Keswick AC Winter Series Race 1 Buttermere

The first race of the Keswick AC Winter Series will take place on the 19th of December. Registration will be at the Youth Hostel from 10:00am.

Juniors 10:15 warm up jog through the village with the race to start at 10:30 opposite Crag House Farm. The route will be an out and back up Rannerdale Knotts with different turning points for each age group.

Seniors will start 11:00 from Buttermere Youth Hostel. The route will be an out and back up Rannerdale Knotts. Keswick AC's Matt Fraser and Chris Edis have been training on this route for the past three years. Early attempts at running the roughly 3.5mile route took the Buttermere Hostel staff close to 40 minutes. Three years of fierce competition have seen PB's plummet down to sub 25 minutes. Matt currently boasts the fastest time at 24:45.

The ideal training race for anyone planning on running at Wansfell on the 27th.

We are toying with the idea of starting juniors and seniors together. It could be fun to have everyone from U8's to Vets running side by side. If lots of people like the idea then maybe we should give it a go. If you have any thoughts on this please post a comment. If its a strong YES then we can start everyone at 11:00.

See you there.

In the event of bad conditions we may change to a low level trail route.

Luton Marathon –Sunday 6th December

A good run by Mark Denham-Smith at Luton Marathon last week, posting a time of 3:06:40 for 32nd place. As a result the club road-running ranking list has been updated HERE with Mark moving into 2nd in the marathon ranking –well done Mark.

A total of 493 finished the main marathon, while 103 teams of three also completed a 26.2 mile relay. Well done to Sue Denham-Smith whose team ‘The Baldy Beaters’ finished 88th in 4:15:06.

Cross-country county championships this Sunday

The county cross-country championships are this Sunday, 1.30pm Hawcoat Park, Barrow-in-Furness, NOT on Saturday as previously advertised elsewhere.

Also junior races from 12pm. Entry on the day. Full details on entry form HERE. The county champs are a fun event, and a goon run around in the mud.

Sharing cars from Keswick for anyone who needs a lift. Leaving at about 10.30-11.am, contact stevenhebblethwaite@hotmail.com or 01900 821501.

A Favour Please over New Year...

Hi to all!

Scott here from Cornwall (been a member for well over a year now but for one reason and another not managed to get up to as much as we would have liked... We will however be around over the New Year period, and look forward to meeting more members at the training/social runs etc planned around that time.

We will be camping (probably either in Keswick or at Braithwaite) but would really like somewhere a bit more secure to park our trailer while we're there. Does anyone know of anyone who may be prepared to let us leave the trailer somewhere on their property? It's about the size of a small car. Anyone with any ideas, please reply here or email me at scott@dyla.co.uk

Thanks very much.

Scott, Di & Eve T
Sunny Cornwall

Club road-running ranking lists

The road 'ranking-list' has now been updated on the club website HERE following the weekend's racing.

The lists rank the fastest Keswick AC male and female times of 2009, at any measured road race for the distances of 5K, 10K, 10Mile, Half-Marathon and Marathon.

Should anyone be aware of results that are unlikely to come to our attention or have been missed from the ranking, please submit them to stevenhebblethwaite@hotmail.com

Ulverston xmas 10km -Sunday 6th December

A field of 183 today raced the winter edition of the GSK Hoad Hill Harrier's biannual 10km race. Winner was Craig Holgate (Ely Harriers) in 33:19 from Richard Walker (Barrow & Furness Striders) -33:43, and Iain Quinn (Cumberland AC) -34.31.

First female and FV40 in 39:14 was Karen Bridge (Eden Runners) followed by Erika Johnson (Swaledale RR) in 40:05, and our own Jo Gillyon (Keswick AC) who posted a new personal best time for the distance, of 42:38.

Keswick AC:
Three runners in yellow and green for Keswick AC; well done Anne, Quentin and Jo...
Quentin Merritt -41:38 -35th
Jo Gillyon -42:38 -3rd female
Anne Downie -48.09 -13th female

Guy's 10 mile, Garstang RC -Sunday 6th December

A field of 368 turned out for this popular Garstang Running Club organised 10 mile race, which takes place on the quiet lanes west of the A6 near Preston in Lancashire.

The start of the race was postponed by 10 minutes due to a heavy shower at half past ten, leaving runners to keep warm by doing laps of the car park or sheltering in the doorways of the bizare race HQ "Guy's Thatched Hamlet"; thatch-themed tourist attraction and family day-out destination. However, this did not phase the first and second placed pair of Antony Ford (Sale Harriers AC) and Ben Fish (Blackburn Harriers) who both went on to break the 1994 course record, Ford coming out on top by some 9 seconds in a time of 48.52. Gary Preistly (Horwich RMI) placed third in 53.12.

Once the race had got underway, conditions were really very good for running -cool and sunny with just a light headwind on parts of the course. Candice Taylor (Clayton-le-Moors) took full advantage to record a good win in 59.19, from Gemma Unsworth (Blackpool Wyre & Fylde) -1:00:39 and Sarah Ridehalgh (Accrington RR) -1:01:14.

For Keswick AC, Cathy Colam today added a result which comliments the RRC standard-times that she has achieved this year; 1:50:03 (Keswick Half-Marathon) and 49:03 (Moorclose 10km) with a 10 mile time of 1:19:11, enough for the RRC gold-standard award, 199th overall today and 1st LV60 -well done Cathy.

Steve Hebblethwaite was the only other runner in Keswick AC colours at the race, posting a time of 56:54 for a pleasing 13th place.

Full results on the Garstang RC website here.

The qulifying times for the RRC road-standards awards can be found on the Keswick AC club-website here.

Ravenstonedale Red 10K 28th November 2009

This is a beautiful 10K race set in the idyllic village of Ravenstonedale lying between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales and providing rolling vistas of the surrounding countryside.

Unfortunately, due to the location, there are some steep climbs for a 10K road race but with the course looping twice through the village there is plenty of support from the local spectators to spur the runners on.

There was a sprint finish at the end, with the top three runners finishing within 12 seconds of each other and only 2 seconds separating the first and second positions. Previous winner of the race, James Bulman of North York Moors AC, retained his trophy after a narrow win over the Borrowdale pair of Morgan Donnelly and Chris Steele. Bulman’s winning time was 33:17.

There was another win for Keswick’s Pippa Maddams as the British & English Fell Champion finished first in 37:42. Pippa was followed in by youngster Melanie Hyde of Helm Hill who finished second lady in 38:36. Third was Erika Johnson from Swaledale (40:41).

Pippa was joined by other Keswick runners Jim Downie (47:24, 3rd MV60), Louisa Tweedale (48:13) and Nicky Butler (52:08).

For those looking to sneak in a last 10K before the end of the year there are a couple of reasonably local races in the coming weeks. There is a fast 10K in Ulverston on the 6th and the Langdale Xmas 10Ks the following weekend. Full details in the member’s section of the ClubWeb.

Kirkbymoor - 28th November 2009

The 2007 Kirkbymoor fell race proved a difficult navigational challenge for a number of KAC runners and a couple of our members were keen to exorcise those demons in 2009.

After the extreme weather of the last two weeks it was a delight to race with blue skies and sunshine above our heads. There was a good covering of snow on the high Duddon, Eskdale and Wasdale fells providing exquisite views when there were opportunities to take in the surroundings.

Steve Hebblethwaite was clearly in the mood as he led, with a group of three including Helm Hill's Mark and Tom Addison around the course. Running strongly Steve dicatated the pace at times; the lead changing frequently through the race but lost confidence in his route choice after the penultimate checkpoint and lost a few minutes with an unnecessary detour around Crag Height. But Steve (55:02) recovered to finish a highly commendable third place and four minutes faster than 2007.

Colin Valentine (62:30), having run this race a number of times, was never going to be beset by the navigational difficulties suffered by more inexperienced members and put in another good run finishing 16th out of 71 competitors and was third counter for a KAC team that came second behind an excellent Helm Hill side.

Ian Davies, after a debacle in 2007, was pleased to get his lines right this time finishing 7th (57:19) and taking some notable scalps.

The first lady was Jackie Casey of Barrow, putting in a fine run as she was also the first Vet 50.

There were some good times despite the sodden routes and full results will be on the Black Combe Runners website in due course.

Ulverston Xmas Pudding 10k

I am planning to do this race on Sun 6 Dec. (It's flatter & faster than the Langdale race, so better for people chasing a fast time.) The race starts at 11am so I was thinking of leaving Keswick at ~9am. If anyone wants to car share, give me a shout via email (q.merritt@tiscali.co.uk) or phone (017687 72730). Q

Footage of Keswick flood

Just in case anyone hasn't seen this, here's some terrific footage of the flooding along Penrith Rd:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5PuKO8B_v4

PS Just 6 brave souls turned up in scuba gear for tonight's swim!

Brampton to Carlisle 10 mile road-race -Saturday 21st Nov

The 58th edition of this 10 miler on Saturday, was run over a shortened route because part of the course was lying under water. As the race organisers were keen to offer a run for the field of more than 400 runners that had entered the popular race, said to be the longest running 10 mile race in the country, a 9.25 mile course, that missed out a short section through the village of Brampton near the start, was run.

Brampton-Carlisle annually draws a large field for its straight and reasonablly flat course that attracts some high class athletes and club runners alike. Ten Keswick AC runners made the short journey this year and after a week of very inclement weather, Saturday itself was largely a day of respite with just a few blustery showers and a crosswind in places to focus the attention! A good time was had -well done all who turned out.

1. Ben Gamble (Tipton Harriers) 46.37
2. David Kirkland (Alnwick Harriers) 46.40
3. James Douglas (Border Harriers) 47.28

1. Helen Waugh (Unatt) 53.33
2. Niamh Devlin (Edinburgh AC) 54.50
3. Joasia Zakrzewski (Dumfries RC) 56:59

Steve Hebblethwaite -52.17
John Dawson -1.03.37
Neil Elsender -1:04:12
James Johnstone -1.12.33

Julie Carter -59.49
Jo Gillyon -1.03.44
Anne Downie -1.09.59
Cath Burrus -1.11.29
Cathy Colam -1.11.51
Alison Cutts -1.18.15

FULL RESULTS

Brampton-Carlisle 10 - update

Following the example for the FRA, the race organisers have intoduced a new rule requiring all runners to wear appropriate gear on Sat:

Brampton Carlisle 10

Does anyone want to share a lift for this Saturday's Brampton Carlisle 10?

The race starts at 12.30pm from William Howard School in Brampton. Buses run from the finish at Sands Centre in Carlisle to the start between 10.30am – 11.15am (£2.50 on day). So I guess I would be looking to leave Keswick at around 9.30am, to leave plenty of time for parking and getting on one of the buses.

If you want a lift, email me (q.merritt@tiscali.co.uk) or call me (017687 72730).

Quentin

PS: There is a 'baggage bus' to bring gear back from Brampton to Carlisle.

Dunnerdale 14th November 2009

Despite foul conditions sweeping the country there were 276 runners out for the Dunnerdale fell race this year. Recent rain meant many of the trods had become small streams and the boggy underfoot conditions ensured heavy going for those taking part. But the course was free of the low cloud and the post race pie and pasties were suitably warming for the sodden competitors.

A strong field saw some terrific racing in both the ladies and gents categories. Ambleside's Jane Reedy (48:12) secured her second victory in consecutive years but had to run hard to hold off Helm Hill youngster Melanie Hyder (48:22). It was an even closer thing in the men's race with Tom Addison (Helm Hill) winning the race in 39:36 from Dark Peak's Lloyd Taggert (39:42).

There were a few Keswick runners out, some of whom were obviously paying far too much attention to some idiot harping on about this race.

Jamie Luxmoore, off the back of the Lancaster Half Marathon, ran well despite some tired limbs and finished head to toe in mud having thoroughly enjoyed himself over the wet course. Jamie finished well up the field in 21st place (45:59). Craig Smith (41st - 49:27) and David Owens (83rd - 54:51) were not short of pre-race adrenalin leaving things a little tight to get parked up, registered and on the starting line for the Midday off. Nigel Horney made the long trip from Norfolk but was still the first to register for the race! Nigel finished 100th (56:08) and still managed to fit in Xmas shopping and visiting family in Leeds before getting back to Norfolk before Midnight. There was another close run between Chris and Kim Clark, with Chris getting the better of things this time (204th - 65:10) putting nine seconds between himself and Kim (207th - 65:19). Excellent racing!

Thanks also to Chris Knox who, despite not running, still endured the grim conditions to cheer us on from the first checkpoint on The Knott. Your encouragement was much appreciated Chris.

Race Date Error - Burton in Kendal 10K

The website: www.realbuzzrunbritain.com/events has the Burton in Kendal 10K date down as this weekend - BUT THAT IS AN ERROR. Apparently the race was held in September.
So best not to go :-)
Thanks to Anne D for spotting this.

Dunnerdale - Saturday November 14th

SAT.NOV 14. DUNNERDALE (R). AS. 12.00 noon. 5m/1800' from the Blacksmiths Arms, Broughton Mills, Cumbria (GR 223905 on O.S. 96). £5 (includes food). Teams(3) free. ER/LK/NS. Over 16. Records: 35.51 K.Anderson 1991; f. 43.09 J.Kenyon 1993. No dogs on course. Parking restricted. Please park where instructed. No safety pins. Details: Andrew Gittins, Lowfield, Church Street, Broughton-in-Furness, LA20 6ER. Tel: 01229 715104. Email: gittins.andrewj@virgin.net Website: bcrunners.org.uk

One of my favourite races in the calendar. Great course in a beautiful part of the District with excellent grub afterwards. Get there early as parking can be tricky if there is a big turnout.

Barrow x-country 13/12/09

Is anyone else thinking of going to Barrow for the x-country county champs? if we get enough strong runners we could have a shot at a team prize. Teams of 3 in each age category needed senior men & women, and masters men & women (over 35's). Also under 20's and other jnr categories. Also the chance for some of you fast guys to get selected for the inter-county champs in March. Let me know if you are interested, Trudy and I are considering it so we could arrange car-shares.

Lancaster Half Marathon

666 (yikes, the Devil's number!) enthusiastically brave souls donned their running shoes for the Lancaster Half Marathon on Sunday 8th November. Or, rather, 666 runners finished the race. Most were pretty weary by then, but I cannot vouch for the state of their souls. A flatish course and bright, sunny conditions made for fast running, with only a single hill of significance to slow anyone down; and a longish stretch of ankle deep water. Not to mention a fair bit of mud on the road; and a detour along a trail where the proper route was completely waterlogged. Anyway, the race is an out-and-back course starting and finishing at the Salt Ayre leisure centre, mostly following a cycle path along the south bank of the delightful Lune estuary, with a loop on roads around the lovely Stork Inn at Conder Green at the far end. (No, I didn’t stop for a quick one!)


The race was won by Nick Leigh of Altrincham & District AC in a time of 01:12:19, with Sarah Louise Cumber of Halifax Harriers first woman home in 01:23:22 (43rd overall). Five Keswick runners took part: James Walker (46th place in 1:23:45), James Luxmore (52nd; 01:24:36), Martin Scott (97th; 1:30:30), Quentin Merritt (lollygagging back in 143rd place in 1:34:01) and Mike Garside (546th; 2:06:47). Full results can be found at:

http://www.ukroadraces.info/Csv_Files/2009/lancasterhalf.htm

PS I would definitely recommend this race if anyone is chasing a PB or a fast time for the club’s Road Running Standards.

Netherall x country 7/11

well done all, course was flat as a pancake so hard fast running was the order of the day. The course was described as7.2km (4.5 m), I know a few garmin geeks (myself included) measured it at more like 5 miles - just in case you thought your time was slow!!!

Cross Country, Maryport -Saturday 7th November

A few photos from the cross country this afternoon in Maryport -race 3 of the 2009/10 Cumbria League. A good turn out of Keswick runners in yellow and green, and some strong runs -well done all.

Results:
Sen Men (7200m)
1. R.Lightfoot (Ellenborough AC) 26.13
2. M.Donelly (Borrowdale FR) 26.22
3. J.Douglas (Border Harriers) 26.42
4. G.Mason (Border Harriers) 27.28
5. R.Maddams (Horwich RMI) 27.40

6. S.Hebblethwaite 28.01
8. I.Davies 29.28
11. J.Beetham 30.16
17. C.Smith 32.15
26. J.Waite 34.04
28. J.Horne 34.46
30. D.Burton 35.35

Sen Women (7200m)
2. C.McKeown (Border Harriers) 31.44
3. K.Bridge/Heaviside (Eden Runners) 33.13
4. S.Ayres (CFR) 33.30
5. A.Armstrong (Carlisle Tri) 34.04

1. P.Jackson 30.50
6. T.Beetham 36.51
7. H.Hodgeson 36.01

Club Fleece Jacket

Free to a good home.
Keswick Athletic Club fleece jacket in green. Size medium.
All you have to do is collect from house in Keswick.
Tel 017687 73521

Garmin Forerunner 405

Thanks to Hayley for letting me borrow her Garmin 305 for the Cumbria Run, I am now hooked and I'm thinking of buying one! I've looked at the Garmin 405 on the web and it looks more like a watch. Does anyone use the 405 and if so, is it good, or am I just as well going for the 305? I'm not bothered about using the heart monitor, I just want the mileage and history, oh and the bleep of course! For some reason, it's made me believe I can run faster ha-ha

Lancaster Half

I am planning to run in the Lancaster half marathon on Sun 8 Nov. If anyone else is going and wants to share a car, email me (q.merritt@tiscali.co.uk) or call me (017687 72730). I think the race starts at 11am, so I was thinking of leaving Kesiwck at about 9am.

Club road-running ranking

The club road-running rankings have been updated HERE following yesterday's Derwentwater 10 race...Anyone who knows of any results not included in the ranking, please email to stevenhebblethwaite@hotmail.com

Also, see the table below for details of the club's standards awards for road-running. The scheme has Gold, Silver or Bronze which are awarded to runners who achieve times in the schedule in their age category in any 3 of the 4 standard distance categories. There is also an additional 'Gold Star' award for those achieving the very highest standard. The times are based on standards set by the RRC which are nationally recognised.

Awards are presented at the club presentation evening dinner in January. Race results confirming times achieved should be sent to the Club Statistician, Matrin Sluce - slucem@cockermouth.cumbria.sch.uk


(click on the image to view a larger version of the table)

50th Derwentwater 10 race -Sunday 1st November

A great day for the club at the 50th running of this race, this afternoon in Keswick. Keswick AC ladies (Jo Gillyon -1:12:56, Debbie Edgington -1:14:06, and Gill Conroy -1:14:48) won the ladies team prize, and Keswick AC men (Phil Winskill -57:34, Steve Hebblethwaite -58:16, and Matthew Fraser -1:00:53) won the 50 year old men's-team trophy, not won by the club at this compettitive race since 1995.

A word should go to the marshalls and the supporters, out on the course and at the start and finish, who all did a terrific job despite the wet and cold, and in particular, race-organiser Alan Ritchie (Alan is only the third organiser that the race has had in its 50 year history, and has organised the race since 1990).



Picture courtesy of Pete Richards

There was a total of 33 Keswick AC members running: Well done Mark Denham-Smith (1:01:36), Rob Wynne (1:01:52) who was 2nd V45, and John Beetham (1:02:34) who ran a whole 12 minutes faster than his attempt at the race in 2005 (1:14:13). Also John Waite (1:04:59), and John Curran (1:07:27). Good to see Mark Rutherford back after a lengthy spell of leave in NZ (1:08:28), and Ian Boit (1:08:40) who only returned from Nepal on Friday must have wondered what he had returned to as he paddled through the pudles along the Borrowdale Road. Quentin Merrit (1:09:07) was pleased to break his 70 minute target and would have gone much further below it had conditions been more clement. Colin Valentine posted 1:10:17, and Dunc Overton (1:11:54) was 3rd V60. Well done also to Nick Burrus -1:13:57, Mike Beechey -1:14:11, Neil Elsender -1:14:31, Hayley Hodgeson -1:16:34, John Dawson -1:16:57, Paul Titley -1:18:13, David Harrison -1:19:22, and Chris Clark (1:20:31) who this time got the better of Kim Clark (1:20:50). Cath Burrus ran 1:23:47, and Cathy Colam (1:23:55 ) was 1st FV60. Good to see Sarah Bailey (1:24:13) on return from injury, and Nicky Butler -1:25:54, David Bell -1:26:21, Alison Cutts -1:32:45, Ian Addison (1:35:49) who was 1st V75, and Dave Leary in 1:53:15.

'Fully sortable' results HERE

Ladies FRA Bronze!!

Monday, 19 October 2009

I just wanted to say a huge well done and thank you to the Keswick Ladies Team at the FRA..... Pippa, Suzy, Sheila, Cat and Jo you were all fab. But I wanted to thank Cat most of all, my team partner for leg 3, the nav...... she was truly amazing at navigating us both, dragging me round the route blindly stumbling having absolutely no idea where we were or where we were going! My map was firmly scrunched in my left hand for the whole 1.31mins of running, the right grasping the dibber! The route took us into the sheepfolds, through marsh and bogs, over crags, then up over Gavel, through horrendous heather tussocks which nearly broke both ankles,to a fence post, round Blake Fell, all the time I was trying desperately to keep up with Cat in near zero visisbilty, the yellow vest a beacon ahead!!! Then up onto Sharp Knott, before decending to the forest and the track to the finish..... we were overtaken by the pursuing ladies (think Calder Valley here.... sorry my ankles only just managed the descent and kept giving way on the fast track route in. So Cat you were the star on leg 3..... and helped the team win 3rd place!!! Thanks for putting up with me, and I will be trying even harder over the winter months to get faster, fitter to keep up with you next year!!! Maybe??!!!

Hope this gets onto the blog.... have had a few technical hitches!

Dublin Marathon 26th October

Conditions were perfect for the Dublin Marathon with warm, dry, still weather and a huge turnout of enthusiastic Dubliners along the route. They call it The Friendly Marathon and it is easy to see why.

After a twisty start from Merrion Square the route winds through the centre of the city, over the Liffey and out into Phoenix Park before a long sweep round the suburbs to the West and back in to the start/finish area.

A total of 10,413 runners from around the world completed the course and amongst them were;

Andrew Slattery MV40 3:02:44 345th
Rachel Slattery FV40 3:57:39 3740th

Great Cumbrian Run Half-Marathon -Sunday 25th October

22 Keswick AC club members took part in the 27th Great Cumbrian Run Half-Marathon today in rather gusty but mostly dry conditions. Well done to all -it was nice to see a few of you enjoying your running.

The race followed the new route that was first run in 2008 -starting from the Castle, competitors run past the cathedral and through the City Centre before heading out on a scenic and undulating course through the picturesque villages of Cumwhinton, Wetheral and Scotby, with the course then returning to the city to pass behind Carlisle United's Brunton Park football ground, through Rickerby Park, into Bitts Park and the finish at the Sheepmount Athletics Stadium.

Race winner was David Kirkland of Alnwick Harriers in 1.12.16. First female was Gill Laithwaite in a time of 1.25.24.

STEVE HEBBLETHWAITE -01:16:59 7th
MARTIN SCOTT -01:30:23 5th M50
JOHN WAITE -01:32:28 75th
MIKE BEECHEY -01:39:22 67th M40
JOHN DAWSON -01:38:05 69th M40
NIGEL PRITCHARD -01:40:28 135th
GARY HADWIN -01:41:34 83rd M40
JOHN STEVENSON -01:45:39 123rd M40
DAVID HARRISON -01:45:24 40th M50
DERYCK HUTCHINSON -01:51:55 59th M50
R BURCHETT -01:52:22 1st M70
PATRIC GILCHRIST -01:53:33 21st M60
ALLAN BUCKLEY -01:59:36 24th M60
JAMES JOHNSTONE -01:59:29 73rd M50
IAN MILNE -02:17:36 289th M40

DIANE SHAW -01:48:59 11th F40
NICOLA DAVISON -01:52:40 73rd Female
LINDSAY MILNE -01:58:19 106th Female
KATHLEEN FRAMPTON -01:59:29 12th F50
ALISON CUTTS -02:00:12 45th F40
MARY ELLIOTT -02:06:53 158th Female
HELEN SMITH -02:11:40 188th Female

Full results HERE.

ITV Border News item HERE.

The Screes Race - 24th October 2009

This race was being run in memory of Danny Hughes who sadly passed away this year. Danny was pivotal in the development of fell-running, a keen member of Cumberland Fell Runners and well known on the Mountain Running scene. There is a lovely article in the latest Fellrunner about Danny.

The race starts in Nether Wasdale and takes in the lower of The Screes fells, Whin Rigg. Yesterday saw mixed conditions with a warm air temperature but a cool breeze and some cold showers. 48 runners lined up outside the pub at the start and it was Joss Naylor who got us underway accompanied by a starters horn.

Three Keswick runners were out for the race. Toby Cushion, showing no signs of weariness after a quick mile time-trial at Club training (5:10), set a fierce pace up the fell. He was well up the field at the summit but took a couple of tumbles on the boggy and rocky descent and I managed to sneak in ahead of him. I finished 6th and Toby 8th. Colin Valentine was also out adding another race to his impressive number this year and finished 11th.

A cracking little race that would have seen us first team except you needed four runners to count - d'oh. Nick Fish of Borrowdale was overall winner in 43:28 and, keeping it in the family, Julie Fish was first female finisher.

Ian Davies - 6th (48:17)

Toby Cushion - 8th (48:37)

Colin Valentine - 11th (50:54)

2010 Championship fixtures

The races for both the 2010 British Championship, and English Championship have been announced.

British Championship 2010:

10th April Slieve Binnian (Medium)
19th June Sedbergh 3 Peaks (Short)
31st July Dollar (Medium)
25th September Black Mountains (Long).

English Championship 2010:

27th Feb Noonstone (Medium)
1st May Coniston (Medium)
12th June Ennerdale (Long)
26th June Sedbergh Three Peaks (Short)
18th July Holme Moss (Long)
5th September Shelf Moor (Short)

The format for the British in 2010 remains the same as for this years championship with 3 races (one at each distance) to count from the 4 races above. For those that wonder how they may be able to fit in 3 races, as well as the English and Club-championship, spare a thought for runners up until 1985 where the British Championship had been made up of 15 'A' category races from which competitors could count 10 scores from the 3 different race distances.

A few Keswick AC runners will be making a weekend of the opening 2010 British Championship race, Slieve Binnian in the Mourne Mountains of Northern Ireland -get in touch if you want to come along. Likewise, there's usually a seat in a car to the other championship races, and we need 5 to count for a mens team and 3 for the ladies, so get the dates in your diaries and we'll put in some good teams at a few of the races next year.

The British Championship was first recognised in 1972. Former British Championship winners from Keswick AC have included Alan McGee, Billy Bland, Kenny Stuart, Dave Spedding (in V40, V50 and V60 categories), and Dunc Overton the V50 Championship. A number of Keswick AC ladies have had success at the British too, including Pauline Haworth, Angela Brand-Barker, Louise Roberts, Pippa Jackson and Lyn Thompson in the V50 Championship.

The first English Championship was held in 1986 and previous winners from the club have included Angela Brand-Barker, Louise Roberts, Pippa Jackson, Lyn Thompson in the V50 Championship, Dave Spedding the V50, V55 and V60 Championships, Dunc Overton the V50 Championship and Billy Bland as a V40 in 1988.

Borrowdale Fell Race -'Youtube' video

See the following link for a good video of the leaders in this years Borrowdale Fell Race, and the runners who followed, on the descent form Scafell Pike to the Corridor Route.

See 5:35 in the video for "a fine example of how not to take the optimim line". Sorry Mark -some things must be broadcast if only to discourage their reccurence, ever again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OsL6brYV-I

Cumbria Cross Country League –Race 2, Penrith, Saturday 17th October

Well done to the following for some good runs at race #2 in the Cumbria League, at Frenchfields on Saturday. Particular mention to junior, Mark Donovan on a great run and win in the Under 11 race -well done Mark.

Juniors
Under 11
Mark Donovan 8:06 (1st)

Senior women
Hayley Hodgson 34:54 (3rd)
Kim Clark 35:50 (4th)

Senior Men
Ian Davies 27:33 (9th)
John Beetham 28:21 (11th)
John Waite 28:46 (14th)
John Niccoll 28:56 (16th)
Quentin Merritt 29:33 (22nd)
Gary Hadwin 34:32 (28th)
Chris Clark 35:30 (32nd)

Full results here.

Fell and Hill Running Relay leg-times, splits and full results

Full results from yesterday's 21st UKA Fell and Hill Running Relay Championship are now online here.

Split times that illustrate how fast (or how slowly) you ran between individual checkpoints are also online here and make interesting reading...

...a few stats for the geeks amongst you:

Matt Fraser posted the 2nd fastest leg 4 time of the whole day behind only GB International Nick Swinburn.

Dave Owens's time for leg 4 was the 2nd fastest MV50 time for the leg -he was acctually 12th fastest veteran overall on the leg, from a total of 42 V40 and V50 teams.

The Keswick AC ladies pair of Cathrine Evans and Deborah Edgington gained 32 places (taking the team from 88th to 56th team overall) on leg 3 -the navigation leg.

And also, Keswick AC's opening runner (10th fastest leg time) posted the fastest leg 1 split-times between CP1-2 and between CP2-3 of any team. Some well researched lines and the confidence to follow them.

Photos from the UKA Fell and Hill Running Relay Championship

A full set of photographs from today's relay are online here -all photographs courtesy of Pete Richards.

21st UKA Fell and Hill Running Relay Championship -Sunday 18th October

A big thankyou and very very well done to those who represented the club at the 21st UKA Fell and Hill Running Relay Championship today.



Today saw one of the best performances by the club at the event in some years: Keswick AC ladies came away with medals for a super team performance to claim 3rd! -An amazing achievement for a club of our size up against some of the bigger fell running clubs from across England, Wales, Sotland and Northern Ireland, and a credit to team Captain Jo Gillyon and all the girls on the team.



Following our great run at the Ian Hodgson, the open men finished in a top 10 position again, competing in a high class British Championship field -the UKA relay is a prestigious event; Sale Harriers from Manchester brought a strong team along that included GB runner Gareth Raven who raced at the IAAF World Half-Marathon Championship last week (in a time of 66:51!), and Bingley a team that included former English and British Champions Robb Jebb, Ian Holmes and World Champion triathlete Alister Brownlee. The Keswick AC Open team's 3:48:16 (9th) saw us highest placed Lake District club behind Borrowdale Fell Runners who won the event, and is a performance to be extreemly proud of -one that is only achieved by all the lads on the team putting in a lot of hard work, and a lot of lads not on the team also running hard all year aswell. The relays are real fun too and it is such days that make it all worthwhile.

Keswick AC also fielded full MV40 and MV50 teams; the V40 team got off to a good start from Rob Wynne who ran some good lines around Blake Fell and Burnbank (after some exstensive recce sessions with myself) to take the team into 62nd place (from a total of 149 Open, women and Vet teams). Dave Prosser and Craig Smith had a flyer on leg 2 making up 20 places and handed over to Nick Ogden and Colin Valentine for the nav leg. The nav pair to had a super run gaining 11 places with the 39th fastest leg 3 time of the day. Secret weapon Dave Birch took over the the final leg and posted the 15th fastest leg 4 time of the day and 5th fastest V40 time to bring the team home 5th V40 and 25th overall. This was a great result in a competition that, as descibed above, included some very talented athletes from the best fell running clubs in Britain.

The MV50 competition is a new category introduced at this years event. 10 MV50 teams took part, 4 of the Keswick team were over 60 -V60 Dunc Overton posted 53:16 for leg 1 7th fatest V50 time, and handed over to Dave Spedding and Keith Loan for the 6.7m/2500' leg 2. Dave has been putting in a lot of cyling miles recently, and gave Keith a hard time on the big climbs. The pair arrived back at the showfield in a time of 1:34:24, with poor Keith head to toe in mud, looking like he had been dragged around the leg by his feet! By the time leg 3 pair Patric Gilchrist and Jim Downie set off low cloud and rain was falling. Despite the best laid plans the pair who had somewhat reluctantly agreed to undertake the navigation leg a few days earlier were one of 4 teams that struggle to locate CP 5 in the mist and rain yet this didn't stop them from returning to the showfield wet through but with smiles on their faces. Dave Owens (another who deserves a mention for his commitment in the last few weeks to recce the course) set off on leg 4 a man on a mission and returned to the showfield via the steep final descent from Knock Murton in a time of 52:23 which was the 2nd fastest V50 time of the day! Also the 12th fastest of all the V40 and V50 teams (from a total of 42).


A big thankyou to everyone involved in these teams for your enthusiasm to get involved both before and on the day, and to Pete and Pat Richards who provided excellent logistical support and moral boosting throughout.

Penrith Cross Country

I am doing the cross country race in Penrith on Sat 17 Oct. The senior race starts just after 1pm, so I am planning to leave Keswick at noon, or possibly 11.45am, to allow plenty of time for finding the place, parking, registration, warm up, cold sweats and panic, and so on. If anyone wants a lift, email me (q.merritt@tiscali.co.uk) or give me a ring (017687 72730).

Good luck to all those running in the FRA relay :)

Quentin

UKA British Relay Championship - Ladies Team

Following the announcement of the mens relay team the ladies team is also confirmed as below;

Leg 1 Pippa Jackson

Leg 2 Suzy Grindley & Sheelagh Veitch

Leg 3 Cat Evans and Deb Edginton

Leg 4 Jo Gillyon

Reserves include Anne Downie, Kim Clark, Sarah Bailey.

Full details about the relay can be found on the CFR website.  Anyone wanting to car share please get in touch with me or Steve Heb.

Leicester Marathon -Sunday 11th October

Well done to Sue Denham-Smith who was targeting this event for a fast time. The Leicester Marathon returned in 2006 after a 20 year absence, numbers for the event and a half marathon increasing this year to nearly 1000 entries for the marathon and 2000 for the half.

Sue has been training hard for the marathon, which paid off on Sunday with an improvement of her PB for the 26.2 miles by more than 30 minutes! Finishing in 4:12:43, the third fastest Keswick AC ladies marathon time this year (club ranking), this is a great achievement and great to see someone enjoying their running so much.

Cross Country - Penrith Saturday 17th October

The second counter for the Cross Country Championship takes place in Penrith this weekend.

Sadly another clash with a relay, this time the FRA which is taking place in Ennerdale on the Sunday. So there will be some notable absentees but with the fell season coming to its conclusion we can expect competition to start heating up over the coming weeks. Despite the clashes there is plenty of opportunity for those missing the opening Cross Country races with four races remaining and three required to qualify.

For those interested, the Penrith Cross Country will kick off with the juniors from midday. The senior race will begin just after 13:00. This year the race will be situated at Frenchfields (turn right just after Penrith Rugby Club). The usual; £2 entry fee, Club vests, bring your own pins, and remember your number if you took part at Cockermouth.

Penrith Rotary Club 10k Trail Race - Sunday 11th October

A new event took place last weekend –the Penrith Rotary Club with the permission of the Lowther Estates Trust organised a 10K trail run alongside a 4K ‘family fun run’. The trail race consisted of a one-lap course in Lowther Park on grass, farm track and tarmac, starting and finishing at the Lowther Parish Hall in Hackthorpe village. Proceeds from the event will go towards helping to buy wheel chairs via the Wheel Chair Foundation of Great Britain and Ireland.

Five AC members took part in this new race. Martin Sluce testing his knee following surgery in August was our fastest man posting 44:45 for 19th followed by Colin Valentine running 46:17 for 28th. Well done to Jim Downie who took the 1st MV60 prize in 50:02 and to Anne Downie who was 8th placed woman in 53:22.

The men’s race was won by Stuart Robinson in 39:11 and women’s by Border Harrier Clare McKeown, in 43:03.

Langdale Horseshoe –Saturday 10th October

The final counter in the both the English Championship and Lakeland Classics Trophy, a strong field contested this year’s Langdale on Saturday. With the other long-counter in this year’s English Championship being the Wasdale Horseshoe, the Langdale was always going to be a keenly contested race. Competition at the front end of the field was fierce with the top five runners across the line all within 20 seconds of each other. Andy Styan’s 1977 record of 1:55:03 is safe for another year -first was Simon Booth (Borrowdale) in 2:05:02 with first woman Jane Reedy (Ambleside) in 2:33:14.


Eight Keswick Athletic Club members tested themselves over the 14m/4000’ horseshoe. The cloud was down and some route choices were closer to the optimum than others, while some entailed greater than 14m/4000’ of distance and ascent than others! Well done to all, some good times on a hard race.

Craig Smith 2:41:32 (78th)
James Pearson 3:12:58 (189th)
Andy Murray 3:16:50 (212th)
Geoff Somers 3:26:39 (241st)
Lucy Dunn 2:44:00 (43rd)
Chris Clark 3:53:20 (278th)
Kevin Otto 4:09:00 (296th)
Kim Clark 4:14:00 (55th)






Photographs courtesy of Darian Bridge/Borrowdale Fell Runners

UKA British Relay Championship teams announced

The Keswick AC mens open, vet 40 and vet 50 teams for the 20th British Fell & Hill Relay this weekend, have been announced. The event this year is hosted by Cumberland Fell Runners will be based at The Leaps, Kirkland, nr. Ennerdale. 160 teams have entered and over 1000 runners are expected to be involved.

The Keswick AC open team placed 17th in the 2008 edition of the Relay in the Clywyd Hills of North Wales (results).

Keswick AC Open

LEG1 -Steve Hebblethwaite
LEG2 -Mark Denham-Smith + Will Veitch
LEG3 -Chris Edis + Dave Troman
LEG4 -Matt Fraser
Reserve: Jamie Luxmoore

Keswick AC Vet 40

LEG1 –Rob Wynne
LEG2 –Dave Prosser + Craig Smith
LEG3 –Nick Ogden + Colin Valentine
LEG4 –Dave Birch

Keswick AC Vet 50

LEG1 –Dunc Overton
LEG2 –Keith Loan + Dave Spedding
LEG3 –Jim Downie + Patric Gilchrist
LEG4 –Dave Owens
Reserve: Geoff Somers

Lakes Runner shop, Ambleside

We are expanding the services we are offering to runners at Lakes Runner in Ambleside, I thought it may interest some members of Keswick AC. Is there any chance you could forward it on to the members of your club? Obviously they will already know John Beetham well!


Good luck on the Relays,
Cheers
Ian

At Lakes Runner in Ambleside we are now offering the following services in our new Sports Clinic.

1) Sports Massage - John Beetham (runs for Keswick AC) from 'Hands on Keswick' is doing every other Thursday in the shop. Dealing with all Musculo-skeletal injuries and all running niggles, aches and pains. His prices are very reasonable and he comes highly recommended. Check out www.handsonkeswick.co.uk for more info or give the shop a call on 015394 33660 to make an appointment.


2) Sports Nutrition - Qualified Sports Nutritionist Abby Harman, is going to be practicing every other Wednesday from the shop. She uses food to optimise the results from your running. A nutritional protocol from Abby can maximise your ability to train, race and recover. Along with this she can have a huge positive effect on issues such as combating general fatigue, cold and flu, joint and muscle pain, stress, and safe weight loss/gain. To book a Free 10 min Chat with Abby to see if she can help please call the shop on 015394 33660.

3) Podiatry - David Nicolls our sports podiatrist from footprints health care has been working from Lakes Runner for over 2 years now and has already helped ton's of runners with Bio mechanical issues. He specialises in the production of Orthotics that fit into Fell shoes, which can be an issue with bulky off the peg alternatives. He practices every Wednesday and Saturday at the shop and can really help with foot pain, Ankle and knee problems, Hip and Back issues. Again if this is something you think may benefit you please call the shop to book a 10 min Free consultation. 015394 33660.

4) Runners Cafe - I know its not part of the Sports Clinic but its worth mentioning we are re-opening the Runners Cafe above the Shop this December (2009). This will serve good wholesome healthy Grub that won't break the bank! All the race results will be available to peruse along with Internet access and a good crack. So the next time your up reccying a race route, bob in for a brew and a piece of cake. More details of the menu and a launch party will be posted on the website when we have them. Rumour is its going to be managed by an up and coming Fell Running Star !!!!! Watch this space.

More Details on all of the above at www.lakesrunner.com

Cheers
Ian Barnes
Lakes Runner

Cockermouth 5K road race -Saturday 10th October

A cool morning with little wind provided good conditions for running and 83 runners toed the line for the second 5K race on the same course this year. The races have been organised by Sam Ayres of Cumberland FR and use Cockermouth Rugby Club's Grasmoor Sports Centre facilities. The large turn-out of club athletes and unattatched runners for the two races this year are testimony to the popularity of a 5K race which is most welcome in the North Lakes, the only other similar evant being the popular Lancaster 5K series, and further races are expected.


The race starts at Strawberry How Farm and heads away from town to take in a scenic and undulating rural loop before returning towards Cockermouth via Lorton Road and the finish at the sports centre. The race took on a slower pace than July's edition of the event and after the first kilometre John Fletcher of Border Harriers and myself had opened a lead on the chasing runners and remained together until the 4km mark when Fletcher who has recorded 15.34 for 5000m this year pulled away to win comfortably in 16.48.


Keswick runners Quentin Merritt and Peter Bingham had a good contest, Peter setting the tempo for the first half of the race until Quentin who had started conservatively, forced the pace enough to open a gap which he was able to maintain to finish just 27 seconds faster. Quentin was 2nd V45 and together with Peter and myself took the men's team prize.

Keswick Results:
2nd -Steve Hebblethwaite -17.09
9th -Quentin Merritt -20.30
11th -Peter Bingham -20.57

Full results here.

Photographs courtesy of Toby Cushion

Cumbria Cross Country League –Race 1, Cockermouth, Saturday 3rd October

With the fixtures clash of the Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay taking place the following day, there was a lower attendance at the first meeting of the 2009 Cumbria Cross Country League series at Cockermouth on Saturday. With some strong performances Keswick AC took both the mens and ladies team prizes in the 2008 series, and this year sees the inaugural Keswick AC Club Cross-Country Championship based on runners' best 3 results from 6 races, with awards in Junior, Senior, and Veteran Male & Female categories. Details of the races included in the Club Championship are here.

With several lads competing in the Ian Hodgson, John Niccoll stole a march in the championship with a great run of 36.03 for 2nd overall behind CFR’s Chris Knowles.

The senior men and women both raced over a lapped 8400m course which is one of the toughest in the Cumbria League, in characteristically autumnal conditions which couldn’t have been more fitting for the opening XC race of the season. Also steeling a march on his rivals John Beetham bagged 2nd place points in the new club-championship with 37.10 for 5th place, ahead of Chris Clark who now leads the V50 category, running 44.38 for 19th.

In the Senior ladies race, Hayley Hodgson ran 44.45 for an excellent 3rd place overall behind Clare McKeown (Border Harriers) and Eden Runner Karen Heaviside. Hayley was also 1st V40 and now leads her category going into the second race of the series at Penrith on Saturday 17th October.

Full results here

Junior results

Northern Intercounties –Wigan, 29th August

Well done Laura Vaillant on achieving selection to represent Cumbria in the 1500m at the Northern Intercounties, which was held at the Robin Park Stadium in Wigan on Saturday 29th August. Running in the under 17 race Laura ran 5.02.27 for 4th place, a result that will give her a lot of confidence, showing that she can compete at the higher level which the Intercounties represents.

Full results from Wigan here.

Cumbria Cross Country League –Race 1, Cockermouth, Saturday 3rd October

The junior races at the first meeting of the 2009 Cumbria Cross Country League series were well supported with a total of 10 clubs from Cumbria and the North West represented including good young athletes from Keswick, CFR, Helm Hill and Eden, as well as more track & field orientated clubs like Carlisle Aspatria AC, Seaton AC and Border Harriers.

The friendly, low key atmosphere characteristic of the Cumbria League meetings prevailed, 53 boys and girls across the age categories of U11, U13, U15 and U17 enjoyed the good courses provided by host club Derwent AC –the League courses range through distances of 1500m for U11 boys and girls to 4000m for U17s.
In the U13 girls race, Christina Tully was an excellent 3rd place in 10:54. Keswick had two boys running the U11 race Mark Donovan an excellent 2nd in 6:21, and Alexander Niccoll who clearly takes after his father (2nd in the senior race) who ran 9.58 for 16th. Well done to all. The next race is at Penrith on Saturday 17th October.

RAB Mountain Marathon –Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th September

The RAB this year was based on the Howgills from Sedbergh. Keswick AC ‘O’ expert Dave Troman had a great weekend with his mountain marathon partner Simon Patton, the pair running a 6:52:05 day 1, and 5:36:40 on day 2 with some good navigational decisions to secure 4th in the Elite class. Well done also to Jo Gillyon and Catherine Evans who ran 5:22:17 on the Saturday which put them in 4th place in the women’s competition at the end of day 1, and then followed this with a super day 2 of 4:49:26 with some super navigation to take 2nd place overall, an very admirable performance in a tough event which demands a real physical fitness and stamina.

Full results and split-times from the weekend here.

Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay -Sunday 4th Oct

After ominous looking forcasts all week, good weather prevailed and it was a wonderful day to be running on the fells with friends. The Keswick AC teams all did the club proud.



Keswick's open men's team completed the relay in an outstanding 4:00:43 -the whole time spent swapping positions with clubs who were jostling for positions in the top 10, so well done lads -just reward for the hard work put in to preparation for the day. On leg 1, Chris Edis and Steve Hebblethwaite set off fast and found themselves taking up the chase of a leading group that was made up of a fast running Bingley team lead by newly crowned triathalon world champion Alistair Brownlee, Dark Peak, Calder Valley, Pudsey & Bramley and Borrowdale. Chasing hard on the heels of the Borrowdale pair over Dove Crag and up the climb of Red Screes the Keswick pair then found themselves in 5th as they passed the early leaders Bingley in difficulty on the descent from Red Screes. They handed over to leg 2 duo of Dave Birch and Matt fraser in 58.47 and 5th place. Dave and Matt were not phased and flew round the leg in 1.02.40 to hand over to Toby Cushion and James Luxmoore at Hartsop in 6th. Toby and James ran a good leg posting 38.18 and pulling back a place -handing the baton over to Ian Davies and Mark-Denham Smith just behind Bingley who were by now moving back up through the field. And so for the run to the finish, only 3000+ feet of ascent -over St Sunday Crag, Fairfield and Hart Crag in the way. Ian and Mark took chase out of the handover at the playing fields on the heels of Bingley's Robb Jebb and Andy Peace but couldn't hang on -Peace and Jebb went on to post the 2nd fastest time for the leg while the Keswick lads posted 1.20.58. The team will now be fired up for the FRA Fell and Hill Relays, this year over the Ennerdale Fells on Sunday 18th October.





The Keswick AC Ladies placed 5th covering the four-leg course which starts and finishes at Sykeside, Brotherswater in a time of 5:16:18. Suzy Grindley and Lucy Dunn led out on leg 1, posting 1.28.12 for the the 2848' ascent and 4.5 miles. Trudy Beetham and Sara Hodgson then took up the baton, running hard over the 7.5 mile second leg to gain the team a fantasic 6 positions in a super 1.20.08 -the 3rd fastest ladies time of the day. Anne Downie and 'super-sub' Kim Clarke, who stepped into the breach late in the day when one of the team was lost to illness, fought hard to post 53.04 for leg 3, from Hartsop to Patterdale. At Patterdale playing fields our ladies team's secret weapon -the duo of Cat Evans and Jo Gillyon took the baton up, with the 4th placed team Holmfirth Harriers almost 15 minutes ahead. Running a fantastic leg of 1.34.54 (4th fastest ladies time of the day) Catherine and Jo pulled the Holmfirth pair to within just 90 seconds!





The Keswick AC 40+ team too had a good day. Boasting super-fast V50s and a V60 they placed a fantastic 8th V40 team against some stiff competition (the first V40 team placed 6th overall!). Dunc Overton and Neil Thompson led out on leg 1 negotiating the course to Kirkstone Pass in 1.11.29 where they handed over to Dave Owens and Rob Wynne who dashed round the 7.5 mile leg 2 over Caudale Moor and High Street in 1.12.01, moving thorough the field to pick up 4 places which must have been fun. The pair of Dave Burton and Keith Hill took over at Hartsop sheep folds for the run over Angletarn Pikes and down to Patterdale in a speedy 48.46 where Nick Ogden and Craig Smith were waiting to carry the team through to the finish in 1.24.54 for a total time of 4:37:10 and 27th team overall -A great performance from an injury affected team which was missing one or two runners, and one that could even merrit the inclusion of Birch and Denham-Smith in a team to challenge for a medal next year, also showing promise for the V40 competition at the FRAs in two weeks.





Thanks to all for a great day on the fells. It shows what can be acheived with a little hard work and commitment...and next year a top 5 spot beckons! See you at the FRAs.
Full results are online here. Individual checkpoint split-times are online here.

Photographs courtesy of John Beetham, and Dunc Overton

Cockermouth 5K road race -next Saturday 10th October

For any folk not running the at Langdale Horseshoe, there is a 5K race in Cockermouth next Saturday 10th October. Entry form/details here.

Bodyfit 5K race: Saturday 10th October, 9.30am

Grasmoor Sports Centre (Cockermouth Rugby Club), Strawberry How Road

£4 pre-entry or on the day for UK Athletics affiliated club runners

Accurately measured 5K

Minimum age limit: 14 years

Cross Country - Cockermouth 3rd October

The inaugural Cross Country Club Championship gets underway this weekend in Cockermouth (do I get bonus points for alliteration) Note: The Club Championship status will be subject to ratification at the AGM. Due to some unfortunate date clashes with the fell relays in October it has been decided that in order to qualify for the Championship an individual needs to complete three races from six.

Full details of the Championship programme can be found in the member’s section on the ClubWeb and the qualifying races are:

3rd October – Cockermouth
17th October – Penrith
7th November – Maryport
5th December – Keswick
12th December – Barrow (County Championships)
9th January – Carlisle

So for those not taking part in the relays the Cockermouth Junior races start at noon , & the Seniors at around 1:10pm, at the field just east of Cockermouth School. The cost is a mere £2, Club vests and pins required and X-Country spikes or fell-studs would be suitable for the course.

Anyone wishing to car-share please contact iandavversdavies@googlemail.com

Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay - Ladies Team

The ladies team for the Ian Hodgson Relay has also been finalised as below - 

Leg 1 - Lucy Dunn & Sheelagh Veitch

Leg 2 - Sara Hodgson & Trudy Beetham

Leg 3 - Anne Downie & Suzy Grindley

Leg 4 - Jo Gillyon & Cat Evans

Reserves - Kim Clark, Debbie Thompson, Sarah Bailey & Hayley Hodgson

So far there are two cars going from Keswick around 8am.  If anyone wants to car share get in touch, including anyone not running who wants to offer support - joandchris8@tiscali.co.uk.

Thanks to all for your enthusiasm and support and for Pat's help!  

Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay teams announced

The Keswick AC mens open, and vet team for the 22nd edition of the Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay, which takes place in Brotherswater this weekend, have been announced. The event, first staged in 1985 is a relay over four legs of testing mountain terrain (map here), for teams of 8 -each leg being covered by two runners who run together as a pair.

Last year the event was cancelled due to the start/finish fields being underwater following heavy rains. The Keswick AC open team placed 10th in the 2007 edition of the Relay (results) from a total of 65 teams and will be out to better that result.

Keswick AC
Open
LEG1 -Chris Edis + Steve Hebblethwaite
LEG2 -Dave Birch + Matt Fraser
LEG3 -Toby Cushion + James Luxmoore
LEG4 -Mark Denham-Smith + Will Veitch

Reserves:
Ian Davies
John Beetham

Vets
LEG1 -Dunc Overton + Neil Thompson
LEG2 -Dave Owens + Rob Wynne
LEG3 -Dave Burton + Keith Loan
LEG4 -Nick Ogden + Craig Smith

Reserves:
WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR RESERVES TO STEP IN FOR THE V40+ TEAM -IF ANYONE IS AVAILABLE THIS SUNDAY AND WOULD LIKE A RUN, PLEASE PLEASE GET IN TOUCH stevenhebblethwaite@hotmail.com or 01900 821501

Cumberland Ale 10 -Sunday 13th Sept

Results from Cockermouth club, Derwent AC's 'Cumberland Ale 10' earlier this month are now available. The ten mile road race starts from the Jennings brewery in the town before following an undulating and scenic route on quiet roads to cross the River Derwent at Isel Bridge. The route makes a small loop before returning to the town via Isel Road again.

Three Keswick AC men represented the club, Dunc Frampton posted a super 63.51 to finish second behind race winner Chris Steele (Borrowdale FR) who ran 56.07. Duncan's time qualifies for the RRC 'gold standard' and also places him top in the club ranking at 10M this year -well done Duncan. Derek Harrison too ran a great 73.37 for 11th overall and 1st MV60.

The race was a counter in the Derwent AC 'Grand Prix' -a competition for runners who compete at a minimum of 3 of the Derwent-organised races. Peter Bingham who has had a busy year on the road ran 76.39 for 18th place, and this alongside runs at Isel Cross, the Lambfoot Loop and Hay races secured him 3rd V40 and 6th place overall in the grand prix -well done Peter.

Full results from the Cumberland Ale 10 here.

FRA Relay Recce

Tomorrow's recce will be FRA territory. I am planning to do leg 4, Steve Heb will be looking at leg 1. Meet Keswick (station car park) at 3.45pm, sheep & wool about 4.10pm or at the start around 4.30pm.

There will be no more 6pm recce's due to the nights drawing in.

Let me know if you can make it - joandchris8@tiscali.co.uk

Dalehead 4.5m/2210’ –Sunday 20th September

There was a good turnout from Keswick AC at the ever popular Dalehead race this afternoon –the fine sunny weather saw a packed show field at Rosthwaite for the Borrowdale show which was a welcome change after last year’s washout.

Ricky Lightfoot (Ellenborough) won by a clear margin from Simon Booth (Borrowdale). The race was a Keswick AC club championship counter in 2008. This year Matt Fraser again found third spot with a super run finishing in 48:45 and clipping 50 seconds from his 2008 time. Pippa Jackson was a class above the rest of the women today, running 53.15 for 6th overall and taking over two and a half minutes from her own time of last year.

Keswick AC:

Men
3. Matt Fraser -48:45
11. Craig Smith -58:05
12. Dave Prosser -58.20
17. Pez Bullen -60:37
24. Jim Downie -67:27 (1st V60)

Women
1. Pippa Jackson -53:15
3. Lucy Dunn -77:51
4. Anne Downie -78.40 (1st FV40)

Commonwealth Championship Up and Down Open Race –Sunday 20th September

Bathed in bright sunshine, amongst the pleasant surrounds of Fitz Park in Keswick this morning a good field toed the line for the 8m/2700’ course of the Up and Down Mountain Race. The race was one of several open races offered over three days as part of the ‘Festival of Running’ that was organised under the umbrella of the Commonwealth Championship. The Up and Down race began in the park, and via Briar Rigg and Spoony Green Lane, took in three ‘undulating’ laps over Latrigg before returning to the park, and the finish...

...The fully flagged course was exactly the same as that tackled by the elite athletes later in the day in the Commonwealth Championship Races. Photographs by Pete Richards from the four days of the Commonwealth Championships can be found at www.keswick-ac.org.uk in the news section.

The open race was won by Prasad Prasad of Clydesdale Harriers in 51:04 who made amends for his run last month in the commonwealth trial race that was run over the same course when he recorded a DNF. First woman was Emma Clayton (Scunthorpe & Dist) in 59:39.

Today’s race was the final race in the Keswick AC club fell-championship 2009. For the men, Phil Winskill made his first appearance in the competition in style with a run of 54:29, 5th place overall to claim maximum points ahead of Steve Hebblethwaite -55:50 (6th), Ian Davies -1:02:28 (24th), Toby Cushion -1:02:43 (25th), Rob Wynne -1:04:14 (29th), Dave Owens -1:08:52 (41st), Quentin Merrit -1:08:56 (42nd), Andrew Murray -1:10:59 (47th), Keith Loan -1:11:25 (49th), Chris Clark -1:18:37 (61st), and Patric Gilchrist -1:21:54 (1st MV60/68th).

For the women, Jo Gillyon raced a good 1:13:18 (8th) ahead of Trudy Beetham -1:16:21 (11th), Debbie Edgington -1:19:16 (13th), Kim Clark -1:20:15 (2nd LV50/14th) and Maureen Bridge ( 1st LV60/16th).

picture: Pete Richards

Commonwealth Championship: Festival of Running 10K race and Junior races –Saturday 19th September

On the same day that the elite of ultra distance athletes raced over 100km as part of the Commonwealth Championship, a race over the more modest distance of 10km was held as part of the ‘Festival of Running’ offering open races in conjunction with the championship. The race took advantage of the road closures which had been put in place for the 100km race to offer an undulating course which took runners out of town on Penrith Road and past Castlerigg Stone Circle, before turning back along the A66 to Crosthwaite and returning to finish in the park. The race was won by Ben Gamble (Stone Master Marathoners) in 33:19 with Lynn Manir Jolley (Wigan Phoenix) the first woman in 41:36. Full results here

Keswick AC:
17. James Walker -39:50
22. John Waite -40:47
35. John Horne -44:35



39. Mike Beechey -45:43
41. Paul Titley -46:52
45. Dianne Shaw -50:45 (1st LV40)

The day started with junior races which were based on the same 1km lap over which the elite Commonwealth 24 hour race athletes had tested themselves just the previous day. Keswick AC was done proud with juniors representing the club in every race.



Arran Horne was 3rd in the under 11, 2km race and brother Joseph Horne was 4th in the under 13, 3km race.



James Hodgson ran a super race in the under 15, 5km event with 19:14 for 3rd after following the pace in the early stages as part of a leading pack that included eventual race winner and English National Cross Country U13 Champion James Knox (Helm Hill).

A big well done to all the volunteers who gave up their freetime (and work-time!) to make the commonwealth championships a world-class event. All the athletes I worked with had nothing but admiration for the organisation, the courses and the local population. I felt very proud to be part of this event and the experience will stay with me for a long time to come.

Keswick AC club fell-championship 2009 finale this weekend -Up and Down Commonwealth race in Keswick

The culmination of the Keswick AC club fell-championship 2009 will take place this Sunday. Some fierce competition between club members competing for championship points expected, with the top 3 for both the men's and ladies championship and vet categories still to be decided.

The championship in 2009 has been comprised of four races; the short counter at Latrigg in May which saw the club walk away with both the men's and women's team prizes, medium counter the Coledale Horseshoe in April, which returned to the fell running calendar after a 1 year absence and saw Keswick AC's ladies take the team prize and a new course record by Pippa Jackson. The long counter, two weeks ago was the 10m/5000' Grisedale Horseshoe from Glenridding in Patterdale with 19 athletic club members taking part and Pippa Jackson claiming her second sucessive club fell title in emphatic style -again coming away with a course record.

This weekend's race, the 8m/2700' up and down mountain race, which is over a lapped course on Latrigg is being run in conjunction with Commonwealth Championship races on same day and promises an opportunity for some exciting racing and a fantastic atmosphere.

The race starts at 11.00 with the 12km course being comprised of three laps both for the senior men and women. Entry is availble on the day, the main hub for the events being in Fitz Park.

There will also be Junior races from 10am, with U12 (over 10) U14,U16, and U18 races. Further details at the website here: www.cumbriacommonwealthchampionships.org

A host of other events take place over the weekend including the 24hr race which begins at 12noon today, the Uphill championship races tomorrow, 100km Championship race and open 10km road race on Saturday and the Mens and Women's up and down Championship races which follow the open race on Sunday.