Black Combe Runners

Published at 15:41, Wednesday, 28 July 2010

IT’S been a busy spell for local running club Black Combe Runners, with one club championship counter fell races, plus other locally based events before the annual fortnight when most people go on holiday.

Their latest counter was the Lakeland Country Show fell race from Coniston Hall. Five BCRs ran here, with Malcolm Knowles clocking 74:58 to take top points here. Other finishers: Patrick McIver 78:58, Peter Kay 91:36 and Robin Smithurst 1:53.15. Jamie Baron was disqualified for missing a checkpoint, whilst local MP and Lib Dem leader candidate Tim Farron managed to finish the race, but was timed out.

Then the previous Wednesday evening, two club members headed through the Duddon Valley and over the Wrynose Pass to the Old Dungeon Ghyll hotel in Great Langdale to assemble for the Blisco Dash.

This race covers five miles and 2,000ft ascent on its out and back route to the summit of Pike o’Blisco, and a cool, evening with moderate winds made running difficult at times, so no fast times were achieved this year.

Around 65 runners took part, and the first BCR back in this non-club counter went to Jane Hornsby, she arrived back in 69:29, with Robin Smithurst just over seven minutes later.

Eleven days previously the 21.7 mile, 8540ft ascent Wasdale Fell race took place in unfavourable conditions, with only one BCR taking up the gruelling event, with Patrick McIver the club’s sole representative returning in 6:38.13.

On Sunday, July 18, the inaugural West Cumbrian Run took place from Cockermouth to Workington as a memorial event for PC Bill Barker.

Nearly 500 runners took up the 9.5 mile challenge to raise funds for the Great North Air Ambulance. Paul Curtis of Blengdale Runners won in 57 minutes, with Sarah Bailey (Keswick AC) the first lady back in 71 minutes.

Regular West Cumbrian race entrant Karl Fursey was the club’s sole participant finishing in 203rd place, clocking 85:20.

The next BCR club championship counter races are the Ulverston 10km on August 18 at 7.15pm, entry available on the night, with the next confirmed fell counter being the Sedbergh Hills long on Sunday, August 22, pre-entry only.

Next up for the club is their annual summer challenge a fortnight on Saturday. This year it’s a nine leg relay between all the lakes, meres and tarns in the Lake District, covering cycling, walking and running, starting from Coniston on the Friday, August 13 night, and timed to finish back there in time for the evening barbecue within the set limit of 24 hours later.

More details on this, and other club related info, please go to www.bcrunners.org.uk

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk