Running

Last updated at 12:13, Thursday, 12 April 2012

AS we spring forward into the new season it means it’s time for locally based running club Black Combe Runners to kick start their season on the fells.

This was certainly the case the weekend before last when the club’s first race in its 12 race fell series got under way from Stair village hall in the Newlands valley near Keswick.

The summer weather that occurred in the days leading up to this year’s Causey Pike 4.5 mile, 1780ft ascent race made for very good underfoot conditions in dry, if cool, weather on the day for the 171 runners who enjoyed and completed this race.

The men’s race was dominated by Bingley Harriers’ Rob Jebb who won in a very speedy 33:10, though he was pushed for much of the way by young Carl Bell from the Sedbergh based Howgill Harriers club, just finishing 40 seconds in arrears.

Local runner Tom Addison from the Kendal Helm Hill Runners took third in a very respectable 34:14.

For the ladies, Lizzie Adams showed just why she must be one of the best versatile runners in the UK. Fifth in the World Mountain Running championships in 2011.

She is last year’s Commonwealth mountain running champion, sixth in the National Cross-Country championships two months ago, a 9:17 3000m road race personal best, and joining Black Combe Runners to compete for them at fell races.

She managed a sound beating of three-time English and British fell champ and 2011 World Long Distance hill champ Pippa Maddams of the local Keswick AC club for a new course record of 37:33. It was good enough for a 16th place overall finish, which may have been higher had she not done a hard training run that same morning!

Pippa was just outside her own old record, finishing 92 seconds behind Lizzie in 22nd position.

Third lady went to Ambleside AC’s Hazel Robinson in a very creditable 42:41.

For the BCRs club points were up for grabs to the other green and black vests who had a very good day out with Jackie Casey taking the FV50 prize in 47:06, and she was well ahead of most of the BCR men who spent the race ambling around in midfield admiring the view.

Despite good results from the BCR ladies it wasn’t enough for them to take the ladies team prize as well.

Other BCR times: Richard Watson 43:14, Peter Tayler 44:18, newly joined Phil Clayton 45:15, Mike Jewell 47:10, William Ross 48:16, Hazel Tayler 60:20 and Jo Francis-Nicholls 65:05.

BCR’s next club counter events are the already fully booked English and British champs counting event at Coledale horseshoe fell race from Braithwaite, the second of their 12 fell race counters this Saturday at 1pm, whilst the Dalton-in-Furness 10km is the clubs’ next road race counter on Friday, May 4 at 7.15pm with entry available on the night at the town’s cricket club.

First published at 11:59, Thursday, 12 April 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk