Three Peaks 2009 - race preview
2008 start
After the international flavour of the 2008 event, the 2009 Three Peaks race returns to relative normality and to battles of a more domestic leaning. There is a very large field as always and you can bet that racing will be no less fierce this year…
Recent winner at Coledale Rob Jebb aims to put himself even further up the Three Peaks hall-of-fame rankings as he goes for his fourth win. Only Mike Davies and Jeff Norman have won more than 3 Threes. Whether Jebby will ever get anywhere near Jeff’s six-wins remains to be seen.
The new legend, Jebby
Pushing him close will be John Brown, runner up John Heneghan at last week’s Hawkshead trail race. Record-holder and fellow three-time winner Andy Peace will once again be on the start line to show that life begins at forty, as he lines up as a vet this year.
The women’s race looks like a wide-open affair, after the withdrawl of Kiwi international Anna Frost. We doubt that there is anyone lining-up who will approach Anna Pichrtova’s new course-record of 3:14:43 set last year (a record we feel could stand for many years).
However, both Hazel Robinson and Helen Berry have been in good form recently and a surprise could be expected from the many first-timers that compete this year. The Three Peaks has become known for its monumental battles over the years and this year’s women’s race could prove to be so, with no clear favourite.
Speaking to MST this week, Dave Hodgson, President of the Three Peaks Race Association said:
This years race has attracted almost 900 entries including over 300 newcomers to the event. The men’s field include Andy Peace the record holder and Rob Jebb three times winner in recent years. Also entered is John Brown of Salford one of the most successful British runners on the European Alpine circuit. Prominent amongst the women runners is likely to be Anna Frost of New Zealand who finished 4th last year. Weather in the Yorkshire Dales has been very dry during April and providing the dry spell holds we could see fast times.
(we have since discovered that Anna Frost will likely not be competing this year- Ed.)
Ascending Whernside
Everything a competitor could need to know is on the Three Peaks site, with the start list here
Make sure you check in to MST early next week too as we aim to bring you all of the results and reactions from this great race.
The legendary cast and silverware
