Symonds takes rd 1 of British fell champs
Symonds leads Hope and Donnelly
After a titanic struggle over at the Silent Valley, Kendal AC man Andy Symonds came out on top of the first race in the 2010 British Fell Running Championships yesterday. Pippa Maddams took the ladies race, but was run close by the in-form Lauren Jeska.
The ‘medium’ length race was described afterwards as “really tough, over 10 miles and we had to scramble in places” by Symonds who ran in less than 20 seconds ahead of form-man Morgan Donnelly, who had come into the race full of confidence after an excellent early season. However, it was Symonds who had all of the answers following an early season of hard training and a light racing programme.
2009 British champion Rob Hope was third after a ding-dong battle over the Silent Valley course, which covers 5 peaks including Wee Binnian and Ben Crom. The 10 mile race had seen the race lead change hands a number of times and saw the pair of Donnelly and Symonds pull away from Hope in the closing miles as the Pudsey and Bramley man faded.
A mention should also be made of young Scot Robbie Simpson. The 18 year-old Deeside Runner blazed an amazing race for fourth – in his first ever Brit champs race (he was too young in 2009!). just over 2 mins down on Symonds, Simpson got the better of many a seasoned international and surely has a very bright future in the sport.
Pippa Maddams is the dominant female in British fell running right now, and in the women’s race the challenge didn’t come from Claire Whitehead and Helen Fines as expected. It was Todmorden Harrier Lauren Jeska who put in a great run, finishing just over a minute back on Maddams in second. However, if images are anything to go by Pippa enjoyed herself out there and was still too strong for the rest of the girls.
Pippa Maddams at Silent Valley
Some great images here, here and here , with full results now online at the Newcastle AC website.
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