Shettleston reign in Fife
The victorious Shettleston boys
As reported on Friday, a little birdie had given us the nod that Shettleston Harriers were well up for today’s UKA British Fell Relay champs over in Fife. Shame I’m not a betting man, as that birdie proved right as the crack East Glasgow squad raced to the gold medal…
I was lucky to watch a great National 6-stage relay race unfold at Sutton Park yesterday, and see the Shettleston team take Scotland’s first ever medal at these championships, taking the silver medal. However, this one really mattered to the boys in blue and yellow – to take the Fell relays, on home soil, is special.
Reports coming back from the day indicate some superb racing across the men’s and women’s events, with Hunters Bog Trotters also bringing home the bacon for Scotland in the ladies race, from fellow Scots team Carnethy.
In the men’s relays a heavy marker was laid down by Shettleston as they sent out fell strong-men Tom Owens and Jethro Lennox on leg one. The duo came home some 30 seconds clear at the end of 10 mile stage, and from there on extended the lead through Michael Gillespie (solo), Oleg Chepelin and Matt Sullivan (pairs) and Matt Gillespie (solo), who brought them home over a minute clear on leg four.
Pudsey and Bramley (without Rob Hope) took the silver medal, with Dark Peak (without Lloyd Taggart) taking the bronze.
In the women’s race HBT overhauled long-time leaders Carnethy, with Eilis McKechanie bringing them home over 5 minutes clear at the end of stage four. Keswick AC, and Pippa Maddams, made sure it wasn’t a Scottish clean sweep as she bought home the Cumbrians in third.
Eilis McKechanie (HBT) in 2009
Some great reports already online at the Scottish Hill Runners site and the Shettleston Harriers site, with full results to follow.
Expect more reaction over the coming days, with plenty of photos to come too. (Al Tye from Fell Running Pictures was there, but has a long journey home!)
Leading positions
Men
1 Shettleston Harriers (J Lennox/T Owens, Michael Gillespie, Oleg Chepelin/M Sullivan, Matthew Gillespie) 3:50.10
2 Pudsey & Bramley (G Pearce/D Kay, N Leigh, G Devine/I Nixon, D Hope) 3:51.16
3 Dark Peak FR (R Street/O Johnson, R Little, R Findlay-Robin/N Northtrop, C Gilhooley) 3:51.40
Women
1 Hunters Bog Trotters (M Wright/C Gordon, E Wardlaw, B Curtis/S O’Neill, E McKechanie) 4:58.16
2 Carnethy Hr (A Mudge/J Mykura, J Anderson, J Higginbottom/J Paris, F Mackinnon) 5:04.09
3 Keswick ( C Evans/J Carter J Gillyon, H Winskill/S Bailey, P Maddams) 5:05.50
Reactions so far
David Hall Oct 18, 01:59 PM
I think you’ll find Shettleston beat Tipton on Saturday and tool the silver. Great performance on both occasions. Congratulations to all involved.
Matt - MST Oct 19, 12:02 PM
Thanks David, I knew that (oops!), I was there too!
Cheers, Matt