On the fells...
Jethro Lennox and Tom Owens at Devils Burden
It felt like the season was in full swing this weekend as some pretty decent weather meant for big fields and fast racing at the Kinder trail, the Devils Burden relays up in Fife and another tremendous Woodentops promoted Stanbury Splash in Keighley…
Chris Steele
Some pretty big guns were out and about too. Borrowdale’s Chris Steele is much improved over the last couple of years, and dont be surprised to see him even more prominent at this year’s championship races on the UK hill and fell scene. He was a clear winner (42:30) at yesterdays Soreen sponsored Stanbury Splash in west Yorkshire, ahead of over 400 runners.
Dark Peak’s Stuart Bond was 15 seconds back on Steele in second, with race record holder and first vet Ian Holmes (42.51) in third.
Calder Valley’s Jo Buckley (51.21) was a very clear winner of the women’s race, ahead of team-mate Helen Fines (52.57).
Calder Valley's Jo Buckley
Results can be found here, just scroll through, with some excellent images as usual from David Brett and Paul Wood, over at the Woodentops race page.
Over in Hayfield it was the Kinder trail that tickled the fancy of those looking for something a little longer on the hills this weekend. A classic route and some cracking soup at the Kinder Scout hut was obviuosly very tempting, as 150+ took part. Dark Peak’s Neil Northrop (1.45.46) beat the 2010 winner Tom Brunt by a couple of minutes to win, with Macclesfields Simon Harding in third. Kirsty Bryan-Jones made it a clean sweep for the Dark Peak club as she won the women’s race in 2.25.18.
Full results here
Scottish Hill Racing's Chris Upson at Devils Burden
Meanwhile over the border in Fife it was time for some tag-action as the Devils Burden relay race was won by top Scots club Shettleston.
A relay race over 31 km consisting of 4 legs for teams of 6 (2 legs run in pairs) was the order of the day, and with the east Glasgow club sticking Tom Owens and Jethro Lennox on leg one the outcome of the men’s event was pretty much decided from the outset. Still they were chased home by Bellahouston RR who made up some good ground over the the next couple of legs, but is was never going to be enough as Casey Morgan brought Shettelston home exactly 4 minutes clear in 2.22.57.
In the women’s event Hunters Bog Trotters (2.50.36) won a close fought battle with Ochil (2.53.07), coming out on top after a very strong last leg by Megan Wright who overhauled a 30 second deficit, turning it into a 2 minute plus win by the finish.
Full results can be found here with some great shots courtesy of Scottish Hill Runners here.
