British Champs Rd1 - preview
For those with British Fell Running Championships ambitions, it’s time to head to the beautiful Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland and lace-up the fell shoes for 12.5 tough miles, covering 10 peaks!
With the relatively fine spring weather this last month or so racing has been fiercely competitive around the the UK, and all of the contenders in the men’s and women’s scene has been flexing their fell-muscles. With British clubs heading over the Irish Sea in their hoards too it should make for quite a weekend!
The top Mountain Runners from throughout the British Isles will be heading to Newcastle to compete in the Mourne Peaks race this Saturday 9 April. The NI Mountain Running Association is once again hosting the prestigious opening round of the British Championship Mountain Running Championship over the classic Mourne Peaks course. – NIMRA
The men’s race should be an epic, if all who are expected make the start line. 2009 Champion Rob Hope will be joined by 2010 Champ Tim Davies and both will be keen to get their 2011 campaigns off to a good start.
Lloyd Taggart
Recently Lloyd Taggart has been on fire, so we can expect to see the Manx resident in his Dark Peak colours in the thick of the action. Robbie Simpson is a future champion, of that there can be no doubt, and the talented Scot underlined this will an emphatic win at Birnam only a couple of weeks ago – expect him be right up there.
Throw in Tom Owens, Chris Steele, Tom Addison, stalwarts Simon Booth and Ben Bardsley, and a few others I may have omitted (no start sheet available at time of writing) and you have a recipe for a great race.
Women’s 2010 runner-up Helen Fines will be looking to make her mark once again, and though not down as a starter on this NIMRA preview, Pippa Maddams must be in the hot seat if she takes to the start line. Jackie Lee, Clare Whitehead, Andrea Rowlands along with NI Champion Shileen O’Kane (Lagan Valley AC) and local contender Karen Alexander (Sperrin Harriers) should all add to the heady racing mix too.
Pippa Maddams - 2010 Champion
Keep an eye on the NIMRA site for results and images, and we’ll look to bring you a full report, along with reactions, early next week…
Reactions so far
Sarah Ridgway Apr 9, 09:11 AM
Hi Matt – the image at the top is actually my photo – please credit to Sarah Ridgway www.runsnowdonia.co.uk