Morgan puts himself in the hot seat with Sedbergh win...
Morgan Donnelly
When I interviewed Morgan Donnelly after his convincing win at Yr Aran a few weeks ago, the Borrowdale man stated that his season started there, and the British championships were his target…
After Sunday’s tough Sedbergh Hills race – round 3 of the 2011 British Championships – two consecutive wins have put Morgan firmly in the driving seat with a perfect 104 points for this year’s series, and just the short-sharp Devils Beeftub to go in three weeks time.
Morgan wasn’t the days only winner though. The Sedbergh race also doubled as the final counter in the English Champs too, and after a a tussle for top honours on the day with Donnelly, Lloyd Taggart’s second place on the day was enough to bag him the 2011 English title.
Taggart on his way up Winder
The 2011 season really has been a cracker to date. With some superb racing gracing the men’s and women’s championships. Lloyd will be a popular winner of this title, as the likeable Manxman is a consistent performer across many off-road disciplines.
Big tussle
Yesterday’s racing is fantastically covered by @Daleside over on the Fell Running Briefs page, with some heartwarming pictures of happy fell runners! Her report on the racing paints a fascinating picture of how the tactics played a big part in the race, with lines going onto check point 3 (Steam Junction) proving to be decisive. Judy reports:
“CP3 is where the route divergences started, with the teams working in units: Pudsey and Bramley’s Darren Kay and Graham Pearce with Ambleside’s Ben Abdelnoor in tow, took the low route with a sharp climb to the col.
“The welsh contingent (Davies brothers with Richie R) taking a sharp right climb; the Borrowdale lads (Jim, Ben B, Chris Steele and Mike Fanning) taking the same route but with a sharper descent. Pudsey and Bramley’s route proved best until they dropped too quickly, losing their advantage…….meanwhile, no-one could catch the Siamese twins Morgz and Lloyd.”
Morgan at Sedbergh
“The next challenge was the significant but runnable climb of The Calf. Here Morgz kicked and consolidated his lead to almost two minutes over Lloyd.
Behind these two there was a great run by Darren Kay for third, and another excellent run from Ben Abdelnoor in 4th. Andy Davies was 5th, with brother and 2010 champion Tim in 8th.
It was to be a happy day in the ‘Taggart family’ too, as Lloyd’s partner Jackie Lee won the women’s race, ahead of fellow Welsh international Anna Bartlett. Lou Roberts was third, with Mercia’s Mel Price in 4th, once again having a good showing after third place in Wales last month.
Jackie and Lloyd - one fast fell running couple
Sedbergh Hills race – men’s top 10 – provisional
1. Morgan Donnelly – Borrowdale – 2:02:44
2. Lloyd Taggart – Dark Peak – 2:04:29
3. Darren Kay – Pudsey and Bramley – 2:08:45
4. Ben Abdelnoor – Ambleside – 2:08:51
5. Andrew Davies – Mercia – 2:08:59
6. Carl Bell – Howgill – 2:09:00
7. Mike Fanning – Borrowdale – 2:10:35
8. Tim Davies – 2:10:47
9. Graham Pearce – P&B – 2:10:58
10. Karl Gray – Calder Valley – 2:11:50
Sedbergh Hills race – women’s top 3 – provisional
1. Jackie Lee – Eryri – 2.32.43
2. Anna Bartlett – Shrewsbury – 2.33.56
3. Louise Roberts – Kendal – 2.39.04
Full results now online at the FRA site ‘here”:http://www.fellrunner.org.uk/results.php?id=952. A lively thread adorns the FRA here, with a couple of cracking images courtesy of the ever-present Andy Holden (Wharfeego)…
Facing the Devil
With the English Champs (full final standings to follow) now done and dusted, all eyes will move north of the Border for the final round of the British Champs on Sept 10th. The historic Devil’s Beeftub is said to be a ‘chin grinder’ of a race, and during its brief 2 mile (1 up, 1 down approx.) stint it manages to take in 750ft of climbing.
The men’s championship destination for 2011 would now appear to be in the hands of Donnelly, as a win (or high finish) would secure him the title. In the women’s champs it is a similar scenario for Pippa Maddams, who after wins at round one and two (Mourne Peaks and Yr Aran) needs to perform ‘just’ strongly at the Beeftub to secure her third-straight women’s British Fell title.
