Weekend racing...
The weather dominated affairs this weekend, but as ever the hardly fell, mountain and trail runners of the UK took it all in their stride. In-form Scots Robbie Simpson and Finlay Wild took course records, Carl Bell and Hazel Robinson won at Duddon, whilst Duncan Archer and Jim Mann retained their LAMM crown…
Duncan and Jim repeat
The weather was fairish for LAMMers this yeat, though as with many parts of the country right now the midges were out in force.
After last year’s relative surprise, Duncan Archer and Jim Mann wore the favourites badge with pride for the 2012 LAMM, and led from early-on to take a glorious Elite class win by over an hour. Speaking after Sunday’s stage they said:
“It was a mad dash to get to the chasing start in time, with last minute toilet queuing, and not wanting to expose any bare flesh to the hoards of midges until the very last minute. Once on the move the pressure was off slightly today, with a 40+ minute lead in the chase, but we still went fairly briskly just to be sure.”
The A course winners were Andy Fallas and Helen Bonsor, with all class winners writing up their own little blog review on the LAMM site here. Full results are here, with some great images by Jon Brooke here.
Jim Mann and Duncan Archer, victorious once again at the LAMM
Scots racing a plenty
Excellent news and results site Scottish Hill Racing has it all after this weekend’s competition north of the Border.
The Scots arguably have some of the best hill racers in the UK right now. From Joe Symonds to Robbie Simpson, from Angela Mudge to Finlay Wild, throw in Tom Owens and honorary Scot Sarah O’Neil and they will be force to be reckoned with in international team racing this year.
Take Simpson and Wild for instance. Teenager Simpson showed the cream of UK mountain racers the way at the recent UK trials, and followed it up last Weds with a course record at the Cort-ma Law Hill Race. Morefoot Runner Julia Connor won the women’s race.
For Wild it was a similar story as he followed last weekend’s beating of Joe Symonds at the Slioch Horseshoe with a trouncing of the opposition at the Glen Rosa Horseshoe, winning by over 16 minutes and breaking Del Davies’ 13-year old record. Shettleston’s Neah Evans narrowly won the women’s race after a battle with Ochil Runner Alayne Finlay.
Finally, Keith Hood won the Traprain Law race at East Linton. HBT runner Megan Wright took the women’s race.
Roberts win shortened 1000m
It hasn’t been a great time weather-wise in Wales this last two weekends, as first the Carneddau race was cancelled last weekend and then the famous Welsh 1000m was shortened last Saturday, as atrocious conditions once again darkened the Carneddau and Glyders.
Rich Roberts at the Welsh 1000m
Still the wind and rain wasn’t enough to deter the hardy souls who took on 4 instead of 5 peaks, and it was Eryri’s Rich Roberts who prevailed, just edging team mate Matt Fortes. Andrea Rowlands started to to show the sort of form that took her to 5th at last years WLDMRC, by winning the women’s section for a second year running.
Full results now online at the 1000m site, with some soggy images by Al Tye here.
Bell takes Duddon
The 18 mile Duddon Fell Race is renowned as a tough ‘un in good conditions, throw in some pretty horrible wind, rain and Lakeland clag, and it is a whole different race.
Seems that there were a few ‘off-courses’ from various runners, however Carl Bell found navigation skills to match his legs to take a comfy win, in 3:08:54, ahead of Kim Collison and Tom Brunt.
Ambleside’s Hazel Robinson won the women’s race, from Sarah Massey. ‘Twitter results’ here
In other racing there was a great win for Mark McGoldrick at the Weets race over in Yorkshire – good on you Goldie, fatherhood seems to suit you!
Keep following @FellRunninBrief for all the latest in results and links to fell running news…
