Jonny caps off a super 2012 at ALS
Jonny leads Tom on the last river crossing
Yesterday saw World Champion and Olympic bronze medalist from 2012, Jonny Brownlee, storm to victory at one of the races of the year, Auld Lang Syne. This one is a sell-out, way in advance, and was packed with international talent in both the men’s and women’s fields…
Fun is the name of the game for most at this end-of-year 6 miler, but for the leading men and ladies it’s deadly serious racing.
It has probably been Ali who has won the lion’s share of publicity in Brownlee household this last 12 months. Firstly, with his will he make the Games, won’t he, injury. And then that unforgettable Olympic crown in August. But Jonny has been super-consistent taking the World ITU crown and bronze in London (despite that time penalty!), and to have him on the start-line must have given the likes of Tom and Mark Addison an extra pep in their stride.
In the women’s race the same could have been said for young Annabel Mason. After taking the European Junior MR crown earlier in the summer and most recently a superb 4th at the European XC champs when right at the bottom of the U20 age group, the young Wakefield Harrier is surely one of the UK biggest endurance running prospects.
Lining up with Mason were multiple-champions and internationals galore, Vic Wilkinson, Olivia Walwyn-Bush, Katie Walshaw and Helen Fines, all of whom would be keen to mix-it with the youngster.
The weather conditions were what could loosely be described as atrocious, with wind and lashing rain greeting the 375 odd runners for this excellent Woodentops event in Keighley.
Brownlee was obviously not going to be hanging round in this weather and quickly blasted into the lead in the first half mile, with a group of 6-8 chasing, including Addison’s cousin Mark, Ian Holmes, Adam Peers, Adam Osborne and Will Neill.
Tom Addison came into ALS buoyant after a good win at Wansfell on the 27th and as they rounded off the last descent and the river crossing, the Helm Hill man was right on the tail of Bingley Harrier Brownlee. However, it was on the last climb to the finish where Jonny did the damage, putting almost 20 seconds into Addison, romping in for the win in 43:10.
Tom Addison finished a great second in 43:28, with these two a good minute ahead of Mark Addison (44:27) in third and almost two minutes up on super-vet Holmes in 4th (45:21).
In the women’s race it was Annabel Mason who upstaged her elders, as she held off a fast-finishing Olivia Walwyn-Bush. Mason had just led Vic Wikinson as they crossed the river for the first time, with Walwyn-Bush and Walshaw thereafter, all of whom were in the top 30 or so overall.
However, by the time they arrived at the finish Mason had worked her way through to an amazing 11th overall, and the ladies win, in 47:58. Walwyn-Bush ran on to take a very good second and 13th overall (48:09), just over 10 seconds back on Mason. With Vic Wilkinson third (49:12), Walshaw 4th (51:35) and Fines in 5th (53:20), it really was a classy showing from some of the UK’s top female mountain runners.
Jonny and Annabel, crowned at ALS
Results via jpeg are here and some great images as you might expect from the Woodentops gang are here. There are also some excellent river shots courtesy of Paul Dobson online here.
