Weekend racing...
Tom Adams leads Tom Addison
Amidst the snow there was some great racing around the country this weekend, with none more so than at the Stanbury Splash in Yorkshire where Tom Addison (39.01) edged out Tom Adams (39.02) by the narrowest of margins…
One second is all that separated the Ilkley and Helm Hill runners at the end of the 5.5 miles or so race, which was re-routed due to the underfoot conditions. Tom Addison’s cousin Mark kept it in the family to finish third, some 90 seconds back in 40.33. A mention should also go out to the legend that is Gavin Bland, as the now V40 made a ‘comeback’ in 9th place!
Helen Fines at the Stanbury Splash
Helen Fines didn’t need to use her sprint finish to win the women’s race as she crossed the line in 46.17, from Helen Glover in second (47.03) and Pauline Munro (48.25) completing the top 3. With 376 finishers and a host of junior events this Woodentops event seems to have once again been a big success, despite the snow.
Stanbury Splash junior and senior race images and video now online via Woodentops here, with ‘jpeg’ results here
Down in Dorking the classic Box Hill Fell Race went off in snowy conditions for the 32nd running of this 7.5 miles with 1700ft ascent event, which takes in one of the highest points in Surrey.
Conditions were certainly tricky by the sounds of it as Heights of Madness jovially blogs
The 2013 edition of the Box Hill Fell Race was a treacherous affair, ran in conditions that can only be described as adverse. Snow had fallen the previous day, so much snow that parts of the ground were no longer visible. In some areas, the ground was covered by as much as two inches of snow. Overnight, the temperature had plunged and plummeted to at least -1C.
Serpentines Harold Wyber (54.19) held off Cumbrian-raider Mike Fanning (55.20) of Borrowdale to take the win, with Ben Stevens (56.20) another minute back. Victoria Basquill made it a Serpentine double as she won the women’s in 64.27.
Thanks to Fell Running Briefs were down there reporting and supporting and supplying some great links and content throughout the day.
Full Box Hill results online here
Back up north the Hebden 22-mile race 136 runners and Ben Mounsey and Gavin Mulholland braved the elements, with Ben and Gavin running in together in 3 hours and 6 minutes. Scott Hitchin was third in 3.20.
Gavin Mulholland and Ben Mounsey at Hebden
Burnden runner Isaline Neale was the ladies winner in 4 hrs flat, with Barbara Lonsdale second and Catriona Purdy in third. Paul Crabtree and Sally Cowton were winners of the short course races, with full results in both events here and images via SportSunday here.
In Scotland at the Feel the Burns race there were comfortable wins for Shettleston’s Matthew Sullivan (1.39.57) ahead of Andy Fallas and Al Anthony. Carnethy’s Jasmin Paris continued her domination of the scene this winter, winning the women’s race in 1.55.35, ahead of Nicola Duncan and Morag McCracken.
Full results via Scottish Hill Racing here.
Finally, on the England / Wales borders it was the first running of the Mercia Hill Trial from Church Stretton. Kristof Nowicki was the winner in the snow of the solo race, with Chris Atherton and Brian Crowmer winning the pairs.
Full results on the Mercia page here with some wintery shots from Al Tye online at the Fell Running Pictures site here.
