2014 Aston International - Winter Hill League Round 1 - Cringle Plantation.

The opening round of the 2014 Aston International Winter Hill Running League takes place on Saturday 25th October at the Cringle Plantation. Start time is 1.30pm with registration from 12.30pm at the main plantation entrance.

The short course is an exciting mix of fire tracks and plantation paths with two short  climbs, the winning time is expected to be around 16 minutes. It is a perfect taster for anyone who fancies a go at off road running.

Because of the anticipated high numbers it is recommended that as many as possible car share as parking is limited. For those driving there are spaces at the reservoir, a few spaces at the main plantation entrance and also a small park about 100mts to the south of the main entrance. Wherever you manage to park please do so carefully.

To get to the main entrance turn off the A3 at the top of Foxdale which is known as Solomons Corner on to the B39. Look out for the reservoir on your right. The main plantation entrance is just south of the reservoir.

Incorporated in the race will be the Junior Fell Championships for school years 7 to 13.

Manx Fell Runners would like to take this opportunity to thank Aston International for their support of the 2014 series.

Isle of Man Bank Junior Hill Running Championships

Runners were greeted to glorious conditions in Peel on Saturday. Event kindly sponsored by the Isle of Man Bank.

Runners were greeted to glorious conditions in Peel on Saturday. Event kindly sponsored by the Isle of Man Bank.

A record entry of nearly 300 young runners took part in the 2014 Junior Hill Running Championships on Peel Hill held in near perfect conditions.

Provisional results are now available here. Please use the contact form to inform us of any corrections. Photos and video of the race can be found at www.manxathletics.com courtesy of Murray Lambden.

A big thank you as always to all the marshalls, organisers, timekeepers and supporters who make the event what it is. Thanks to the Isle of Man Bank for their continued support.

Year 7 and above can enter the upcoming series of races known as the Winter Hill League - short hill/plantation runs of under 3 miles which make an ideal introduction to hill/fell runnning. The first event is at Cringle Reservoir on Saturday 25th October (1:30pm).

Younger runners can have a go at the cross country league which starts next Sunday (19th) at Ballanette, Lonan. More details at http://www.iomaa.info/crosscountry.htm.
 

Special thanks to the finish marshalls and timekeepers who were kept very busy!

Special thanks to the finish marshalls and timekeepers who were kept very busy!

English Schools Fell Running Champs 2014

Team Isle of Man - kindly supported by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company

Team Isle of Man - kindly supported by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company

A group of nine young athletes travelled to the English Schools Fell Running Championships in West Yorkshire last weekend. Hosted by Calder High School, Mytholmroyd, the event is now in its seventh year and continues to attract high quality athletes from schools across the north-west and beyond, including a host of established England internationals. There was another huge entry of nearly 500 and, as in recent years, the standard of all the races was extremely high. On the day, the weather was sunny and warm, providing fine views across the valley.

In the first race of the day, the Year 7s competed over a testing 3 km course which included an arduous climb and fast, technical descent. After a steady start, Kate Cashin (QEII), Alice Cashin (QEII) and Lydia Morris (BHS) worked well together on the climb and began to move through the field. They continued to pick off runners on the descent and finished close together in 9th, 10th and 12th respectively. They were delighted to claim victory in the Year 7 girls team competition – a fantastic achievement.

In the junior race, Lorna Spiers (QEII), fresh from her 4th place in the FRA Junior Fell Championship series powered round the course to 10th place. She made significant gains on the rocky descent, showing off her fearless descending skills. Teammate Angela Aumonier (CRHS), equally adept on track, cross country or fell looked extremely composed for her 21st position and in the boys race, Oliver Shearer (CRHS), another all-rounder, took an excellent 16th position.

David Mullarkey (CRHS) is now an experienced competitor on the fells and his determination was clear to see in the intermediate boys race. After an aggressive start, he climbed extremely well, reaching the summit of Crow Hill in 8th position. He had an epic battle on the descent and, after a slight tumble, finished strongly, eventually taking a well deserved 12th place. George Dickinson (SNHS) and Alex Bell (QEII) paced themselves very well in their first, off-island fell race, finishing in 29th and 32nd respectively. The boys were very happy to finish as runners-up in the team competition, narrowly missing out on the win.

It was to the credit of all the Manx athletes that they performed so well on such steep, long and technical courses. These fine results are just reward for all the hard work they have put in training for the event and no doubt their good form will continue into the Winter Hill League and Cross Country.

The organizers, Manx Fell Runners, would like to thank Isle of Man Steam Packet Company for assisting in making the trip possible. This type of experience is hugely important for young athlete development and they are all most grateful for the Steam Packet's input.


Junior Hill Running Championships 2014

The Isle of Man Bank sponsored Junior Hill Running Championships will take place on Saturday 11th October on Peel Hill. Races will be held for primary school children in each year group from year 2 through to year 6. Entry is free to all competitors.

Racing will commence from 1:30pm with year 2 and every competitor will receive a treat as a prize for completing their race. Awards will be issued through the schools after the event and a trophy will be awarded to the school which has the most competitors running.

Registration will open at 12:30 by the start area on Peel Hill. If it is raining on the day then registration will be moved to a vehicle in Fenella Beach car park.

Full details can be found here.

Competitors are enouraged to enter in advance using this school entry form which can be submitted by the school.

Individual entry forms can be downloaded here. Only use this form if you have not entered using the school entry form above.

Isle of Man Mountain Ultra

It’s now less than 3 weeks until one of the Isle of Mans most daunting sporting challenges. The Isle of Man Mountain Ultra will be held on Saturday September 27th on the difficult and testing 50km course that takes runners from Ramsey in the north to Port Erin in the south west, visiting 12 of the islands highest peaks on the way.

 

The race, that was formerly known as the Manx Mountain Marathon, is one of Britain’s longest solo single day all terrain events. Competitors will face steep climbs, tough ankle grabbing heather, fast runnable ridges and exhilarating descents.  On a clear day the views from the summits can be quite stunning, especially the southern coastal path section, always a favourite with runners from off island as to compete in a fell race with the sea to one side is quite a novelty.

 

The top competitors will cover the full distance in under five hours with the less speedy taking anything up to the full nine hours cut off time. These time differences show the vast variety of abilities of the competitors taking part but all have the same aim of mastering a man sized challenge!

 

The race will again enjoy sponsorship from Okells Brewery and Up and Running (Isle of Man). And we thank the he Department of Tourism and Leisure for their continued support of the event.

 

There is a shorter alternative for those that may not be quite ready for 50km.Starting at St Johns the 23km Isle of Man Mountain Race follows the Ultra course along the southern section. This is a hugely enjoyable route that most runners of reasonable fitness can master.

 

Whichever race you choose you can guarantee a challenging but enjoyable day in the Manx hills. Our marshals and helpers have worked hard to gain a reputation for being helpful and friendly to all competitors, a fact the organising committee of Manx Fell Runners are extremely proud of.

 

Full details including race info, route descriptions and course map can be obtained from www.isleofmanmountainultra.com

Peel to Douglas Trail Race 2014.

Having been missing form the 2013 calendar due to a lack of organiser the Peel to Douglas Trail Run returns in 2014 thanks to Chris Cale of Up and Running, this takes place on Sunday 14th September at 9.30am starting by the Transport Museum on Mill Road in Peel. Runners will then follow the route of the former Peel to Douglas railway line to Douglas. The race finishes on the TT Access Road, a short distance before its junction with the New Castletown Road. Trail shoes are recommended for this event.

Refreshments will be served in the Manx Harriers clubhouse, followed by the prize presentation at approximately 11.15am.

The majority of gates along the old railway line will be manned and opened for runners by marshals with the exception of several locked gates which will require runners to use the adjacent kissing gates. Road crossings will also be marshalled.

See Manx Harriers website for more information or call into Up and Running on Bucks Road.

2014 Isle of Man Mountain Ultra.

With just over 30 days to go until the 2014 Isle of Man Mountain Ultra and the shorter Mountain Race it's time get those entries in and get some final training miles done, remember entries will close 7 days before the event due to administration which will be required and entries can not be taken on the day.

Please see www.isleofmanmountainultra.com for entry details. 

Due to demand from local runners the shorter Isle of Man Mountain Race is now being held over the southern half of the course as per the previous Half Mountain Marathon. 

This will alternate in up coming years with the Northern half route ran last year, so don't miss this opportunity.

Kate Burge

It goes without saying that the tragic death of club member Kate Burge has stunned and saddened not only the whole of the fell running community, but athletics and local sport in general.

The many tributes posted on Facebook both on Manx Fell Runners and her first club Stafford Harriers are testament to her popularity and the respect that her fellow competitors and race organisers had for her.

The tributes are not confined to her sporting prowess either as Kate was obviously a top notch physiotherapist who was very highly regarded by her work mates.

Tragically we will never see Kate on the Manx fells again.  The thoughts of everyone involved in Manx fell running are with Kate`s family and friends at this very difficult time.
 

Manx Fell Runners