Rob Campbell

Rob on his way to a top 20 finish in the Baldwin Valleys race

Rob on his way to a top 20 finish in the Baldwin Valleys race

Everyone involved in the local fell running scene was shocked to hear of the tragic death of Rob Campbell last weekend. Rob was a relative newcomer to our sport. He completed the Isle of Man Ultra for the first time in 2013 and has previously competed in the Winter Hill Running League and the first four fell league races in 2014 in which he was showing improved results in each race. No doubt his close mates in the Northern Posse would have encouraged him to enter more of our races in the future if events had not turned so tragically wrong.

As well as his adventures on land Rob was also proud to have been one of the 15 men that rowed a Viking long boat round the Island in 2010.  The team completed the continuous 90 mile journey in a record breaking sub 24 hour time.  A feat that Rob was very proud of and certainly one that demonstrated his raw sense of adventure. 

I have to admit I did not know Rob that well but I did have a long and very enjoyable conversation with him while watching a St Georges v Ramsey soccer match a while back. He came over as a pleasant and likeable bloke who was very easy to converse with and his passion and enthusiasm for sport was quite obvious.

Everyone involved  in the fell running scene on the island would like to pass on their deepest sympathies to Rob's family and friends. RIP Rob.

 

(Richie Stevenson and Nick Coole)

St Johns Fell Race 2015 & other socials

The opening round of the 2015 Manx Fell Running League takes place on New Years Day at St Johns and will again enjoy sponsorship from David Cretney.

PLEASE NOTE NEW START TIME 2pm TO ENABLE RUNNERS TO PARTICIPATE IN NEW YEARS DIP(S)

The short race is one of the highlights in the local athletics calendar and usually attracts a large entry. Although the race is very competitive the organisers are keen to encourage as many novice runners as possible. The route is sporting but by no means overly difficult.  Most people with a reasonable standard of fitness should be able to complete the 5km course. In keeping with the festive time of year all competitors are invited to run in fancy dress.

Registration is from 12.45pm at the St Johns Football Club with the race starting at 2.00pm

The start and finish will be at the St Johns Cricket Club field which is adjacent to St Johns Football Club.

There will be no prizes awarded in this race as all entry fees, which are £5 for seniors and £2 for juniors, will be donated to the charities Pumps for Kids and the RNLI. Minimum age is 12 years on day of race.

ONLINE PRE-ENTRY IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS RACE - PLEASE USE THE FORM AT HTTP://WWW.MANXFELLRUNNERS.ORG/STJOHNS2015PREENTRY THEN JUST COLLECT YOUR NUMBER AND PAY ON RACE DAY. THERE IS NO NEED TO COMPLETE THE PAPER FORM ON THE DAY IF YOU USE THIS OPTION.

Full safety gear is not required but it is mandatory for every competitor to carry a waterproof top.

Runners should note that MP3 Players or anything that requires headphones that hinder hearing are banned from all fell races.

There will be refreshments in the clubhouse after the race. Paul Killey is also raising money for Pumps for Kids and he will be having a sponsored head shave as soon as he has completed the race.

Current Entry List (29/12/2014)

CHRISTMAS SOCIALS

Note: The following are socials only not races, and not organised events.

TUES 30th DEC PIER TO PIER REAL ALE RUN (in reverse).

Start at The Bay, Port Erin, anytime between 2pm &  3pm a festive run around the coast path meeting up at The Albert, PSM about 4pm. Headtorch, waterproof/warm gear, and fell shoes recommended.

2.30pm SAT 3rd JAN vie noa ROIDERYN pynt sharroo thie oast phurt le moirrey

Meet at The Colby Glen, for an easy road run sampling real ales at various Southern hostelries en-route including The Shore Hotel, Railway, Station, Falcon and Bay Hotel.

Followed by a voluntary 21 day alcohol abstinence!

Aston International WHL 3 Results

Congratulations to all who completed the final round of the Aston International Winter Hill League, and the series. Results of round 3 here: http://manxfellrunners.org/s/WHL3-2014.pdf

Final league standings can be found at http://manxfellrunners.org/s/WHL-2014-League-Final.pdf

Murrays race photos here.and video on manxatheltics home page here

The presentation to prize winners was at The Tynwald Inn after the race.

The Aston International chip baps, and pasties sponsored by Dave Collister were much appreciated!

 

Aston International WHL3 - Slieau Whallian

The third and final round in the Aston International sponsored Winter Hill League will take place on Saturday December 13th. The course will be based almost entirely within the Slieau Whallian plantation with the start and finish at the Patrick Road entrance. Distance just over 2 miles.
 
Start time is 1.30pm with registration from 12.30pm at the old railway station car park on Station Road, St Johns. All runners who have competed in either of the two earlier rounds are reminded to bring the race number that they used previously.
 
Following the race there will be a presentation of awards for the league and junior championships at the Tynwald Inn where hot food will available for all competitors Note: ON PRODUCTION OF RACE NUMBER!

 

Diabetes & Pumps for Kids - Paul Killey

Pumps for Kids is a diabetes charity supporting the use of insulin pumps which helps children control their diabetes without the use of multiple daily injections using needles.

Paul Killey is doing his thing for this charity and has been growing his hair all year and is taking sponsorship to dye it also - the more sponsorship he gets the wilder the colour! After the St Johns Fell Race on New Years Day he is getting it all shaved off so if you see Paul please donate to his cause. If there are other ways to donate they will be advertised here.

WHL 2 (Glen Helen) - Results

A bumper turn out for round 2 of the Aston International sponsored Winter Hill League race 2 at Glen Helen. 114 runners completed the newly designed course, matching the same record total set in the last round at Cringle.

Feedback on the course was excellent so a big thank you to those involved in designing and marking the course. Thanks also to the marshals, helpers, timekeepers and sponsors, Aston International.

Results are now compiled (after being reunited with technology!) and available here. Please let us know in case of any discrepancies. There is a query over number 106 if anyone can clear that one up.

Details of the next and final round will be published soon. Photos below courtesy (hopefully!) of Janelle's Sportypic's camera with Steve Partington behind the lens.

Aston International Ltd Winter Hill League 2 - Glen Helen

The second round of the Aston International Ltd. sponsored Winter Hill League takes place on Saturday November 15th.  The venue will be Glen Helen with the newly designed course based in Eary Beg Plantation. Registration will be in the Glen Helen car park from 12.30pm with the race starting at 1.30pm. The race will also incorporate the second round of the Isle of Man Junior Hill Running Championships for secondary schools.

Any runners who competed in the opening WHL round at Cringle are reminded they will use the same race number at Glen Helen.

Aston International Winter Hill League Round 1 - Cringle Results

A great start to the 2014 Aston International Ltd sponsored Winter Hill League. For the first time we had more than 100 runners with 99 senoirs and 15 juniors making a total of 114. I think I am correct in saying that Lloyd and Jackie broke their respective course records and some fantastic performances by the juniors. I think it speaks volumes for our branch of athletics to see both the leading male and female runner spending hours of their time marking the course and then collecting everything back in again. Many thanks to DEFA for access and a big thank you to all the helpers on the day. (Richie Stevenson)

Results are now available here

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!