For full details visit BETTACRETE PATRICK FELL RACE

Anyone interested in competing in the Edinburgh Marathon on 15th June, please contact Kevin Martin on 664074, or email kev.in@manx.net . Kevin has a spare number, and has accommodation sorted for the Saturday and Sunday night.

Although I’ve been training hard, I’ve had problems with a bruised foot (stood on a stone out training) and sore shins (tendon rubbing over calcified lump).

I’ve also missed out on a couple of my planned races, Monday 26 (due to my foot) and I was too late to get a run at the BMC GP this Saturday: There’s over 100 entries for the mens 800’s alone.

I will be away for the Trafford BMC Gold races on Tuesday evening and then after that it’s Gateshead with Harriers.

Chris Stobart is back for the weekend and I plan to chance a swift half with him – training permitting of course.

Please take that extra bit of care if you are training on the roads this week with the extra TT traffic.  It may be a good time to experiment with that off road course you've been thinking about for a while.

Manx Sports Aid recipient Martin Aram was in fine form on Bank Holiday Monday (26th May) representing Lancashire (which includes the Isle of Man for athletics purposes) in the high jump at the Counties Athletic Union, Senior Inter-Counties Championships in Bedford. 

As the conditions were good, he came into the competition at 2.00 metres then took his next jump at 2.10 metres, both heights cleared at the first attempt, putting him in a strong position on count-back.  A narrow failure at 2.15 metres, which would have been a personal best, meant the Gold medal slipped from his grasp and he had to settle for Silver. 

This was a pleasing result for the current AON Sportsman (Under 21) of the Year as, although a few of the top names were missing or injured, many others were present.  The event was high profile as it also doubled as the first round of the UK Athletics Domestic Series, with points awarded for positions achieved in each round and the best scorers taking part in the Grand Prix final on 9th August at Cwmbran. 

Martin is committed to at least the first three rounds of this series with flights provided courtesy of his British Airways CityExpress Sports Scholarship.  The second round is the Bedford International Games next Sunday, 1st June, at the same venue, and the third, the regional championships on 21st June. 

As a member of the Britannia International Melbourne Squad, financial assistance is being provided by that organisation towards expenses, such as accommodation, incurred in attending these high quality competitions, building up to the Commonwealth Games in 2006. 

Removed from the front page - to see the picture - click here.

It was held in 1976 as part of the first ever St Johns Village Fair and according to the newspaper report finished at about 5.40 pm. Dave Newton and Steve Kelly tied for victory and shared the Ian Anderson Trophy. Is that still in existence?

Full result: 1  (tie) Steve Kelly & Dave Newton (green vest?) 30.20;   3  Ian Callister 30.48;   4   Murray Lambden  (hair only visible) 31.42:   5   Dave Anderson (blue vest & shorts at front) 33.33;   6  Graham Crowe (yellow vest?) 34.09;   7  Tony Dale 34.53;   8  Richard Wadsworth 35.05;   9  Joe O'Hanlon (head only on left of Dave Newton in picture)  35.48;   10  John Comaish 37.03;   11  John Wadsworth 37.30;    12   Aldy Clucas (red vest)  39.00;    13   Peter McElroy   40.20;   14   Paul Lemaire   40.20;   15  Bob Baxter (to the right of Dave Anderson)  46.50;   16 (tie)  R Cowell & T Peace  60.00.

I wonder who the early  leader was - one of the 16th finishers?

Can anyone remember anything special about the joint winners performances? Perhaps Dave can remember what he did earlier that afternoon?

Would anyone like to identify the rest of the runners? Kenyon Crowe is standing at the start in the light coloured suit while it may be Celia Joughin and Irene Corett on the other side of the start. Could that be Arthur Jones's Ford Anglia parked behind the runners?

The only response I got was from Bridget Kaneen

The response I was hoping for from Dave Newton (I know he visits the website regularly whereas Steve Kelly as far as know is still a luddite!) is that the it was second joint victory of the afternoon. Earlier on Steve & Dave had tied for victory in the Port Erin Regatta race. Its amazing what you can do when you are young!

Meanwhile my brother Mike who is busy scanning the slides in at a rate that will keep me going for a few years thought that I was far sadder than I am. When he saw I'd published the times from the race he actually thought I had memorised them and could still remember them 27 years later. He should have known, coming from a family of anoraks, that I would have the result tucked away in scrap book!

THERE IS NO 10,000 METRES RUN NEXT WEDNESDAY SO PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT CHRIS QUINE WHO HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RUN THAT DOESN'T EXIST (as you were advised to in the Manx Independent by Peter McElroy).

I think the problem arose in the IOMAA fixture list as it lists such a championship when it should be a walking race. Normally convention (in athletics) is to assume it is a run unless you specify it's a walk in the same way as you assume someone in the results is a man unless they are specified as being a woman!

Steve Taylor pointed the error out several months ago when I got excited about what I thought was the re-instatement of the 10,000 run and it has been mentioned several times on the site since.

I think we seriously need a re-draft of the fixture list please Graham!

THERE IS NO 10,000 METRES RUN NEXT WEEK

........but will there be one at some other time?

The 10k track race is on Wednesday evening, starting at 7.pm.  Anyone wishing to come along and race, will be made most welcome.  There will also be races for the younger age groups to enable them to get a track ranking time at their appropriate distances.

Steve Taylor is the first person to enter. You can enter over the phone by calling Chris Quine on 670521 on then pay your entry fee on the night. It will help to ensure that the event starts on time at 7 pm. You should nevertheless turn up at around 6.30 to ensure that all the entry fees are paid up and you are on the handicap.

What do you think? That's the time Steve thinks he will run.

I have just completed a well overdue update of the Introduction Page of the site tonight and updated the history of where the site has come from and how I see websites in the Isle of Man going from here.

I saw Gianni in the Great Manchester Run on the TV. He was about 100m behind the leaders after around a mile. He was on schedule for just under 33 minutes when, unfortuately, he had a re-occurrance of an old achilles tendon problem at about 4k. He eventually limped home in 56th in 34.49.

The Creg Ny Baa Fell Race will be on Saturday 13th September not as advertised in fixtures.  It has been held on a Saturday for quite a few years now and we usually have the presentation of awards for the Managrakem Fell League straight after at the Murrays Motor Museum Cafe.

Members of the Isle of Man Veterans Athletics Club are reminded by Peter Cooper that, if they have not already paid, their 2003 subscriptions must be paid as soon as possible.

If you need to contact Peter or find out how to join the IOMVAC you can either email Peter or visit their website

Following the withdrawal of Ian Gale and now Tony Okell from the Island Games team, myself and Andy Fox have been asked to run in the half marathon in addition to the events for which we had previously been selected - 10,000m and 3000m steeplechase respectively. I understand that this will be subject to the organisers accepting the change of runner following Tony's withdrawal. As Ian had advised team management prior to entries closing then it easy to substitute a runner for him as nothing had been submitted.

Does anyone know if the Southern 10 mile is going to be held or, if not, is another event going to take its place in the Road Running Grand Prix?

My brother Mike was on the Island this weekend and has gone home with a task for the website.

Sometime ago he bought an attachment for his scanner which allows the scanning of slides - you may remember his own pictures of the TT relay walk and the Bradda Fell Race from the late 70s. Well I've armed him now with all of our late father's slides which were stored up in our attic. So you can expect plenty of pictures from things like that the Manx Mountain Marathon, the Parish Walk and the TT Walk, the sort of events that I used to compete in prior to 1978, to appear shortly.

In case you've missed it, Neil Bates used the forum to question the date of the IOMVAC promoted 10 miles which was duplicated on the IOMAA fixture list. It will be held on Sunday 10 October and not Sunday 21 September.

I'm surprised to see (unless its now been changed and I've not been informed) that there is a still a fairly significant clash of fixtures on Sunday 14 September. The Ian Ronan Joiners sponsored Creg Ny Baa Fell Race is listed as the same date as the Edgewater Associates Boundary Stroll. I have a feeling that the former was held on a Saturday last year so perhaps Richie or Graham could confirm. Two such events on one weekend is bad enough but both on the same day would be madness.

The Western 10 Miles (and 7 mile walk) is scheduled for Friday 11 July.

The course starts from the centre of Peel and goes in a circular route via Patrick, St Johns, Ballacraine and the Switchback Road before returning to Peel along the coast road.

Traditionally is been entries on the day with a 7 pm start. Any publicity for the event would be welcomed.

PICTURES AND RESULTS FROM 2002

High jump: 1 M Bernard (Yorkshire) 2.15; 2 M Aram (Lancashire) 2.10; 3 M Crowley (Hampshire) 2.10; 4 R Aspden (Surrey) 2.05; 5 I Holliday (North East) 2.05; 6 C Hall (Warwickshire) 2.00.

The organisers of the Snowdon International Mountain Race have invited the Isle of Man to take part in the race that is due to be held on July 26th. This will be the second year the Island has sent runners to compete in this classic event and they will be competing against some of the best hill runners from the British Isles and Europe. If finances permit two teams will be sent although only runners who train regularly in the squad training sessions and compete on a regular bassis on the fells will be considered.  

I was hit by a stomach bug yesterday and spent most of the day in bed - some bank holiday. Apart from lots of things I wasn't able to do for myself, I didn't do many of the things I planned for the website yesterday. Hopefully normal service will be resumed tonight.

Tony Okell has confirmed that he will not be travelling to Guernsey to compete in the Island Games Half Marathon.

He explained: "I can't justify the time taken out of my training for Snowden (July) and the Bullock Smithy (Sept) to prepare for a single half marathon. If I had been picked for the 10k as well I would have a different perspective but the effort doesn't justify the end.

I bumped into Martin Aram and his family yesterday afternoon at the airport.  He was about to depart for Luton and then onwards to Bedford for the Inter Counties Championships today.

He will be representing Lancashire. I hope to bring more news later.

I've just updated the IOMAA fixture list to delete events that have taken place and its almost impossible to believe that there are no fixtures in the next week.

The young athletes are off the Island again next Sunday and the Manx 10km track walking championships are held on the Wednesday of TT week while the men and women's track and field league teams are off island again in two weeks time.

Personally I think its good to have a break in fixtures sometimes although wrong that the timing is driven by external factors, eg the TT, rather than athletes needs.

I'm sure that most of you will continue to log on during this racing lull and I have quite a few pictures and features up my sleeve that I've not previously had a chance to use.

Normal fixture madness is resumed on Tuesday 10 June with five significant fixtures listed in eight days excluding the track and field leagues which include one of the season's highlights, the Steve Jacob Memorial Mile, on 11 June.

The fourth round of the Dave Phillips Memorial Road Races will be held in Peel on Tuesday 10 June, the third round of the Ramsey Commissions Park Runs, which attract most of the same people, on Friday 13 June, the Ballacrete Patrick Fell Race on Saturday 14 June, the Inter Club Track and Field Meeting on Sunday 15 June and the Castletown to Peel Road Run on Tuesday 17 June.

I was delighted to receive an email from Mike Gellion of the Isle of Man Veterans Athletic Club yesterday to confirm that the veterans mile is back on the fixture list:

6.30 PM ON WEDNESDAY 25 JUNE 2003

It will be held in conjunction with Manx Harriers Track & Field League and the IOMVAC are grateful for this co-operation.

Steve and Cal Partington and their three boys are off to France for two weeks today for a well earned break. Steve was getting in the mood yesterday with the use of a few French words in his email.

Completed three days of training now. With a 2hour session this morning I am starting to feel back to my normal self again. Over the next few weeks I will be concentrating on building myself up, training for 20kms now! and also on changing my technique a bit. Although this year I have managed to triple my number of DQs I am not too fussed about the legality of my technique. More worried about the fact that my stride length is so short! This is due to my back problems and also just lack of core stability.  

After a roller coaster of a time over the last 12months, I am hoping to now start to get back on tracks to where I want to be, and what I want to do. With the World Cup in 2004, European Under 23 Champs in 2005 and the Common wealth's in 2006, I have a great chance to really work towards my dreams and my personal goals.

I understand from a friend who works at King Williams College, where Martyn is also employed, that he is still very poorly.

He has spent many weeks in hospital in Liverpool and I'm sure his many friends will  be thinking about him and his family.

As I mentioned previously, Martyn has been treasurer and a loyal timekeeper for several years at Northern AC events at an age when I'm sure he would still have much rather have been still competing other than for earlier health problems.

We joined a table of friends with no connection with athletics last night for the dinner at King Williams College. I was a bit concerned to be seen as a "gate crasher" as I am definitely not a public school person myself but it was an excellent evening.

No doubt there will have been someone else there who visits this site but I didn't recognise any athletics connections other than John Horthuis who raised a staggering amount of money for charity when he ran in the London Marathon (I think) last year.

The Ramsey Park runs were extremely hazardous tonight. Those of us driving over the mountain from Douglas saw the dark clouds ahead as we drove towards Ramsey and the heavens well and truly opened just before the race was due to start.

It was quite funny when I arrived as a combination of the fear of the storm and the fact that there were no officials in place to take entries at 6.45 (the race was due to start at 7) meant that a group of runners had huddled underneath the shelters beside the cafe with a little less than full enthusiasm for what lay ahead!

There were several fallers in the slippery conditions.  The worst was Mike Garrett who clouted the metal barriers at the top of the hill, cut his leg and finger and he lost his wedding ring when his hand hit the barrier. Peter Hughes managed to find the ring afterwards as part of a search party while Mike lost time in the race when he looked in vain. Incidentally Peter was one of several runners who didn't take any risks and ran well below par to ensure he got around in one piece.

I was just stepping onto the footbridge when Alan Bagley should have been stepping off it but instead went tumbling through the air. There was an accident waiting to happen there.

Nick Percival did exceptionally well in the circumstances to get close to 22 minutes while Andy Bell is to be congratulated on his time of around 22.48.

I didn't think I could run any worse than the first race but I ended up with much the same time. As I managed to overtake a few people, there were obviously others who didn't enjoy the slippery surfaces.

I've run the majority of the races since they started the races in the Park (this is the fourth year) and until this year I've never considered them dangerous. Last time it was bad on the bridge but this time there were several places that were difficult. Its different to cross country where if you fall you generally have a soft landing.

Is it a problem that will go away with better weather? What do you think?

The handicapping was good and well done to the officials for turning out in such weather.

A week after the third round of the Dave Phillips Memorial Road Races the results have still not been supplied to Isle of Man Newspapers and have certainly not been supplied to the website.

Come on guys. Its publicity that makes our events what they are on the Isle of Man.

The last couple of years I've analysed the results of each round from Peter Kelly's faxes (although it would be a lot easier if they were in an electronic format) and this has proved popular with website surfers. But nearly half way through the series and not one result received it's a bit late to start doing this now.

There was a rumour in Ramsey tonight that the Castletown to Peel road race (in addition to the Douglas to Castletown) was to be refused a permit on safety grounds. I felt sure someone had got hold of the wrong end of the stick.

Perhaps Graham Davies could clarify.

HE HAS AND THIS IS WHAT HE SAID

THE London to Brighton walk was staged for the 79th and last time on Saturday, organisers finally conceding that vehicle traffic has made it too dangerous to continue. First held in 1903, the event attracted reigning Olympic champions, notably Don Thompson, the 50-kilometres winner at the 1960 Games in Rome.

Thompson, or Il Topolino (Little Mouse) as the Italians nicknamed him after his Olympic victory, won a record nine London to Brighton titles, leading the field from Big Ben to Brighton seafront every year from 1955 to 1962 and again in 1967. The course record of 7hr 35min 12secs that he set in 1957 now goes permanently into the history books.

Other Olympic champions to have won the race include Tommy Green, who won it four times in the late 1920s and early 1930s, and Harold Whitlock, who won it four years in succession from 1934. Shaul Ladany, champion three times in the early 1970s, took part on Saturday, but victory went to Mark Easton, of Surrey Walking Club. Easton recorded 8 hr 06 min 10sec.

Because of traffic the traditional seafront finish had to be moved to a park on the outskirts of Brighton. “We had a good-sized field, so you cannot say it has diminished in its attraction,” Dave Ainsworth, a race spokesman, said. “But it is dangerous to walk from London to Brighton on the roads now and it gets worse every year.”

The organisers’ efforts to preserve the 52-mile distance by adding a circuit of the park to make up the distance to the seafront, was met with an unexpected obstacle. Unbeknown to them a Chinese circus had been planned for the park and the queues blocked the walkers’ way — forcing them to finish at 50 miles.

With the exception of the very slippery footbridge ( I hope something is done about that tonight) and some rather tight bends, the course for tonight's Park Runs in Ramsey could not be more different than those causing the dangers to road racing.

Although the course is largely on concrete and tarmac surfaces, there is no vehicular access.

I'm sure everyone will moan about Alan Poslethwaite's handicap as it is part of the tradition of handicaps to complain but I'm equally sure there will be a close finish. I'm sorry but I've got to get this dig in as well but, unlike the crazy Western AC system, if we get a picture of the top three on the night, it's the same top three when the results are published.

Hope to see a few of you there tonight.

Many of the people who glance at the chit chat column in the Manx Independent each week probably won't remember Peter McElroy as a runner. The Peel to Douglas run was always his favourite event and because he recorded all the results in a little notebook, I was able to compile the database of results.

Here are Peter's own performances in the run.

On 20th May I received an e-mail from Graham Davies, Secretary of the IOMAA notifying me that he would not be issuing a permit for the Manx Harriers Douglas to Castletown road race due to be held on 28th July 2003.

Dear Graham

In accordance with the Operational Guidelines, I have to inform you that
the following events have not received enough entries and will not now be
included in the Programme of Events for the NatWest Island Games.
My apologies for being one week late, we have however been working behind
the scenes to see if some competitions could take place and with your help
we have been successful in some instances.

10,000metre Track Walk for Men
3,000metre Track Walk fort Women
3,000metre Steeplechase for Women
Pole Vault for Women 

There are only 5 women's teams entered in the 4 x 400m relay. We are going
to award Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals provided all 5 teams take part in
the competition. We reserve the right to review the situation if any team
or teams should not take part in the Competition. 

Kind regards
Roy Martel
Games Director 2003

Anyone interested in having a look over the 9.5 mile Patrick Fell Race route will be welcome to join a group 'reccie' this Sunday 25th May. John Brewis will be our host and we shall be meeting at 8am (a medical decision!) at the top of the Sloc at the track 200m or so north of the gate up to Cronk ny Arree Laa (known to the initiated as '119'). 

The veterans mile was first held as part of the opening ceremony for the National Sports Centre in 1991 with Steve Ovett in attendance. It was held every year until 2001 but last year it mysteriously disappeared from the fixture list.

I've appealed previously for its reinstatement - does anyone know why it was dropped?

One of the more unlikely winners on at least one occasion was sprinter and hurdler Dave Anderson, now MHK for Glenfaba.

Regardless of whether it is re-instated would anyone like to compile a history of the event?

The other event that disappeared but which I think adds variety to the middle and long distance scene was the 10,000 track championship. Frankly I don't care if it's a Manx championship or not but I think it's a shame that there are no long distance races on our wonderful track that we campaigned for so many years to build.

If not this year then I hope the shake up called for by Andy Fox will materialise and events such a 10km run will form part of future plans.

The 7th running of the Steve Jacobs Memorial Mile will be held at the NSC on Wednesday 11th June in conjunction with the Manx Harriers track league. The race is open to anyone aged 15 or over, as at 1st September 2003, regardless of their experience and ability. The start time is 7 pm.

The race is handicapped with slower runners starting first and provides a fine spectacle with thirty or more runners on the track at the same time. All finishers will receive a finishing time on the night.

As in previous years Steve's family have kindly donated prizes for the leading runners. There is a £2 entry fee and this money is given to a memorial fund in Steve's name. The fund provides an annual grant to a young up and coming athlete.

If anyone requires further information please contact Chris Quine on 670521.

I was informed by Isle of Man Athletics Association secretary Graham Davies just before midnight last night that he will not issue a permit for the Douglas to Castletown run this year.

He considers the main road, including the major roadworks at Spring Valley and the Richmond Hill to be too dangerous and I would certainly agree. I ran the very first Douglas to Castletown run in 1981 and even in those days I remember have a "near thing" in Santon.

Obviously there is nothing to stop Manx Harriers from applying for a permit using another route but there is no obvious one. The roadworks on the Old Castletown Road are a disgrace and in any event that road is too narrow.

I've come through my first few days unscathed (after listening to my physio's advice in particular) and managed 5miles and a track session on Monday with a gym session on Tuesday. Things are a bit creaky in general and it was strange getting out on the track and trying to run that bit quicker. I think carrying the right hamstring has affected muscles elsewhere and I seemed a bit off balance.

I had a nice day on Monday after Graham Davies called me about a possible run for Lancs over 800m at the Inter-Counties next weekend. However, I don't think I'm ready for that level of competition - I turned it down 3/4 of the way through my track session - and I'll have to wait a bit longer to get my Lancs vest.

My next races will be the Trafford Open (Bank Holiday Monday), BMC GP (Wythenshaw - Sat 31 May) and BMC Gold (Stretford - Tue 4 Jun) before going to Gateshead with Harriers.

The calf's ok, my right foot is the big problem now. Tried to jump over a wall last sunday (no alcohol involved) and ended up with severe swelling and bruising with potential tendon/ligament damage. Am desperately trying to get back on the track asap for the games i remain optimistic though.

As for the officials debacle of three weeks ago, i guess UKAthletics have got better things to do with their time than respond to athletes as i've had no response to the email i sent. Not really that concerned with the issue any more its my foot i'm panicking about!!!

Not so happy return, with missing the plane this afternoon, we have had a very long day (been up for 23 hours now with very little sleep) but wanted to take the time to highlight some things from the weekend. 

I managed to fit in a rather late training session tonight on the promenade and as I was jogging back I met Lee Watson.

I first met Lee when I raced against in the team event in the Ramsey triathlon, probably around 1993. I had made good progress on the final leg and was hoping to pass the one remaining runner in front on me in the last 200 metres when he produced a devastating finish to leave me standing.

But my best memory of him as an athlete was in the Summer of 1996 when he enjoyed great rivalry with Mike Garrett as the most improved 800 metre runner. Although Lee and Mike rarely met head on it seemed to be whatever one did the other would go a little bit better and I think they brought their times down to around 2.05.

Lee faded from the athletics scene but seemed to have his picture in the paper as much as anyone I knew for a while organising initially charity dinners and then becoming a general event promoter.

I thought he had been a bit quieter recently and now I know why. He has just sent 6 months back in the army serving in Bosnia and may get another call up with the reserves to go to Iraq. He found plenty of time to train in Bosnia however and reckons he has lost 1.5 stone in weight.

As mentioned on the front page, I thought the Parish Walk team did a brilliant job of completing the processing of the entries so promptly after the closing date. By making the information available to everyone so soon via the website it justifies having a fairly early cutoff.

NO FURTHER ENTRIES CAN BE ACCEPTED. THE ENTRY FORMS WERE AVAILABLE FOR THREE MONTHS BEFOREHAND AND YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE 2004 ENTRY FORMS EARLY NEXT YEAR.

Ray Cox also delivered the data to the programme printers, Bridson & Horrox, last night. They had previously been supplied with all the other programme information so that they should be in a position to have everything else set up and print pretty quickly. As soon as Manx Harriers are in receipt of these a copy will be mailed to all entrants together with the final instructions. The final instructions will also be printed online.

The only person I've spoken to about the MYG was Bernie Cannan who was on marshalling duties at yesterday's Mann Link Travel Northern 10 Miles.

Bernie works at the NSC and was helping with the indoor events and he described the atmosphere as brilliant.

It sounds like a great success. If you would like to add further comment send me an email or use the forum.

Just had a brief telephone conversation with a delighted Maureen Cox - she  had just been called for their flight home. 

Simon finished in 9.43 for 11th position, just 5 minutes behind Chris Flint. Maureen was 4th lady and finished in 10.27. She said she had a great race so I assume she was not troubled by the sickness problems that have dogged her long distance efforts of late.