manxathletics.com
ForumFixturesSite NewsParish WalkIoM VeteransFell RunningCross Country

 

 

 

Even with a few non starters, the addition of late entries saw 46 lining up for the Castletown Health Store 20 miles on Sunday. (Picture by Stan Hall)

Winner Ian Gale (165) is pictured with runner up Paul Curphey (182) and third placed Murray Lambden (picture by Robbie Lambden)

Stan Hall photographed ladies winner Janine Cringle (168), runner up Catriona Dryden (167), and fell runners Simon Skillicorn and Dave Young during the early stages.  Dave Young was the first veteran over 55 to finish.

Tony Okell was flying in the early stages but was forced to retire with blisters. Winner Ian Gale is in the background (165) (Stan Hall)

Ian Gale – started fast but, despite slowing, hung on to win by more than 1 lap! (Picture by Steve Partington)

MORE PICTURES FROM STEVE PARTINGTON

OFFICIAL RESULTS (thanks to Mike Gellion)

Position Surname Christian Name Time

Prize

1 Gale Ian 2:01:43

1st

2 Curphey Paul 2:04:35

2nd

3 Lambden Murray 2:04:43

3rd

4 Callister Robbie 2:08:31

1st vet over 45

5 Radcliffe Richard 2:15:00

 

6 Skillicorn Simon 2:15:32

 

7 Crawford Ian 2:18:12

 

8 Postlethwaite Alan 2:18:39

1st vet over 50

9 Hughes Peter 2:20:25

1st vet over 40

10 Sinclair Nigel 2:20:51

 

11 Young Dave 2:24:29

1st vet over 55

12 Looker Jeff 2:26:33

 

13 Doyle David 2:28:55

 

14 Watt Gareth 2:32:50

 

15 Redmayne Mark 2:34:02

 

16 Bell Martin 2:35:48

 

17 Trees Paul 2:36:56

 

18 Callister Ian 2:39:22

 

19 Gosnell Andy 2:40:01

 

20 Evans Gareth 2:40:06

 

21 Dyer Lawrence 2:46:31

 

22 Hollingsworth Alan 2:47:20

 

23 Looker Dave 2:50:55

 

24 Cringle Janine 2:51:41

1st woman

25 Dryden Catriona 2:52:18

2nd woman

26 Osbourne Kevan 2:53:46

 

27 Pilling Alan 2:56:58

 

28 Cochrane Jason 2:59:19

 

29 Furner Sue 3:04:19

3rd woman

30 Cubbon Andrew 3:05:44

 

31 Foster Susan 3:06:48

 

32 Hall Moira 3:13:39

1st woman vet over 50

33 Salt Sally Ann 3:19:03

 

34 McAleer Richard 3:20:42

 

35 Hall Geoff 3:23:30

 

36 Ackroyd Sue 3:34:45

1st woman vet over 45

 

London bound.  Andrew Cubbon (163) is heading for the Flora London marathon for the second year in a row next month while the top female in Sunday’s Castletown Health Store 20 miles, Janine Cringle (168) makes her debut.  Parish walk third placer from 2002, David Doyle (number hidden) has already run the New York Marathon (also in 2002) but he will be staying closer to home this year competing in the Close Private Bank Isle of Man Marathon on 15 August. (Picture by Murray Lambden)

 

20 MILE REPORT BY MIKE GELLION

A record number of forty-five athletes, twice the size of last year’s entry, participated in Sunday’s Open 20 Mile Road Race at the N.S.C. Among the regular runners were a significant number of newcomers, many tackling a long distance event for the first time.

 The race, sponsored by John Grady of Castletown Health Stores and organised by the Isle of Man Veteran Athletes’ Club, involves running forty laps round the perimeter road and is one of the most gruelling, both mentally and physically, on the local fixture list. As such, it has become an essential part of their training for those athletes competing in next month’s London Marathon. 

Fortunately the weather was sunny and almost windless, a sharp contrast to the poor conditions of the last two years.

Almost a quarter of the field had registered on the line rather than pre-entering, taking the organisers by surprise and causing consternation among the overworked lap-scorers on the first couple of circuits. To the rescue came timekeeper Judy Morrey, taking on lap-scoring duties herself, and calling out runners’ numbers with an aplomb that suggests she may have a future as a bingo caller! 

Race record-holder and favourite Tony Okell moved immediately to the front, followed by his chief rival on the fells, Ian Gale. By the half-way stage Okell’s lead seemed insurmountable, and his powerful display of front-running looked certain to give him a third win after his victories in 2000 and 2001. The effort was causing his feet to blister badly, however, and when first-aid and a change of footwear failed to improve matters, he was forced to retire after thirty laps. 

This left the way open for Gale, now over a lap clear of his closest persuers and moving very comfortably, to take first place and cruise across the line in a time of 2hrs 01mins 43secs. He thereby added the 20 Miles to his Manx Mountain Marathon and IOM Marathon titles – a fantastic achievement! 

For spectators, undoubtedly the most exciting aspect of the race was the tremendous battle for second place between friends and training partners Paul Curphey and Murray Lambden. After running virtually shoulder to shoulder for fifteen miles, Curphey then made a series of surges to try and break his rival, but each time Lambden fought back gamely, and even took the lead himself. Curphey finally prevailed, however, and won this private duel by a mere eight seconds, also maintaining his incredible record of never having finished outside the first three in this event since 1993. 

Robbie Callister made light of his recent competitive inactivity to finish fourth and first veteran over 45. Richard Radcliffe, Simon Skillicorn, Ian Crawford, and Alan Postlethwaite occupied the next four positions, and will be pleased with their pre-London form. 

Last year’s winner Peter Hughes was ninth, Nigel Sinclair continued his tremendous improvement with a well-deserved tenth place, followed by the evergreen David "Doc" Young. There were also noteworthy performances from newcomers Jeff Looker, David Doyle, Gareth Watt, and Mark Redmayne. 

In 24th place overall, Janine Cringle was first woman home, closely followed by Catriona Dryden. Sue Furner was third, while Moira Hall (over 50) and Sue Ackroyd (over 45) took the veteran honours. 

Although at the back of the field, Andrew Cubbon, Susan Foster, Sally Ann Salt, Richard McAleer, and Geoff Hall all showed great determination to complete the forty laps. In all, thirty six runners finished the event. 

After the race the winners were presented with their trophies by Judy Morrey on behalf of the sponsor, John Grady and Castletown Health Stores. The hire of the N.S.C. perimeter road for several hours makes this a particularly expensive fixture to promote, so the I.O.M.V.A.C. is most grateful for this support. The club would also like to thank Manx Harriers for the use of their clubhouse. 

Thanks also to those who gave up their Sunday morning to assist; timekeeper Judy Morrey, lap-scorers Brenda Charlton, Margy Killey, Sarah Goldsmith and Enid Watson, and Arnie Jacobs and Lisa Nixon who manned the drinks station.

 

Paul Curphey (182) grits his teeth and heads for his 11th top three position in a row in the Castletown Health Stores 20 miles.

Picture by Steve Partington; stats by Murray Lambden

Position Year Time
2 1994 2:01:02
1 1995 1:59:00
2 1996 1:58:31
2 1997 1:58:38
3 1998 2:02:57
1 1999 2:02:14
3 2000 2:07:19
3 2001 2:02:27
1 2002 2:04:49
2 2003 2:06:11
2 2004 2:04:35

 

Alan Hollingsworth made a fine debut in 22nd position in the Castletown Health Store 20 Miles on Sunday. Its hard to tell whether he is smiling or grimacing under the shades.

 

but Martin Bell is definitely grimacing as he finishes for the seventh time on Sunday.

But check out these times for the past four finishes:

Year    Time

2000    02:35:59

2001    02:35:56

2003    02:35:34

2004    02:35:48

Just 25 seconds difference!!

Pictures and stats by Murray Lambden

 

Gareth Evans, Sue Furner and Andy Gosnell during Sunday’s Castletown Health Store 20 Miles.

Sue returns to London next month having already run 15 marathons since 1997.  Her PB was in Florence in 2002 – 4.04.02.  She has run in London twice 1998 and 2003 and her best in London was 2003 – 4.07

Kevan Osborne completed all 40 laps of the NSC roadway in 2:53:46.

Matching socks and matching strides. Husband and wife team Moira and Geoff Hall.

Pictures by Murray Lambden

img1.jpg

Less than:

01:50:00

02:00:00

02:10:00

1982

0

1

4

1983

1

1

6

1984

0

1

4

1985

0

3

5

1986

0

2

3

1988

0

1

2

1990

0

1

7

1993

0

0

2

1994

0

0

5

1995

0

2

6

1996

0

2

8

1997

0

3

6

1998

0

0

6

1999

0

0

1

2000

0

2

5

2001

1

2

3

2002

0

0

3

2003

0

0

2

2004

0

0

4

The above stats (by Murray Lambden) show an all too familiar trend in Manx athletics.  There has been an encouraging number of new runners taking part in the 20 mile run highlighted by a record in last Sunday’s event.  But the standard, whilst a little better this year, at the front of the field, has a long way to go before it reaches the levels of earlier years. No runner has broken 2 hours since 2001 and the number beating 2 hours 10 minutes is only half the peak in 1996.  Please note, my stats do not include 1987, 1989, 1991 and 1992 for which I’ve failed to track down the results as yet.  The event was not held in at least one of those years.

But Janine Cringle’s time was the best by a woman for 6 years. Leading times by women:

Position

Surname

Christian Name

Time

Year

Club / Country

3

Lockley

Margaret

2:05:37

1982

Manx AC

6

Oddie

Maureen

2:13:32

1988

North Derby

11

Gomer

Anne

2:18:21

1986

Manx AC

10

Noon

Marie

2:23:21

1998

Isle of Man Veteran Athletes Club

9

Gomer

Anne

2:24:30

1988

Manx AC

14

Quirk

Stephanie

2:25:33

1990

Western AC

16

Wilson

Doreen

2:27:08

1990

Manx AC

13

Gomer

Ann

2:27:34

1985

Manx AC

17

Gomer

Anne

2:28:16

1990

Manx AC

16

Gomer

Anne

2:35:58

1983

Manx AC

15

Gomer

Ann

2:38:33

1984

Manx AC

20

Bathgate

Christine

2:49:24

1996

Isle of Man Veteran Athletes Club

24

Cringle

Janine

2:51:41

2004

Unattached

25

Dryden

Catriona

2:52:18

2004

Unattached

15

Kewley

Michelle

2:54:27

2003

Western AC

15

Moore

Shirley

2:57:48

2002

Manx Harriers

17

Furner

Sue

2:59:45

2003

Isle of Man Veteran Athletes Club

NB – Manx record was set off island by Brenda Walker in 1993 and is 2 hours 0 minutes and 1 second

20 MILE DATABASES NOW UPDATED TO INCLUDE 2004 RESULTS

By year

By fastest time

By runner’s names


copyright (c) 2004 Murray Lambden. All rights reserved.
[email protected]

RETURN TO TOP OF THE PAGE

Google


Search WWW Search manxathletics.com Search manxathletics.info Search murrayandmarie.com Search woodheights.freeserve.co.uk Search uk.geocities.com