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CAL PARTINGTON 4th

Updated report by Richie Stevenson on the P & O Knockdhu Classic after talking to Mark Preston

The team managed to get their flights to Belfast on Friday although they were delayed for about an hour due to the mist. Luckiest was Mike Quine who couldn`t fly out till the evening because of work commitments. The airport at Ronaldsway was closed for much of the evening but Mike managed to get away at around 9.30pm which was fortunate because I know a lot of people had their flights cancelled to other destinations.

The 4.7 miles course has some very steep climbs. One in particular sees all the runners having to pull themselves up grasping on to lumps of grass.

Cal was definitely the top performer on the day finishing a brilliant 4th lady in 48th position overall. This was Cal’s first fell race off the island and she was understandably nervous at the start but as soon as she got going the nerves went and she put in a top quality performance. I think that Cal became our first ever lady International fell runner on Saturday. I know Steph Maddrell has competed in many fell and hill races all over the British Isles but all would be as a club runner and Brenda Walker has never fell raced in anger off-island mores the pity. If I`m wrong in this then maybe someone will correct me.

Onion Gale continued the top form he is enjoying finishing 19th and beating a number of fellow internationals in the process. Mark Preston was pleased with 26th 30 seconds faster than last year with Mike Quine also running well in his first international just behind in 28th. Phil Mackie was a little down on the others in 51st place but to be honest he did well to make the start even as he had a heavy fall on holiday recently which has left him with a very sore and bruised leg. Phil would have given up his place to another runner but for our being unable to swap his plane ticket because of the way the airlines operate these days.

Rob Webb, who used to live in the Larne area, was over visiting family and decided to run for Manx Harriers and what a good race he had finishing 49th place which also gave him first vet 50.

The race was won by Welsh International Tim Davies who was top man at last years Snowdon race. Former Manx Mountain Marathon winner Colin Donnelly was running for Scotland and he placed fourth.

All of our runners were delighted to be in this top quality race and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The hospitality shown by the Irish organisers was second to none and the Manx team would like to thank race organiser Billy Magee and all his helpers for a wonderful weekend.

the Isle of Man team finished 5th out of the 6 teams beating the Welsh B Team. Winners were Scotland from Wales A and Northern Ireland

FULL RESULTS

Thanks to Paul Jackson & Tony Okell for the link.

PICTURES BY TOMMY MAHOOD