Another excellent entry for the second round of the Friends Provident league which moved down north to the circuit around Andreas village.  Despite the gloomy and wet conditions overhead and underfoot, this course is starting to build a reputation for recording fast times and many of those who raced in round one, showed notable improvement in this second round. Race winner Fenella Robinson knocked the best part of eight minutes off her time set last month at the N.S.C, to head second past the post, John Robertson who must have wondered what it would take to win as he also posted a huge improvement of over seven minutes.  In third position Tracey Cook gained her revenge for an error in lap scoring in round one which resulted in her walking an extra lap. To even feature in the top 30 finishers you had to have made an improvement of 40 seconds or more, so there must have been a lot of happy walkers putting their feet up on Sunday afternoon. Fastest walker on the day was Steve Partington, showing that despite a high mileage year, he has lost none of his ‘top end’ speed to record a rapid 43 minute time. Sean Hands is another who looks capable of breaking through the 50 minute barrier if he is able to hone his technique further. Other notable walks came from Dave Griffiths nearly back to his best and Eammon Harkin who is really starting to move well. Jane Leece was the fastest female, walking excellently to record a sub 65 minute effort. Karen Locking is also starting to show some of her old form and was second fastest. Newcomer Jackie Campbell was walking smoothly and not too far behind as 3rd fastest woman.

 

In the 5k event Hayley Lord looked very stylish and just pipped Shirley Quayle who was just eleven seconds back on handicap, both improving by over a minute on their times from round one. Enid Watson made up the trio of finishers by being the fastest on actual time.

 

In the junior 2k event it was Ellen Robinson, showing she could match her mum’s success by also winning on handicap.  She improved her time in round one by over a minute. The remaining three in the race were split by just six seconds, Kirsty Taylor walking well to secure second from Ellen’s sister Hayley and Sinead Kaneen bringing home the field.

 

Thanks to all the officials who turned out ( thank goodness there are a plentiful supply of bus shelters in Andreas ) Next round of the Friends Provident league will take place at St.Johns (new school) on December 12th : 9.30am for 10am start. There will be a buffet after this event with a Christmas raffle. If you are able, please bring a small wrapped gift to donate to the raffle, all gifts received will be much appreciated.

 

Don’t forget the next walk on the calendar – the Empire Garages sponsored Peel to Douglas walk on 5th December : 9.am start ( sign on from 8.30am at Peel town hall – entry £3 ) all walkers welcome.

Don’t forget to wear the brightest most reflective kit that you own, this is an early start and during the darker months good visibility is even more vital. 

 

results (pdf) here

results (word) here

photo’s here

     

Conditions for the pre Christmas Friends Provident International walks league, were a bit dark and dismal but it did at least keep dry and the entry was good with 43 walkers starting the 10k and numbers also up in the junior and 5k events.

Les Crowe managed to beat his handicap and come home a popular race winner having over half a minute to spare over a rejuvenated Brenda Charlton, walking a great race and just pipping Ian Callister who always seems to walk well over this course. The next three walkers to finish were Lisa Motley, Helen Clague and Chris Cale all walking with sound techniques and all taking around three minutes off their times from the last round. Fastest on the day was Sean Hands with a  52.12 clocking from David Griffiths who got under 54 minutes for the first time this winter. Repeating her form from the Andreas round, Jane Leece was again fastest of the Ladies from an improving Lisa Motley. A special mention should go to Lisa Nixon, who managed to catch a horse which had bolted on to the road yet still improve on her time for the last round.  Best fancy dress going to Doug Corkill who probably would have got under the hour had he not been simmering under his Father Christmas hat for the duration of the race!

Clear winner of the 5k event was Emma Latham, who walked a much improved race on her time in the first round. Looking very smooth she finished well clear of the rest of the field. The next two home were much closer with Enid Watson finishing just thirteen seconds ahead of Liz Corran.  Fastest 5k walker on the day was Robert Moore with 26.17.  Hilda George who had members of her family in every one of the days events brought home the field in 5th position

It was good to see more juniors in the 2k event, and all walked great races including the newcomers to the league. Handicap winner was Hayley Robinson walking well and making a huge improvement on her time. Perhaps the surprise package of the day came in the form of under nine boy Terence George who surprised the handicapper with a sub sixteen minute time on his first time out.Third on handicap was Hayley’s sister Ellen, also still improving rapidly.

Three of the 2 kilometre field carried on walking to record a 3k time, Lauren Whelan recording an incredible 16.29, on a course which involved 23 tight turns!  Fay Latham and Bronwen Kaneen also turned in great performances with 18.35 and 18.55 respectively.

Thanks to all those who helped out on the day and to those who donated prizes for the raffle. The mornings events were concluded by a very enjoyable buffet provided by the staff at the Tynwald Inn.

The next Friends Provident International league race will take place on the Ronaldsway Industrial Estate on Sunday 9th January,  signing on from 9.30. Everyone welcome.

results (word) here

results (pdf) here

photo’s here

 

The whole field started together on the 1km loop of the Industrial Estate course, with handicap times added in later for positions in the league. Jackie Campbell emerged as clear winner on handicap and fastest lady on the day after improving her time from the Andreas round by over four minutes. Looking smooth and technically sound she posted an actual time of  61.20, looking a good bet for being the next Manx woman to break the hour barrier for 10k. Given the difficult conditions on the day this may well be in the very near future.

Second on handicap was John Robertson who took around three minutes off his time from the last round and chased the winner hard throughout the race. He did pick up a number of warnings however and he would benefit from some technique work to improve further. Dougie Corkill took a break from being a race judge, & ditching his seasonal headgear he was rewarded with a much better performance in this round recording a sub hour effort. Fourth was Bethany Clague, another who is getting faster with each race, posting an improvement of over two minutes on her last effort. Peter Kaneen took fifth place with an improved time on his below par race in round one and Chris Cale made up the top six with nearly a two minute improvement.

A special mention should go to Peter Marchment, who was taking part in his first ever winter league. Making a steady start he made up a number of positions in the latter stages and will be one to watch in future rounds. Fastest on the day was Steve Partington with 45.46 from Peter Kaneen with 47.23 and the consistent Sean Hands 53.32.

Fastest of the Ladies was race winner Jackie Campbell, from Lisa Motley 65.38 and Lesley Christian third fastest with 69.30

In the 5km event Hilda George took an easy victory, having improved on her December time by over four minutes. After this the handicapping was a lot closer with just over a minute separating the remaining five competitors. Emma Latham kept her form well, coming second on handicap from Enid Watson in third. Robert Moore was fourth with the fastest actual time of the day in 27.18

Joint fifth place was taken by Margaret Clague, who decided to drop down in distance for this round after having raced in the 10km in previous rounds. The other joint fifth placer, was Elaine Whelan, mum of junior star Lauren, doing well to record 38.13 in her first competitive walk.

Terence George kept up the winning ways of his grandma with victory in the 2k event. He really had the bit between his teeth, improving on his last effort by nearly two minutes and trying hard to keep up with the more experienced girls up ahead. The final three positions were much closer with only 21 seconds splitting the remainder of the field. Fay Latham emerged as second on handicap from Lauren Whelan and Sinead Kaneen.

Thanks must go to the ever helpful Jim Cottier for allowing us to use the facilities at Ronaldsway and to all the officials and those who turned out to help on the day.

Next round takes place at Andreas on 30th January, with signing on as usual at 9.30am for a 10am start.

results in WORD format

results in PDF format