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 St Johns Fell Race

3 miles

900 feet of ascent

Category A (short)

Starts St Johns Football Club

Normally held on New Years Day

Sponsored by Super Cards

Gale beats wind and top class field

The 2004 Managrakem Fell League got off to a great start yesterday out at St Johns with 53 hardy soles lining up for the annual race to the summit of Slieauwhallian and back, writes Richie Stevenson.

We were a little disappointed with the entry as it has been close to 60 for the last few years but nonetheless the Supercards sponsored race remains one of the best supported runs in the local athletics season.

As usual the atmosphere was excellent with the large number of spectators who lined both sides of the lane at the water splash at Mullen Y Cloie contributing a great deal to this as they cheered every single runner through although I`m led to believe they were a bit disappointed only one runner went under.  

The Onion really produced a superb performance winning in a super fast time of exactly 24 minutes, no doubt helped by the pressure Christian Varley put him under on the long ascent. Christian is of course the son of former fell champion turned cyclist Tony Varley and a great prospect on two wheels. He clearly showed he would be a force to be reckoned with if he turned to running and would probably have finished higher than his eventual 9th place if he had not obeyed his fathers strict pre-race instructions to take it easy on the descent.Ozzie looked to be right out of contention as the leaders passed me coming back from the top ( I was still quite a way from the summit turn ) He must have really gone for it on the return leg as he pulled back to a good second place, getting the better of third placed Simon Skillicorn on the steep plantation track after a bit of a coming together on the narrow paths.

Northern Andy Cannell also produced a quite superb run in what I think was his first outing on the fells. He is obviously in fine form at the moment and it would be great to see him have a go at a few more of our races. Rose Hooton took advantage of Cal Partingtons absence by taking the females title and very nearly got under 30 minutes for the first time. She was followed home by the ever improving Christine Barwel and Bridget Kanneen who did well to finish the race as she was suffering with a wonky tummy ( nothing to do with the previous night of course).

The performances that impressed me most of all were put up by the 5 juniors who tackled the 3 miles course. Although this race is by no means one of the more difficult in the Managrakem league it is still a tough test, especially when you have to battle a very strong wind on the ridge run up to the summit. The juniors were headed by Rachael Franklin who recorded a most impressive time with Karl Barrow, Josh Masterton, Adam Lowe and Rachael's sister Claire all putting in performances they should be proud of.

Many thanks to sponsors Supercards of Strand Street and to their representative Elaine Parkinson for presenting the awards. Also a big thank you to all the officials who helped on the day, especially those standing out in the freezing cold wind. I think I can speak for all the local race organisers when I say what a pleasure it was to have people phoning me  before race day and approaching me out at St Johns with offers of help if it was needed. Thanks to them all as it was very much appreciated. Finally thanks to St Johns Football Club and Brian Leece in particular for allowing us to use their excellent new changing rooms and facilities.

Over £150 was taken in entry fees which will be passed on to Crossroads Junior Carers Project.   

 

Ian Gale (25) has Christian Varley (19) and Andy Cannell for company on the ascent (picture by Murray Lambden)

But at the summit he is on his own (Picture by Stan Hall)

Experienced fell runners know how to judge the pace and Brian Osbourne (15) and Simon Skillicorn (26) did just that to take second and third places (ML)

But Andy Cannell held on for fourth place (SH)

Top junior Rachael Franklin with sponsor Elaine Parkinson of Super Cards (ML)

1. 25 Ian Gale

MFR

24.00  1st vet 40

2. 15 Brian Osbourne

MFR

24.25  2nd vet 40

3. 26 Simon Skillicorn

MFR

24.36

4. 24 Andy Cannell

NAC

25.01

5. 35 Keith Calister

MH

25.39  3rd vet 40

6. 34 Mike Quine

 

25.43

7. 29 Steve Partington

MH

26.13

8. 38 Dave Young

MFR

26.20  1st vet 50

9. 19 Christian Varley

 

26.23

10. 7 Graham Stigant

IOM Vets

28.04

11. 16 Mark Preston

MH

28.10

12. 40 Phil Mackie

WAC

28.35

13. 28 Tony Rowley

MFR

28.45

14. 21 Dave Corrin

MH

29.31  2nd vet 50

15. 23 Rose Hooton

MFR

30.02  1st lady

16. 8 Andy Gosland

 

30.06

17. 9 Allan Postlethwaite

NAC

30.14  3rd vet 50

18. 6 Peter Cooper

IOM Vets

30.57

19. 20 Ian Ronan

MFR

31.15

20. 47 Mathew Kelly

NAC

31.35

21. 30 Allan Corkill

MH

31.40

22. 17 Ken Watterson

MFR

31.42

23. 2 Paul Trees

IOM Vets

31.45

24. 33 Stuart Temple

MFR

31.53

25. 4 Christine Barwell

WAC

32.41  2nd lady

26. 31 Richie Stevenson

MFR

32.50

27. 14 Andy Page

 

32.57

28. 46 Steve Kelly

NAC

33.46

29. 1 Kevin Martin

NAC

33.48

30. 13 Jamie Flemming

 

33.56

31. 10 Bernie Cannan

NAC

34.01

32. 5 Laurence Dyer

NAC

34.44

33. 42 Nick Brew

NAC

35.23

34. 27 Norman Quayle

 

35.51

35. 43 Bridget Kaneen

MH

36.07  3rd lady

36. 3 Kevin Groom

 

36.19

37. 32 Dave Barrow

 

36.23

38. 12 Ian Crawford

IOM Vets

36.24

39. 70 Rachael Franklin

St Ninians

36.37  1st junior girl

40. 73 Karl Barrow

 

36.57  1st junior boy

41. 48 Ian Watson

NAC

37.06

42. 72 Josh Masterton

MH

37.11 2nd junior boy

43. 37 Peter Quine

 

37.36

44. 44 Duncan Jude

 

37.40

45. 11 Allan Pilling

IOM Vets

37.56

46. 39 Michelle Kewley

WAC

38.56

47. 22 Brian Cowley

MH

39.07

48. 74 Adam Lowe

 

39.07  3rd junior boy

49. 45 Keith Lowe

MFR

40.38

50. 18 Korbi Wintermeier

Germany

40.53

51. 36 David Quine

MFR

40.58

52. 41 Eddie Brew

NAC

40.59  1st vet 60

53. 71 Claire Franklin

St Ninians

46.40  2ND junior girl

THANKS TO RICHIE STEVENSON FOR SUPPLYING THE RESULTS

(especially for the nice table format and race numbers)

 

Former winner Keith Callister used all his experience to clinch a well judged 5th place (picture by Murray Lambden)

Mike Quine is 6th place could be the man to watch in 2004 (ML)

Dave Young has no time to enjoy the view on his descent.  His view is that of 19 year old Christian Varley who he eventually beat by 3 seconds.

Rose Hooton won the women's race. She is pictured with men's winner Ian Gale after the race (ML)

Stan Hall was actually first to the summit - with his camera!  Here is another of his pictures of comeback man Ian Crawford and Laurence Dyer.


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

 

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