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.
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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
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MFR
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24.00
1st vet 40
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2. 15 Brian Osbourne
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MFR
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24.25
2nd vet 40
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3. 26 Simon Skillicorn
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MFR
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24.36
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4. 24 Andy Cannell
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NAC
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25.01
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5. 35 Keith Calister
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MH
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25.39
3rd vet 40
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6. 34 Mike Quine
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25.43
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7. 29 Steve Partington
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MH
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26.13
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8. 38 Dave Young
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MFR
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26.20
1st vet 50
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9. 19 Christian Varley
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26.23
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10. 7 Graham Stigant
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IOM Vets
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28.04
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11. 16 Mark Preston
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MH
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28.10
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12. 40 Phil Mackie
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WAC
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28.35
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13. 28 Tony Rowley
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MFR
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28.45
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14. 21 Dave Corrin
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MH
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29.31
2nd vet 50
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15. 23 Rose Hooton
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MFR
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30.02
1st lady
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16. 8 Andy Gosland
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30.06
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17. 9 Allan Postlethwaite
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NAC
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30.14
3rd vet 50
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18. 6 Peter Cooper
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IOM Vets
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30.57
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19. 20 Ian Ronan
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MFR
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31.15
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20. 47 Mathew Kelly
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NAC
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31.35
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21. 30 Allan Corkill
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MH
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31.40
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22. 17 Ken Watterson
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MFR
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31.42
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23. 2 Paul Trees
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IOM Vets
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31.45
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24. 33 Stuart Temple
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MFR
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31.53
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25. 4 Christine Barwell
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WAC
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32.41
2nd lady
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26. 31 Richie Stevenson
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MFR
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32.50
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27. 14 Andy Page
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32.57
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28. 46 Steve Kelly
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NAC
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33.46
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29. 1 Kevin Martin
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NAC
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33.48
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30. 13 Jamie Flemming
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33.56
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31. 10 Bernie Cannan
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NAC
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34.01
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32. 5 Laurence Dyer
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NAC
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34.44
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33. 42 Nick Brew
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NAC
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35.23
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34. 27 Norman Quayle
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35.51
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35. 43 Bridget Kaneen
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MH
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36.07
3rd lady
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36. 3 Kevin Groom
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36.19
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37. 32 Dave Barrow
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36.23
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38. 12 Ian Crawford
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IOM Vets
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36.24
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39. 70 Rachael Franklin
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St Ninians
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36.37
1st junior girl
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40. 73 Karl Barrow
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36.57
1st junior boy
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41. 48 Ian Watson
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NAC
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37.06
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42. 72 Josh Masterton
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MH
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37.11 2nd junior boy
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43. 37 Peter Quine
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37.36
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44. 44 Duncan Jude
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37.40
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45. 11 Allan Pilling
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IOM Vets
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37.56
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46. 39 Michelle Kewley
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WAC
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38.56
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47. 22 Brian Cowley
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MH
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39.07
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48. 74 Adam Lowe
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39.07
3rd junior boy
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49. 45 Keith Lowe
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MFR
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40.38
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50. 18 Korbi Wintermeier
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Germany
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40.53
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51. 36 David Quine
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MFR
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40.58
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52. 41 Eddie Brew
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NAC
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40.59
1st vet 60
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53. 71 Claire Franklin
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St Ninians
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46.40
2ND junior girl
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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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