BRITISH CHAMPIONS

The Lake District was this year’s venue for the British Long Distance Championships, British Relay Championships and the Kendal Urban event. A large number of club members joined 1700 runners and experienced some fine weather and excellent terrain high up on Eskdale at Dalegarth at the Long Distance event. Two juniors, Harrison McCartney and his sister Ella-Rose McCartney were awarded championship trophies.

Congratulations go to Ella-Rose who won the W12 championship in 27.42mins on the 2.76k course, over 5 minutes ahead of nearest rival, and Harrison who won the M14 class, 5.35k long with 210 metres of climb, in 35.58mins.

Stepping up to the podium with excellent runs were Sheila Carey W65 who came 2nd in 60.29mins on the 5.3k course with 210 metres of climb, and three third place winners: Hilary Simpson W70, 81.18mins on the 4.47k course with 205 metres of climb, Sophie Kirk W20 Elite, 71.25mins on the 7.55k course with 365 metres of climb and Andy Simpson M35, 82.26mins on the 11k course with 530 metres of climb. Other good runs were 4th places for Julie Emmerson on the W16 course and for Anne Straube W35 and 5th place for Lesley Ross W45.

At the British Relays held at Helsington Barrows, near Kendal, 30 club members entered to make up 10 teams of 3 competitors in each. In the women’s short class Sophie Kirk, Julie Emmerson and Lesley Ross were the first team back and claimed the winner’s trophy. In the ad hoc mixed relay competition Calum Barnetson, Aimee Morse and Heather Rogers were also the fastest team.

On the third day club members ran through the streets of Kendal on the Urban race and Mike Hampton won the men’s ultra vet 4.5k competition in 37.05mins, 3mins ahead of the next runner and Sheila Carey came 2nd in the women’s ultra vet 2.7k event in 34.19mins.

Chris Mackenzie staged a very well attended event, 91 entries, at Warwick University, and brothers Luke and John Cherry came 1st and 2nd on the Yellow course with Sophie Oliver 3rd. On the Light Green course Jeremy Knott M16 was 1st in 35.15mins, Josh Jelley M16 2nd 36.49mins and Ellie Beach W16 3rd 45.45mins. Suzanne Humphries W45 came 1st on the Green course in 35.57mins, Andy Cherry M40 was 2nd in 36.29mins and Delia Kingsbury W45 from Wrekin Orienteers 3rd in 39.28mins. On the long Blue course Iain Botheroyd M40 was 1st in 37.58mins, John Embrey M50 Harlequins 2nd 39.21mins and Chris McCartney M40 3rd in 39.35mins.

8th May 2012