Ambleside Sports Results
Thursday 28 July 2015
Race Report
The weather may have conspired against those who don’t enjoy running in the rain but a record 118 senior and 138 resilient juniors, aged 6 to 16, toed the start line for this year’s Ambleside Sports Guides’ Fell Race.The forecast had been for intermittent showers but the forecasters had failed to take account of the highly individual nature of the microclimate that exists in this Cumbrian valley. So the showers coalesced into one, day long shower of varying intensity. However, it was warm so it was still “shorts weather” for those tackling the route up to the summit of Sweden Cragg.
On a clear day the summit is visible from the show field. Today was not a clear day so all runners ran into the mist before turning and returning, often wearing a new coat of mud!
Runners storm out of the show field and quickly begin the sharp ascent to the turn point of their race. The recent rain had converted a firm course into a grassy mud bath, ankle deep in some parts. Thankfully, the tall bracken that covers the hill side had been cut to form a wide path allowing for overtaking and clear sight of the often gnarly trod beneath.
The senior race was a battle of fell running greats from around the country, including many from the earlier Rydal Round that had been shortened due to bad weather on the tops. The winner of the Guides race was not decided until after the turn point when the now familiar face of Mercia’s Simon Bailey bounded down the hillside.
Senior men: Simon Bailey, Mercia (13.45); Rob Hope, Pudsey and Bramley (14.37); Carl Bell, Keswick (14.41).
Senior ladies: Sharon Taylor, Helm Hill (18.03); Nicola Jackson, Preston (18.05); Katherine Lawson, Helm Hill (18.39).
U17 Boys: Joe Hudson, Keighley and Craven (14.38); Joe Edmondson, Ambleside (14.44); Tom Barrett, Keighley and Craven (15.45)
U17 Girls: Briony Holt, Clayton le Moors (18.37); Abbie Allan , Kendal AC (20.03); Emily Jones, Wharfedale Harriers (20.12).
U14 Boys: Louis Hudson, Keighley and Craven (12.01); Sam Almond, Eden Runners (12.38); Thomas Marshall, Settle Harriers (12.48)
U14 Girls: Chloe Rylance Ambleside (14.09); Alice Jones Wharfedale Harriers (14.28); Lauryn Gregg, Rossendale Harriers (15.00)
U12 Boys: James Bowen, Ambleside (8.04); Harry Bowen, Ambleside (8.28); Dexta Thompson , Clayton le Moors (8.46).
U12 Girls: Olesia Winder, Leven Valley (9.32); Beth Roberts, Keighley and Craven (9.36); Sophie Rylance, Ambleside (9.37)