Helm Hill Fell Race Results
Sunday 22 June 2008
Race Report
The Helm Hill race made you realise how mad us fell runners are. Who else would go out in gale force winds with the rain blasting into them...British Summer time, it's great isn't it. What an horrendous day for our championship race to fall on, I think most of the runners just wanted to get the job done and get off home. Our helpers on the line were well togged up but the rain still got through, but our thanks must go to them and the guys from Helm who cut out and flagged the course. The day went quite well, our only hiccup was the under 12's race, where we have their positions but unfortunately we had some problems with our timer (sorry about this).
The adverse weather conditions did not deter the hardy runners who turned up. The senior field saw 47 competitors set off, these were led home by Alastair Dunn keeping his championship campaign on song with Kettlewell's winner Ted Mason following him home in 2nd place, keeping pressure on the top spot. Paul Dugdale finished 3rd and 1st vet 40, with Mark Croasdale in 4th. First under 23 man was Jack Thompson in an impressive 5th place. Adrian Pickles was first vet 50 and had a great result to finish in 9th place. First vet 45 was Helm Hill's John Bagge. In the ladies' Lisa Lacon put in an impressive performance to finish 13th overall well in front of her competition. Jennifer Dunn finished 2nd with Kendal's Evelyn Dugdale coming in 3rd.
The under 17's once again had a different winner with Ashley Kaye putting plenty of daylight between him and Johnny Bradshaw. Jos Addison followed in 3rd place with Joe Johnston in 4th. Melanie Hyder gave an impressive performance in the race to collect 1st girl with 2nd place going to Melanie Morphet, so you could say it was a Mel one two. No one runner is dominating the under 17's and I think this championship is going to the line. I salute you, well done!
The under 14's saw a turn around, Ryan Croasdale breathing down James Knox's neck at the two previous races but Ryan turned the tables and put 21 seconds between him and James to get 1st place, with Daniel Walsh in 3rd. Lauren Munro-Bennett carried on her winning streak ahead of Megan Stuart with Zara Knappy in 3rd place.
Considering conditions I was amazed we had 35 under 12's turn up and once again Ben Johnstone took top spot followed home by David Goad, William Smith with Phil Done in 4th . The under 12's girls winner Lorna Jo Nunwick looks unbeatable at the moment, but we've a long way to go. Helm duo Loren Appleyard and Charlotte Milligan finished in 2nd and 3rd.
20 under 9's braved the dreadful conditions (I just hope none of them get put off). They ran a shorter course than normal but on the day it seemed like a sensible idea. The winner was Thomas Sumner closely followed by Lewis Goad with Joshua Newbold, Ben Singleton and Robbie Johnstone hot in pursuit. 6th place was first girl Georgia Gray followed by Katie Horn with Imogen Campion collecting 3rd prize.
Thank you all for supporting our races hopefully the sun will shine at some of them.
See you at Kirkby Gala!
Barry Scholes