Kettlewell Fell Race Results
Sunday 7 June 2015
Race Report
What a difference a week makes! This year’s BOFRA Kettlewell Fell race was bathed in sunshine, in contrast to the wind and rain of the previous week. Supporters and runners alike took full advantage of the picturesque setting for this short, fast and enjoyable race. An impressive 95 senior runners charged to the chimney, marking the first of the false summits of this race. Runners were then treated to 2 more “summits� before a short, tussocky grass section and a steep descent. As is typical of these races the descent threw in a variety of technicalities such as steep grass and scree before the “perfectly runnable� slope to the track and finish funnel. The sting in the tail was the short uphill section to the finish funnel itself, altering more than one final position.
Defending champ, Ted Mason (Wharfedale Harriers) locked horns with Rossendale Harriers’ Sam Tosh throughout the race, culminating in a gripping uphill sprint to the finish line. In the end, it was Sam who triumphed in a time of 9.38 with Ted finishing 2 seconds later. Third man home was Wharfedale Harriers’ Jack Smith in 10.13. First lady was Hannah Russell (Helm Hill) in 13.28, notching up another win this season. 2nd and 3rd ladies were Wharfedale club mates Lucy Needham (14.17) and Jean Powell (15.45).
The U17 race saw Wharfedale Harriers’ Thomas Nelson repeat his win of 2014, romping home in 11.00. He was followed in 2nd and 3rd places by James Turland (U/A) (11.27) and Oliver Gajdowski (Ambleside) (11.32). 1st girl, Lucy Haines (Ilkley Harriers) also repeated her win of 2014, finishing in 13.05 mins. 2nd girl was Katherine Lawson of helm Hill (13.11) and 3rd girl was Wharfedale’s Ellie Lambert (14.02).
Keighley and Craven’s Joe Hudson made an impressive recovery from a tumble at the start to be the clear winner of the U14 race (7.31). 2nd boy home was Settle Harriers Thomas Marshall (7.42) and 3rd boy was Ben Edmondson of Broughton Runners (7.45). Repeating her impressive win of 2014 was Clayton-le-Moors Briony Holt (8.23) who was 6th overall. 2nd girl was helm Hill’s Katie Thurlow (13.00) and 3rd girl was Wharfedale’s Emily Jones (9.26).
Kendal’s Fraser Sproul made this a hat-trick of wins in the U12 race at Kettlewell by steaming home in 1st place in a time of 4.32. 2nd boy was Wharfedale’s Alexander Thompson (4.51) and 3rd boy was club mate Sam Smith (4.59) now recovered from his muddy plunge at Coniston Gullies the previous week. 1st girl was Keighley and Craven’s Lilli Carr (5.11) with Ilkley Harriers’ Poppy Anderson 2nd (5.23) and Wharfedale’s Charlotte Barrett (5.29).
The U9 race was won by Alex Graham of Broughton runners (4.06). 2nd boy was Jonathan Archer of Ilkley Harriers (4.10) and 3rd boy was Keighley and Craven’s Zak Dimtrijevic (4.13). 1st girl was Hoad Hill Harriers’ Bethan Saunders (4.29). 2nd girl was Wharfedale’s Helena Roberts (4.36), and 3rd girl was Keighley and Craven’s Anna Fryers (4.39).