Northern Ireland Mountain Running Association
www.nimra.org.uk

Des Woods of Mourne Runners secured a British Championship Bronze medal in the men?s over 40 category at the final round of the British Mountain Running Championship in the Yorkshire Dales.  Mourne clubmate Fiona Maxwell had already taken the women?s over 40 title at the fifth round in Scotland in July and she produced another top class performance at Great Whernside. She finish 4^th overall in the women?s Championship while Alwynne Shannon of Newcastle AC secured 4^th place in the women?s over 40 category.

 

With the Championship determined on a runner?s best 4 results from the 6 race series, the 4 mile race up and down Great Whernside was crucial to final Championship rankings.  Woods pulled out all the stops to clock 31minutes 43 seconds and move up to the over 40 bronze medal position behind Jim Davies and Mark Roberts of Borrowdale Fell Runners.  He finished 18^th overall in the top class field. 

 

Maxwell, the All Ireland and Northern Ireland Champion rounded off a superb season by again showing she is among the top in Britain, finishing a close 5^th in 37.10  as the first six all smashed the course record.  The result secured her 4th place in the Women?s Championship, just one point behind Anna Bartlett (Shrewsbury AC), with Dark Peak?s Janet McIver taking the overall title ahead of  Sharon Taylor (Bingley Harriers).  Shannon, the Mourne Hill & Dale Champion, had a fine run finishing 4^th over 40  and 14^th overall in 39.38 but narrowly missed out on the bronze medal women?s over 40 Championship by just 2 points.