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

Maxwell Retains British Mountain Running Title

Tue 1 July 2008 - Simon Taylor

Fiona Maxwell of Mourne Runners has retained the British over 40 Mountain Running Title in emphatic style at Blackstone Edge in Lancashire on Saturday.

Maxwell continued her domination of the over 40 category as she notched up her fourth sucessive win in Lancashire on Saturday. With four races to count in the six race series, the result means that the Mourne Runner has retained her title with maximum points from Mourne Peaks, Moel Eillio, Durisdeer in Scotland and Blackstone Edge. It was another great performance by Maxwell who made light work of the one and a half thousand foot climb of Blackstone Edge and charged round the 4 mile course in a new over 40 record of 34.38. She finished an impressive seventh overall behind former World Champion Angela Mudge and is well up in the overal women?s Championship rankings.

Alwynne Shannon took over 40 bronze in the British Championship last year and she kept this years campaign on track as she finished 5^th over 40 in the top class British and English Championship field. Des Woods of Mourne Runners also had a bronze medal in last years men?s over 40 championship but he finished 8^th over 40 on Saturday after taking several falls on the treacherous descent at Blackstone Edge. The fifth round of the Championship is the 18 mile Borrowdale race in the Lake District on 2 August. Meanwhile, the local action continues with the annual Slieve Donard race from Newcastle this Friday evening (4th July) starting at 7.30pm.

Brian Ervine