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

 

MAXWELL THIRD IN ALPINE ULTRAMARATHON

Tue 2 September 2008 - Simon Taylor

Fiona Maxwell of Mourne Runners finished an excellent third in the Mount Blanc Ultra Trail Race in the Alps.  Gruelling is not an adequate description for the extreme endurance race round the highest peak in the Alps.  The event starts in Cormayeur in Italy, crosses to Champex in Switzerland and then finishes at Chamonix in France.  The distance o 60 miles and 17,000 feet of climb means it requires an effort equivalent to around four road marathons and a substantial proportion is run in darkness.

 

Maxwell clocked 16 hours and 44 minutes 3^rd place in the women?s race and first in the over 40 age group.  The performance is another top class international result for the Mourne Runner.  It has been a surperb season for Maxwell who has retained her British over 40 Mountain Running title and won her third consecutive NI Mountain Running Championship. In addition, she finished first over 40 and 9^th woman overall at the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championship in Yorkshire in April. 

 

Two other Mourne Runners completed the Mount Blanc Ultra Trail Race.  Wes Kettyle clocked 19hours 55 minutes for 24^th place in the over 50 age category, while Fiona?s husband Bill finished in 20 hours 44 minutes for 31^st over 50. Brian Linton of BARF completed the even longer full circuit of Mount Blanc which after reaching Chamonix continued round the west side of mountain to finish back at Cormayeur in Italy. Linton achieved this tremendous feat in 40 hours and 3 minutes.

BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP MEDALS FOR SHANNON AND MAXWELL

 

Meanwhile, there was another good result as Alwynne Shannon had a cracking run at final race of the British Championship in Cumbria.  Shannon finished a close 3^rd in the over 40 age category at the 5 mile Duton Pike race.  Although the official British Championship rankings have yet to be published, the result should be sufficient to secure Shannon her second consecutive British Championship bronze medal in the over 40 category. 

 

Fiona Maxwell had already taken the British over 40 title with maximum points from 4 races.  However, after Saturday?s sixth and final race at Dufton, Maxwell has now also secured the bronze medal in the overall women?s championship behind former World Champion Angela Mudge of Scotland and England?s Natalie White.

Brian Ervine