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

Fiona Maxwell of Mourne Runners produced a superb run to finish ninth in the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championship in the Yorkshire Dales.  The famous Three Peaks Race over Pen-y-Gent, Whernside and Ingleborough involved 5,300 feet of climb and attracted an international entry of 800 runners from 20 countries.

 

Maxwell, the British Over 40 Champion and current All Ireland Champion, clocked 3 hours 39 minutes and 52 seconds for the gruelling 24 mile marathon.  It was an outstanding performance which saw her finish 4^th Briton home among leading runners from Australia, New Zealand and Russia.  The Mourne Runner also had a resounding win in the over 40 category finishing 7 minutes ahead of former British Champion Sally Newman of England.  Anna Pichrtova of the Czech Republic added the long distance title to her current short distance title as she broke the course record and finished 6 minutes clear of top Briton Angela Mudge of Scotland.

 

There was more local success as NI Mountain Running Association Chairman Jim Patterson won the over 60 title.  The Mourne Runner and former 3 time British over 50 Champion, clocked 3.47.35 after overhauling English rival Ken Taylor on the final peak.  Des Woods, also Mourne, was the first local finisher in a highly creditable 31^st place in the international field.  Scotland?s Jethro Lennox, who was runner up at the Mourne Peaks race three weeks ago, had a tremendous run to secure the World Long Distance title, clocking 2.53.39 to finish 37 seconds ahead o England?s Tom Owens.

 

In all, 10 local runners completed the classic event and full results, including split times are available at www.threepeaksrace.org.uk

 

Report by Brian Ervine

 

Added by Ian

 

31  Des Woods (Mourne)            3:14:23

66  Gary Bailey (Mourne)            3:27:24

124 Fiona Maxwell (Mourne)       3:39:52  ( 1^st Fvet 40)

155 Jim Patterson (Mourne)        3:47:35  ( 1^st MVet 60)

270 Dave Ewart (BARF)  4:06:00

299 Alwynne Shannon (New)       4:10:58

302 Bill Maxwell (Mourne)           4:11:30

539 Norma Rea (BARF)              4:47:45

586 John McBride (BARF)          4:56:06

684 Ian Taylor (BARF)                5:39:43

 

Former NIMRA member Caroline Pollard took 4:41:56 while seven IMRA members also completed the event:

 

86   D Naughton 3:31:14

237 B Fortune                4:00:15

264 K Grogan                4:04:29

379 Moire O?Sullivan       4:23:01

409 R Borg                    4:27:22

413 M Hanney               4:27:57

550 J Lalor                    4:50:07