Northern Ireland Mountain Running Association


 

Annalong Horseshoe Winner

Silent Valley Report

Mon 12 April 2010 - Ian Taylor

Cumbrian winners of British Championship Race at Silent Valley
 
 
Stephen Cunningham and Charlene Haugh are leading locals with top 10 placings.
 
Andrew Symonds (Kendal AC) and Phillippa Maddams (Keswick AC) were the winners of the opening race of 2010 British Mountain Running Championship at Silent Valley in the Mournes. Top mountain runners from through the UK competed in the prestigious event which was hosted by NI Mountain Running Association. In a thrilling men’s race the lead changed numerous times as they raced over 5 peaks climbing 4,500 feet in 10 miles. 
 
Reigning British Champion Rob Hope (Pudsey & Bramley AC) and his brother Danny lead at Slieve Binnian, reaching the summit in under 23 minutes. Symonds caught up on the descent down the ridge and was first crossing Ben Crom Dam in 37 minutes. Annalong man Stephen Cunningham of Mourne Runners was having a tremendous run and crossed the Dam in fourth place.
 
By the fourth peak Slieve Muck, Morgan Donnelly of Borrowdale had taken the lead from the Hope brothers and Symonds. However, the 28 year old Kendal AC man regained the lead on the steep descent of Slieve Muck and maintained his advantage over the final peak to win by 18 seconds from Donnelly. Cunningham had an outstanding performance to finish top local in 8th and establish himself among the best runners in the UK. Kilkeel man Gary Bailey recorded his highest placing in a British Championship race with a fine run for 16th  and Jim Patterson (Newcastle AC) had an impressive run to win the over 60 category.
 
Defending Champion Phillippa Maddams dominated the women’s race as she lead from the early stages to clock 2.09.35. Todmorden Harrier Lauren Jeska ran strongly and was only 78 seconds behind in second. Helen Fines (Calder Valley FR) took third, while NI Champion Charlene Haugh of Mourne Runners finished a highly creditable ninth.
 
Borrowdale Fell Runners were men’s team winners ahead of Dark Peak FR and Pudsey and Bramley AC. With Cunningham and Bailey backed up by Des Woods (33rd), Willie Marks (35th) and Edward Hanna (39th) Mourne Runners finished fourth team. Calder Valley FR were top women’s team ahead of Dark Peak FR and Eryri Harriers.  The prizes were presented by Athletics Northern Ireland President John Glover at the post race function in Newcastle that evening.
 
The NI Mountain Running Association would like to thank NI Water for access to Silent Valley, Down District Council for providing trophies for the winners and the large team of marshalls and volunteers who ensured the event ran smoothly.
 
The race was the first of four in the British Championship and the second race of six in the Northern Ireland Championship. The next NI Championship race is the 13 mile Annalong Horseshoe on Saturday 15 May. The second race of the British Championship is the Sedbergh 3 Peaks in Cumbria on Saturday 26 June.

Report by Brian Ervine

 

Results for teams are in a previous news item

 

Results for individuals are under "Recent Rsults" on the home page.  If you click on an athlete's name you will see other results by the same athlete listed for 2008, 2009 & 2010.