Mourne Peaks update
Sun 10 April 2011 - Ian Taylor
Results are available on the web.
An Excel file can be downloaded here
Please let us know any errors or amendments
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Apologies for the delay in updating this information - web editing was unavailable for a day
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Injury Update
Competitors may be aware that Jackie Lee fell during the race btween the Slievenaglogh checkpoiint and the stile. Marshalls were immediately in attention, the mountain rescue team appeared - after attending another climbing incident, and a helicopter subsequently took Jackie to hospital.
Readers may not realise that Jackie's partner Lloyd had already checked out the hospital facilities on the previous day.
Jackie was released from hospital on Sunday morning. We wish Jackie a speedy recovery and hope to see her racing again soon.
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Photographs are also available here and here
and a few more on Commedagh here
Team results are here
Revised category results are here
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Press Release - Brian Ervine
OWENS AND MADDAMS WIN BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP OPENER AT MOURNE PEAKS
WOODS AND ALEXANDER ARE TOP LOCALS
Tom Owens (Shettleston Harriers) and Phillipa Maddams (Keswick AC) were the winners of the opening race of the British Fell & Hill Running Championship in the Mourne Mountains, County Down. Top mountain runners from throughout the UK competed in the Mourne Peaks race hosted by the NI Mountain Running Association, with support from Down District Council, Eaga Heat, Coca Cola, Tayto, The Hilltrekker &
Cotswold Outdoor.
The 12.5 mile circuit of 10 peaks had a total climb of 6,300 feet and provided a true test of speed, strength and mountain running skill. Graham Pearce (Pudsey & Bramley AC) and Owens were leading the field as they crossed Ben Crom reservoir approaching the halfway stage with a dozen runners in close contention. On the long climb up the sixth peak, these two along with Rob Jebb (Bingley Harriers), Jethro Lennox (Shettleston Harriers) and Ben Bardsley (Borrowdale FR) pulled clear.
Owens made his winning break on the steep descent from the eighth peak and with very strong running and descending in the final stages continued to forge ahead. By the finish he had extended his lead to 1 minute and 34 seconds as he clocked 2 hours 7 minutes and 52 seconds. World 2008 Long Distance Mountain Running Champion Jethro Lennox was runner up ahead of former British and English Champion Rob Jebb. Graham Pearce was fourth ahead of Ben Bardsley with 3 times British Champion and Mourne Peaks course record holder Rob Hope (Pudsey & Bramley AC) completing the top six. Des Woods of Mourne Runners was the top local runner in 12th place, with Jonny Steede of Ballymena Runners 24th while 18 year old Andrew Annett (Mourne Runners) had an inspired run for 25th and second under 23.
Reigning British Champion Phillipa Maddams was supreme as she lead from the start and charged round in 2 hours 31 minutes and 20 seconds. British Silver medalist Helen Fines of Calder Valley was runner up ahead of Sarah Ridgeway of Eryri Harriers and British over 40 Champion Judith Jepson (Dark Peak FR). Top locals Karen Alexander (Sperrin Harriers), Shileen O’Kane (Lagan Valley AC) and Ciara Largey (FERMO) were well placed in 5th, 6th and 10th respectively.
In the keenly contested team race, Borrowdale were clear men’s winners from Calder Valley FR, Dark Peak FR, Mourne Runners, Mercia FR and Eryri Harriers. Calder Valley FR were the top women’s team ahead of Eryri Harriers, Todmorden Harriers and Pennine FR.
The other 3 rounds of the British Championship are Yr Aran (10 miles/3,100 feet), Wales 9 July, Sedbergh Hills (14 miles/6,000feet), England 21 August and Devil’s Beeftub (2 miles/750 feet), Scotland 10 September. While Phillipa Maddams will be aiming to secure a third consecutive British title, Tom Owens, although delighted with his win at Mourne Peaks, is unlikely to be able to complete the Championship series as he will be out in the Alps racing for 3 months over the summer.
