The Lakeland 50 is one the greatest ultra trail challenges in Europe, perhaps the world. It is run over the second half of the Lakeland 100 Ultra Tour of the Lake District, completing the final 50 miles of the 100 course. We had 12 competitors, all who finished the course. Many started but a huge number didn’t finish. These are our LEGENDS. Pete Battersby,10.25.51, Chris Hargreaves 11.02.11, Mark McCrea 11.03.12, Shane Cliffe 12.37.19,Scott Jackson 13.05.33, David Bayliss 13.39.57, Dan and Nicola Hughes 14.11.00, Lynn Melvin 14.29.17, Andy Birkbeck 14.33.19, Iain Mitchell 15.35.08, Aimee Midgley 16.47.31. Grateful thanks to Red Rose support crew who popped up all over the course to encourage our competitors.
A new race called the Tolkien Trail 10k attracted a great attendance, spurred on by the medal featuring the gold ring central to the plot of the Tolkien stories. Barry Wheeler 43.25, Steven Moon 43.59,(1st V40) Greg Atkinson 44.17,Michael Oddie 45.08, Lee Lawrenson 45.30,Philip Davidson 46.27,(1st V55) David Raynor 49.34, Janette Rayton 54.24, Phil Berry 54.38, Doug Bryden 55.58, Zoe Cain 60.57, Louise Withnell 61.03, Nikki Berry 61.14, Helen Greenhalgh 61.57, Davina Bowling 63.08,(1st F70) Steven Bellamy 65.45, Karen Smith 66.27, Jo Roberts 66.32, Helen Ormerod 66.42, Lesley Renshaw 69.28 Amanda Berry69.28, Helen Patten 73.16.
The James Herriot Country Trail 14k, took place at Castle Bolton near Leyburn. It poured on Saturday but nice and dry for race day. There was only one RRRR there on this testing trail race with a long 3 mile slog up Black Hill at the start. Jill Jefferson did it in 75.13 to win her vet category.
At the Pilling 10k Melissa Houghton finished in 50.49 and Carol Douglass finished as first F70 in 51.53.
Matt Holmes tackled the Preston parkrun for the first time and finished first in 17.40. Personal Bests were posted by Neil Healy 25.06, Hannah Clayton 29.56 and Judi Ingham 34.02.
Karl Hodgson finished 7th at the Caldervale 10 mile in 62.42. Our other runners tackling this tough course were Anneke Crosby 87.48, Judi Ingham 91.30, Kerry Dewhirst 1.41.26, Heather Whelan 1.41.29.
The latest Parkrun tourism trip saw a small band of runners enjoying the Fountains Abbey event. The early start was well worth the effort.
Martin Wells and Sophie Elethia represented Red Rose at the Holyhead Breakwater 5 mile race and had a great time.
Steve Bullows was on his travels again, this time to the Gnome Roam marathon in Northamptonshire.
At the time of writing the ‘Scorcher’ Run Festival is in progress with plenty of Red Rose action in the various events. Our main contender is John Naylor who is defending his title of the 10 marathons in 10 days event which he won the 7 in 7 version of last year. After three races he was well ahead of his nearest rival. Craig Lancaster is attempting the 10 Half marathons in as many days. The longest single distance is a 50k ultra and Brian Cumsty ran an impressive time of 4.13.09.
[Weekly Roundup 29 July 2019]