Fell Running - 'Nick' of time for record! (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Fell Running - 'Nick' of time for record!

6:12pm Thursday 5th March 2009 in

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ENGLAND fell runner Darren Kay snatched victory in the last half mile of this year’s High Cup Nick Fell Race setting a new course record in the process.

In a dramatic finish to a very tight race Kay, who runs for Horwich, overtook last year’s winner Jim Davies in the final stage of the run and kicked on to finish strongly to break the course record -set by Davies - inside eight seconds, as he crossed the line in a time of 1.01.47.

Thick fog, rain and a strong wind made for tough running conditions over the nine-mile (1,500ft) route but failed to prevent a healthy turnout as more than 140 senior runners completed the course.

News that pre-race favourite, Bingley runner Rob Jebb was suffering from a virus threw the men’s race open. While Jebb, who lives in Staveley, was part of the trio that broke away from the main group of runners in the first half of the race he was unable to sustain the pace set by Kay and Davis and had to be content with third place.

In the women’s race Karen Robertson of NFR was the first to cross the line, finishing 42nd overall in a time of 1-18-28. Kendal runner Lou Roberts put in a impressive run to finish as the second woman in 1-20-19, finishing 49th overall.

All profits from this year’s race went towards the upkeep of the Dufton Village Hall. The whole community came out in force to support the race, and the runners were treated to homemade cakes and soup as more than £600 was raised for the hall.

RESULTS: 1 D Kay, Horwich, 1-01-47; 2 J Davies, Borrowdale, 1-01-56; 3 R Jebb, Bingley, 1-02-54; 4 M Roberts, Borrowdale, 1-04-59; 5 S Coldrick, Pennine, 105-05; 6 N Craig, Pennine, 1-05-14; 7 S Birkinshaw, Borrowdale, 1-05-21; 8 D Taylor, Dark Peak, 1-05-56; 9 P Sanderson, NFR, 1-06-00; 10 D Birch, Keswick, 1-08-52. There were 141 finishers.

* WILD and wet conditions prevailed for Tuesday afternoon’s running of the Sedbergh School Three Peaks Race (4.75 miles/1,450ft), which attract-ed a field of 123 runners.

The race involves a jagged ascent up Winder then a run along to Arant Haw and on to Crook before an undulating descent to Lockbank Farm.

BOFRA champion Alistair Dunn, of Helm Hill, was the overall winner, at his third attempt, clocking 31-35 and beating James Manton of Ermystead’s Grammar School by a comfortable margin of 36 seconds with Horwich’s Darren Kay (32-30) in third.

Helm Hill’s Melanie Hyder bettered her record time of last year by 15 seconds to cross the line in 36-41. Sedbergh School packed well to win the team prize with their point scorers being Peter Harrison (5th), Tom Hinton (7th) and Sam Fisher (8th).

RESULTS: 1 A Dunn, Helm Hill, 31-35; 2 J Manton, Ermysteads, 32-11; 3 D Kay, Horwich, 32-30; 4 A Sinclair, Ermysteads, 32-55; 5 P Harrison, Sedbergh, 33-05; 6 M Robinson, Dark Peak, 33-21; 7 T Hinton, Sedbergh School, 33-31; 8 S Fisher, Sedbergh School, 33-40; 9 S Stell, OS, 33-49; 10 W Manners, Sedbergh School, 34-04.

* HELM Hill’s Tom Addison blazed a trail around the seventh Kendal Winter League Race based on Sedbergh School’s cross country course on Sunday afternoon to win comfortably.

Addison had one eye on this weekend’s Inter Counties Cross Country Championships at Nottingham and was using the race to test his fitness over flatter terrain.

He demonstrated that he is in good form by leading impressively from the start and winning in 25-13, his nearest challenger being his cousin, Mark Addison, who clocked in 26-57 ahead of Dark Peak’s Mike Robinson (27-52) who finished strongly.

The first lady was Ambleside’s Hazel Robinson (32-16) who was 21st just one place ahead of Helm Hill’s Jennifer Dunn (32-50).

RESULTS: Seniors: 1 T Addison, Helm Hill, 25-13; 2 M Addison, Helm Hill, 26-57; 3 M Robinson, Dark Peak, 27-52; 4 T Hinton, Sedbergh School, 27-55; 5 J Chadwick, Helm Hill, 28-01. Ladies: 1 H Robinson, Ambleside, 32-16; 2 J Dunn, Helm Hill, 32-50; 3 C Wolfenden, Wharfedale, 33-57. U17 Boys: 1 A Kay, Rossendale, 16-11; 2 T Sessford, Keighley, 16-25; 3 J Bradshaw, Wharfedale, 16-29. U17 Girls: 1 M Hyder, Helm Hill, 18-19; 2 B Dutson, unattached, 21-57; 3 E Carter, Keighley, 22-35. U14 Boys: 1 J Knox, Helm Hill, 10-06; 2 D Walsh, Rossendale, 10-26; 3 B Johnstone, Whafedale, 10-30. U14 Girls: 1 S Hodg-son, Lancaster, 11-22; 2 L M Bennett, Helm Hill, 11-35; 3 L Appleyard, Helm Hill, 12-53. U12 Boys: 1 P Done, Keighley, 7-22; 2 D Goad, Helm Hill, 7-34; 3 T Randall-Paley, Sedbergh School, 7-40. U12 Girls: 1 L Nunwick, Helm Hill, 8-04; 2 B Gray, Kendal, 8-08; 3 M O’Reilly, Helm Hill, 8-43.