11:33am Tuesday 5th January 2010
By Richard Daniels
MOUNTAIN Rescue team proved vital to the Nine Standards Fell Race going ahead on New Year’s Day.
Race organiser Paul Brittleton said that because of the wintry weather he called upon advice from Kirkby Stephen Mountain Rescue team.
“With deep snow and ice on the fellside we were seriously thinking about changing the route of the race, “ explained Brittleton.
“However after talking to the Kirkby Stephen Mountain Rescue team, they made it clear their support was at hand.
“This meant the section of the fell that was being raced on could be flagged.
“On the morning of the race the conditions had taken a turn for the worse but we still went ahead.
“The Mountain Rescue team were there in force to help the event run smoothly and the race would not have been possible without their help.”
Brittleton himself led the runners away because the steps at the start were extremely icy and the field had to contend with almost a whiteout blizzard at the Standards in the eight-mile, 1,800ft race.
Just two runners were helped from the fell with a sprained ankle and a calf pull.
Borrowdale’s Morgan Donnelly led the field back in 58 min 44sec with Ricky Stuart second in 61-52 and 1st vet 40 in 64-38.
Kim Collison, an unattched runner, was not far behind in third in 64-38.
Eden Runners clubmates Stuart Stoddart and Anthony Labram were fourth and fifth respectively, while Ambleside’s Jamie Robbins was seventh.
The “Flying Postman” Steve Moffat (Howgill Harriers) was first veteran 50 in 12th and Les Stephenson first veteran 60 in 39th.
Many locals supported the race with Carl Bell taking the honours in this category in 10th.
Lauren Jeska (Todmorden Harriers) won the women’s race in 13th overall,with Lisa Lacon (Holmfirth) second and Anja Phoenix (Eden Runners) third.
Denise Tunstall (Durham) won the female veteran 40 award and Wendy Dodds (Clayton-le-Moors) the female veteran 50. Eden Runners won both team events.
RESULTS: 1 M. Donnelly (Borrowdale) 58-44; 2 R. Stuart (Kendal) 61-52; 3 K. Collison (Unatt) 64-38; 4 S. Stoddart (Eden R) 66-14; 5 A. Labram (Eden R) 66-19; 6 G. Johnson (Unatt) 66-59; 7 J. Robbins (Ambleside) 67-38; 8 J. Bagge (Helm Hill) 67-43; 9 S. Fisher (Howgill H) 67-44; 10 C. Bell (Howgill H) 68-20; 11 K. Ward (Horwich RMI) 70-30; 12 S. Moffat (Howgill H) 70-33; 13 L. Jeska (Todmorden H) 71-21; 14 P, Brittleton (Helm hill) 72-15; 15 T. Makin (Durham) 72-22; 16 J. Byrne (Unatt) 73-25; 17 B. Kennedy (Settle H) 73-26; 18 M. Bissell (Eden R) 74-22; 19 B. Gilmartin (Eden R) 74-42; 20 L. Lacon (Holmfirth) 74-59.
*THE Kendal Winter League is set to get under way this Sunday with the Scout Scar Races, from Brigsteer Road, Kendal (the junior races start as noon, with the seniors off at 1pm after juniors finish).
* THE Sands New Year Chase, a six mile on-and-off the road race, from Grange on Sunday was cancelled because of icy tracks.
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