Fell Running - Ben earns England vest after Peaks highlight (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Fell Running - Ben earns England vest after Peaks highlight

11:35am Thursday 5th May 2011 in Athletics

AMBLESIDE AC’s Ben Abdelnoor has been selected for the England team to compete in the World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge in Slovenia in June after a third-placed finish in the Yorkshire Three Peaks race.

Strong winds and a quality field meant the 23-mile tour over the summits of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough was tough at the sharp end, with ten former winners on the start line.

Lake District cafe worker Abdelnoor, having reached the summit of Whernside in sixth, pushed through to take third in 2.59.27, just inside his three hour target, but behind Tom Owens and Robbie Simpson.

After preventing a Scottish one-two-three, Abdelnoor said: “Before the race I thought I had a chance of making the top 10 finishers at the Three Peaks, but to be selected for the England team is something special."

Owens of Shettleston Harriers, along with team-mate and 2008 winner, Jethro Lennox took an early lead off Pen-y-ghent, but hot on their tails were Ricky Lightfoot of Ellenborough AC, along with British orienteerer Oli Johnson, and they were still in contention as the runners headed through the Ribblehead Viaduct, followed by Graham Pearce (Pudsey & Bramley), Simpson (Deeside) and Abdelnoor.

Staveley’s Rob Jebb, a pre-race favourite running for Bingley Harriers, passed through the Ribblehead Viaduct in eighth place and two minutes off the leaders.

But it was to be Owen’s day as a strong finish from himself and 19-year old Robbie Simpson saw them take first and second in 2.53.34 and 2.56.15.

In the ladies race New Zealand International Anna Frost, finished clear of Helen Fines in 3.30.00, with Fiona Maxwell of Shettleston Harriers taking third overall.