A bumper weekend of athletics action saw runners take one events on both Saturday and Sunday (November 7/8), with impressive depth in both fields.
The formidable Narradale fell race was first up, as action returned in the Callin Wild Fell series for the first time since September after the James Coulson event was postponed due to adverse weather. By contrast, conditions for this one were about as perfect for fell running as could ever be expected in November.
Then, on Sunday, athletes of a less mountainous persuasion took on the rescheduled opening round of the Rosie Morrison Western AC Trail Series. combined 5km and 10km races were in the offing, with shorter events put on for budding young runners.
Dan’s the Man in Narradale
Dan Richmond took an excellent win by a margin of just over two and a half minutes in the brutal fell race, clearly well recovered from his victory in the Backyard Ultra a few weeks ago. He pulled clear on the tough ascent up from Glen Auldyn, before crossing the Millennium Way and negotiating a tricky final descent to the finish at Sulby Claddaghs.
Sam Jones took a fine second having struggled with injury in the past, while Matthew Christian ran home in third. Nikki Arthur was the leading female in ninth place overall ahead of Jessica Blackley and Rosy Craine. A good field of 76 runners took part.
Teare and Smith are the Best in the West
There was a good field of 81 for this combined race, with 42 in the 5km and 39 in the 10km.
First-year U16 Rory Teare continued his excellent form with an impressive win in the 5km race, and his time of 17mins 17secs was a new record for the course. He took three seconds off the previous mark set by Lucas Stennett in December 2021 underlining the quality of his run. All the more remarkably, Rory is still 13 years of age.
Neil Brogan was second and James Fisher third, with Vanessa Christian producing an excellent run to win the female race in fourth overall, with a time of 22mins 18secs. Rosa Nelson Rohrer and Katie Lawrence were second and third – the latter a week after running the New York Marathon.
The 10km event was run over two laps of the 5km course, as opposed to the usual route to St Johns and back.
Joel Smith took a comfortable victory in a time of 35mins 38secs. He had 5km winner Teare for company on the first lap, but ran the second one solo. In winning, Smith made it a hat-trick of triumphs in the event. Triathlete Andy Isaac was second and Nick Ardern third.
In fourth place overall was the women’s winner Dawn Atherton with 39:38. Second woman was Clara Isaac, making a very welcome return to action only weeks after surgery on a badly damaged shoulder following a cycling accident. Third woman was Amy Lunnon, who is a new name on the running scene and looks to have plenty of ability.