Nunnery Hosts Highlight of Domestic Manx Cross Country Season.

Posted on By Anthony Brand

Sunday 21 January sees the Isle of Man Cross Country Championships and the Microgaming Cross Country League – Round 4 take place at the Nunnery estate just south of Douglas.

The registration is open from 1pm and closes at 2pm. Athletes are reminded that you only need to register if you have not paid for the series in total or if you have lost your original number and need to get a replacement.

The first races are off at 2pm with the Under 9 boys and girls followed by the under 11s at 2.06pm. These races take place on fast parkland with some hilly sections. The main course covers a 2.4km lap which has altered compared to last year due to work taking place on the land. It has flat fast sections together with some major hills and also muddy agricultural fields. It should prove a test for all who take part.  Here’s the full timetable

All distance running athletes can enter the championships irrespective of being entered for the league so do turn up and test yourselves against the best runners on the Island and a really tough course, registration opens at 1pm. Thanks go out to the Nunnery Estate, Department of Infrastructure and their tenants for use of the land and also to Microgaming for sponsorship of the league.

Please note that as this is a Championship event if you are a member of Club then Club Vests should be worn.

Members of Manx Harriers are encouraged help mark out the course on Saturday afternoon 20th January so do come along and help if you can. We will be meeting at the course at 2pm. Please email Andy if you can help on andycfox@outlook.com in addition if you can help marshal the Course on Sunday afternoon do contact Andy.

Arriving at the course is also a little complex. The new 95 space car park which is accessed by entering the site closest to Heron and Brearley Brewery and depot is the main facility for parking. Once this is full or we reach 2pm the entrance to this car park will be closed. Then drivers will only be able to leave the estate via the road passed the main house and out through the Douglas exit near to the quay. If you do not wish to risk arriving and finding no space on the estate car park then do park in the Pulrose Bridge car park adjacent the power station which is free on a Sunday. Then make your way into the civic amenity site road and take the footpath which can be seen in the metal fence close to Edmundson Electrical with Cross country signs pointing the way. This path allows a quick route to the course which takes 10 minutes and comes out close to the race HQ which can be seen on the maps attached here you will find registration for those who need to register, toilets, first aid and also warm food and drinks courtesy of Barista Express.

We hope all enjoy the day and do give us feedback regarding the new course which has altered compared to the first running on it last year.

Andy Fox
Manx Harriers

Isle of Man Track & Field Championships 2017 – Results

Posted on By Anthony Brand

Congratulations to everyone who took part in the Isle of Man Track & Field Championships 2017 sponsored by Zurich.

Here are the results:

Saturday
Sunday

The IOMAA would like to thank the organising committee, officials, volunteers, sponsors and everyone else that help make the Championships a great event.

 

 

Isle of Man Track & Field Championships 2017

Posted on By Anthony Brand

The 2017 Isle of Man Track & Field Championships will be sponsored by Zurich International Life, the event takes place at the NSC Douglas on July 22nd and 23rd.

Please download your Entry form now, complete and return to: Kelly Hillier, 6 Close Cowley, Douglas, Isle of Man. IM2 2HX along with your entry fees:

U9, U11, U13, U15, U17, JUN  only £2.50 per event.
SEN £4.00 per event.

Please note U9’s, U11’s, U13’s, U15’s & U17’s may only compete in 3 events per day. Jun Men & Women may only compete in 4 events per day. All Athletes under the age of 15, may only compete in one distance race per day (inc Race Walks) 

Please make cheques payable to the IOM Athletics Association.

Entries close on Sunday 16th July 2017. NO LATE ENTRIES ACCEPTED.

Microgaming Cross Country Presentation Photographs now available

Posted on By Anthony Brand

Congratulations to everyone who won prizes in the 2016/17 Microgaming Cross Country League and Championships.  Photos that Murray Lambden took at the prize presentation are now available here.

The raffle at the presentation made £264 for the Island Games Fund!

Thanks to everyone concerned.

Inter Counties Cross Country 2017 – Report

Posted on By Anthony Brand

Twelve Isle of Man athletes – seven from Manx Harriers and five from Northern AC – turned out in the colours of Lancashire at the Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships 2017. It was the biggest-ever Manx representation in the Lancashire team at the event. There was local interest in seven of the ten races, which were held at a new venue at Prestwold Hall just outside Loughborough.

Many of the athletes suffered travel problems the day before the race, and some on the return journey. Nevertheless all 12, six of whom were debuting at county level, ran extremely well and produced some impressive results on an undulating course that became very muddy in places as the day progressed.

Participation in the event is by selection only, so there was quality right through the fields. The majority of the races had fields ranging from 260 to just over 300, with the exception of the junior women which had 183. Distances ranged from 3 kilometres for the under-13s to 12k for the senior men.

The first race with Manx interest was the senior women’s event, in which Elissa Morris ran with great commitment to place 113th on her county debut. Gail Griffiths finished 126th, a fine run and remarkably her highest ever finish on her eighth appearance at the event.

Next came the u17 women’s race in which Laura Dickinson executed a well-judged race to finish in 100th place, a really impressive run from a hard-working athlete. The junior (u20) women followed, a race in which Becky Storrie placed 34th and Katie Astin 44th.  Becky’s performance on county debut was arguably the run of the day from the local contingent to complete a highly successful winter season, while Katie continued her comeback from injury with a solid run.

The u13 girls followed, with another county debutant Ella Crowe running extremely well to place 194th in a field of over 300. The experience of running in such a competitive and tightly-packed field will be invaluable as she continues her development.

The first male race involving the locals followed with David Mullarkey placing 48th and George Dickinson 129th in the u17 men’s category. David, although not quite at his best, still ran with typical determination and plenty of quality, while George produced a really notable result to finish well in the top half of the field having only received a late promotion from reserve three days before the race to make his county debut.

The penultimate race was the u15 girls, featuring three of the Northern AC team who won the Lancashire title in January. Lorna Spiers finished 148th, while debutants Phoebe Coates and Kate Cashin came home in 182nd and 236th places. Kate only received her call-up a few days before the event. All ran with total commitment and should be proud of their efforts.

The final race of the day, as is traditional, was the senior men’s event. Alan Corlett, back from a recent injury problem, proved that he is getting close to full fitness again with a run of trademark guts and determination. Ever the team man, his 98th place helped the Lancashire team to pack well and place seventh in the team race.

David Griffiths