Here are the results from the 2nd round of the Isle of Man Cross Country League sponsored by Law Trust.
Report to follow.
Isle of Man Cross Country League 2018/19 – Round 2 – Results
Isle of Man Cross Country League 2018/19 – Round 2
The 2nd round of the Isle of Man Cross Country League sponsored by Law Trust is being held at QE11 High School, Peel on Sunday 4th November 2018. Signing on will be from 1pm with the first race off at 2pm.
The signing on desk will be situated within the sports hall area of the QE11 with the start line adjacent to the artificial pitch. The club refreshment stall will also be situated in the sports area.
The course map and timetable will be displayed at the start line and in the registration area. Signs will be in place to direct people to registration from the car parks.
If you would like to volunteer to help marshal the course please let us know.
Athletes are reminded to be ready at start line 5 mins before there start time and to listen out for whistle and instructions from officials.
Spectators are requested to stay off the racing line.
As always no dogs are permitted on any part of the course.
We hope to see as many of you as possible.
Isle of Man Cross Country League 2018/19 – Round 1 – Results & Report
The cross country season, under the new sponsorship of Law Trust, burst into life last Sunday on a glorious autumn afternoon. Despite torrential rain the previous day the course at Castle Rushen High School, largely flat and extended since last year with the use of an extra field, remained firm underfoot throughout. A total of 256 competitors across all age groups – including a former Olympic athlete! – enjoyed a top-class afternoon of racing in the Manx Harriers organised event.
Last season’s senior champions Alan Corlett and Rachael Franklin wasted no time in demonstrating their intentions for the coming months, and both recorded convincing victories with classy performances.
Corlett, a week after running a 70-minute Half Marathon in Cardiff, led from the start of the three-lap men’s race and stretched his lead over his pursuers from the off. He made the race look deceptively easy as he took the honours by a margin of one minute 37 seconds over the 8.5 kilometre race distance. Andy Barron likewise enjoyed a big lead over the following athletes, and ran smoothly throughout to take second place. Perhaps the performance of the day came from newcomer Matthew Christian in third place in his first cross country outing. He judged the pace extremely well and looks to be a very promising distance runner.
Rachael Franklin opened her winter season with a strong run to follow an outstanding summer on the track. She shared the pace with some of the higher-placed senior men on the first lap before upping the pace on her second and final circuit. 46 seconds in arrears over the 5.5 kilometre distance was over-50 veteran athlete Gail Griffiths, who is running as well as ever and looked in top form again. There was a good battle for third place which went the way of Carly Craig with a well-judged run.
The younger age group races were as fast and furious as ever, and a few of the under-nine athletes took tumbles in the long grass on the finishing straight. The most exciting finish was in the under-nine boys’ race, with Liam Blake taking victory from Zac Woodward by just one second. Zoe Osborne was the leading girl in the youngest age group, with the u11 honours going to Samuel Corkill and Lucy Ormsby.
It was a good day for the Owen family, with Gethin taking an impressive win in the u13 boys’ race and his elder brother Ieuan winning the u17 class. Lola Bass is another very promising athlete and won the u13 girls race very impressively. She had to work hard to stay clear of Madison McMullen who also ran very well.
Jake Richmond was the star of the u15 boys’ race with a fine run, and there was a good battle in the u15 girls race with Ella Crowe having to fight all the way after a fast start to stay clear of Northern AC club mate Catherine Perry. Lorna Spiers produced her usual smooth performance to win the u17 women’s race.
The short course races were graced by a former Olympic athlete. Mary Purcell (nee Tracey) represented Ireland in the 800 metres in 1972 and the 1500 metres in 1976, and has pb times for the distances of 2.02 and 4.08 respectively. Now aged 69, she showed that she still remains very fit by placing fifth in the women’s race. The races were won by David Cain and sprint star Ashleigh Lachenicht respectively.
Many thanks go to Andy Fox and his team of helpers for a superbly organised event, and also to Castle Rushen HS and the landowner.
Round Two of the series takes place on Sunday 4 November and will be hosted by Western AC at QE2 School in Peel.
Here are the results.
David Griffiths
Isle of Man Cross Country League 2018/19 – Round 1
Here is the timetable and map of the courses at Castle Rushen High School for Round 1 of the Isle of Man Cross Country League sponsored by Law Trust on Sunday 14th October. Signing on is open from 1pm and closes at 2pm with the first races off from 2pm being the under 9s.
If at all possible try to get to the signing on sessions on Thursday 11th and Friday 12th October.
Both signing on sessions start at 6pm and finish at 8pm. Thursday is in the NSC Cafe and Friday in Manx Harriers Clubhouse. Signing up in advance means no need to queue on the day of the race, just turn up at the start line at least 5 mins early. Also you can get a reduction for entering all 4 races in one go.
Here is the entry form.
We hope to see as many athletes as possible signing up on Thursday and Friday and then see some great racing on Sunday afternoon.
Andy Fox
Isle of Man Cross Country League 2018/19 sponsored by Law Trust.
New sponsors Law Trust have come forward to support the ever popular Cross Country League this season. It is hoped that this year will see some record breaking attendances and hopefully good weather, however, in cross country we run in whatever is thrown at us in the main!
There will be two signing on nights before the first race on Thursday 11th at the NSC cafe, and Friday 12th October in Manx Harriers Clubhouse, both from 6pm to 8.00pm.
At each race venue signing on will take place between 1pm and the start of the first race at 2pm, however, we encourage all athletes to sign up in advance and take the opportunity of entering the league, all four races, at a knock down rate of £18 for seniors or £10 for juniors. For unattached senior athletes the cost is £25 rather than the full fee of £28. Make sure you bring your cash or cheque book with you! Early registration means no queuing on the day of a race – just turn up, warm up and be at the start line 5 mins before your race begins so saving you time and energy!!!
Full details of entry charges can be found on the Entry Form.
The league race programme sees four events taking place over the winter with the 14th October being round one at Castle Rushen High School hosted by Manx Harriers. Western AC host the second event on 4th November with Manx Harriers again doing likewise at the Nunnery on the 2nd December. The last event which is also the Isle of Man Cross Country Championships takes place on 20th January and is hosted by Northern AC.
As ever, we expect some fantastic competition over the season, on some varied and interesting courses with results, photos and reports appearing in Isle of Man Newspapers.
Finally, Isle of Man Athletics wishes to thank Law Trust for their very much appreciated sponsorship of this very popular and competitive league event.
Andy Fox
Cross Country Co-ordinator