Law Trust Cross-Country League Round 3 – Sunday 5th December

Posted on By Anthony Brand

Round 3 of the Isle of Man Cross Country League sponsored by Law Trust, takes place at Port-e-Chee Meadow near Braddan Bridge on the outskirts of Douglas on the afternoon of Sunday 5th December. This round is organised by Manx Harriers, with race HQ being at Douglas Rugby Club. The first race gets underway at 1pm.

On this occasion we do not have the use of the main clubhouse as there is an event on, so our tuck shop and race HQ will be at the back of the clubhouse in the store room. All will be signposted on the day. Also all outside toilets will be open to us but not those in the main building. Spectators and athletes must be prepared to park in field Y (see course map) off the racing line, and obey marshals’ instructions as you leave the site. There will be parking in the car park but probably not enough for everyone due to the Christmas event. An alternative is to park in the vicinity of the NSC and walk up the road from Quarter Bridge.

The course is largely on agricultural grassland which is fairly flat with one hill on each long lap. The senior races will be run over slightly longer distances than for the first round.

The senior, veteran and junior men’s race will be over one short lap and three full laps of the course, a distance of approximately 10 kilometres. The senior, veteran and junior women, and under-17 men, will race over one short lap and two full laps, a distance of around seven kilometres.  The minimum age for competitors in the under-nine races is seven years on the day of the race.

If you have not yet competed in the series you will need to enter online by midnight on Friday – the link is https://manxfellrunners.org/iomxc-entry-2021-2022. There are no entries on the day. If you have not already paid for this round you need to do so by bank transfer (details on the entry form), or by cash or by cheque payable to IOM Athletics Association at the Rugby Club between 12 noon and 1pm on Sunday.

Those who have already competed in the series should wear the same race number. If you have lost your number, a replacement is available from registration from 12 noon to 1pm for a small charge. If you have your race number and have already paid your entry you do not need to attend the registration desk.

Timetable and approximate distances are as follows:

12 noon – Course open for inspection

1.00pm – Under 9 Boys, 900 metres (1 short lap, field X)

1.05pm – Under 9 Girls, 900 metres (1 short lap, field X)

1.10pm – Under 11 Boys, 1,800 metres (2 short laps, field X)

1.20pm – Under 11 Girls, 1,800 metres (2 short laps, field X)

1.30pm – Under 13 Boys & Girls, Short Course, 3,000 metres (1 large lap, fields XYZ)

1.45pm – Under 15 Boys and Girls, 3,900 metres (1 short lap, 1 large lap, fields XXYZ)

2.10pm – Under 17 Men & Women, 6,000 metres (2 large laps, fields XYZXYZ)

2.10pm – Junior, Senior, Veteran Women, 6,900 metres (1 short lap, 2 large laps, fields XXYZXYZ)

2.10pm – Junior, Senior, Veteran Men, 9,900 metres (1 short lap, 3 large laps, fields XXYZXYZXYZ)

Here is the course map

Please report to the start line of your race at least five minutes before the start time. Spectators please keep off the racing line and obey instructions from marshals.

Law Trust IOM Cross-Country League – Round 2 – QE2 School

Posted on By Anthony Brand

Round two of the Law Trust Cross-Country League took place at QE2 High School in Peel on Sunday 7th November in bright if blustery conditions. A turnout of 210 athletes found dry underfoot conditions both on the school field and on the adjoining farmland.

A new name headed the women’s race, with relative newcomer to cross-country Jess Bryan taking an excellent victory in her first race of the series. After a strong year on the fells she is now concentrating more on cross-country and roads, looking relaxed and smooth as she made her way round four laps of the undulating course.

Second place went to the ever-consistent Laura Dickinson who looked in fine form, and vet 55 athlete Gail Sheeley took third place and demonstrated that she is getting back to race fitness. Caroline Caren, Sara Hinds and Maggie Watkins filled the other top-six places.

There were no surprises in the men’s race where Ollie Lockley was again the quality act in the six-lap race. The many undulations and rough underfoot conditions in places caused no problems to the man who will be representing the Isle of Man in next year’s Commonwealth Games Marathon, and he was a joy to watch.

It was good to see u20 athlete Ieuan Owen getting back towards his best form and he was impressive throughout to take a clear second place just under two minutes behind Lockley.

The excitement came in the battle for third place, only a few metres separating Nhlanhla Nzama, Mark Burman and Dave Bignell for most of the race. On the final lap it was Burman who surged into a small lead over his rivals and he took third spot with six seconds to spare over Bignell, with Nzama a further 12 seconds down in fifth.

Sam Looker should be very pleased with his run for sixth place ahead of a tiring Alex Bell, and Chris Killey produced his best performance to date to finish eighth.

The short course race was won by Becky Watterson for the second time, 26 seconds clear of the fastest male competitor Darren Corkill.

Many of the age group races took place concurrently, with much close and competitive racing. In the u17 category, Ryan Corrin put a slightly disappointing run last time firmly behind him with a strong performance to win by 49 seconds from Corbyn Schade with Charlie Swales third.

Macy Hillier was again dominant in the u17 women’s race to take another victory, but Madison Mcmullan produced an excellent run to finish only 24 seconds behind. The standard throughout the u17 age group was extremely high.

In the u15 boys’ race Lucas Stennett impressed once again to win by a convincing margin, enjoying the opportunity to match strides with u17 winner Ryan Corrin albeit over a lap less than the older athlete. Molly Hinds was the winner of the u15 girls’ race and this should give her confidence to keep improving.

It was a Stennett double on the day with younger brother Harry winning the u13 boys’ race and showing what a promising athlete he is. His margin of victory was 36 seconds, which indicates how well runner-up Noah Campbell performed to keep Harry in sight all the way.

The u13 girls’ contest was very competitive. Holly Salter took a fine win, but only one second separated second-placed Abi Clayton and third-placed Kayleigh-Dee Corrin. This was a repeat of the first-round top three.

A feature of the youngest age group races for u11s and under-nines was how different many results were from the first round. Several athletes finished much higher than they did last time including Drew Suwinski, Max Wardle, Ollie Kennaugh and Polly Davies.

Gabe Campbell won the u11 boys’ race round two laps of the school field, up from third last time. In second was the aforementioned Drew Suwinski, up from sixth, and third was Corrie Brogan.

Olivia Martin and Poppy Clayton repeated their top two places from the first round in the u11girls’ race with Faith Teare third, up from sixth at Port-e-Chee.

The under-nine boys’ race over a single lap of the school field was a belter, with only one second between the first three. It was Cameron Eyres who took the honours this time, with Leighton Curphey just pipping Rory Teare to the line in an exciting sprint finish. Rory was sixth last time.

It was the same top two in the u9 girls’ race with Megan Williamson just one second ahead of Sienna Curphey in a very exciting race. Mollie McMullan placed in the top three for the first time, one second clear of Isabella Quaye. These were all excellent runs.

Here are the full results.

The thoughts of many cross-country runners are now starting to turn towards the Lancashire Championships at Witton Park in Blackburn in early January.

  • Thanks to all at Western AC and to all the officials and marshals for putting on a most enjoyable event. Grateful thanks also to QE2 School and the farmer for use of the facilities and land, and to league sponsors Law Trust.
  • Round 3 takes place at Port-e-Chee Meadow in Douglas on Sunday 5 December (the same venue used for the first round) with racing getting underway at 1pm.

David Griffiths
9 November 2021

Law Trust Cross-Country League Round 2 – Sunday 7th November

Posted on By Anthony Brand

It’s less than a week until the second round of the series to be hosted by Western AC at QE2 School in Peel. Details of timetable, course maps and general instructions will be posted during the week.

Please check the timetable carefully when it is published as it will differ from Round 1. Each host club organises its own timetable best suited to course length etc.

Important entry information is as follows:

1 – Entry is online only. If you are one of the 300 people who entered prior to the first round, and you have paid in advance for the full series, you do NOT have to do anything this time or for the remainder of the series. Just turn up on the start line a few minutes before the start time of your race wearing your race number which you have already been issued with. If you have lost your number you will need to attend the registration desk in the school building between 12 noon and 1pm on Sunday for a replacement. There will be a small charge.

2 – If you have already entered but only paid for the first round, you will need to make payment prior to racing on Sunday. You can pay online (preferably), or by cash or cheque (payable to IOM Athletics) at the desk on Sunday between 12 noon and 1pm. See the link below for payment details. As above, keep your number from the previous round.

3 – If you have already entered and paid, but did not run in the first round and have not collected your race number, these can be collected from the desk between 12 noon and 1pm on Sunday.

4 – If you are not one of the 300 who have already entered you need to follow this link to enter online. Entries will close at midnight on Friday and no entries will be available after that. Details of how to pay are on the link. You must collect your race number from the desk between 12 noon and 1pm on Sunday. https://manxfellrunners.org/iomxc-entry-2021-2022

Thanks once again to Manx Fell Runners for allowing us the use of their website to host the online entries.

Law Trust IOM Cross-Country League – Round 1 – Port-e-Chee

Posted on By Anthony Brand

The new cross-country season got underway in fine style at Port-e-Chee Meadow on Sunday 17th October2021. The first round of four took place under grey skies, the overnight rain having softened the ground a little, but conditions were ideal for cross-country.

The senior races at the Manx Harriers organised event were dominated by established stars Ollie Lockley and Rachael Franklin, the former already selected for next year’s Commonwealth Games and the latter hoping to join him. Both looked in excellent form heading into an important winter season.

Lockley was majestic and made it look deceptively easy as he glided smoothly around the largely flat course and powered up the short sharp hill near the end of each of his three laps, a distance of nine kilometres. He made light work of the varying underfoot conditions, keeping a consistent tempo throughout despite running the whole race solo, well clear of the field.

Alex Bell finished second, a good performance and his best senior cross-country result to date. He is now focusing more on shorter distances on the track, but showed here that he still has plenty to offer over the country.

Third place went to Nhlanhla Nzama who is in a rich vein of form after his recent excellent performance in the London Marathon. He proved his versatility with a strong run over very different terrain.

Sam Looker was not far adrift in fourth place, and he was followed by super-fit veteran athletes Mike Garrett and Paul Condon.

Rachael Franklin continued her strong comeback from an injury-affected year, demonstrating that she is close to her best once again. It was a delight to see her back doing what she does so well and she dominated the six-kilometre women’s race over two laps of the course.

Second place went to Elissa Morris with one of the runs of the day. She too is on the comeback trail after injury and illness, and impressed hugely. She held back a little in the early stages of the race before surging past a number of the men on the second lap to finish only 84 seconds adrift of Franklin. Third place went to Laura Dickinson, always such a strong cross-country runner.

Dawn Atherton, another with a recent Marathon in her legs, just held off impressive cross-country newcomer Emma McMullan to take fourth in a close finish, with Caroline Caren sixth.

Running over the same distance as the women were the u17 men. Corbyn Schade and Charlie Swales enjoyed a close and high-quality contest before the former opened up a winning gap in the closing stages.

The day had opened with two cracking under-nine races over one lap of the main field. The boys’ race produced the closest finish of the whole day with Billy McMullan just getting to the line first ahead of Leighton Curphey in a thrilling sprint finish, both boys being given the same time. Cameron Eyres was third just two seconds further down. The girls’ race was won by Megan Williamson just two seconds clear of Sienna Curphey, with Isabella Quaye third. The quality on show in the under-nine races was fantastic.

The u11 races over two laps of the main field were also excellent. Seamus Hall made an impressive transition from the under-nines by winning his first race in the older age group, with Tim Perry and Gabe Campbell not far behind in second and third. Olivia Martin was in fine form as she won the girls’ race, and Poppy Clayton and Tara Nelson took second and third in their first race in the age group.

There was real quality in the intermediate age group races, the closest contest being in the u15 boys race over 3,900 metres where Sam Perry took victory over clubmate Lucas Stennett by just two seconds. In the concurrently-run u17 women’s race, victory went to Macy Hillier, an athlete who has performed consistently well for several years now.

Harry Stennett produced yet another cracking run to win the u13 boys race over 3,000 metres, while an equally convincing victory in the girls’ contest went to Holly Salter. The u15 girls raced over the same distance and sporting all-rounder Lola Bass was to the fore in this one.

Also racing over 3,000 metres were the short course competitors, an option for junior, senior or veteran athletes to race over a shorter distance which proved very popular. Becky Watterson was well clear of all the competitors including the men with an excellent run, and second across the line was former high jump star Hollie Quaye.

Here are the full results.

  • Grateful thanks go to the team of officials who worked so hard to set up the infrastructure for the season, and to all those who assisted at the venue. Thanks also to Douglas Rugby Club for the use of their clubhouse and car park, and to the farmer for use of the fields.
  • Round 2 takes place at QE2 School in Peel on Sunday 7 November with racing getting underway at 1pm.
  • Video footage of the action is on the manxathletics.com Facebook page.

David Griffiths
19 October 2021