IOM Cross-Country League entry Information 2022/23

Posted on By Anthony Brand

We have decided to keep the major changes to the entry procedure for the cross-country league made last season, so please read the information below very carefully.

In recent seasons before last year, the numbers of competitors made things extremely difficult for the registration team prior to the first round, so the manual entry system has been replaced with an online entry system to bring the event into line with the majority of other events with big participant numbers.

The crucial things to note are that entries this season are ONLINE ONLY, and that entries will CLOSE AT MIDNIGHT ON SUNDAY 9th OCTOBER. There will be NO ENTRIES FOR ROUND 1 AFTER THAT DATE, INCLUDING ON THE DAY. There will be opportunities for those who don’t enter the first round to enter subsequent rounds prior to those events – more on that later.

Here is the procedure to enter (thanks to Manx Fell Runners for allowing use of their website to host the online entries):

  1. Go to this link https://manxfellrunners.org/iomxc-entry-2022-2023 – for families you will need to complete a separate entry for each individual. Please check age group carefully – details are on the form. For veteran athletes (35 and above) the category is based on age on the date of the first round (16/10/22). Entries will CLOSE at midnight on Sunday 9th October. There will be NO further opportunity to enter prior to the first round.
  2. Payment should be made to IOM Athletics, preferably by Bank Transfer. Details are: Isle of Man Bank, Sort Code 55-91-00, Account number 14347237. Details of entry fees are on the entry form. We would encourage entry for the full series. Please use your name as payment reference, or in the case of payment for a family, use for example ‘Kelly family’. The cut-off for online payments will be midnight on Wednesday 12th October.
  3. Race numbers must be collected from the upstairs room at the Sports Institute on the NSC perimeter road (the building by the entrance to the track) on Friday 14th October from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. This will be the only collection session, so if you are unable to attend you MUST make arrangements for someone to collect on your behalf. If you are unable to make payment by bank transfer (as in Paragraph 2 above) you must pay by cash or cheque (payable to IOM Athletics) when collecting your number.
  4. There will be NO entries, form-filling etc. on the day of the race – race day is for racing only!
  5. The online entry system will re-open prior to rounds two, three and four – more information will be posted at the time.

One further thing to note is that there will as usual be a Short Course race option for U20, senior and veteran athletes. You enter as normal stating your age category, then it’s up to you on the days of the races whether you run the short or long course.

Northern League and YDL Registration Forms

Posted on By Anthony Brand

If you are interested in competing in either the YDL or Northern League this season please complete the appropriate form.

Please return completed forms to: Petra Atchison, Northern League Team Manager, Ballasaig Farm, Maughold, Isle of Man IM7 1BJ or grantandpetra@manx.net no later than Friday 25th March 2022

Isle of Man Track & Field League 2022

Posted on By Anthony Brand

The Isle of Man Track & Field League 2022 kicks off on Wednesday 6th April.

The league for U13s and above is 6 nights of competition with the 4 best weeks to count.

The competition dates are:

  • 6th April
  • 4th May
  • 18th May
  • 15th June
  • 6th July
  • 27th July

The cost for entering the League is £20 if your entry is received by 29th March, after that date the cost increases to £25.

To allow the  League to run smoothly, please offer your assistance to help at at least 1 meeting.

Here is the entry form

Please return the completed form and bring with you to the sign on evenings at Manx Harriers Club House on 10th March and 24th March or post to Tracey Bell at 42, Birch Hill Close, Onchan, Isle of Man. IM3 3DH along with cash or cheque made payable to Manx Harriers. Alternatively you can transfer to Manx Harriers – Sort Code 55-91-00 – Account 14356414. Please quote ref IOMAA T & F League (All payments received into Manx Harriers account will be transferred to IOMAA at the end of the Track League)

If you have any questions please contact Petra on grantandpetra@manx.net  or the League Co-ordinator Tracey Bell on tbell@wm.im or 432133

 

Law Trust IOM Cross-Country League Round 3 Port-e-Chee

Posted on By Anthony Brand

The weather gods have truly smiled on cross-country racing over the past week. Between all the storms, Thursday’s Inter-Schools event and the third round of the Law Trust series on Sunday 5th December 2021 were both held in wonderful sunny and calm conditions which were appreciated by competitors and officials alike.

Both events were held at Port-e-Chee Meadow in Douglas, with the course being extended to include extra loops for Sunday’s Manx Harriers organised league event to make the full lap three kilometres in length. The course is largely flat but rough in places with a testing hill near the end of each lap.

Ieuan Owen and Elissa Morris were the victors in the junior/senior/veteran races, each taking their first win of the season. Still a junior, the Western AC athlete looked in really fine form, taking the men’s race of just under 10 kilometres by the scruff of the neck from the start and dominating with a controlled display of front running. He can look forward with confidence to next month’s Lancashire Championships in Blackburn.

Mark Burman held second place throughout and had a lonely race but he too looked to be running well as he has done consistently in recent times. Matt Callister produced one of the runs of the day to take third place, pushing hard all the way and having enough left in the tank to fend off a late challenge from Nhlanhla Nzama who took fourth ahead of Sam Looker. Alex Bell just held off Chris Killey for sixth place.

Elissa Morris of Manx Harriers followed her impressive Syd Quirk Half Marathon victory with a fine run over just under seven kilometres on the softer terrain of the country. She won the women’s contest by a clear margin in her final race as a Morris before her wedding later this month. Jess Bryan followed her win in the previous round with a solid second place and improves all the time.

There is no more consistent cross-country runner than Laura Dickinson and she showed her quality again with a good third place. Gail Sheeley produced her best race of the season for fourth place ahead of Dawn Atherton and Caroline Caren.

Becky Watterson (women’s Short Course), Harry Stennett (U13 Boys), Olivia Martin (U11 Girls) and Megan Williamson (U9 Girls) all completed a hat-trick of victories for the season and clinched league titles with a race to spare. Becky’s performances have been remarkable as she is five months into pregnancy!

The quality in the U17 races was outstanding, all seven runners contesting this age group being high-class athletes. Ryan Corrin and Madison Mcmullan were the winners on this occasion with strong and classy runs. The league contest in the men’s category is very close.

The friendly rivalry between Sam Perry and Lucas Stennett continued in the U15 boys’ race. Not for the first time it was Sam’s greater finishing speed that saw him to the line first but his margin was only two seconds this time. The multi-talented Lola Bass was the girls’ winner ahead of Penny Webster.

The U13s had the short course competitors for company – all of them except Ryan Fairclough that is. The 2013 Island Games 1500 metres silver medallist continued a strong comeback to running, and he was away and clear right from the off to win the race by 39 seconds.

The second short course athlete Ste Quayle found himself acting as the hare for u13 boys winner Harry Stennett to chase, which shows just how good the young Northern AC athlete is. It was good to see Charlie Arculus back in cross-country action and he took a good second place. In the U13 girls race Abi Clayton pulled away from Kayleigh-Dee Corrin and Neve Madden towards the end of the race to take an excellent win.

There is a terrific contest going on in the U11 boys’ league, and we saw a great race between Seamus Hall and Tim Perry. It was Seamus, having discarded the face mask he began the race with, who just got the better of a thrilling sprint finish to take the win after two laps of the main field. Gabe Campbell ran well again for third, and a very strong finish by the rapidly-improving Bernat Munoz-Fite placed him fourth.

Olivia Martin was again successful in the U11 girls’ race, having to work extremely hard to shake off the highly competitive Poppy Clayton who has been second in all three races. The margin was just two seconds. Tara Nelson was third.

The under-nine boys’ race over one lap of the main field saw the third winner in three races, with Leighton Curphey claiming his first win with a brilliant run. He finished four seconds clear of Rory Teare in second, and Carter Whitehead produced a remarkable comeback after falling at the start and finding himself at the back of the field. He recovered so strongly that he finished third.

Megan Williamson continued her dominance in the under-nine girls’ race with an excellent winning run ahead of her Western AC teammate Bella Quaye who finished only two seconds down with a quality run. Sienna Curphey was third.

Here are the full results.

  • Many thanks go to the team of helpers who set the course up and marshalled on the day, to the admin team and to all at Douglas Rugby Club. Thanks also to the farmer for use of the meadow.
  • After a Christmas break, the final round which incorporates the IOM Cross-Country Championships takes place at Crossags Farm in Ramsey on Sunday 16 January. All welcome.

David Griffiths
7 December 2021

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.