Law Trust Cross-Country League Round 3 – Sunday 3rd December – Crossags

Posted on By Anthony Brand

Round 3 of the Law Trust Cross-Country League takes place at Crossags in Ramsey on Sunday 3rd December, and is hosted by Northern AC.

Any competitor who has not yet competed in the series must enter online by midnight on Thursday 30th November here.  A course map is also available to view here. There are no entries on the day, but your race number can be collected from registration if you have not competed in an earlier round. 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 at registration 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 £2 charge. If you have your race number and have already paid your entry you do not need to attend the registration desk.

The minimum age for competitors in the under-nine races is seven years on the day of the race.

The under-nine and U11 races use the bottom field. The courses for all ages from U13 upwards take the runners onto challenging terrain including a significant climb through fields and woodland with a shallow stream crossing.

There is no parking at the venue. Competitors are asked to park in the vicinity of Ramsey Grammar School and walk up Crossags Lane at Schoolhouse Corner. The tarmac lane crosses the golf course and leads to the pavilion at the campsite which will be race HQ. Allow 10 minutes for the walk.

A refreshment van will be on site selling tea / coffee etc, and there are toilet facilities, but the showers will not be in use.

The timetable is as follows:

12 noon to 1pm –          Registration

1.00pm –                      U9 girls – 2 small laps – 920 metres

1.10pm –                      U9 boys – 2 small laps – 920 metres

1.20pm –                      U11 girls – 3 small laps – 1,380 metres

1.30pm –                      U11 boys – 3 small laps – 1,380 metres

1.45pm –                      U13 boys & girls & short course – 1 small lap, 1 large lap – 2,890 metres

1.45pm –                      U17 men & women – 1 small lap, 2 large laps – 5,320 metres

2.15pm –                      U15 boys & girls –2 large laps – 4,860 metres

2.15pm –                       U20/senior/veteran women – 3 large laps – 7,290 metres

2.15pm –                      U20/senior/veteran men – 4 large laps – 9,720 metres

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 2022, Round 2 – Results

Posted on By Anthony Brand

It was a case of ‘as you were’ at the second round of the Law Trust Cross-Country series at Crossags on Sunday 6th November, with the same two senior winners and many of the age group athletes also repeating their opening round wins.

Incessant rain over the preceding weeks ensured that the 201 competitors encountered traditional cross-country conditions of mud and standing water, but at least the weather was pleasant on the day.

Hannah Moore has enjoyed a wonderful year in various disciplines of endurance athletics, and continued in the same vein with a second impressive win in the three-lap women’s race. Her pace judgement was excellent, holding back on the opening lap on which she held fourth place as she adjusted to the testing underfoot conditions. By lap two she had taken a narrow lead from Jess Bryan and Laura Dickinson, but a really strong hill ascent on the final lap helped to stretch her margin of victory to 23 seconds.

It was good to see the ever-cheerful Jess Bryan returning to racing action after a little time out, and she ran strongly all the way to take second place. Not far behind came cross-country regular Laura Dickinson who always goes well especially in tough conditions. Becky Watterson moved up from the short course to take fourth, followed by Amber Carridge and first junior Mia Dunwell.

Mark Burman, who had never previously won a cross-country league race, took his second narrow victory of the season, but left it late. Orran Smith led almost throughout the four-lap race, stretching his lead to around 12 seconds by midway round the third lap. The gap had halved as the athletes splashed their way through the flooded lower fields on the final lap but it looked as if Smith would hang on. But on the concluding short lap round the campsite field Burman found a final kick and emerged onto the finishing straight just in front to take victory by three seconds.

Chris Killey has become an extremely consistent cross-country exponent and demonstrated his ability with an excellent third-place finish. Not far in arrears was Alex Bell who is focusing more on middle-distance these days but is still very useful over the country. Matt Callister and Paul Sykes were in close company in fifth and sixth places.

The U15 age group started alongside the seniors and raced over two laps, and newcomer Harris White made a terrific debut, winning by one minute from Harry Kinley. Holly Salter was also extremely impressive in the girls’ race, as was Abi Clayton who finished second.

The U17 and U13 age groups, along with the short course competitors, started together, completing one short lap before heading out onto the full course. At that point the U13s and short course competitors ran one lap, the U17s two laps. The quality in the U17 Men’s race was again a delight to see, with the leading runners all likely to do very well in off-island competition later in the winter.

Sam Perry took his second win of the series, looking a real class act as he smoothly negotiated the tricky conditions. But only 23 seconds adrift came Charlie Teare with probably his best run to date, and he is also maturing into an extremely fine distance runner. Gethin Owen had beaten Perry in the Ramsey road race a few days earlier, but had to settle for third place this time, and Dom Dunwell was only six seconds down in fourth.

Maddie McMullan took the U17 Women’s victory from Lottie Stennett, both working hard throughout.

Harry Stennett continues to dominate the U13 boys’ category and he was superb once again as he glided to victory. Zac Woodward was second, and then just two seconds separated the next three competitors Timothy Perry, Illiam Thomas and Max Hammal. The U13 girls were much closer, with Olivia Martin winning by four seconds from Millie Lunt, followed by Amelie Geldart and Faith Teare – the leading four separated by only 12 seconds.

Ste Quayle won the men’s short course race, with Gail Sheeley first home in the women’s race. The first three in the women’s race are all former Island Games athletes from different disciplines, with high jumper Hollie Quaye second and thrower Joanne Schade third.

As usual the U11 and under-nine races produced fast and furious action, with the elder age group completing three laps of the campsite field and the younger ones doing two. Seamus Hall and Eve Martin dominated the U11 races as they had done in the previous round, but Cam Eyres, Gabe Campbell, Poppy Clayton and Bella Quaye should also be very proud of their performances.

In the under-nines Leighton Curphey repeated his victory in the opening round over Elliott Barron, but there was a new winner in the girls’ race with Xenia Munoz-Fite running brilliantly to win from Evelyn Stubbs. All the youngsters did very well.

Here are the full results

  • Grateful thanks go to the officials from Northern AC, IOM Athletics and the many volunteer marshals.
  • Thanks also to the landowners at Crossags for the use of the pavilion and the fields.
  • Round 3 takes place at a brand-new venue at the Horses Home on Richmond Hill on Sunday 4 December, with racing getting underway at 1pm.

www.thelawtrust.com

David Griffiths

8 November 2022

 

 

 

Law Trust Cross-Country League Round 2 – Sunday 6 November 2022

Posted on By Anthony Brand

The second round of the Law Trust Cross-Country League takes place on Sunday 6th November, and is hosted by Northern AC at Crossags Farm in Ramsey.

The under-nine and U11 races use the bottom field. The courses for all ages from U13 upwards take the runners onto challenging terrain including a significant climb through fields and woodland with a shallow stream crossing.

There is no parking at the venue. Competitors are asked to park in the vicinity of Ramsey Grammar School and walk up Crossags Lane at Schoolhouse Corner. The tarmac lane crosses the golf course and leads to the pavilion at the campsite which will be race HQ. Allow 10 minutes for the walk.

Tea/ coffee and drinks will be available and there are toilet facilities, but the showers will not be in use.

The timetable is as follows:

12 noon to 1pm –            Registration

1.00pm –                          U9 girls – 2 small laps – 920 metres

1.10pm –                          U9 boys – 2 small laps – 920 metres

1.20pm –                          U11 girls – 3 small laps – 1,380 metres

1.30pm –                          U11 boys – 3 small laps – 1,380 metres

1.45pm –                          U13 boys & girls & short course – 1 small lap, 1 large lap – 2,890 metres

1.45pm –                          U17 men & women – 1 small lap, 2 large laps – 5,320 metres

2.15pm –                          U15 boys & girls –2 large laps – 4,860 metres

2.15pm –                           U20/senior/veteran women – 3 large laps – 7,290 metres

2.15pm –                          U20/senior/veteran men – 4 large laps – 9,720 metres

Here’s a map of the course

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-2022-2023. There are no entries on the day. If you have not already paid for this round you need to do so by bank transfer by Friday evening (details on the entry form), or by cash or by cheque payable to IOM Athletics Association at Crossags between 12 noon and 1pm on Sunday.

If you have already entered and paid for the series and have your race number there is no need to attend the registration desk, just go to the start line five minutes before your race wearing your number to the front. If you have lost your number and need a replacement (for a small charge), please attend the registration desk at the venue.

 

David Griffiths

1 November 2022

Law Trust Cross-Country League Round 2 – Sunday 6th November

Posted on By Anthony Brand

It’s just over a week until the second round of the series to be hosted by Northern AC at Crossags Farm in Ramsey. Details of timetable, course maps and general instructions will be posted next 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 269 people who entered prior to the first round (whether or not you actually ran), 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 already have. If you have lost your number you will need to attend the registration desk at Crossags between 12 noon and 1pm on the day 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. You can pay online (preferably), or by cash or cheque (payable to IOM Athletics) at the desk on race day 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 race day.

4 – If you are not one of the 269 who have already entered, you need to follow this link to enter online. Entries will close at midnight on Friday 4th November 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 race day. https://manxfellrunners.org/iomxc-entry-2022-2023

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

Law Trust Cross Country League – Round 3 – Results & Report

Posted on By Anthony Brand

The third round of the Law Trust Cross-Country league took place in ideal winter conditions at Crossags Farm on Sunday 6th December. The long-time home of Northern AC cross-country events on the fringes of Ramsey was blessed with fine though cold weather, and the course was rather less muddy than would normally be expected in December.

The Crossags course includes one of longest and toughest hills to be found on a cross-country course anywhere, and the stamina of all competitors from the under-13 age group upwards was tested to the maximum.

Ollie Lockley made his first cross-country appearance of the winter, and soon showed his ability to transfer his outstanding road form to the country. He initially ran in a leading pack of four in the men’s race which included the winner of the opening two rounds Alan Corlett, Will Draper and junior Ieuan Owen whose race was a lap shorter than the seniors.

By the top of the second brutal ascent through the wooded section, the new Isle of Man Marathon record holder had eased clear of his pursuers, and he continued to pull smoothly away. Looking in complete control of his race he stretched his lead to a comfortable 44 seconds at the completion of his four laps.

Alan Corlett, an acknowledged cross-country exponent, ran as well as ever to take second place, as did Will Draper who finished a further 55 seconds in arrears. A typically solid run from Orran Smith gave him fourth place ahead of another very consistent performer Mark Burman. Andy Nash narrowly held off a chasing pack to take sixth.

A late reduction of the junior men’s race from four laps to three caught out Corrin Leeming who ran four laps with only the leading three seniors in front him. He was not all that far behind race winner Ieuan Owen after the scheduled three laps.

The women’s field was somewhat depleted with the absence of several leading athletes, but that takes nothing away from race winner Ashleigh Lachenicht. A 400 and 800 metres specialist who also has a 12.3-second 100 metres time to her credit, she proved again what a remarkably versatile runner she is with a convincing victory over three tough laps.

Laura Dickinson goes well in any cross-country conditions and she was rewarded with an excellent second place. There was a great battle for third, Caroline Caren showing her fell-running strength on the hills to just edge out Lisa Dunwell. Carol Brogan and Niamh Goddard ran very well to complete the top six.

Race-walking stars Keira Heavey and Mia Dunwell were the winners of the junior and U17 women’s races, their general fitness helping them round the testing terrain.

There was a cracking contest between Ryan Corrin and Charlie Swales in the u17 men’s race, with the latter pushing Ryan hard all the way. A slight navigational error by Charlie lost him a few seconds near the end and Ryan’s final victory margin was 12 seconds. A great race.

Perhaps the race of the day was the u15 boys, with just four seconds between the first three who were all members of the host club. Lucas Stennett was the winner by one second from Sam Perry, and Charlie Teare was just three seconds back. Things were more comfortable for Macy Hillier in the girls’ race, and she looked in top form throughout as she won by almost two minutes.

Charlie Arculus is proving to be a very promising athlete and he completed a hat-trick of victories in the u13 age group. This was the youngest age group to negotiate the infamous hill. His margin over George Salter was 13 seconds, the latter having to work hard to hold off Freddie Griffin and Oliver Condon. The girls’ race was an exciting contest at the front all the way, and was won by Holly Salter from Abi Clayton in a reversal of their results from last time. The gap was just three seconds.

The short course races ran alongside the u13s, and these were won by Peter Bradley and Dawn Atherton.

Harry Stennett and Abi Sinclair continued their domination of the u11 age group this season, these races taking place over three laps of the bottom field. Harry’s margin was 12 seconds from Timothy Perry with Liam Blake third. Abi had to fight off a really determined challenge from Hope Lewis but regained her lead to win by four seconds with Ella Quirk third.

The under-nines had to contend with the Crossags pheasant during their races which did its best to get in their way. It couldn’t stop Seamus Hall and Eve Martin winning their races over two laps of the bottom field, each completing three wins out of three. In the boys’ race Corrie Brogan was third after finishing 17th and 14th in the first two rounds – a remarkable improvement.

  • Many thanks go to all the officials from both Northern AC and IOM Athletics who worked hard to ensure a successful meeting. Thanks also for the use of the facilities and land at Crossags.
  • Round 4 incorporates the IOM Championships and will be held at Port-e-Chee in Douglas on Sunday 17 January with racing getting underway at 1pm.
  • Video footage of the action is on the manxathletics.com Facebook page.

Full results here

David Griffiths
8 December 2020