Many thanks to Chris from Ryde Harriers for this report from the Eddie Leal and Brenda Lawson Memorial Isle of Wight Fell Running Series 2011. In his own words. Ed
The Sixteenth Isle of Wight Fell Running Series was held at the weekend and consists of three races held over two days with the runners covering 24 miles of off road running with over 4300 feet of ascent.
This year we had a record number of finishers with 179 runners registered and 371 finishing the 3 races. The races were hosting the SEAA Fell Running Championships for the thirteenth year.
Whilst we have no proper ‘fell’ terrain on the Island the races meet the FRA classifications for ascent and distance and the hills around Ventnor have some of the steepest climbs and descents around.
St. Boniface Fell
Race one, the St. Boniface Fell is held on the Saturday morning and consists of a straight dash from the seafront at Ventnor to the top of St. Boniface and back down, the runners covering three miles and 776 feet of ascent.
Onto The Ventnor Horseshoe
It’s then all too short a gap to race two, The Ventnor Horseshoe, held on Saturday afternoon.
The runners again start at the seafront and ascend St. Boniface before descending to Wroxall, through to Cooks Castle and then the railway line before the long ascent to St. Martins Down (and the steps), Luccombe Down before returning via a descent of St. Boniface. The runners cover eight miles here with 1600 feet of ascent.
The Wroxall Round
Sunday morning sees quite a few stiff runners lining up for the Wroxall Round, the longest with the runners covering 13 miles and 2000 feet of ascent.
The race starts off relatively flat through La Falaise Park before ascending to Watcombe Bottom and Stenbury Down. It’s then a steep descent to Stenbury Manor Farm before another ascent to Gat Cliff, Freemantle Gate. Then through to the Donkey Sanctuary and the railway line before another long ascent to St. Martins Down (those steps again) and Luccombe Down before the descent of St. Boniface to the finish.
This year the finish was in St Catherine’s School grounds so didn’t have the run around the town at the end.
Stormy weather for first race
After some years of extremely good weather first race was held in a storm with hail on the top of St Boniface leading to some treacherous conditions on the descent.
The weather held off for the other races but still lead to some very muddy and slippery conditions particularly on the descent of St Boniface.
Scoreboard results
Over the series of three races men’s winner was Shaun Whelan of London Frontrunners. Again over the series SEAA Fell Running Champion was Zippy Grice of Stubbington Green Runners. Ladies Series winner and SEAA Champion was Victoria Crawford of Serpentine Running Club.
In the men’s series team event first were Shaun Whelan, Pal Suren and James Gillanders of London Frontrunners with Kristian Rowdon, Ben Johnson and Ryan Leal of Ryde Harriers second. SEAA Team Champions were Serpentine Running Club (Jenkinson, Paparo, Plump). In the women’s series team event first and SEAA champions were Serpentine Running Club (Victoria Crawford, Louisa Paparo and Deanna Laforet). Loughton AC (Lorna Gaffney, Anne Heeks and Joanne Whiffen) were second in the womens series team event.
Kristian Rowdon of Ryde Harriers was third overall in the series and winner of the Chris Blow Memorial Trophy for the first Ryde Harrier to finish over the series of three races.
In memory of Eddie Leal and Brenda Lawson
The events are named in Honour of Eddie Leal, a founder member of the Fell Running Association (Membership No. 2) and Brenda Lawson who both started the Ventnor Fell Running Championship Association.
The races are organized by the Ventnor Fell Running Championship Association with assistance from Ryde Harriers.
Our thanks ….
Many thanks to the Red Cross and Geoff Lawson. George Harlow for organizing marshals for Saturday and Sunday from the Rotary Club and the many other marshals for their help, without which the event would be impossible to stage.
Thanks also to WightLink for sponsoring the ferry fares for the competitors and Paul Judge of the Leconfield Country House Restaurant Bonchurch for race sponsorship.
Many thanks to Bob Niblett, Dave and Joy Furmidge, Mary and Joe Norman, Helen Lindsay, Rosie Barnard and Chris Powell, for timekeeping and recording over the three races. Thanks also to all the marshals who gave their support over the weekend, Ventnor Lions, Ventnor Rotary Club and Ventnor Rugby Club and Rew Valley Badminton Club with particular thanks to George Harlow for helping with the organization. Thanks also to Lorraine Baron for the race sweeping and collecting the tape.
If you would like information or an entry form for any Ryde Harriers Open Race or the Fell Running Series for next year see our website.
