Thanks to Chris Lewis from Ryde Harriers for this report from last weekend’s Fell Run that took place in Ventnor. Ed
Saturday 20 and Sunday 21.09.2008
The Fourteenth 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 173 runners registered and 350 finishing the 3 races. The races were hosting the SEAA Fell Running Championships for the tenth year.
A few weeks before the event the founder member and Chairperson of the Ventnor Fell Running Association, Brenda Lawson passed away and her tireless organizing was sorely missed over the weekend.
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.
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 3 miles and 776 feet of ascent.
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, Luccombe Down before returning via a descent of St. Boniface. The runners cover 8 miles here with 1600 feet of ascent.
Sunday Runs
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 and Luccombe Down before the descent of St. Boniface to the finish.
The very good weather for all three races led to some fast times with records falling in many age categories.
Over the series of three races men’s winner and SEAA Fell Running Champion was Richard Phillips of Serpentine Running Club. Ladies Series winner and SEAA Champion was Miriam Valencia of Serpentine Running Club.
In the men’s series team event first and SEAA Champions were Serpentine Running Club (Nicholas Torrey, Hugh Torrey and Richard Phillips) and in the women’s series team event first and SEAA champions were Serpentine Running Club (Helen Osborne, Kate Laforet and Laura Denison).
Lorraine Baron of Ryde Harriers was winner of the Chris Blow Memorial Trophy for the first Ryde Harrier to finish over the series of three races.
Last year the events were renamed in Honour of Eddie Leal, a founder member of the Fell Running Association (membership No. 2) who along with Brenda Lawson started the Ventnor Fell Running Association. This year the Leal Clan were out in force to remember Eddie coming from as far away as Derbyshire and Cumbria with six finishing the St. Boniface Fell Race, Andrew in 23:56, Ryan in 24:42, Clive in 29:04, Ashlie in 30:21, Tim and Robert in 54:41.
The races are organized by the Ventnor Fell Run Association with assistance from Ryde Harriers. Many thanks to the Red Cross, Maureen Cawley and Geoff Lawson. Tony Flower and David Martin from Ventnor Rugby Club for course taping and organizing marshals on Sunday, George Harlow for organizing marshals for Saturday 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.
Many thanks to Bob Niblett, Ceri Lewis and Chris Powell, for timekeeping and recording. Also to Paul Charlton-Smith recording for doing the race sweeping.
If you would like information or an entry form for any Ryde Harriers Open Road Races or the Fell Running Series for next year see our web-site.
