If you responded to our call for stewards at this year’s Ventnor Fell Running Series, then you’ll know all about the races that took place last weekend. Chris from Ryde Harriers fills us in on the action. 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 170 runners registered and 379 finishers over the 3 races. The races were hosting the SEAA Fell Running Championships for the twelfth 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 in the South of England.
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 Association in 1995 to organize the events.
Race one opens the series
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.
Most of this ascent takes place over a half mile stretch leading to a testing descent on the way back. 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, this ascent takes in the full height in a continual climb unlike the slight respite you get in Race 1 before climbing again to the top.
Next up – Race two
Race 2 then descends to Wroxall, through to Cooks Castle and then the railway line before the long ascent to St. Martins Down, up the cliff, Luccombe Down before returning via a descent of St. Boniface. The runners cover 8 miles here with 1600 feet of ascent. 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 and Freemantle Gate. Then through to the Donkey Sanctuary and the railway line again before another long ascent to St.Martins Down, up the cliff and Luccombe Down before the descent of St. Boniface to the finish.
The races were slightly lengthened through the town last year for safety concerns with new records starting for all races. The very good weather for all three races led to some fast times with Huw Lobb of Serpentine Running Club beating the course records for all 3 races. In fact in Race 2 and 3 Huw broke the old records with the slightly shorter courses.
Over the series of three races men’s winner and SEAA Fell Running Champion was Huw Lobb of Serpentine Running Club. Ladies Series winner and SEAA Champion was Holly Wilkinson of Serpentine Running Club.
Men’s teams battle it out
In the men’s series team event first and SEAA Champions were Serpentine Running Club (Huw Lobb, Hugh Torry and Richard Phillips) and in the women’s series team event first and SEAA champions were Serpentine Running Club (Holly Wilkinson, Fiona Alexander, Poppy Lenton).
Rodney Parker of Ryde Harriers was winner of the Chris Blow Memorial Trophy for the first Ryde Harrier to finish over the series of three races.
The races are organized by the Ventnor Fell Run Association with assistance from Ryde Harriers.
Expression of thanks
Many thanks to the Red Cross, 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, Chris Law, Helen Lindsay, Paul Charlton-Smith, Tom Rooney 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 Ron Lucas for helping with the organization. Thanks also to Lorraine Baron for 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 Website.
