2015 Final Results & Prizegiving

Jedburgh brought the 2015 Runfurther Championship to its end, so we can now announce the final results.  Thanks to everyone who took part this year  – numbers are up on last year, and we’ve had a great time (well I have anyway!)

Prizegiving and AGM

Pendle Inn,. Barley

Pendle Inn, Barley

Please come to the prizegiving and AGM if you possibly can.  It will be at the Pendle Inn in Barley, by Pendle Hill in Lancashire, at 4pm on Saturday 14th November.  Sandwiches and chips will be laid on, but you’ll have to buy your own drinks!  All members are welcome to play a full part in the AGM, but you can only vote if you’ve run two Runfurther races, either this year or last year.  The AGM won’t take long.  Anyone who’s run 4 counters and hasn’t yet got their exclusive Giraffe neckthing can pick it up at the prizegiving.  The people I think we owe Giraffes to are:  Stewart Bellamy, Martin Terry, Allan McKeown, Dave Orbinson, Kayleigh Ralphs, Kevin Smith, Janet Hill, Andrew Ellwood, Stuart Allan, David Ralphs, David Anderson, Edwin Sherstone and Steven Jones.  If you’ve got a Giraffe, flaunt it – I’ll be wearing mine at the prizegiving.

We’ve arranged this to follow on from the Full Tour of Pendle fell race.  As of 26 October, 396 of the 500 places had already gone, so you’ll need to book asap to get in.  The race is an AL fell race, 16.8 miles, with 4833 feet of climbing, so it’s no soft touch.  It’s a classic race though, and it starts at Barley Village Hall at 10:30.

Final results for 2015

Many congratulations to all this year’s winners.  The final positions are:

Men

1.  Ian Symington, Calder Valley Fell Runners, 3929 points
2.  Kevin Hoult, Calder Valley Fell Runners, 3597 points
3.  Stewart Bellamy, Mercia Fell Runners, 3595 points
4.  Martin Terry, Clayton-le-Moors Harriers, 3438 points
5.  Michael Sellors, 3333 points

Ian’s second win in a row was well-deserved.  He was way ahead of the pack, with a win at Calderdale and three 2nd places.  It could have been a different picture had Ken Sutor been able to run the Hardmoors 60 as planned: they were very closely matched this year.  Kevin ran at Jedburgh knowing he had to get close to the winning time to pip Stewart to 2nd place, and he went for it, finishing 5th in the race, and thus beating Stewart by just two points.  If he’d been a minute slower he wouldn’t have done it!

Mike Sellors and Barney Nikolich at the Bullock Smithy

Mike Sellors and Barney Nikolich at the Bullock Smithy

Women

1.  Karen Nash, Team Krypton, 3869 points
2.  Mary Gillie, Clwydian Range Runners, 3741 points
3.  Sally Howarth, Trafford AC, 3054 points
4.  Kayleigh Ralphs, Newburgh Nomads, 2963 points
5.  Nicky Spinks, Dark Peak Fell Runners, 2939 points

Karen’s second win (she won in 2013 too) was all the more impressive as she also completed the Grand Slam of all 12 races this year – the first time anyone has got near to achieving that in the history of Runfurther.  Mary actually beat Karen in all three races where they both ran, but Karen’s wins at Calderdale and Shap were enough to see her clear.  Nicky’s running like a demon but only ran three counters.

Mary Gillie at the Long Tour of Bradwell

Mary Gillie at the Long Tour of Bradwell

MV50

1.  Martin Terry, Clayton-le-Moors Harriers, 3438 points
2.  Chris Davies, Saddleworth Runners, 3277 points
3.  David Wilson, Bowland Fell Runners, 3121 points

Martin won this at the last race of the year, making it two in a row.  David did the Grand Slam as well of course.

FV50

1.  Karen Nash, Team Krypton, 3869 points
2.  Sally Howarth, Trafford AC, 3054 points
3.  Alison Brind, Stone Master Marathoners, 2781 points

The 4th year in a row for Karen, and nobody else can  come close.  Well done to Sally and Alison though!

MV60

1.  Chris Davies, Saddleworth Runners, 3277 points
2.  Andy Robinson, Helsby RC, 3031 points
3.  Bob Nash, 2314 points

Chris is one of the top MV60 English fell runners, and I suspect the best MV60 Ultra runner in the country.  I can’t come close!

FV60

1.  Janet Hill, Springfield Striders, 2709 points

A well-deserved win for Janet.   Not having much competition doesn’t make the running any easier.

MV70

1.  Bob Nash, 2314 points

And well done to Bob, lured into Ultra running by his other half I suspect.  Our first MV70 runner to complete four counters ever.

Teams

1.  Calder Valley Fell Runners:  Ian Symington, Kevin Hoult, Bill Johnson, 10459 points
2.  Team Krypton:  Karen Nash, Nick Ham, Linda Murgatroyd, 8876 points
3.  Mercia Fell Runners:  Stewart Bellamy, Kate Whitfield, Dick Scroop, 8702 points

Having the first two men in the competition in the same club meant CVFR were way ahead of the rest, but let’s not forget Bill Johnson, who came 19th overall.

Grand Slam and maximum points

Karen Nash, 10513 points
David Wilson, 8892 points

Hats off to both of them.  They were both carrying painful injuries for the last three races (at least), but pushed ahead anyway, and never looked like giving up.  Karen’s points score is the 2nd highest ever, surpassed only by Emma David’s 10553 last year (the men’s record is 9717 – Tim Whittaker in 2009).

Karen and David at the Bullock Smithy Hike

David and Karen at the Bullock Smithy Hike