10th June 2006

Long course - 14m/2500'

Junior Course: 3.0km, 155m of ascent

Organiser's Comments

It proved to be a hot day with cloudless blue skies. Even so numbers were well down on previous years. The Blaydon race the evening before and England’s World Cup match no doubt accounted for some but the fact the race was not a championship race this year also did not help. Then there is injury and an increasing age profile. Anyway it all made the organisation on the day a little less frenetic.

Jeff Ross (NFR), in training for a Bob Graham attempt won in a time of 1.44.45, two minutes faster than Phil Vincent (Tynedale). Jeff had been pressed by Phil most of the way but pulled away in the final stages. Last year’s winner Paul Kelly (DFR) was third some ten minutes slower than last year.

Overall times were slower than previous years but Rachel Vincent was 6th home and 1st Lady in 1.54.14 ten minutes faster than last year and twenty six places higher in the field. Alison Raw (DFR) tenth overall was the second lady to finish. Alison was the only casualty of the day. She had taken a tumble on Bloody Bush after a collision with a walker.

The North of Tyne SRT did a great job again in marshalling the check points and providing extra drinks stations. I talked to the team leader and there is no doubt the recent GNR inquest figured highly in our approach to the race and the walk. It’s some thing you race organisers out there may want to consider if you haven’t already done so.

Well done to the three juniors who ran and finished in reverse chronological order.

I would also like to thank the numerous helpers on the day some of whom had to miss the football. I would also like to thank Gareth and Jane Latcham for the use of the Rose and Thistle.

Hope to see you all at the Windy Gyle FR on Sunday 25th June 10.30 start. Remember to allow an extra twenty minutes for travel up the valley after Alwinton, more if you need a toilet stop at Alwinton.

Keith Cooper