That’s a wrap!
Series Race Report by Events Manager, Lou Osborn
A few days after the final race of our Winter Fell Series and a chance to look back on what has been the most successful series ever!
The weather has generally been kind this year and unlike previous series we have not had to cancel or shorten any of our courses due to high winds or storms, which has made the organising role a lot less stressful!
The first race – Loopy Latrigg – was positively tropical with blue skies and sunshine all day! Next was Stybarrow Dodd which features snow but clear blue skies above the cloud in the valley – a delight for all of the runners. SOB was a tad wet, chilly and windy but nothing hardened fell runners couldn’t handle, then Clough Head was just plain old cold, and finally our last race, Two Riggs, ended up a la’al bit muddy and windy – exactly what the winter series should be all about!
It has made us extremely proud to have all of our races sell out and this is a testament to the hard work of our organising team and band of volunteer marshalls on race days – all of whom are runners and racers themselves. Thanks too to the Atkinson family who loan us their barn for SOB race, the Stuarts for their field and barn at Two Riggs, and to Keswick AC for the use of the Cricket club pavilion for Loopy Latrigg – these 3 races would not go ahead without their co-operation and help.
Our race event team has grown hugely this year, with several kind folk from Eden Runners, Keswick AC, Ambleside AC, Borrowdale FR, Dark Peak FR and Helm Hill all offering help – it is truly an amazing community and we are proud to be part of it. Thanks all!
To qualify for the series championship, runners had to complete any 4 races to be in for the chance of winning their category. The V60 championships were runaway wins for both the men – Chris Knowles from Ellenborough AC – and the ladies – Jane Meeks from Borrowdale FR – who each won all 4 of the first 4 races and could sit back and relax whilst others battled it out in the final race. Well done both – outstanding running!!
On the men’s side each race, yet again, had a different winner:
Loopy Latrigg – John Battrick, Keswick AC
Stybarrow Dodd – Tom Simpson, Ambleside AC
SOB – Ben Rothery, Ilkley Harriers
Clough Head – Richard Keefe, Eden Runners
Two Riggs – Gavin Dale, Ambleside AC
The women’s contest was shared out between 4:
Loopy Latrigg – Emma Gould, Helm Hill
Stybarrow Dodd – Eve Whittaker, Harrogate Harriers
SOB – Hannah Russell, Helm Hill
Clough Head – Vic Wilkinson, Bingley Harriers
Two Riggs – Vic Wilkinson, Bingley Harriers
Kong Winter Series Champions
Male Series winner – Gavin Dale, Ambleside AC
Female Series winner – Holly Wootten, Keswick AC
MU23 Series winner – Jonathan Lamb, Keswick AC
FU23 Series winner – Sophie Rylance, Ambleside AC
MV40 Series winner – Stephen Pearce, Eden Runners
FV40 Series winner – Carol Morgan
MV50 Series winner – Simon Mounsey
FV50 Series winner – Karen Bridge, Eden runners
MV60 Series winner – Chris Knowles, Ellenborough AC
FV60 Series winner – Jane Meeks, Borrowdale FR
MV70 Series winner – Jim Downie, Keswick AC
Congratulations to all and huge thanks to our series sponsor – adidas Terrex who provided the vast majority of the prizes.
Thanks again to all and see you next year!
You can find results to individual races and the overall series at Sportident, HERE
Our upcoming events can be found HERE
If you would like to join the Kong Race Event Team, please drop an email to lou@kongadventure.com and we will welcome you to our team.