by Terrible weather conditions over the weekend – particularly on Sunday – failed to deter the brave runners who took part in the annual Isle of Wight Fell Race Series, which included the 25th SEAA Fell Championships.
The event consisted of three races, held over two days, with runners covering 24 miles of off-road racing, over 4,300 feet of climbing.
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This year the event attracted 120 runners, 145 of whom finished the first two races combined.
Ken Beak, of Ryde Harriers. (Photo: Rodney Parker)
The weekend’s top runner, Matthew Marshall of Headington Road Runners. (Photo: Rodney Parker)
Cat O’Shea was one of the best riders of the weekend. (Photo: Rodney Parker)
Top English running clubs, Victoria Park Harriers, Serpentine Running Club, Cambridge Harriers and Compton Harriers took part, as did island club, Ryde Harriers, who were well represented.
Saturday kicked off with St Boniface Fell, which featured a straight from Ventnor seafront to the summit of St Boniface Down and back – with runners covering 4km and 776ft of climbing.
After a short break it was the Ventnor Horseshoe.
Once again the runners started from the seafront and ran up to St Boniface, before heading down to Wroxall to St Martin’s Down, via Cooks Castle and the old railway line, then onto Luccombe Down, before returning to St Boniface.
The runners covered 12km, with 1600ft of elevation gain, in very slippery conditions underfoot once the rain started halfway through.
Graham Gardner of Ryde Harriers. (Photo: Rodney Parker)
Veteran runner Clem Dixon. (Photo: Rodney Parker)
(Photo: Rodney Parker)
The winner of the first two men’s races was Matthew Marshall of Headington Road Runners.
Cat O’Shea (Victoria Park Harriers) was the first woman to compete in the opening race, while Kaitlin Hewitt (Highgate Harriers) won the second race.
Tyler Rimmer of the Isle of Wight Road Runners was the first male on the island, and Jenna Williams (unattached) was the first female on the island.
On a horrible Sunday morning, several stiff riders lined up for the Wroxall Round, the longest race of the weekend, which saw riders cover 21km and 2,000ft of climbing.
The race started relatively flat through La Falaise Park in Ventnor, before climbing towards Watcombe Bottom and Stenbury Down.
It was then a steep descent to Stenbury Manor Farm, before another climb to Gat Cliff, Freemantle Gate and on to the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary and railway line, before another long climb to St Martins Down and Luccombe Down, before descending back to St Boniface to the finish.
Once again, the conditions were difficult for racing.
The men’s winner was again Marshall, making it a memorable hat-trick of victories to clinch the series – and the SEAA road racing championships.
Rimmer had a very good race to finish third and fourth overall in the series.
In the men’s veteran category, the first Vet 40 was James Harrison, from Shorwell.
The first woman was Ellen Williams, of Ryde Harriers.
At the SEAA Fell Championships, the third Vet 50 men was Graham Gardner of Ryde Harriers.
The second female Vet 50 was Elaine Parry, also from Ryde Harriers.
Serpentine Running Club won the team, with Ryde Harriers, comprising James Darling, Graham Gardner and Ken Beak, coming second.
Organiser Chris Lewis said: “Everyone enjoyed the series, despite the weather and mud, which was the worst for several years. A big thank you to all the marshals who came out to stand in the rain.”
