A great run by Charlotte Morgan to finish 3rd Female in 3:42 at the classic 3 Peaks Race in Yorkshire on Saturday. The ladies race was won by Victoria Wilkinson in a fast 3:21, and Shona Robertsonfrom Shettleston, second in 3:37. Ricky Lightfoot won the mens in 2:53, with Tom Owens 2nd (2:56) and Rob Jebbs 3rd (2:59).
Full results here.
Helen Bonsor
Matt & Craig’s reports – Matt Grove’s report –
Driving down to Yorkshire through torrential rain on Friday night, the omens didn’t look good, and this seemed to be confirmed when I arrived
at Horton in Ribblesdale through sheets of rain and with none of the mountains visible due to mist down to a few hundred feet.
Amazingly (ok, not so amazingly if I’d bothered to look at the weather forecast), the rain stopped by start time, and I ended up getting sunburn.
Though I got to the race an hour and a half early, my race strategy of tucking in behind Rob Jebb had to be hastily revised when I emerged
from watering my horse to hear the starter sending the runners on their way. Hence, there was a bit of frustration picking through the
field from last place, but after that a delightful run. Going was pretty technical in places, with deep boggy bits and very greasy rocky
descents. As I approached the top of Ingleborough, I was disappointed to see Big Bob Lyons already making his way down, so had the incentive
to give chase on the long descent to Horton. After a few miles of effort, I finally caught him, only to discover it was actually someone
else. Bob arrived 20 mins later, and didn’t appear over-impressed by his experience, though I’m sure that will change once the legs
recover. I didn’t see the 2 other Carnethies running (Craig o’Donnell and Charlotte Morgan), probably because they were too far in front.
I’m biased, being from t’ Yorkshire, but would recommend you try this race at least once (ask Bob Lyons).
Matt Grove
Craig’s report –
As Matt mentioned, the grim looking weather lifted just as the start gun went off. Luckily I had checked the weather forecast and didn’t make the mistake of starting with my jacket on like lots of others which resulted dozens of people then frantically trying to shed their coats climbing up pen-y-ghent.
I started in the middle of the field and stayed there till the top of pen-y-ghent – playing a cautious game. I trundled along till the climb up Whernside (halfway point) before deciding to pick up the pace a bit. The ascent was straight up the face and incredibly steep in places, in fact not too dissimilar to the opening climb up Simon fell on the 3 peaks cyclocross version.
Quite a few walkers coming the opposite way on the descent down Whernside meant you had to pay attention not to run into someone! The descent down Whernside passed quickly and then the run in to the final drinks station at Hill Inn. I picked up my two bottles and continued on the long trudge to Ingleburgh. I still felt OK going up Ingleburgh so continued to push on, again picking up a few places.
From the top of Ingleburgh to the finish, is the longest, flattest, non downhill, downhill run I have ever done. It went on and on. And the worst thing is you could see the whole thing spread out in front of you. 40 minutes later though I was at the finish line which was now draped in glorious sunshine.
A quick feed from the excellent 4 bean chilli before the 4 hour drive back home.
Getting out of the car at the other end was probably harder than the race.
All in, a great race and one I will probably be back for next year.
Craig O’Donnell