FRA English Fell Championship 2009

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Vets Lead The Way.

Suzanne Budgett stole the show in this years championship with Gold in the 0/45 age group and a Bronze in the 0/40, it has been Suzanne’s best ever competitive year with a host of individual race wins and a mega amount of age group prizes. Geraldine Walkington also started the year on a high with good results and high expectations but through injury had to be content in the end with a Bronze in the 0/50 category, which is nothing to be sniffed at! Husband Pete doggedly stuck in there chasing Geoffrey Howard of Ilkley in the 0/65 group taking two wins at Dent and Langdale, and finally making it a super silver. Ray Stafford carried the clubs flag for the 0/70’s and did us proud with a Bronze medal. It’s a credit to win any medal in the championship but to be running and winning medals after 60 deserves a special acknowledgement, which most runners will not appreciate until it’s their turn to try!

Looking to the future the Gold for the U/23’s was taken by James Kevan – who also took the British title, a super effort, with Gary Priestley taking the Silver in the English U/23 Champs and getting his England vest in the U/23 development team as reported on the Blog.

In the men’s championship the ever consistent James Logue was in our highest position of 16th with Dave Milliken in 23rd, James Kevan was 29th, with Darren Kay in 32nd – who I know was very disappointed not to have been able to compete in all the races he wanted to. Gary Priestley took 77th place with just his one super run at Tebay. Russell Maddams 101st, got in the table with his run at Pendle, and Graham Schofield was placed 108th, same points as new recruit Mick Green.

In the men’s English 0/40 champs James Logue did great as he moved up into equal 4th place after his super 17th place at Langdale. Dave Milliken was 8th in the table – Dave has been plagued most of the season with niggles and had not been able to complete the champs as he had wanted to through injury. Even Colin Rigby got on the list this year in 59th place, with his run out at Pendle.

In the 0/45 age category Mick Green shared his 39th place with Mike Wallis of Clayton.

Graham Schofield led the way in the 0/50’s with 18th spot, with Brian Walton in 30th, and Steve Jackson in 51st, these were the lads that made up the 0/50 team with Mike Crook helping out from the 0/60 group.

In their own age 0/55 group, Brian finished 19th and Steve joint 20th with John Armstrong of Rochadle. Brent Brindle finished 40th.

Mick Crook after being in a medal position before Langdale had to concede to two of his rivals who ran brilliantly at Langdale putting Mike into 5th place in the end.

Team wise the Ladies took 6th overall in the English Champs, with the men very consistent throughout the age groups finishing 5th team overall, 5th team in the 0/40 and again 5th team for the 0/50’s.

Well done in particular to the vets this year who helped each other out from the various age groups to make our three top five team places.
Updated 16.10.09.