Kevan Sails to Victory at Foe Edge

Monday evening saw the annual mile-long Fleming Trophy handicap race held. Phoebe Blythe was victorious on the night with a total calculated time of 10.43. Archie Fletcher was the first male and 2nd overall in 12.07. The fastest net times on the night went to Ben Essex-Crosby (8.38) and Grace Freary (8.58).

The Foe Edge Fell Race took place on a sunny Wednesday night in Rossendale. James Kevan was the outright victor, sailing around the 4.5-mile (909ft) route in 32:05, over a minute clear of 2nd place. Mark Titmuss and Julian Goudge engaged in a close battle, with Titmuss’ youth edging out Goudge’s experience as they placed 5th (35:02) and 6th (35:10) respectively. Titmuss was 1st U18 and Goudge 1st MV55; combined with Kevan, they clinched the men’s team prize. James Titmuss was 1st V50 (36:42), Gary Chadderton won the MV60 (44:53), and Sandra Kelly beat all comers for the FV55 crown (45:22).

On Friday, Patrick Conroy took 2nd place MV40 in the UK Uphill Only Trail Race, ascending Skiddaw from Fitz Park in Keswick. It took him 01:07:24 to cover the 5.3 miles and 3,100ft of climbing.

The Cake Race near Saddleworth remains a popular event, unique for the bake competition that follows the 10-mile fell race. Julian Goudge was the fastest—or perhaps the hungriest for sponge—taking 3rd place overall and 1st MV55 (1:11:05). Other category wins came from Adrian Bramham (1st MV60, 1:19:39), Sandra Kelly (1st FV55, 1:33:50), and Doug Fleming (1st MV65, 1:37:30). While no medals were secured for baking, the RMI would have surely dominated any cake-eating contest.

The Horwich Triathlon, often called “the Kona of the North,” was held on Sunday. Friends and rivals Helen MacDonald and Alison Mort tackled the Sprint event in their first-ever triathlon. Helen took an incredible victory in her maiden race, completing the 400m swim, 20km bike, and 5km run in 01:46:09. Mort also excelled, taking 2nd place in the FV40 category (02:03:36). In the full-distance race, men’s Cross-Country captain Ryan Snee took a commanding overall victory, finishing the 500m swim, 37km bike, and 8.4km run in 01:49:58.

Across the Atlantic, Toby Middleton clinched a victory in a tactical CACC Conference Championship 1500m. Representing the University of Bridgeport, he won on the dip by just 0.09 seconds. The victory came at a cost, however, as Toby lost the skin off both knees in a celebratory dive, learning the hard way that a track isn’t quite as forgiving as a primary school disco floor. Closer to home at the Chorley 10k, Michelle Tunney recorded a new PB.