Last Saturday saw the final race in the British Fell Running Championships, held on the notoriously tough course from Fort William to the summit of Ben Nevis and back again. Eleven members of Keswick AC, along with a multitude of supporters, travelled north to take on the challenge in a field of 488 runners.
The finest performance of the day undoubtedly went to Victoria Wilkinson, shaving 24 seconds off the women’s record that has stood since 1984. Incidentally, that record was held by Keswick AC’s own Pauline Haworth. In the men’s race, Kenny Stuart’s equally venerable record remained intact, with Finlay Wild of Lochaber AC taking the honours for the ninth consecutive year, with the fastest time since 1992. Keswick AC’s men took the “Mrs J.W. Hobbs Cup” for first team, with Mark Lamb in 6th, Dan Haworth 12th, Calum Tinnion 14th, Carl Bell 15th, Steve Hebblethwaite 23rd, Sam Stead 46th, Steve Halsall 66th, Jacob Tonkin 171st and Chris Smith 197th.
Helm Hill fellrunners took the team honours in the women’s race, with Keswick AC’s Rachel Findlay-Robinson finishing 320th overall, marginally ahead of teammate Kerry Cornforth in 338th.