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Harriers up against the world’s best

29/ 4/2008

TOP MOUNTAIN runners from around the world descended on the Yorkshire Dales last weekend to compete in one of the biggest events in fell running.

This year the 54th Three Peaks race hosted the World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge.

As a result athletes from the United Kingdom were pitched against some of the finest runners on the planet.

Early signs were that the title would go to an overseas athlete.

Coming down the first mountain, most of the front 10 runners were foreign. But as the race developed the UK athletes, who are experienced at running at pace on trippy and dangerous surfaces, moved to the fore.

In the final counting, nine of the top 10 finishers were British, including winner Jethro Lennox from Scotland.

Four members of Rochdale Harriers competed in this gruelling event, and all completed the 24 miles, with 5,000ft of ascent, in under five hours.

First home was Paul Leary, a novice to this event. He completed the course in an impressive 4 hours 15 mins 57 secs.

Next was veteran Norman Eames who clocked 4 hours 37 mins 46 secs.

John Mayall was delighted to beat his personal best time by 15 minutes and finish in 4 hours 49 mins 55secs, while Stephen Leak defied the cramps and exhaustion to finish under the magic five-hour marker, posting 4 hours 59 mins 14 secs.

Mayall commented: "This was the hardest race I have ever done. Like many of the runners I cramped badly after the ascent of Whernside and it took every ounce of strength just to keep going. The support along the way was fantastic, especially from the Rochdale ladies."

THE NEXT race in the Local Clubs Fell Race Grand Prix is on Saturday, at Ravenstones, near Saddleworth, a very scenic course of about eight miles with 1,200ft of ascent.