Thompson Retains MMM Title
Clayton le Moors runner Paul Thompson retained his Manx Mountain Marathon title bringing his tally of wins up to 6. He was challenged in the early stages by Dan Gay with the two runners going through the half way point together but Gay suffered in the second half and was fo
rced to retire leaving the way clear for experienced Thompson to take the win in 5 hrs 13 mins and 27 sec. Second man home was Eryri’s Ian Ridgeway only 5 minutes down on Thompson and who ran an excellent race in his first time at the event. Wrapping up the top 3 was leading Manx man and previous race winner Ian Gale, super strong over the 31 miles course he showed his experience at the event finishing in 5 hrs 29 mins 20 sec also taking the vet 40 prize. He finished almost 10 minutes clear of 4th paced and fellow Vet 40 Martin Pollitt.
Of the other category results Pete Booth took the vet 50 prize finishing 20th overall and Dave Ashton took the vet 60 win finishing 27th overall.
Top lady was once again Jackie Lee finishing as impressive 9th overall just getting under the 6 hour mark and 14 minutes clear of second Nicky Spinks finishing 15th overall with Hayley Kuter wrapping up the top 3.
Of the other top Manx finishers Peter Bradley came home second behind Ian Gale, Peter finished 11th overall in a time 6 hrs 04 mins 02 secs, he was just 3 minutes clear of 3rd manx finisher Steve Partington.
Half MMM
There was also some excellent tight racing in the half MMM, Lloyd Taggart took the win and the new course record but was pushed hard in the early stages by newcomer Adam Osborne who ran for the GB team in last years European Mountain running championships. By the end Taggart showed his strength on the fells and finished 6 minutes clear of Osborne setting a new course record of 1 hr 37 min 24 sec in all round slower conditions. Third place went to Tom Cringle finishing just over 3 minutes down on Osborne after a race long battle with 4th place Matthew John with only 20 seconds separating them at the end.
Tamara Hird took the ladies win in the half finishing 19th overall, she was 3 minutes clear of second place Jennie Guard who was in turn 3 minutes clear of 3rd lady Lucy Griffiths.
MFR would like to thank all of the sponsors, helpers, marshals, time keepers and organisers, without there help the race would definitely not be able to go ahead and certainly not be able to maintain the excellent race entries that we have seen this year in these more testing financial times.
Full results are now available here thanks to Graham Hughes at Manx Timing Solutions, further coverage by the MMM presentation special guest Murray Lambden are available at his website manxathletics.com.
Filed under: MMM News
Well done to all the competitors yesterday who had to deal with extremely tough conditions.
Can I say a big thanks to all the people who made yesterdays race possible. To all the people out on the course, marshals and officialls, Civil Defence and Special Constabulary. To landowners, DAFF, IOM Water Authority for access. The great band of folk who set the course up and then collect everything back in again.
And of course the sponsors Okells Brewery, IOM Department of Tourism and Leisure, Green Mann Spring
Also thanks to Simon and everyone at runfurther.com for including the MMM in the UK Ultra Runing League.
Just wanted to add my thanks to you all too. I had a thoroughly enjoyable event and it is down to race organisers and support crew who make it possible. Great job and thanks again.
I would like to express my thanks to all the marshals especially those who were still out there when I came through as a timed out & disqualified runner. I continued to the end and finished at 6pm so many thanks.
I still don’t understand where the rule is that says you will be disqualified if you run on the road after the Bungalow and up to the Brandywell Road Crossing. As far as I was aware the only compulsory routes were where it was flaggedand otherwise it is a fell race so choose your own route. Can anyone enlighten me?
My information is you were timed out not disqualified.
The route description for the section after the Bungalow is:-
To Beinn-Y-Phott CHECKPOINT (4) - Go over and follow fence parallel to the Mountain Road as far as the Brandywell Road. Ascend the path to Beinn‑Y‑Phott summit - gr.383860.
There is a flag and stile at the fence at both the Tholt Y Will Road and the Brandywell Road to indicate to runners where they should go over the fence.
This instruction was introduced around 10 years ago as a direct result of several near serious accidents with vehicles when runners were permitted to run down the road, especially when it was misty.
To my knowledge in all the time we have had this route you are the only runner to have run down the road.
If you feel the route description for this section needs improving then we certainly will.
I was timed out (by 3 minutes) at the check before St John’s. This I knew. It was only as I got to the finish when they offered me the dibber and I told them I was timed out that one of the marshals said ‘It doesn’t matter because you’re disqualified anyway’
My first time for both in nearly 50 years of running, I must be getting old or something.
I had run 2/3rds of the way along the fence but my feet were so cold from the constant melt water that when I ‘noticed’ the road I didn’t give it a second thought. I think it would be better to put a couple of intermediate flags along this section to make it clear in future.
Thanks for the response.
Bit of a long shot - but my wife has just commented that we have gained a pair of x-socks. On wondering how - we checked that I had the right shoes as they were being bagged up outside the hotel by the staff. And low and behold - I now have a pair of size 6.5 Mudclaws instead of a pair of size 8’s.
Did anybody pick mine up please and would like to exchange? Thanks. Steve Burgess 01924 493095