Manx Mountain Marathon
Race Distance - 31.5 miles
Ascent - 8000ft
Category - A/Long
Race Start - Market Square Ramsey (SC 454 944)
The organisers reserve the right to change any part of the course and their decision on any matter concerning the race is final. Minimum age of entry is 18 years on day of race. Held under FRA rules Waterproof whole body cover, map and compass, whistle, emergency food required
History
The route which started at Ramsey youth hostel then ascended the central range of mountain peaks extending from North Barrule to Bradda finishing at Port Erin youth hostel was devised by Celtic scholar George Broderick in 1966. George had the idea of a walk over the hills from Ramsey in the north of the Island to Port Erin in the south , beginning and ending at the town’s youth hostel’s. George was race secretary for the first seven races.
The race is one of athletics ultimate challenges covering 31 miles of difficult, rugged terrain as it visits 11 of the Isle of Mans major peaks.
The initial aim was to complete the distance in under 10 hours, and in 1968 Tony Paine of East Grinstead made it to Port Erin youth hostel nine hours and fifty minutes after setting out from Ramsey. Once the challenge had been proven possible, George Broderick held discussions with the various bodies to try and organise a race for the following year. Unfortunately Easter 1969 proved too much of a rush, so it was agreed Easter 1970 would be the first running of the challenge.
May and Bill Lloyd, the wardens at Port Erin youth hostel, had an old trophy that they found lying in a cupboard, and, after a good polish, they presented it for the winner. The Lloyd Trophy is still the premier award 33 years on.
74 entries set off in the inaugural race in Arctic weather conditions. At one point the organisers were going to cancel the event but the runners were all keen to go. Although the race was primarily for walkers, the fell runners not surprisingly set the pace, making the schedule a good bit quicker than anticipated resulting in some marshals arriving at the checkpoints at the same time as the runners.
The biggest problem was at the finish where Bury’s Bob Meadowcroft arrived at the youth hostel finish before the timekeeper. Fortunately the wardens were standing outside and after checking watches timed the first winner in at 5 hours 47 minutes — no seconds as they felt they couldn’t be that accurate. Only 12 competitors (including Arthur Jones) out of the 74 entries made it to the finish as the blizzard conditions forced the majority of the field to retire. Foxdale’s Barry Pitts was the only local finisher, he went on to be the first local finisher for the next two years.
In 1971 many competitors were sunburnt in the warm sunny conditions which saw Bob Meadowcroft repeat his win improving his time to 4-48-00 and Foxdale’s Debra Gale became the first lady to complete the race. Alan Heaton the second runner to complete the Bob Graham round and the Lake District 24 hours peaks record holder finished in fourth place.
In1972 the start was moved to Ramsey’s market square and the finish to Bradda glen café. The race was won by fell-running legend Joss Naylor. Stan Bradshaw the third runner to finish the Bob Graham round finished the marathon, a few months later he became the first to run the 270 mile Pennine Way.
In 1973 the infamous climb at Fleshwick and Milner’s tower were included, previously the route went via Surby and Bradda East. Joss Naylor won for a second time although there was controversy as he did not ascend the climb at Fleshwick!
Three classes with different starting times were introduced in 1974, elite for runners under 6 hours, standard 6 to 7½ hours and walkers (although they were allowed to run), 7½ to 10½ hours. Joss Naylor won for the third time in succession establishing a new course record of 4-32-02. Loss would fly to Blackpool and be back on his farm in Wasdale Cumbria before the last runner had finished the race.
In 1975 British fell-running champion Geoff Norman won improving the course record to 4-24-55.
Joss won for a fourth time in 1976 improving the course record to
4-23-35, the first time the race had been won by a veteran.
In 1977 Arthur Jones who had competed in several of the marathons took over as race secretary, a position he held for 20 years. British fell-running champion Mike Short scored a hatrick of wins improving the course record to 4-15-53 in 1979. Ian Callister was the first local finisher four times 1973,75,77 and 79 improving the local course record on each occasion, lowering the record to 5-13-43.
In 1980 future British fell-running champion Colin Donnelly produced the best ever performance in the event winning in an astounding 4-02-11.
Tony Varley was the first local finisher improving the local record to
5-06-20. Wendy Dodds was the first lady finisher in 1979 and 1980 improving the ladies record to 5-52-58.
In 1981 Colin Donnelly repeated his win and Bob Cowley was the first local finisher improving the local record to 5-03-48.
In 1982 Tony Varley and Ian Callister both broke the local record Tony improving it to 4-58-20.
Regular visitor Peter Irwin scored wins in 1984 and 1985. Tony Varley was the first local finisher in 83, 85 and 86 improving the local record to 4-49-37.
In1987 Greeba summit was included instead of Beary which increased the distance by 0.5 miles and 3 miles of road at the bungalow, St Johns and Round Table were replaced by cross country and tracks and the decent of Fleshwick went to the beach instead of across the field.
Brent Brindel became the first and only runner to win four years in succession 1984 to 1989 establishing a new course record of 4-28-12. On three occasions Brent beat British fell running champion Jack Maitland who never achieved that elusive win.
Tony Varley was the first local finisher for the sixth time in 1988 improving the local course record to 4-52-08 and Ian Callister was the first local finisher for the fifth time in 1989.
Peter Irwin won for a third time in 1990 when he crossed the line with Andy Schofield, the only time a dead heat occurred. Wendy Dodds won the ladies race for the fourth time in1991 shattering the record with 5-31-24.
Richie Stevenson was the first local finisher three times in a row 1990 to 1992.
In 1991 Andy Hauser won and in 1993 ( he scored the first of his hattrick of wins. The 25th race in 1994 ) saw Geoff Oliver finish for the 20th time and Ian Callister start for the 23rd consecutive time (19 finishes). Geoff was a major in the army and he brought over at least 200 competitors for the marathon from the junior leaders regiment RA (Gunners).
Tony Rowley dominated the local runners, he was first local finisher on five consecutive years 1993 to 1997.
In 1997 Andy Hauser won for a record fifth time and local lady Brenda Walker won the ladies race in an excellent 5-41-35.
In 1998 the course was lengthened in the Slieu Whallian area and the finish was moved to the Cherry Orchard Hotel which resulted in the distance increasing by 1.0 mile to 31.5 miles. Andy Hauser won for a record sixth time in 4-53-13 and Brenda Walker won the ladies race for a second time in 5-53-12.
In 2000 the elite and standard class were combined and the course length was reduced by 0.3 mile in the Greeba area and by 0.4 in Port Erin with the new Ocean Castle Hotel finish. Andy Trig repeated his win from the previous year and Tony Rowley was the first local finisher for the second year in succession, a record seventh time in total establishing a new local course record of 4-58-05.
Colin Donnelly returned in 2002 to win for the third time, 21 years after his first two wins, his time of 4-39-27 is the present course record. Robert Baxter became the first veteran over 70 to complete the marathon, his 24th finish.
The “walkers” class was renamed the “joggers/walkers” class and the descent of Slieu Whallian reverted to the original route via Garey Gate reducing the distance by 0.1 mile. The present ladies record is 5-52-11 by Karen Powell.
In 2003 history was made when Ian Gale became the first local to win the marathon, his time of 4-54-11 is the current local record. Previously Tony Rowley had a second and a third placing and Tony Varley had a third placing.
You can read Ben Scotts account of the 2005 event here
