Bob Graham Round Success

Peter Taylor successfully completed the fabled Bob Graham Round on 18 May after 23 hours and 16 minutes of constant fell running. The Bob Graham Round is a massive achievement, requiring the contender to run for 66 miles and climb 42 mountains in England’s Lake District inside 24 hours.

Peter left the start/finish line in Keswick at 1am on 17 May in good spirits and full of energy after his 6 month training campaign. His epic run took in England’s highest mountains, including Skiddaw, Blencathra, Helvellyn, Scafell Pike and Great Gable. He never looked in trouble but was understandably exhausted at the end after ascending 29,000 feet up and down the various mountains en route – the equivalent of scaling and descending Everest from sea-level!

Peter was supported throughout his round by fellow fell runners who carried his gear and navigated the way for part of the route. Family and friends also weighed in by driving all around the district to intercept Peter at the few road crossings to provide food and encouragement. His wife, Jen, did a terrific job in planning the logistics that enabled all the supporters, food and equipment to move around to be where Peter needed it. Such was Peter’s excellent progress that all predictions went out of the window as he stayed ahead of his schedule all the way round until he knew he was going to make it.

The Bob Graham Round is seen by many as the pinnacle of the sport of fell running. Peter becomes just the 5th Tattenhaller to complete the Round in the club’s 26 year history – a tremendous achievement.

Chester Half Marathon

Whilst the fellrunners were occupied in the Lakes, Tattenhall still managed to field 27 runners in the Chester Half Marathon and left with the Ladies Team prize. Marilyn Kitching once again showed her class by winning the ladies race in 1:24:14. Jo Marsden was the only other Tattenhaller to break 1:30 with a superb 1:29:22. Amanda Davies was the third lady home in 1:33:16, completing a very strong ladies team.

Justin Realff showed a return to form by clocking 1:30:03 whilst the ever improving Mike McCorkhill pulled off a terrific run of 1:30:36, showing excellent recovery from his recent marathon. Dave Oldfield ran another fine half marathon, one of his best distances, to come in at 1:32:06 with Andy Blair hunting him down in 1:32:17.

Sometimes everything just clicks into place for a runner on race day, and so it did for the fast improving Graham Innes who smashed his personal best by a whopping 14 minutes to clock 1:34:22 – a superb run which sees Graham move to another level of running.

Steve Brace marked his return from long term injury with a creditable 1:35:57, more good news for Tattenhall! Ainsley Baker (1:38:43) also made a welcome return to the road racing scene.

Martin Durrant, Rob Webster and Mark Hockedy all fought it out to finish close together and just under the 1:40 barrier – a good inter-club scrap for sure! Ally Grundy would have had a good view of that, finishing just behind the 3 way melee in 1:41:15 – and excellent time for another much improved runner. Ciaran Doherty pushed Ally all the way to card a 1:41:52 finish.

Club stalwart and one of our most consistent runners Grace Hart knocked off another half marathon in an excellent 1:44:18, whilst recent marathon man Martin Hilton and newcomer Katie Lightfoot broke the 1:50 barrier with some fine running.

Pete Avery did his first half marathon for some years having suffered some horrific leg injuries, and so it is fantastic to see him back in the blue and gold, in exactly 1000th place in the race with a time of 1:55:37. Nicky Hill (1:56) and Kathy Frankland (1:58) joined Pete in easily getting under the 2 hour barrier.

Mel Taylor cruised round in 2:01 with thespian Sharon Basford putting in another good performance in 2:05! Jane Janaway followed them home by successfully completing the 13.1 miles in 2:07.

Anne Evans (2:13) and Helen Jones (2:14) made it round the course with much aplomb. Finally for Tattenhall, Lesley Clague, who can now do half marathons in her sleep, came home in 2:19.

An impressive turnout for the final race hosted by Deestriders and a good run by all over a very fast and flat 4 miles, pop on over to the Borders League page to read captain Andys full report.

Don't forget to check out Nick Holmes' report for the Llantysilio race this year which proved to be a big success and received a great turn out.

Lastly this week, please note that the Christleton 5Km is now full, for those who were lucky enough to enter we'll see you this Friday.

Gooda smashes 3 hour barrier

This year's London Marathon saw seven magnificent performances from within the ranks of Tattenhall Runners. First home was Andrew Gooda, who ran a superb race to smash the much coveted three hour barrier in 2:56:24, finishing just ahead of Olympian James Cracknell!

Amanda Davies ran a superb marathon debut to come home in 3:31:33 and qualifies automatically for next year's race. Amanda has arguably shown the greatest improvement of any runner in the club this year and cashed in on all of her hard work with a wonderful run. 3:30 is sure to go next time.

Rob Dunn also completed his first marathon in fine style in 3:40:01, not long after returning from many months in sunny climes to train in a British winter. The rain and cool conditions clearly didn't put him off on the day!

Another target was smashed by a superlative run, with Cath Jones knocking 20 minuites off last year's time to smash the four hour barrier and come home in 3:55:22, despite turning her ankle just few days before the race.

Martin Hilton also put in a cracking performance to produce a symmetrical 4:00:04 time! No doubt his charity coffers will be swelled by such a fantastic time. Geoff Cornfield showed that a questionable taste in jumpers need not be a bar, clocking a terrific 4:21:42. And to think he's eligible for a bus pass...

Jen Chambers made it a magnificent seven for Tattenhall by claiming a new personal best of 4:37:58. Jen's been quietly confident about her marathon chances, and it's no wonder!

Well done to all our Marathoners - now get eating, resting and lapping up the attention: you deserve it.

Llantysilio

Tattenhall's annual fell race took place on Saturday 12 April - the 6.2 mile, 2100' ascent Llantysilio, near Llangollen. We're delighted that a record 105 runners took part on a showery but clear day. Our thanks to go all that helped, and to Nick Holmes, race director extrordinaire.

Three Tattenhallers ran. Simon Ellis came in 12th place with a fine run, posting 56' 22". Ainsley Baker made a welcome return to racing and was next in for the club - 44th in 1hr 04' 21". Mark Smith was one place behind, coming home in 1hr 04' 44".

Kinder Downfall

Whilst seven Tattenhallers were paving the streets of London with blue and gold, one solitary fellrunner took to the hills on Sunday in completing the Kinder Downfall race, a 10 mile beauty of a race with 2500' of ascent. Showery and sleety conditions prevailed, and yet Richard Kenworthy was there to knock 5 minutes off last year's time by getting round in 1:38. Without a jacket too apprently - what a big brave soldier!

Christleton 5k - 9 May 2008

Don't forget to get your entries for this popular and fast 5k race. This race is now pre-entry only. Details can be found at tattenhallrunners.com (click on race info).

A solid turn out for Tattenhall and some excellent individual performances. Head on over to the Borders League section for Captain Andy's report.

A solid turn out however was not present for a decent race day photo, this fine picture of yours truely submitted by Dave Oldfield, while Rob and Doc M (who frankly have never looked better) make the tea was the best of the day!!! Come on guys we need good action shots.

Tattenhall Runners’ Catherine Jones showed that the rigours of marathon training don’t have to put a dent into your racing schedule by setting a new personal best in the Salford 10km road race on Good Friday.

In windy conditions that slowed everyone else down, including the race winner who was 3 minutes outside the course record, Cath powered to a new pb of 47mins 42 seconds. Blustery weather and tired legs from those long pre-London Marathon runs provided two excuses for Cath to post a slower than usual time, so a new best in this race shines as a brilliant performance.

Next week will see Tattenhall’s road runners taking to the Wilmslow Half Marathon – a testing course in East Cheshire which acts as a traditional pre London Marathon fitness test. Meanwhile, the fellrunners will be tackling the notorious Edale Skyline Race, a 21 mile rollercoaster with 4500 feet of climbing on some of boggiest ground the UK has to offer. Last year’s race is still talked about in fellrunning circles after the accompanying thunder, lightning and blizzards made for an epic race.

An important announcement this week comes from the new road race coach Andy Blair who reports our acceptance into this years Welsh Castles relay (held over the weekend of the 14th and 15th June). This is fantastic news for the club who successfully participated in last years event with all runners enjoying the camaraderie and atmosphere of the event. Check out the message board thread here for the latest updates.

In other news, this week saw the club AGM held after a brisk Tuesday night session. Most notably the meeting saw Mark Smith step down after a 4 year spell as Chairman passing on the torch to Pete Taylor who was elected on the night. A big thanks was delivered to Mark by Steve Hammond who echoed all our thoughts on Marks excellent stewardship in the role (recognition of the previous years 25th Anniversary in his chairman's report aside). Other mandatory club posts remain the same with Steve acting as club secretary and Trevor who continues as trusted keeper of the Tattenhall Runners millions in the role of Treasurer. Previously mentioned our new road running captain Andy takes over the reins from Justin Realff. Big shoes to fill on an excellently well handled captaincy by Justin but everyone has full confidence Andy will more than be up to the role. Finally a few constitutional changes were made to the club on membership rules and the types of events. For those interested in the exact constitution changes please contact Steve Hammond.

A solid turn out from Tattenhall again for the latest installment of the Borders League competition. 17 runners and perfect conditions can only mean a good day for a race.

Check out Justin's full report here

What an amazing competition, the men finishing top of Division 2 and securing promotion for next season and the ladies coming a fantastic second in the 1st Division. A big well done to all participants and supporters.

Check out Captain Mike's full report and latest updates here