CUMBRIA’S “friendly Commonwealth Championships” have been hailed a big success after four days of ultra distance and mountain running in magnificent conditions.

Hundreds of athletes from all over the Commonwealth were in Keswick from Thursday to Sunday for an event which is seen as setting a benchmark for the sport to become part of the Commonwealth and eventually the Olympic Games in future years.

There were some astonishing performances on the roads and fells including one new Commonwealth best by Martin Fryer of Australia in the 24 hour race in Fitz Park.

Fryer red alongside) had set himself a target of achieving a distance of 250 km and in fact registered a distance of 255.93 km. in  winning the men’s event. Fryer won the Australian 48 hour national championship last year and his epic runs include the 240 km coast to coast to Kosciuska race.

Winner of the women’s 24 hour was Sharon Gayter from Teesside, whose international career goes back to 1994 when she won national titles at 100km and 24 hours.

Sharon has represented Great Britain on 23 occasions and has been the country’s best 24 hour runner for the past 12 years having recently broken the British 24 hour indoor record.

Medals were presented on Sunday evening at an Olympic style ceremony with national anthems in Fitz Park when the Mayor of Keswick, Andrew Lysser, said the athletes had “raised the bar “ and their sport would go from strength to strength. “It will be difficult for the Olympics to say no,” he said.

Event spokesman Nadeem Khan praised the hospitality shown to the athletes and officials in Keswick and said the “outstanding” championships had renewed interest and mutual respect.

He said: “These championships have been a success and we got back with fond memories and new friendships.”

It was a view echoed by Norman Wilson, vice president of the International Association of Ultra Runners, who said it had been a fantastic championship and a “family together.”

The closing ceremony was attended by dignitaries representing local authorities and sponsors and partners and County Councillor Roger Bingham said people had come from near and far to take part in a friendly event and had made it a lovely occasion. “Go away happy and cheerful and go forth and tell everybody about Cumbria,” he added.

Cumbrian runners who made their mark on the festival included Sarah Tunstall from Kirkby Stephen who came second to fellow England runner Katie Ingram in the Up and Down mountain event. Sarah was part of the gold medal winning England team.

And Rebecca Robinson, whose mum Vicky is joint chair of Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake, was third in Saturday’s Uphill race to the summit of Skiddaw, adding team gold to individual bronze before having to rush off and do a duty spell as a doctor at the Cumberland Infirmary. Rebecca also had to miss Sunday’s medal ceremony due to work commitments.

Winner of the women’s Uphill race was Anna Frost from New Zealand in a time of 48min 6 secs. England led Scotland and New Zealand for the team medals. Team placings were similar in the Up and Downhill women’s race.

Kenya’s Wilson Chemweno won the men’s Uphill championship in 50min 42 secs from Jonathan Wyatt of New Zealand and Kris Swanson, Canada. England won the team gold, ahead of New Zealand and Canada.

Chemweno also won the Up and Downhill Race on Sunday ahead of England pair Adam Grice and Billy Burns, but England took team gold.

Saturday’s 100km road race was won by Jez Bragg for the host nation in a time of 7hr 4min 1 sec, with two more England runners, Matt Giles and Matthew Lynas, packing the other medal positions and putting England in pole position for the team gold ahead of Australia and Scotland.

The women’s 100km went to Australia’s Jackie Fairweather in 7-41-23 with England winning the team gold.

---

Bookmark with: what are these?