Brampton 2010 - Horses (and Harriers) on the Run

In contrast to last year, the weather conditions on Saturday were perfect for the 59th Brampton to Carlisle 10 Mile Road Race. Fine autumn sunshine greeted the bus load of 29 Harriers and friends preparing to run the race and the small band of travelling supporters. The traditional warm-up to Brampton grave yard (!) and back completed, the Harriers assembled in front of William Howard School for the team photo and all seemed to be relishing the chance of a race without a head wind for a change. Formalities over, the Harriers joined the field of 500 on the start line, seeming to be one of the largest clubs present.

With no floods this year, the course thankfully reverted to the full 10 mile route, although road works on the back roads required an energy sapping 100m diversion along a muddy path. Never the less, the standard at the front was noticeably better than in recent years with the first 12 finishing between 50:33 and 53:35. Host club Border Harriers provided the clear winner, James Douglas, with second place Ian Harding of Morpeth over a minute behind.

Ian Hughes

Rapidly improving Ian Hughes was the first Harrier in 36th position, covering the course in a 59:17, improving his PB by over 2 minutes and picking up the 4th M40 prize. Andy Buchanan has been trying a high mileage training strategy whilst at college in Inverness in recent months which is not having the desired effect and was a bit disappointed with his time of 60:19. Charlie McDougall was also disappointed not to break 60 minutes, finishing in 60:42. However a check on The Power of Ten UK rankings web site reveals this to be the second fastest 10-mile time in the UK this year by an M60, nothing to be disappointed about! Needless to say, Charlie was first of a remarkable 32 M60's entered for this race, winning his age category by over 4 minutes. Next Harrier was Alan Cullie (62:23) who together with Ian and Charlie secured Calderglen the first veteran team prize.

Wednesday night parent helper, Brian Bourke, found out to his cost that the lack of Harriers' vest makes you invisible to the camera, failing to attract my attention on the home straight but still demonstrating a lot of running talent with a time of 63:20. Ross Mullen continues to follow his father's foot steps (albeit some minutes in front of Gerry) as a Brampton regular, setting a new PB of 65:03. Closest Harriers' finish of the day was provided by Eddie Reid (65:35), Brian McDougall (65:42) and Stuart Waugh (65:50), Eddie coming through from third to first in the last 400m. Brian was biggest improver of the day, setting a new PB by almost four and a half minutes. Stuart had one of his best Bramptons for some years and a very strong race. Scot Hill (66:16) is on the steady road back to fitness but is still some minutes off his best. Jim Holmes (66:47) was just outside his best time and unusually was not involved in a photo finish with any other Harriers. Andy Henderson is not long off the surgeon's table and in his first race of this year also ran one of his fastest times for many years (67:12). This was Andy's 22nd Brampton and he picked up the prize for 3rd M55. Stephen Phimister is another of the long-term injured who this time last year was probably thinking he would not run Brampton competitively again. Not only did he run it this year but he also improved his PB by two and a half minutes, finishing in 68:34. Being chased by a horse which had escaped from a field no doubt helped his time!

First of our ladies was Joanne McEvoy, who in her first Brampton appearance as a Harrier set the second fastest time ever by a Calderglen lady of 68:50. Colin Banks was only 22 seconds outside his PB recording 69:10. Kenny Leinster was a Brampton first timer (70:54) whilst Billy Buchanan (71:24) was not far behind and just out pacing George Stewart (71:33). Frances Maxwell was on target for a pb here but a persistent hamstring injury re-appeared just after 5 miles forcing Frances to limp to the finish in a still impressive 72:08, earning her the 3rd F45 prize. This was Gerry Mullen's 25th Brampton which he finished (by his own admittance) perhaps a little too fresh in 72:50. John McBride continues to improve rapidly, achieving a new PB by 2.5 minutes of 74:44. Mary Goldsmith has had a great year and continued the trend here with a massive PB of 74:56, an improvement of 2:40. This was David Wardrope's first full distance Brampton and his target for future years is now 75:44.

Chas Steven has now completed 26 Bramptons in a row, a remarkable achievement and this year he has started to reverse the trend of slowing times with a time of 84:42. This year's Buchanan timing controversy was courtesy of Dawn who insists that she stopped on the line to talk to Gerry Mullen for some 36 seconds and hence her official time of 86:00 should in fact be 85:24. Alright, I believe you! Kirsty Findlater was participating in her first Brampton and cruised to the line in 86:41, having passed a struggling Russell Couper (87:42). In fact, Russell admits to having started very fast and so most of the Harriers had to pass Russell at some point! Also making her first appearance at Brampton, Laura McConnell was not far behind Russell, finishing in 87:58. Finally, Gerry's friend John Mullan, training for a charity place in the Los Angeles Marathon next March, finished in 92:04 in his longest run so far. Well done to all those who were able to participate and thanks for the support from Frances Steven, Maud, Sandra and Davy Watt. In addition to winning the men's veteran team, our men (3 to count) finished 8th senior team and our ladies were 6th senior team (Joanne, Frances and Mary).

The shortened Brampton course last year left many Harriers without a 3rd event to count in the performance award scheme. Not this year though! The following Harriers achieved performance standards (in addition to the pb's already mentioned): I Hughes (M40 Silver), C McDougall (M60 Gold), A Cullie (M40 Bronze), E Reid (M45 Bronze), S Waugh (M60 Gold), A Henderson (M55 Silver), B Buchanan (M60 Silver), F Maxwell (F45 Silver) and M Goldsmith (F50 Silver). Very well done to all. Further photos are here and this link takes you to the full race results.

Alan