The 2 mile Devil's Beef Tub race (record B Marshall 2007, 19:50) is the decider in this year's British Championships. With just 750 feet of climb, it will suit..... er will suit... er well .....we can't imagine who it will suit.
The Devil's Beef Tub - from www.carnethy.com
It starts in the bottom of the Beef Tub (the place where ancient Kings of Scotland stored their meat during the long hot Scottish summers I think) climbs up tussocky steep hillside, runs across the top for a bit (can't be for very long as it's just a 2mile race) and drops through what a 2002/2003 British Champion described to Fell Running Briefs as "near vertical grass, bracken and boulders" - just the stuff this former champion loves!Anyway to cut to the mustard......Let's see how they stand
Men's Open
1 - Morgan Donnelly - 104 pts
2 - Rob Jebb - 96
= 3 - Andrew Davies - 93
= 3 - Lloyd Taggart - 93
= 5 - Graham Pearce - 92
= 5 - Tim Davies - 92
7 - Darren Kay - 90
But with Rob Jebb and the 'Brothers of Mercia' Andrew and Tim Davies not on the entry list, there's all to play for Taggart, Pearce and Kay.
Men's V40s
1 - Lloyd Taggart - 84
2 - Ben Bardsley - 80
3 - Darren Kay - 78
4 - Karl Gray - 76 (not on the entry list)
Borrowdale's Three 'not so' Wise Men will no doubt put up an entertaining fight for no place on the podium.
5 - Jim Davies - 73
6 - Mike Fanning - 69
7 - Mark Roberts - 68
MV50s
It looked like Dave Neill of Staffordshire Moorlands had this sewn up, but he can't make the last race, so it'll be a battle royale between Dark Peak's Mick Stenton and Calder Valley's Steve Oldfield.
MV60s
According to the FRA results sheets someone called 'Bernard Grant' is in prime position - is that the old Labour MP for Tottenham, I ask myself. I bet Ben Grant of Harrogate will have something to say about that! Ben Grant leads from Pete Booth (of Clayton le Moors) and both are on the Beef Tub entry list.
Ladies
Pippa Maddams (last year's British Champion) should have this one in the bag ( 64 points) but the fight for 2nd place should be exciting with both Mel Price from Mercia and Helen Fines from Calder Valley on 55 points. Although Fell Running Briefs has just heard a rumour that Helen has a foot in plaster......
Judith Jepson should have the V40s prize from Aly Raw and the invincible Wendy Dodds is likely to take 1st V50 (and is capable of getting a look in on V40 medals too!) By the way if you are under 23, a woman and can put one foot in front of the other, get yourself to the Devil's Beef Tub on Saturday as you have a good chance of coming joint gold medalist! Only one lady (Lucy Harris) has done only one of the races and no U23s are entered yet. Go on do it - I would!
Wendy Dodds at Borrowdale this year - by Wharfeego
Teams
Mens open
1 - Borrowdale - 21
2 - Pudsey and Bramley - 20
3 - Calder Valley - 16
Borrowdale seem to be putting a very strong field forward with nine contenders on the entry list, Pudsey at the moment (Thurs eve) have only four but Fell Running Briefs have heard a rumour that the 'Hope boys are a coming' if it's just a rumour, the ten runners from Calder Valley could put the red and white barber shop colours into silver.
MV40s
1 - Borrowdale - 24
2 - Calder Valley - 18
3 - Dark Peak - 17
This should go to Borrowdale as they are such a strong vets club, which could explain why Borrowdale are putting a strong field forward as winning the open would give them a Gold in all four Vet40s and Open English and British competitions.
Ladies
1 Calder Valley - 24
2 Eryri - 18
3 Todmorden - 16
All three clubs are fielding teams this weekend.
Ladies race is at 12 noon and the men due to go at 12:30 - Saturday 10 September.
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