2016
JuniorsArnside Knott Fell Race
Glorious weather for the Arnside Knott Fell Race and a fantastic turnout from the club for our final race in the Club Championship. We had podium places in every category except 1 with wins for Tom A, Ruby, Cal, Jess, James B, Sophie and Chloe. Courtney had a big step up to the U16 age group and came back with a strong 2nd. Luke was racing in the U23 category, in the same race as the adults and beat almost all of them (including Jon) to finish 2nd in his category and a fantastic 5th overall.
Arnside Knott Fell Race Results
Arnside Knott Fell Race Photos
Cumbria XC League: Race 3 Keswick
The third round of the Cumbria XC League took place at Fitz Park in Keswick. It was great to see Seren turn out for her first race, well done! And well done to Sophie for her 3rd win, which means she will win the series.
Cumbria XC League: Race 2 Penrith
The Cumbria XC League rolls on with another fast paced race around the fields of Penrith. It’s a really good way to keep fitness over this autumn period when the fell racing has stopped. Go on, give it a go!
Wasdale Show
Congratulations to Jack Dixon for 3rd U12B and Courtney for 4th U14G at Wasdale Show, the last race in the BOFRA Calendar.
Cumbria XC League: Race 1 Cockermouth
Well done to everyone who ran the first of the Cumbria XC League races in glorious sunshine.
ENGLISH SCHOOLS FELL RUNNING CHAMPIONS!!!
Congratulations to James and Chloe for their wins at the English Schools Fell Running Championship.
Orton Fell Race
It was a day for the U8’s/U10’s and U12’s at Orton Autumn Fair today as you turned out in force. There were some fantastic performances and it great to see 2 of our newer runners trying their first fell race – well done to Sarah and Richard, you are now truly fell runners and it was great to see you out enjoying the racing. We hope it has inspired you to come back for more as you both did really well and Arnside Knott is not far away.
We had 2 winners: Ruby Duxbury U8G and Jack Dixon U12B – congratulations to both of you and also to everyone who turned out. Whether you came first or last or anywhere in between we hope you had fun, we think you’re amazing!
WELL DONE!!!!! to Joe Edmondson who ran for England at the Home Counties International in Keswick on September 17th. This was a tough uphill only race to the top of Skiddaw and you did your country, let alone your club, proud – a fantastic achievement!
Ambleside Sports
A fantastic turn out despite the very damp weather! 35 of you battled the lung busting hill, disappearing into the cloud to fight the bracken before the thigh burning descent! But what a team, with podium finishers in 7 of the 8 races!!!!
Langdale Gala
Another fantastic race organised by our very own coach, Todd – thanks to him and to all the marshals who gave up their time so the races could happen. As ever, the competition started well before the fell race with the sack races and various other gala activities.
Once the fell races started, Ambleside came to life! In the U8 races Ellen Dickson was 1st, Ruby Duxbury 2nd, Alaana Coates 3rd and for the boys Jamie Graham came 2nd – what a start!
The U10 team was incredible! We had an unbelievable 11 runners in the top 12 positions! You are surely the stars of the future and we definitely need you racing the English Championships over the coming years – you guys are awesome! Top 3 boys were Cal McVey 1st, Alex Graham 2nd and Jack Benson 3rd. For the girls we had Jess Edmondson 1st and Joss Evans 3rd.
In the U12 race James B won with Harry B 3rd and Sophie was 2nd in the girls race.
For the U14s we had Chloe 1st for the girls and Ben and Dan 2nd and 3rd respectively for the boys.
We had the top 2 spots in the U17 race with Joe 1st and Luke 2nd, topping off an Ambleside domination! Massive well done to everyone who raced.
U14 ENGLISH CHAMPION!!!
U12 ENGLISH SILVER MEDALIST!!!
OVERALL TEAM SILVER MEDAL!!!
Stretton English Championship Race
The last race in the English Championship was a long trek down to Church Stretton, in Shropshire, on the border with Wales.
Congratulations to everyone who helped the team to their silver medal – 2nd place by just 2 points (out of 866), beating 57 other clubs.
What an achievement for a young team who have only been running together for just a few years!
Individually, Chloe is U14 English Champion and James B is U12 silver medalist at the end of the series.
Ben and Sophie just missed out on bronze medals by the narrowest of margins.
The U8’s and U10’s are not included in the battle for the English Championship titles by the FRA but their achievements have been just as stunning! Big congratulations to Ellen and Jess for 2nd place each in their races. It looks like Ambleside could dominate in the years to come with such depth of talent across the age groups.
As well as being the last English Champs race this was also the British Inter Counties Championship for U16 and U18 age groups. Hannah and Joe represented Cumbria with Joe helping the U16 boys team to silver medal. Well done to both of you!
Clougha Pike English Championship Race
What a great turnout we had at Clougha Pike for race 5 of the English Championship series. Well done! You have taken us within just 1 point of the title! If we do the same again at Stretton we will be English Champions, oh yeah! It’s not the podium places that James B (1st) and Chloe (1st) took that gave us the extra point, it was the rest of you who gave your all and pushed back the other runners that made the difference. When we all come together as a club we are unstoppable!
Just 2 more weeks to the final race in the series at Stretton. This race will also be the U16 / U18 British Inter Counties Championship where Hannah and Joe will be representing Cumbria so, although it is quite a trek to get to, anyone who takes part will experience a full British Championship race and will stand a chance of getting an English Championship team medal – could it be gold?
Clougha Pike is part of Quernmore Sports, a little village fête with some great events like the tug of war (which we won), the epic “Cresta Run” toboggan run, sack races, flat races, hockey, egg and spoon, obstacle course and the amazing chuck the egg competition. Somewhere in there they found time for the fell race.
Turner Hall Uphill English Championship race
This event has become renowned as a super-tough test of pure climbing speed. It winds relentlessly up and up to the point of collapse and only the U8’s and U10’s get to enjoy the downhill. The rest of you were left broken and exhausted at the summit finish to face a slow walk back down, mostly discussing just how difficult it had been. It’s a wonder so many of you keep coming back to do it again!
This year Ambleside AC were amazing!!! We were 3rd team on the day, which takes us up to 2nd in the overall team rankings for the season. C’mon Ambleside, we’re only 2 points off winning and we’re 7 points clear of third place. If we can get lots of you coming to Clougha Pike (near Lancaster) this coming Saturday we can surely take top spot and be crowned the best club in England!
It’s not just the top counters who make this happen, it’s those of you who come further down the field but push runners from the other teams further back that makes the difference. Clougha Pike is a great day out at Quernmore Sports – a village fête with stalls, games, ice creams, egg and spoon / sack races etc. After all, there’s more to this fell running lark than just the races…
…like hangin’ out…
…and exploring…
…and sitting in pipes?!…
…with your mates!
Congratulations to Chloe for her win, becoming the Uphill English Champion and to James 2nd, Ruby and Joe 3rd and to everyone else who bust a gut on the fell.
Turner Hall Uphill English Championship Results 2016
Turner Hall Uphill English Championship Photos 2016
Malham Kirkby English Championship race
What a fantastic turnout for another great days racing in the sun. The 3rd English champs race and an Ambleside championship race. A fast start through the streams and then up onto the fell overlooking Malham Cove.
A steep course with a fast descent and an uphill sting in the tail to the finish, all visible from the start field made for great spectator viewing.
The girls were the stars of the day with Hannah D and Sophie R achieving 3rd places and Chloe a 1st. Team Ambleside retains its 3rd in the champs and is breaking clear of the 4th team.
A special well done to Beren who only joined the club on Thursday and put in a stunning race to finish 23rd and 3rd Ambleside!!!
There is so much more than the racing at these English Championship events. If anyone is wondering whether to do one but has never tried, it is well worth the extra bit of travelling for the atmosphere alone. No matter where you place you get to race against the best runners in the country and after the racing there are new places to explore and plenty of time for games in the sun with friends.
Malham Kirkby Fell Race Photos
Hawkswick English Championship race
What wasn’t to like? Sun, ice cream, becks to swim in and fantastic racing! All courses started up on the fell and went up from the start line. They kept on going up and up with long races for all and fast descents! Team Ambleside put in a tremendous effort!
Well done to Ellen for being our only u8 competitor, to Jess for coming in 4th despite having a nasty fall and leaving a lot of skin behind as a memento.
To Courtney for shear determination to finish the course and Ollie for showing anyone trying to overtake him what the bracken looks like up close!
The rest of the team: Sophie, James, Harry, William, Emily, Ben, Chloe, Luke and Hannah raced hard with stunning results and team Ambleside moved up into 3rd place overall!!!! Individual winners were James 2nd and Chloe 1st.
Look out Malham here we come!
Arant Haw
The traditional finale to the Kendal Winter League is the Arant Haw race. Fancy dress for those who are brave enough and presentations afterwards in Sedbergh Peoples’ Hall. It marks the end of racing every weekend and the start of the summer fair races. Congratulations to everyone for your efforts this winter.
Todd Crag English Championship Race
This was the first English Championship race of 2016 and the first time that this race had been used for the Championship. Well done to Eleanor and the team for the fantastic organisation and hard work put in by all. The racing was steep and strenuous for all age groups with many of you moving up an age category. It was fantastic to have so many top athletes from around the country turn up to race with 325 juniors taking part.
As a club we performed extremely well with 4th team place out of 38 clubs. There were some fantastic individual performances with 2nd place in U12 boys & U14 girls, 3rd place in U8 boys and numerous other high ranking finishes. Particular mention to all of you who ran your first fell race in an Ambleside vest!
Full Race photos by Woodentops here.
Elterwater
Well done to everyone who ran at Elterwater for the final qualifying race in the Kendal Winter League. That completes the series and Ambleside have podium places in every junior category with overall wins for Joe in U17B and Chloe in U14G, both with maximum 500 points. Everyone who completed the series should feel very proud – to turn out week in / week out and race around the fells in the worst winter weather is tough, your prizes are well deserved and will be handed out at the presentation after the Arrant Haw race ( see above). Congratulations to our star coach Eleanor for her win in the V40 category!
Final Kendal Winter League Table 2016
Helm Hill
A warm and sunny day with dry conditions under foot meant some fast and furious racing! Despite wild cows and horses you turned in some stunning performances. Well done to all of you who raced, some fantastic results! A big thank you to Rory who seemed to be everywhere supporting the adults race, it really helps to keep us going. Only 1 KWL to go
Thule National Yr 5/6/7 Schools X-Country Championship
NATIONAL CHAMPION AND NATIONAL SILVER MEDALIST!!!
Congratulations to James, Harry, Sophie, Daniel and Eva who all represented Cumbria at the English XC Championship for Years 5,6 &7 on Saturday. James won his race to become English Champion and Sophie was 2nd in her race. Well done to all of you!
Cautley
The sun was shining, the tops were out and you were phenomenal!! Despite a lot of you racing the day before you pulled some amazing performances out of the bag. A quick sprint along the track before turning for the Big climb! Joe’s descent was incredible, hitting the track before anybody else had even come over the crest of the hill! Ben and Chloe pulling of a clear Ambleside 1, 2 and James for being the most amazing supporter ever being at the top of the U17 and adult hills! Well done to all of you who beat the hill, as Paula said “what doesn’t beat you makes you stronger” You are all stronger!
British Athletics Inter Counties Cross Country Championships
Fantastic performances from James, Chloe, Emily, Oli, Joe, Ben and Luke at this UK wide National Cross Country event held at Cofton Park in Birmingham. Poor Harry B had a last minute call up to the team over breakfast but he wasn’t feeling well and had to pull out half way round. This is the most competitive race of the year as every county in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland picks its best 8 runners at the regional cross country trials that happen earlier in the season.
You all ran really well against top quality competition – well done!
British Athletics Inter Counties XC Championships Results 2016
British Athletics Inter Counties XC Championships Photos 2016
New Balance English Schools Cross Country Championships
Congratulations to Luke, Oli, Joe, Ben & Chloe who represented their county at the National Schools XC Champs this weekend. This race was a far cry from our local fell races – runners packed in like sardines, no hills to speak of and a tented city set up in the grounds of an old mansion. It was an amazing atmosphere with so many of the country’s best runners all gathered in one place with the same goal. Be proud of yourselves, it is an amazing achievement which we hope you enjoyed.
Sedbergh School
Wow a sunday with sun and racing! No battling the weather meant you could concentrate on battling each other! A fast and tough x country course, with the decision whether to venture into the deep, freezing water/mud jump to be made. Unlike your poor coaches whose decision was made for them and we had to go in 3x! Fantastic racing by all!
Saucony National Cross Country Championships, Donington Park
Well done to James, Joe, Ben, Courtney and Chloe who represented the club at the National X-country champs today. There were around 400 competitors in each race and you all did amazingly well. Results can be found here.
Cunswick Scar
I think KWL has become synonymous with atrocious weather! The course was very windy, very wet and very muddy!
You had to battle not only each other but your inner selves who would have preferred to snuggle in the warm at home.
Well done to all of you who raced and got valuable points in the Ambleside league championship.
A massive thanks to all the parents for your support and for scrubbing the kit!
Northern Inter Counties XC
Well done to all our runners who ran for Cumbria in the copious mud,sleet and rain. This was a mentally hard race as well as tough on the legs! You helped Cumbria have a fantastic trophy haul winning Junior girls (Chloe coming 2nd), Junior Boys, Inter girls, Inter boys, senior girls, senior boys, overall girls, overall boys and overall winners!!! Congratulations to Joe, Oli, Ben, Chloe and Luke (reserve) who now go on to the ESAA National final, in Nottingham.
Also congratulations to Sophie,Eva, James B, Harry B, Daniel and James T (reserve) who are through to the first Yr5/6/7 National final in Leicester! Go Ambleside and team Cumbria!
Inter Counties Cross Country results
Birkrigg
It’s a good, fast course at Birkrigg and the U12 course is the essence of what fell racing is all about – first person to the top of the hill and back wins – simple. Now some days fell running seems easy – you look up to a fantastic view across the fells and feel the warmth of the sun on your back. Not today. Today was a grit and determination day – you all did amazingly well to get on with it and still put in some amazing performances. Everyone who ran in the fog and the drizzle today then shivered their way back to the car wondering how they were going to get their shoes off with numb fingers should feel very proud of themselves – we’re certainly proud of you! Well done to you all!
Northern XC
A really big well done to Chloe, Courtney, Emily, Joe, Ben, Oli and Luke (even if he ran in Kendal colours) for being the 1st Ambleside team to ever enter the Northern XC Championship! Knee deep mud, driving hail and arctic winds didn’t stop any of you, but i pity us Mums trying to get your kit washed for tomorrow! Congratulations especially to Chloe for bringing home the silver medal in the U13Gs and to Joe (it’s a bit flat) for being the 1st Ambleside home in the U15Bs in 43rd!
A steep, narrow and very exciting course for runners and spectators. The start is crucial with a sprint through the bracken before starting the relentless climb and fast descent!
Fantastic U12G win for Sophie R, her first KWL win.
Congratulations also to Alfie for his first race in an Ambleside vest and to Luke and Jake for the most exciting inter team sprint for the finish!
Giggleswick
What a fantastic arctic adventure! I’m not sure which was best; the racing, the sledging, the snowball fights, or the fact there wasn’t much mud!
Despite the weather there was still a large turnout for all age groups. A true cross country dash across the fields and through a very icy stream!
Congratulations to our winners Chloe and Ben and to all “the other Ambleside ladies” for making it race number 3!
Firbank
May I send a BIG THANK YOU to all the supporters who stayed to cheer on our valiant runners, both kids and coaches alike, through the hardest wind blown hail stones and the deepest mud. I hope everyone has found their toes again. Well done to Jack B for competing in his first winter race and to Maisie and Joss for getting a 2nd tough one under their belts. They must also be the loudest supporters, cheering “the other Ambleside ladies team”. We really needed you!!
Cumbria County XC Champs
Well done to all of you who ran the fast and muddy courses at Crooklands. The results prove that every team member counts! Not only did Ambleside come away with 6 individual medals! but also the
U11B team gold
U13G team gold
U15team gold!
Special well done to Chloe, Joe, Ben, Oli and Luke who have qualified to represent Cumbria at the inter counties championship in Birmingham in March.
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Scout Scar
The 2016 Kendal Winter League series started with an enormous U12 line-up. On a cold, wet day you faced “THE MUD!” and were victorious.
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Ambleside had runners in all ages groups and, as the weather and mud deteriorated, you became champions.
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What a start to 2016! We had winners in U12 boys, U14 girls, U14 boys and a pack finish in U16 boys with 2nd, 3rd and 4th! No pressure on the coaches racing after you then!!!
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Remember to keep your race number for the whole of the KWL 2016 series.
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Cumbria Cross Country – Round 3: Penrith, Frenchfields
The second day of 2016 and the rescheduled race saw you burning off the pigs in blankets. Tackling a fast, very flat course with spirals and jumps seemed to suit you though as team Ambleside blasted away the competition. Well done to you all. We had 1st U11 girl, 1st U11 girls’ team, 1st U11 boy, 1st U13 girl, 2nd and 3rd U15 boy and 2nd U17 boy.
Cumbria Cross Country – Round 3: Penrith Results