Relay teams and solo runners tackled the historic Millennium Way on Sunday 23rd October to raise funds for a worthy local cause. With the sun shining the conditions were favorable for the eleven teams and thirteen individuals from the Island’s athletic community competed against each other, and the clock, on the 26-mile route and raised a fantastic ?1,000 for The Children’s Centre.
The team race was won by Sun Setters Autumn Breezze (Guy Wiltcher, Huw Bevan, Nicola Bowker Louise Bell) 2, Agony of De Feet (Amber Carridge, Jessie Carridge, Richard Gault, Stephen Mulhern) 3, Panacea (Sam Tipper, Craig Wolstencroft, Ben Barlow, Hannah Snidal) 4, Canada Life 2 (Jack Snidal, Becky Watterson, Matthew Lamb, Michael Baker) 5, Nedbank Private Wealth (Craig Blenkinsop, David Harisk, Tony Rea, Simon Quirk) 6, PDMS (Lewis Veale, Cameron Faulds, Steve Callaghan, Kerry Kelly) 7, 3 Men and a Cat (Kevin Costain, David Gooberman, Catreena Quirk, Ian Dunbar) 8, Canada Life 1 (Phil Motley, Dave Sutton, Daniel Pownall, Stephen Watterson) 9, Appleby (Lorcan O'Mahony, Vicki Rawlinson, Niki Beesley, Eleanor Dangerfield) 10, Derivco Divas (Simon McKeown, Quintin Van Dyk, Errol Larson, Michael Guelpa) DNF 11, Skanco (Jon Staley, Darren Smethurst, John Bolton, Dee Mcloughlin)
The solo winner for 2016 was the 2015 winner Ben Scott in an amazing record time of 2hr 47min 51sec, 2, Tom Cringle (Tom Cringle 3:02.16, 3, Rob Sellors 3:10.51, 4, Lee Worsfold 3:16.44, 5, Neil Brogan 3:25.03, 6, Grant Dawson 3:55.19, 1st lady and 7th overall Helen Taylor 4:03.15, 8, Kirsty Arnold 4:03.35, 9, Carol Brogan 4:05.15, 10, Gaynor Evans 4:14.47, 11, Ewa Kowalewska 4:27.40, 12, Mark Watterson 4:43.47, 13. Ste Duggan 4:43.51; Results by: Manx Timing Solutions.
Covering a variety of terrain from open fells and countryside to trails and public roads, the Ramsey to Castletown route appeals both to teams combining different strengths and to versatile solo runners eager for a long-distance challenge.
The race was first run when the trail opened in 1979 (Tynwald Millennium year) and was traditionally held on Boxing Day until 2009. It was then revived by The Children’s Centre in 2015.
For the teams taking part, the path is divided into four legs, with changeovers at Brandywell, Crosby and St Marks. The team event is also run on a handicap basis, offering extra motivation to runners looking to ‘up’ their speed and endurance.
Sunday’s finish line was The Sidings pub in Castletown, where the runners were greeted by a well-deserved buffet before enjoying the prize presentation.
Lisa Motley, Endurance Events Fundraiser with The Children’s Centre, commented, “We’d like to offer our heartfelt congratulations and thanks to every runner who took part in Sunday’s event. Every penny they raised will go directly to helping children and families here in the Isle of Man, and it’s wonderful to see such strong support for an important cause in our community.
“We would also like to thank Up & Running for generously providing the prizes, all the marshals and helpers on the day and the team at The Sidings for laying on food. This kind of event embodies the Isle of Man’s team spirit and shows just what can be achieved when people work together and rise to a challenge. We look forward to next year’s race and hope it will prove as popular as ever”.
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