The West Wight 3 Hills

Living upto it’s tough reputation, this year’s West Wight 3 Hills didn’t disappoint. Some brutal “undulation” faced the runners as they tackled the 900ft of ascent crammed into 8 miles, hampered further by the recent soggy bank holiday weather.

Held every Easter Monday since the early 80s this challenging course was the brainchild of the Harriers’ current Chairman’s father. It was originally marshalled by local Boy Scouts. And what a fantastic idea it was to hold a race of this length on Easter Monday. It weirdly will burn off almost the exact amount of calories contained in an average size Easter Egg. WIN! No wonder 136 runners signed up to face the challenge.

The threatened rain held off as the eager, (and the not eager!), runners on the startline at the West Wight Sports Centre in Freshwater. Great turnout from not just the local clubs but plenty of mainland club runners too. Obviously making the most of an Easter break on the Isle of Wight.

Starting at the Sports Centre the course went straight into the 1st little hill through to Norton and then back down into Freshwater. Then off up to Golden a Hill Fort and continuing up (yes still going up!) to Headon Warren. A little bit of downhill relief as they made their way along to Alum Bay, bracing themselves for the hill that no-one can run all the way up …. Highdown.

By this time the poor runners are heavy legged. And they still have the longest climb to go. But up the went, all the way up to the glorious Tennyson Monument to be rewarded with a whole mile of downhill to pick up their pace and get themselves back to the finish at the Sports Centre.

First roadrunner home was newly returned member Stuart Backhouse in just over 58 minutes to take 8th overall with second claim member Sean Williams not too far behind him taking 9th. Harry Rann was next home in 14th place despite pulling a hamstring in the first couple of miles. Dan Williams and Ian Russell the off road specialists were unsurprisingly next over the line.

For the ladies it was the unstoppable Hayley Baxter that romped home in 6th place in 69 minutes, with Jenny Dewing home next in 72 minutes and 7th. Margaret Niland-Murphy continued her return to good form to finish in 9th.

There was a sprinkling of age category successes with Steve Bennett, Hayley Baxter, Tarnia Eldridge and Abigail Keyte (on her club debut too!) taking the pole position in theirs.

Stuart Backhouse, Harry Rann, Dan Williams, Jenny Dewing, Jane Andrew and Sue Hunter taking 2nd places in their categories and Sean Williams, Charlotte Williams and Fay Tosdevin grabbing the 3rd prizes in theirs.

S.Backhouse – 58.16
S.Williams – 58.56
H.Rann – 1.02.51
D.Williams – 1.02.51
I.Russell – 1.03.24
S.Bennett – 1.04.54
G.Butler – 1.05.24
G.Mattinson – 1.05.57
D.Blake – 1.07.15
G.Mucklow – 1.08.52
C.Wright – 1.09.25
H.Baxter – 1.09.38
M.Coultrup – 1.10.03
N.Finn – 1.11.09
J.Dewing – 1.12.00
M.Niland-Murphy – 1.12.50
I.Ward – 1.13.46
T.Eldridge – 1.14.40
G.Marinelli – 1.15.48
C.Williams – 1.16.12
S.Hickman – 1.21.03
A.Keyte – 1.22.19
C.Howard – 1.22.11
J.Andrew – 1.22.11
D.Wilcock – 1.24.36
I.Williams – 1.27.14
F.Tosdevin – 1.28.40
S.Grist – 1.28.48
S.Hunter – 1.35.50
N.Carter – 1.37.39
Caroline Curliss – 1.38.32
A.Butcher – 1.38.32
J.Parker – 1.38.33
B.Keyte – 1.38.33