ALMOST 700 athletes descended on the West Wight to take part in the second annual Isle of Wight Festival of Running.
Organised by the West Wight Sports and Community Centre, the festival featured a series of races for people of all ages and abilities, from a children’s fun run to more extreme events on some of the toughest terrain in the south of England.
Jodie Lacey, of Whitwell, who took part in the Needles XC Half Marathon, on Sunday. Photo: Michael Dangerfield
Some 689 competitors from the Island and across the UK took part in the events, which began with the SpyVelo Long Weekend triathlon swim, 1.9km from Totland Bay.
SpyVelo got the Saturday off to an early start with a 90km cycle race, followed by the Children’s Fun Run, the Farringford 5k and the Tapnell 10k.
Vet 70 runner Peter Jolliffe, of Ryde Harriers, one of the oldest to take part in the IW Festival of Running.
Computer programmer John Rudgard, 49, of Totland Bay, went one better than last year in the Farringford 5k — winning it comfortably in 19.18.
John, who runs for the West Wight Runners, won his first-ever event and joked: “I had always been the bridesmaid, never the bride.”
Islanders John Rudgard and Lisa McGrath following their successes in the Farringford 5k run on Saturday.
Lisa McGrath, 36, of Whitehead Crescent, Wootton, and a member of the Wootton Bridge Runners, was the first Island woman to finish it in 27.08.
Her husband, Aaron, came third and ran the Tapnell 10k and the Needles XC Marathon.
He said: “The festival is great how it brings together the Island’s running community and has such a great atmosphere.”
The start of the Farringford 5k race.
Steve Rumsey of the Isle of Wight Road Runners (IWRR) won the Tapnell 10k in 42.25, while Jodie Wilmott (47.08) was first Island woman.
On the Sunday, the iconic Needles Marathon (which incorporated the SpyVelo event) and Needles Half Marathon — two gruelling courses.
One of the SpyVelo triathlon competitors in action in the Needles XC Marathon.
The marathon’s first Islander home in second was Stuart Backhouse (3.33.14), of IWRR, with first Isle of Wight woman, Hayley Baxter (4.13.51), 14th overall.
Islander Joseph Wade (1.25.58), for Aldershot, Farnham and District Athletics Club, won the Needles XC Half Marathon, with Sandown’s Charlie Metcalfe (1.37.31) the fastest Island woman.
Charlie Metcalfe in action in the Needles XC Half Marathon.
Isle of Wight-based Teamspy came first in the SpyVelo event, in 1.32.54.
Individual event winners were Cowes-based Matt Sharp (swimming), Clint Oliver (cycling) and Dave Hunt (running).
House Rules
We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate.
Read the rules here