Race report: Kielder Marathon Weekend - October 3 & 4, 2015
Photos: Runners enjoy the scenic surroundings of Kielder Water as they take part in the sixth Active Northumberland Kielder Marathon today, widely acclaimed as Britain's most picturesque marathon © Craig Connor / NNP
A record number of runners descended on Kielder Water & Forest Park, Northumberland today for ‘Britain’s most beautiful marathon and half marathon (4 October).
And Middlesbrough’s Matthew Jones, was crowned the new champion of the Active Northumberland Kielder Marathon, while Karl Taylor was the inaugural winner of the Kielder Half Marathon, setting the record at 1 hour 14 minutes and 35 seconds.
Northumberland County Council worker Karl, who is aged 24 and from Amble, Northumberland said: “I thought that I would come quite high up but I didn’t expect to win the first half marathon. It’s also my first event at Kielder - it’s a beautiful race but it’s really hard.”
The new half marathon attracted nearly 700 runners, including BBC newsreader Sophie Raworth. She said; “I have been to Kielder once, years and years ago, when I came to do a report about Kielder as the most tranquil part of the UK. I think we’re disturbing that peace a bit today! – there are an awful lot of people here sounding fantastic and it’s just spectacular.”
Photos (l-r): Runners enjoy the scenic surroundings of Kielder Water. Gemma Bradley and Matthew Jones celebrate winning the mens and womens Active Northumberland Kielder Marathon © Craig Connor / NNP
Around 850 runners made their way around northern Europe’s largest man-made lake, Kielder Water in the sixth year of the Marathon, which is held every year at Northumbrian Water’s Leaplish Waterside Park.
Winner Matthew Jones, aged 34, who crossed the finish line in 2 hours 43 minutes and 02 seconds said: “I feel elated, and a bit tired. It was a bit of a battle at the front but it’s my first year and I loved it, I enjoyed every minute.” Matthew, who is a doctor of cardiology in Middlesbrough, has taken the title off three-time marathon winner Ceri Rees, who gave North East runners a sporting chance this year when he decided not to take part.
Northumbria University Lecturer, 36-year-old, Gemma Bradley, from Gateshead was the first female to cross the marathon finish line. Gemma, who is a member of Saltwell Harriers running club and completed the race in 3 hours 21 minutes and 53 seconds, said: “It was gorgeous, really tough in parts but it’s such a stunning race. I just thought I’d come out for a lovely run, I didn’t expect to win.”
Both events were the show stoppers to a full weekend of activities which included the Kielder 10K, Kielder Run-Bike-Run, Junior Races and a series of walks.
The Junior Races took place while the marathon and half marathon were underway and saw more than 100 children take part in either the Osprey (880m race for children aged seven to nine) the Roman Mile (1.48km race for children aged ten to twelve) or the Centurion (2.5km race for children ages thirteen to fifteen).
Tynedale Harrier, Christopher Jackson, aged 15, from Allendale, Northumberland was thrilled to have won the Centurion. He said: “I’d hoped to win. It was good fun and I want to be back next year and I think I would like to do the Kielder 10K.”
Photos: Competitors in the inaugural Kielder Half Marathon make their way past Kielder Water © Richard Rayner / NNP
Kielder Marathon attracts runners and outdoor adventure enthusiasts from around the world to the dramatic setting and unique course.
Councillor Val Tyler, Cabinet member for Arts, Leisure and Culture at Northumberland County Council, said: “The addition of the half marathon to this year’s event shows the popularity of Kielder and Northumberland for outdoor activities.
“The county has a very strong network of running clubs and growing number of runners. It is also an excellent place for walking, and as the Tour of Britain has shown, more and more people are supporting and taking up cycling.”
Photos: The Kielder 10k womens winner Jess Fox and mens winner Lee Cuthbertson © Richard Rayner / NNP
Marathon winning times 2010 – 2015
|
Year |
Men
|
Women
|
|
2010 |
Zak Kihara |
02:29:06 |
Lizzy Hawker |
02:58:22 |
|
2011 |
Ricky Lightfoot |
02:35:16 |
Jane Mooney (now Hodgson) |
03:06:45 |
|
2012 |
Ceri Rees |
02:39:26 |
Angela Mudge |
02:59:28 |
|
2013 |
Ceri Rees |
02:43:55 |
Victoria Nealon |
03:22:41 |
|
2014 |
Ceri Rees |
02:39:43 |
Myra Jones |
03:17:58 |
|
2015 |
Matthew Jones
|
02:43:02 |
Gemma Bradley |
03:21:53 |
Kielder Marathon Weekend - race results 2015:
Men's marathon results
|
1 |
Matthew Jones |
02:43:02 |
|
2 |
Conrad Franks |
02:45:51 |
|
3 |
Mike Jefferies |
02:51:11 |
Women's marathon results
|
1 |
Gemma Bradley |
03:21:53 |
|
2 |
Lisa Bennett |
03:26:29 |
|
3 |
Jacqueline Keavney |
03:27:42 |
Click here for full results
Men's half marathon results
|
1 |
Karl Taylor |
01:14:35 |
|
2 |
Steven McMahon |
01:19:18 |
|
3 |
Ben Wickham |
01:22:07 |
Women's half marathon results
|
1 |
Debra Crozier |
01:33:14 |
|
2 |
Elaine Bisson |
01:35:13 |
|
3 |
Susie Chan |
01:36:12 |
Click here for full results
Men's 10km results
|
1 |
Lee Cuthbertson |
0:35:27 |
|
2 |
Steven Duffy |
0:36:00 |
|
3 |
David Fuller |
0:37:28 |
Women's 10km results
|
1 |
Jess Fox |
0:41:02 |
|
2 |
Sarah Robson |
0:42:10 |
|
3 |
Fiona Belgian |
0:42:52 |
Click here for full results
Men's Run-Bike-Run results
|
1 |
John Moss |
2:05:31 |
|
2 |
Tom Allan |
2:06:58 |
|
3 |
Darren Mcbain |
2:11:13 |
Women's Run-Bike-Run results
|
1 |
Philippa Graham |
2:29:44 |
|
2 |
Christine Burns |
2:30:53 |
|
3 |
Sam Crooks |
2:33:23 |
Click here for full results
