Champion Ceri Rees ran a hat-trick today at Britain’s most beautiful marathon. (5 October)
The winner of the 2014 Active Northumberland Kielder Marathon, hosted by Northumbrian Water, is the first person in the five year history of the event to win for the third consecutive year.
Ceri, aged 41, from Devon, beat his time from last year, completing the marathon in 2hr 39min 43sec. He said: “The atmosphere today was really good. Kielder marathon doesn’t get any easier but it’s not about winning – it’s more about getting round the course.
“Kielder is beautiful and the course definitely helps the miles go faster. As far as trail running goes, its right up there as one of Britain’s most beautiful.”
Myra Jones, aged 31, from Moortown, Leeds and a member of Valley Striders Athlectics Club, was the first female to cross the finishing line.
Myra, who travelled up especially for the marathon, completed it in 3hr 17min and 58sec. She said: “This is the first time I’ve ran Kielder Marathon and it was harder than I expected. The course just feels constant and it was really windy by the dam wall – I’m exhausted!”
Billed as the most beautiful marathon in Britain, up to 1000 runners made their way around northern Europe’s largest man-made lake, Kielder Water.
Today also saw a number of children involved in the day with the under 16s races. The Kielder Junior Runs include the Osprey (880m race for children aged seven to nine, the Roman Mile (1.48km race for children aged ten to twelve) and the Centurion (2.5km race for children ages thirteen to fifteen).
Tynedale Harrier, 15-year-old Jaycee Shotton from Ovingham, Northumberland was thrilled to have won the Centurion. He said: “I’m really pleased. I set out to win and tried my best. When I was running though I didn’t even notice I was first!”
The full weekend of events, including Kielder Junior Runs, Kielder 10K, Kielder Run Bike Run and the main marathon itself, has been attracting runners and outdoor adventure enthusiasts from around the world for the last five years, to the dramatic setting and unique course.
Northumberland County Council and Active Northumberland are sponsoring and supporting this year’s event. Northumberland County Councillor, Val Tyler, policy board member for community infrastructure and culture, said: “Kielder provides an absolutely stunning venue for the marathon and is hugely popular with a range of outdoor activity enthusiasts.
“This event is becoming a firm favourite on the race calendar and is really helping to put the county on the map. I’m sure the athletes who have taken part in this weekend’s events will be so impressed with the area and will return with their friends and family to explore our beautiful county and all it has to offer in the very near future.”
Kielder Marathon race results 2014
First: Ceri Rees, aged 41, from Devon – 2hr 39min 43sec
Second: Lee Muir, aged 28, from Brocksburn, West Lothian – 2hr 44min 08sec
Third: Cees Vanderland, aged 35, from Jesmond, Newcastle – 2hr 46min 42sec
First female (25 overall position): Myra Jones, aged 31, from Moortown, Leeds – 3hr 17min 58sec
Second (31 overall position): Sarah Burrell, aged 27, from Heaton, Newcastle – 3hr 22min 38sec
Third (38 overall position): Ruth Jones, aged 34, from Peterbrough – 3hr 25min 57sec
Kielder Junior Runs race results 2014
The Osprey
Boys
1st Caleb Spriggs, aged 9, from Bidford-on-Avon, Warwickshire – 4min 52sec
2nd: Seb Mason, aged 7, from Branthwaite, Cumbria – 5min 12sec
3rd: Callum Rowell, aged 9, from Amble, Northumberland – 5min 13sec
Girls
1st: Erin Keeler-Clarke – 5min 08sec
2nd:: Martha Tinker, aged 8, from Tynemouth – 5min 32sec
3rd: Maisie-Joy Spriggs, aged 7, from Bidford-on-Avon, Warwickshire – 5min 54sec
The Roman Mile
Girls
1st: Olivia Mason, aged 12, from Cumbria – 6min 26sec (Olivia came in first and beat all the boys)
2nd: Tegan Hewitt, aged 12, from Gateshead – 7min 05sec
3rd: Chloe Wellings, aged 12, from Gateshead – 7min 19sec
Boys
1st: Aidan Pinkney, aged 12, from Hexham 6min 53sec
2nd: Liam Brittle, aged 11, from Darlington – 7min 08sec
3rd: Ciaran Lines, aged 11, from Sedgefield – 7min 30sec
The Centurion
Boys
1st: Jaycee Shotton, aged 15, from Ovingham, Northumberland – 9min 28sec
2nd: Ben Pickett, aged 15, from Kielder, Northumberland – 10min 03sec
3rd: Patrick Lally, aged 13, from Hexham – 10min 03sec
Girls
1st: Hannah Pinkney, aged 15, from Hexham – 10min
2nd: Eira Hegarty, aged 13, from North Shields – 10min 25sec
Marathon winning times 2010 – 2013
2010 first male was Zak Kihara from Kenya with the record time of 02:29:06
2010 first female was Lizzy Hawker 02:58:22
2011 first male was Ricky Lightfoot 02:35:16
2011 first female was Jane Mooney (now Hodgson) 03:06:45
2012 first male was Ceri Rees 02:39:26
2012 first female was Angela Mudge 02:59:28
2013 first male was Ceri Rees 02:43:55
2013 first female was Victoria Nealon 03:22:41