Osmotherley Phoenix
28/07/2010
Osmotherley Phoenix 4th July 2010
This event took place up in the wilds of Yorkshire and took in a 33 mile course over several hills which gave the runners a good amount of climbing to do along with the ultra distance.
Conditions were dry and warm and all the 130 plus runners who started the race had to carry enough drink to ensure that they kept themselves from being dehydrated.
Noel Hogan started well and positioned himself to take advantage of those who set off too quickly and passed several in the second half of the race as they slowed and ran out of energy. He eventually completed the course in 19th place in a good time of 5hrs 22m.
Helen Skelton, in her first race of this length, employed similar tactics and caught up with Noel around the last checkpoint. Together they then closed in on the leading lady runner who had to make a really determined effort to push on to the finish and stay ahead. Helen eventually finished 21st overall and 2nd lady in 5hrs 24min.
John Taylor had a good run and kept up a consistent pace to be 42nd in 5hr 55min with Sandy Mackenzie also maintaining his rhythm over the hills to be 55th in 6hr 15min.
David Rose had a bit of a tough time in the Isle of Man race earlier in the year, but he learned a lot from the experience and did much better in his second event of this type to be 74th in 6hrs 36min
