Littler smashes record that has stood 26 years
Last updated 19:22, Thursday, 21 February 2008
A CUMBRIAN road race record that had stood for 26 years was slashed in one of the UK’s toughest events on Sunday.
Steve Littler, running for Wesham Road Runners, carved more than two minutes off the record for the 34km Buttermere Round.
The event, which starts and finishes in Keswick, takes competitors over Honister Pass and Newlands Hause and runners under 20 are not allowed to enter because of the severity of the route.
On Sunday, Newlands Hause was closed to traffic due to icy patches, but race organiser Alan Ritchie said the crisp, cold conditions were good for running.
Littler had won the Buttermere race four times in the previous six years.
He beat the 1982 record jointly established by Keswick Athletic Club pairing Ken Stuart and Jon Broxap, who clocked 2hr 5min 30 secs. Littler won in a time of 2-03-13.
Alan Ritchie said: “He shook off the competition after three miles and ran with his mind set on the record, one of his targets for a number of years.”
The course lived up to its tough reputation, although only two out of 94 starters retired.
There may be a restriction on the age of younger athletes, but 75-year-old Mike Walsh in 80th place demonstrated that senior runners can still handle the rigours.
There were 24 women in the field and the first three finished in close order, 31st, 32nd and 33rd overall.
The honours went to Julie Carter of Cumberland Fell Runners who managed to hold off Karen Heaviside of Eden Runners.
The race was organised by Keswick Athletic Club and supported by Science in Sport and Pete Bland Sports.
RESULTS
1, Steve Littler, Wesham, 2hr 3min 13secs; 2, Chris Steele, Borrowdale Fell Runners, 2-10-18; 3, Paul Waterston, Morpeth, 2-17-40; 4, Alasdair Tatham, Quakers RC, 2-19-11; 5, Luke Walsh, Manchester Tri Club, 2-19-36; 6, Gordon Dixon, Morpeth, 2-20-44; 7, Jeffrey Chadwick, Glaxo Hoad Hill, 2-22-00; 8, Martin Frost, North Shields Poly., 2-42-12; 9, Chris Knowles, Cumberland Fell Runners, 2-24-39.
10, Michael Cunningham, Borrowdale FR, 2-25-14; 11, Ryan Barker, Halifax, 2-27-20; 12, Stuart Robinson and Stuart Williams, Blackpool Wyre and Fylde, 2-28-41; 14, Chris Adams, Lancaster and Morecambe, 2-29-36; 15, Alex Rowe, Wesham, 2-29-45; 16, Steve Myerscough, Wesham, 2-30-18; 17, Ian Rowland, Dunbar, 2-31-51; 18, Dave Troman, Keswick, 2-33-58; 19, David Burton, Keswick, 2-34-50; 20, David Owens, Keswick, 2-36-42.
Ladies: 1, Julie Carter, Cumberland Fell Runners, 2-47-27; 2, Karen Heaviside, Eden Runners, 2-42-42; 3, Gudrun Ravetz, Manchester Tri Club, 2-44-06.
