Commonwealth Mountain and Ultra Distance Championships

The Commonwealth Mountain and Ultra Distance Championships are being held in Keswick between 17th – 20th September 2009. The Championships will see athletes from the Commonwealth nations competing in three separate disciplines; mountain races, a 100km road race and a 24-hour race.

Carnegie Harriers are delighted to announce that five club members have been selected to represent Scotland at this event. Pauline Walker, Lynne Kuz, Fiona Rennie and Richie Cunningham have all been selected for the 24 hour event and Gail Murdoch has been selected for the 100K race.

Carnegie’s Club President Val Macaulay has been selected as the Scotland ladies team manager for the 24 hour and 100K races at this event. The 24 hour race starts at 12 Noon on Thursday 17th September around a 1km loop in Fitz Park in Keswick.  Pauline Walker is the reigning Scottish ladies 24 hour record holder having recorded an amazing 130 miles 607 yards winning the Perth 24 Hour Road Race last September.

Lynne Kuz is also a highly experienced ultra distance athlete and has a personal best of 125 miles 550 yards (2nd on Scottish all time list) for the 24 hour event which she also set in Perth last year.  Fiona Rennie completes the Scottish team and she has a best of 116 miles 837 yards which she recorded in Perth where she placed 3rd overall behine Pauline and Lynne.

Richie Cunningham who runs in the men’s 24 hour event has completed two previous round the clock races and has a best of 127 miles 1119 yards which he set in Tooting Beck last October.

Gail Murdoch who represents Scotland in the 100K event was the 2008 Scottish 100K ladies champion and has a personal best of 9 hours 2 mins 3 seconds which she set at the Anglo-Celtic 100K Internation in Galway, Ireland in March this year.  The 100K race takes place on Saturday 19th September from Keswick.

Val Macaulay is highly experienced in ultra races and has supported many of our long endurance athletes in events such as the West Highland Way and last year’s 24 Hour Race in Perth. Val was also part of the GB management team at this years World 24 Hour Championships in Italy.

The event website can be found at http://www.cumbriacommonwealthchampionships.org/ A profile of Pauline Walker along with further information about other Scottish distance running records that she holds can be found at this link on the event website; http://www.cumbriacommonwealthchampionships.org/contribute-files/Walker.htm We wish Pauline, Lynne, Fiona, Richie and Gail all the very best for their respective races.