Newcastle AC NEWCASTLE AC’S Tom Crudgington went one better than his runner-up finish two years ago when he produced an outstanding performance to win the iconic Ben Nevis Race at the weekend.
Six Newcastle AC athletes travelled to Scotland on Saturday to compete in one of the UK’s toughest mountain races, with Tom leading the way in memorable fashion.
Having finished second two years ago, Tom returned determined to claim victory and did just that, clocking an impressive 1:38:02.
Following a strong climb, he found himself locked in a battle with Highland Hill Runners’ Mark Irvine on the descent, but Tom dug deep to cross the line 43 seconds clear of his rival.
Ashley Crutchley continued his fine form with an excellent ninth-place finish in 1:47:42, while David Hicks was next home for the club in 38th place, recording 2:02:36.
There was also an excellent performance from Rebecca Magee, who finished 101st overall and was seventh female in 2:19:01.
Making their Ben Nevis Race debuts, Michael Flynn and Beata Slawecka-Barr both tackled the famous mountain with determination, finishing strongly in 2:47:18 and 3:07:02 respectively.
It was a fantastic day for Newcastle AC, highlighted by Tom’s memorable victory and a series of strong performances from the club’s athletes on one of the most demanding courses on the UK circuit.
