Poor weather conditions played havoc with the Murray Lambden Athletics Meeting at the National Sports Centre Roadway recently.

Eventually, the short but heavy fall of snow resulted in an early curtailment to the programme.

The race walking events had already been dropped from the meeting this year because of the absence of flights from Dublin to bring the usual large party of Irish competitors to the island.

It is expected that the walks will be restored to their rightful place on the programme in 2023.

Storm Eunice had blown herself out overnight, but when the six under-11 runners assembled on the start line for the opening one-mile race the rain was torrential and, with the temperature only just above freezing, it was a tough assignment indeed for the hardy youngsters.

The quality and resilience shown by the competitors - some of whom are still in the under-nine age group - was outstanding and all six should be very proud of their efforts.

The race, a tad over two laps of the roadway, was won by Lancashire Cross-Country Championships bronze medallist Timothy Perry of Northern AC in an excellent time of 6 min 27 sec, leading from the start and setting a strong pace.

In second place was Billy McMullan of Western AC, a highly promising sporting all-rounder, five seconds ahead of Finn Gleave of Manx Harriers. Orry Teare of Northern AC was fourth, only just outside the seven-minute barrier.

The girls’ one-mile race was contested by Western AC team-mates Bella Quaye and Mollie McMullan, with Bella coming out on top by nine seconds in an impressive time of 7min 10sec. These were excellent runs.

By the time the combined all-male under-13 and under-15 three-kilometre race began the rain had turned to heavy snow.

On the first of three and three-quarter laps of the perimeter roadway, the underfoot conditions weren’t too bad. But as the snow began to stick things became very tricky indeed as the competitors struggled to keep their footing, especially on the bends.

Despite the dreadful conditions the racing was of a high quality, with yet another close contest between Sam Perry and Lucas Stennett going the way of the former by a solitary second in a time of 10m 19s.

Charlie Teare was extremely impressive, only six seconds down on Lucas, and the fourth member of Northern AC’s champion U15 cross-country team, Dominic Dunwell, was fourth ahead of Sam Corkill of Manx Harriers.

The sole U13 runner was Harry Stennett of Northern AC, whose time of 11m 02s was also very good.

As the blizzard continued the officials conferred over the fate of the five-kilometre race for ages from U17 upwards, for which 29 competitors had registered.

The verdict was quickly reached that the roadway was simply too dangerous to race on by that point and the race was abandoned. It is believed to be the first weather-related cancellation in the meeting’s 42-year history.

Manx Harriers hope to rearrange the race in the near future.

Many thanks go all the officials for braving such awful conditions, and to Marie and Robbie Lambden for presenting the prizes in the shelter of the Manx Harriers clubhouse.

Murray Lambden Meeting, NSC Roadway, Saturday, Manx Harriers

Under-11 Boys - One Mile: 1, Tim Perry (Northern AC) 6min 27sec; 2, Billy McMullan (Western AC) 6.45; 3, Finn Gleave (Manx Harriers) 6.50; 4, Orry Teare (Northern AC) 7.02.

Under-11 Girls - One Mile: 1, Bella Quaye (Western AC) 7.10; 2, Mollie McMullan (Western AC) 7.19.

Under-13 Boys - 3km: Harry Stennett (Northern AC) 11.02. Under-15 Boys - 3km: 1, Sam Perry (Northern AC) 10.19; 2, Lucas Stennett (Northern AC) 10.20; 3, Charlie Teare (Northern AC) 10.26; 4, Dominic Dunwell (Northern AC) 10.44; 5, Sam Corkill (Manx Harriers) 11.33.

WESTERN AC AGM

Western Athletics Club’s annual general meeting is taking place at Peel Legion, Douglas Street, on Tuesday, March 22 from 7.30pm sharp.