This year’s Foxdale 5 held on Thursday 14th August, sponsored by JCK Ltd and organised by Manx Harriers, attracted record competitor numbers. It also saw new course records set for both men and women and, unlike last year, there were mercifully no midges to spoil the fun!
The Foxdale area was enveloped in low cloud, making conditions rather murky but ideal for distance running with a cool breeze. The race attracted 150 competitors, with the majority taking part in the No Rest for the Wicked series of which this formed the fifth of six rounds in six days. Included among the field were eight race walkers.
The appearance of Commonwealth Games distance runner Ollie Lockley for the only time during the week added top quality to the race, and the Isle of Man Athletics Development Officer led right from the start setting a cracking pace on the initial sharp climb up Kionslieu Hill. He continued to run strongly and consistently along the Archallaghan and Lhoobs roads, finishing at Foxdale School in a new course record of 25:03. That time took 19 seconds off the previous mark set by Corrin Leeming last year.
Christa Cain, meanwhile, continued her phenomenal week of racing by taking more than four minutes off the women’s course record with a time of 28:05. It was another outstanding display by an athlete who relishes competing on the local scene as well as much further afield. She finished in fifth place overall in this race, and her time is an Isle of Man women’s 35 age group record.
Jordan Cain and Jack Okell, neither contesting the series, ran well to take second and third places respectively. In fourth place was James Read who had a mightily impressive week after running the full Marathon on the opening day. Former Parish Walk winner Liam Parker shone once again as a runner, finishing in sixth spot in a very close tussle with Mike Garrett and visitor Stephen Francis from Maidenhead. Garrett’s performances are consistently outstanding for a man in the 55 age category, and his time of 29:04 is an Isle of Man age group record – beating Richard Shipway’s time set in the same event a year ago.
Paul Jennings and Joel Smith each continued their strong week’s work, as did Matt Callister and David Williams. One of the most impressive performers during the week was Reggie Oasgood, an U20 runner whose results throughout the series mark him out as a distance runner of immense promise.
Emily Mylchreest and Frances Sille from Maidenhead continued their week-long battle, and it was local schoolteacher Mylchreest, strong on hilly courses, who got the better of this race to finish second female. Becky Watterson, Elissa Morris, Joanne Schade and Katherine Cubbon finished within 32 seconds of each other, the latter’s performance being especially impressive as she contested the full Marathon series. Schade also had reason to celebrate, as her time of 34:43 beat her own IOM women’s 55 record.
There were excellent performances in the walking contest from Neil Wade who clocked 41:28 and Rachael Greham with 45:26 to win their respective races, with the other podium places taken by Dale Farquhar, Phill Swales, Jayne Farquhar and Louise Hollings.
Many thanks go to all the officials and marshals whose combined efforts contributed to an excellent event. Thanks also to the Baltic Hotel for the excellent hot food afterwards, to the Cutillo family for attending in memory of Anna-Maria, and to sponsor James Cubbon of JCK Ltd for his continued generous support of this event.
David Griffiths
18 August 2025