Race news: 29.10.2009 – Ricky battles Malaysian heat for World Series bronze Written on October 29, 2009, by matt.
Strong performances from Ricky, Nick and Nat as the Skyrunner curtain fallsâ¦
It was double points in the last race of the 2009 Skyrunner World Series at the Mt. Kinabalu Climbathon last weekend, and Ricky Lightfoot did enough to add World Series bronze to his World Long Distance bronze of two weeks ago at the Kaisermarathon.
Ricky at Mt. Kinabalu
Deemed as âthe Worldâs Toughest Mountain Raceâ, the Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon is the ultimate challenge for those game-enough to test their endurance on Mount Kinabalu in a 21km event. Sundayâs menâs race saw hot and humid conditions and in a race won by Salomon superman Kilian Jornet, Cumbrian-runner Lightfoot battled to 10th place. Ricky was closely followed by short-distance specialist Nick Swinburn in 11th, who also caps off a year of great success in the mountains.
âI was a little disappointed with 10th to be honestâ, said a philosophical Lightfoot, âbut I did enough to finish 3rd overall so I am pleased. I took a fall at the very top of the descent and as a result the lace snapped on my Salomon Speed Cross 2âs, so it slowed me on the decent quite a bit, as my shoe kept coming off.
In Saturdayâs womenâs race Natalie White continued her strong late-season form running into 9th place. This was enough to lift Natalie into 12th in the 2009 World Series list, no mean achievement considering her early-season problems. âOverall I am pretty happy with thatâ, said White âthe heat was really tough, and the field was very strong in-depth. After missing much of the first half of the year to come second at Ben Nevis, win 2 Turbo Xs and finish 9th here, is pretty good. If I can keep in one piece over the winter I should be raring to go again in 2010!â, she concludes.
In the team event the Saab Salomon Outdoor Team finished in 4th in this season-long series.
Looking aheadâ¦
As the curtain draws on the fell and mountain season the door opens on the cross country season. Many of the Team will now embark on domestic and international events â we will keep you up to date with all of the news through 2009 and into 2010.
