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Jebb Wins the Three Peaks Race For 4th Time

News Release. (Photo Pete Hartley) / 29.04.2009

After last year’s sojourn to international status, normal business was resumed at the Three Peaks race on Saturday.

Normal in terms of the winner too, as former three-times victor Rob Jebb once again crossed the line first at Horton, with a comfortable margin over his new Saab Salomon team mate Ricky Lightfoot.

With only legend Jeff Norman left ahead on 6 race wins, Jebby (who has also won the Three Peaks cyclo-cross race a record seven times), must surely have the Three Peaks fell race record tally in his sights too.

Up Pen-y-Ghent the only company Jebb had was in the form of neo-vet and course record holder, Andy Peace – and he was 18 seconds back. By Ribblehead the lead was over a minute to Ricky Lightfoot, as Peace had dropped back.

From that point on Rob extended his margin over Whernside to Hill Inn so that by Ingleborough the lead was at four minutes. Ricky and a fast-finishing Karl Grey cut this back a tad coming into the finish at Horton, but were unable to get near to multi-fell champion.

Ricky was more than happy with his day’s efforts at the finish, “The race went better than expected for me, I wanted to run under 3hrs but I’ve been injured and having had six week off running I wasn't sure.”

“I set off steady and had a few yards on Jebby and Andy Peace, as I knew they would pass me on the climb up to Pen Y Ghent, from there on I went from third and kept second all the way. The hardest bit for me was the final descent off Ingleborough, but at that point it was just getting to the finish and maintaining second place, overall I was very happy with it!”

“Oh, I'll be back next year to beat Rob!”

Full results are on the race website at www.threepeaksrace.org.uk and you can see photos from Pete Hartley in our Photos section.