Summer Series Race
23 June 2005, blistering heat.
Driving over to Warrington the temperature was in the late 20s and it still seemed every bit as hot as another massive Wilmslow team lined up at Woolston Park. It was set to be another evening where Summer Series points would be hard earned.
Mike H was positively jumpy at the start looking around for the “whippets” that he was convinced must be lurking somewhere in the park ready to pop out from behind a tree and sprint a 30 minute 10k. Fortunately there were none and Mike and I left the park trailing only the “pace bike” with Jim tucked in behind. By the first mile marker Mike had started to pull away as usual. By the start of the second lap he was practically out of sight finishing 1st in an impressive 32.54 – a minute and a half ahead of 2nd place … which was more hotly contested.
Until about 4 miles I was sharing 2nd place way behind Mike but feeling comfortable. Then out of nowhere 2 more guys caught up with us and the race was on. Over the last mile the heat and distance began to tell and I was unable to pick up the pace eventually finishing 5th at the back of the pack.
The course had some tricky turns and switch backs but this did mean that you got a good view of the action in different sections of the race. As we doubled back on the second lap I could see Jim close behind then a line of Wilmslow runners in close competition. At the finish this translated into some exciting tussles for Summer Series points as 11 Wilmslow runners finished within a 3 minute window led in by Tony (38.28) but with some other great times notably Peter (39.09), Kate (40.06 PB) and Jane (40.25).
Here are some provisional Wilmslow results. Some may be missing as the club name wasn’t always recorded in the results and it seemed like there were more of us.
The full results are at http://www.warringtonroadrunners.co.uk/WARRINGTON%20ROAD%20RUNNERS%2010K%202005.htm
If you find your result there then can you email me (or Comment this) so that I don’t deprive you of extremely hard earned Summer Series points.
1 Mike Halman 32.54
5 Rob Downs 34.59 1 MV40
6 Jim Pendrill 35.50
20 Tony Hulme 38.28 3 MV50
24 Richard Parris 38.56
29 Peter Carne 39.09 8 MV40
30 Ian Smallwood 39.25 9 MV40
34 Gavin Mendhall 40.02 7 MV50
35 Kate Ayres 40.06 1 FV45
38 Mike Cooper 40.18
39 Andy Watts 40.22 8 MV50
40 Jane Clarke 40.25 1 FV35
46 Steve Smith 41.17
47 Steve Russell 41.30
63 Shaun Barry 43.06
64 Paul Ayres 43.11
69 Nicky Mowat 43.29 1 FV45
91 Don Bullough 45.10
98 Sally Maddock 45.45
99 Bill Staniard 45.47
133 Penny Hinke 49.12
169 Trevor Faulkner 54.25 4 MV60
204 finishers
Rob
Loads more photos at www.taimages.com