I finished the race tired and in the sleet, very quickly getting cold and did not hang around to share grief or glory. So comments from others on their own performance, or that of those around them, would be even more appreciated than normal. In fact the cold limited me to only two of the Poynton flapjacks, in my view the best post-race treat on the circuit.
In a week that has produced biblical quantities of rain, the start of the race coincided with a hail-storm. Fortunately it also coincided with the jeweller’s burglar-alarm going off which forced the organiser to curtail his introductory speech and let us get on with the new course. The new course is not so much new as the old course in a different order. The downside was that the first 2.5km was uphill, I prefer my hills at the end when a rest is in sight, but I know some like to get the tough part of a course over at the beginning and others see it as an opportunity to establish a lead over their rivals. I was quite pleased at the top because Julie, who is much better at hills than I am, was only a bit ahead . That, however, was a false dawn. She was a bit more ahead at the finish.
But moving to the more speedy end of the race. Richard finished first, and, if my memory is correct, retained his title from last year. Andrew was next in 7th. place followed by James in 14th. Jarrod had a great run, 32nd. Graham and Tim were 40th. and 41st. only seconds apart. Richard was 72nd. Newly promoted Paul Garnett, winner of League Two last year, ran in familiar company, on this occasion finishing 3 seconds ahead of Paul Norris.
Louisa was our first lady and 5th. lady overall. She was followed by Janine, 10th. lady and Sally Gilliver 15th. Then came Sally Price and Laura.
Tim was 1st. M55, Louisa 1st. F45, Janine 1st. F50 and Sally 1stF55.
2nd. in their age category were Andrew, Jarrod, both Pauls, Sally Price and Jamie.
3rd. were James, Pete and Ian Ashcroft.
Pete won League Two, from Janine, Ian Smallwood, Sally Price, Laura, Colin and Mark.
Kate, who has come back from her ‘terminal’ knee damage far better than she could have expected, won League Three. Chris, perhaps for once not carrying an injury, also had a great race. And whilst we are in the land of the wounded, Angela has struggled for two years but looks like she is now through it and Jan similarly looks like she has thrown-off the knee problem that has dogged her since December. Jamie was making a rare venture out, his running belies his age. Alan is also on the way back from injury, whereas Cat is on the way back from a slightly different climate in the Seychelles.
Rachael won League Four and will be hot favourite to win it if she can find her 7 races for qualification. Sue is most likely to challenge her for promotion. Julie is just keeping the legs turning-over for her ultras and then come Ian and Roy but, of course, Simon is, at least for now, missing.
Ian
Great report Ian, thank you. I thought it was a great course, I didn’t give much thought to footwear so ran in road shoes, really pleased the muddy track at 5K to 6k was down hill though. I think another 100 meters and Angie would have passed me Tony Parks gave her position away so i managed to sort of speed up for the last 50 meters to keep my place.