Rob will I am sure have his own slant on events but a quick snapshot:
Interesting day out . Teams have to be declared in the order of runners for each leg by 10.30 for 11.30 start . Some subtleties for the mens event given that it is over twelve legs of which eight are 5k and four 9k.
We ended up with a team virtually as strong as we might have wished for , and talk amongst the team was ”could we make the cut” ?
The top 25 teams qualify for the National 12 stage road relays.
Tell me otherwise but you give it your best shot and see what you are capable of . Delighted to say that we actually finished 25th and thus qualify.
The course was all on tarmac around Heaton Park but had a fair degree of climbing involved .
You can follow the race from the list of legs below with long legs (9k)in red .
Mike Halman took first leg and was running in arguably the strongest leg ( teams tend to put some of the quicker runners first) and got us off to the start that we wanted : Top 25.
Damian although not fully fit ran an excellent leg and we moved up the field.
Ray although still with a virus kept us in the hunt and did well amongst a strong group to hang in there.
The (positions in brackets) after each leg show the position at that point in the race. As can be seen positions change little as the race unfolds but there is an element of confusion with different length legs and runners being lapped . Carefull eyes watched runners coming in to see from their number which leg they were completing .
Excitement was building and we knew we were close to qualifying as the latter stages drew near .We had seen good legs from everyone , each runner showing a real enthusiasm to break into the top 25.
Right until the end we had support with a number of ladies staying to the bitter end . Thanks Kate and Kate. I was also appreciative of Bill and Malcolm still out on the course as I ran the final leg. Apologies if I have missed anyone who was still there !
As can be seen from our finishing time (4.41) , for officials it is a long day and a degree of confusion was created for the final leg as runners were called for a mass start . This included a few lap ten and eleven runners and over half lap twelve runners including myself.
Final placings would be calculated by adding each of the mass start runners times to their club’s cumulative time prior to the mass start .
Warm up’s went out of the window as we were all counted and numbers taken to be told that we would start together to bring proceedings to a close . I needed a stretch having been at the park since 10.15 myself !
The irony was that as the mass started Ray Eagle came into sight , but too late we were under way for a 5k race to determine the final placings .
Pleased to say that we managed it and the team finished 25th .
It had been a great day out and the spirit was excellent amongst both the men and the ladies .
Thanks to all that took part and made such a success of the result .
It certainly puts the club on a bigger stage as qualifiers for The National 12 stage finals .
Look forward with anticipation and enjoy!
Nick.
25 Wilmslow Running Club 4:41:09
Michael Halman (22) 31:24
Damian Nicolls (14) 17:15
Ray Noble (27) 19:50
Tom McGaff (27) 32:44
Malcom Fowler (23) 18:14
Bill Heaton (24) 18:27
Stuart Parrott (23) 33:08
Jeff Capper (24) 19:18
Tony Hulme (24) 19:55
Robert Downs (27) 33:32
Ray Eagles (27) 18:51
Nick Bishop (26) 18:31
Northern 12 Stage Relays
Looked back as far as 1998 in results and no other cheshire team in that time has made the top 25