Moonraker 10k

Firstly , a pleasure to have results well before any thoughts of race reports.

In actual fact results were out within 30 minutes of the finish and John Schofield of UK Results who was ‘on site’ actually told me that they were on the web by 12.30 pm today !Wow !

So :

1. Mike Halman 32.46

6. Rob Downs 35.17 1st V40

13. Nick Bishop 36.55

24. Tony Hulme 38.39 2nd V55

39. Ian Smallwood 39.36

41. Peter Carne 39.44

57. Steve Dempsey 40.58

64. Gavin Mendham 41.57

76. Geoff Gilbert 42.41

81. Dave Quinn 43.14

85. Sean Barry 43.42

95. Ian Ashcroft 44.29

98. Sally Maddocks 44.43

109. Dave Wheable 45.59

114. Kate Sutton 46.25

126. Peter Watson 47.20

130. Clare Rafferty 47.40

143. Gareth Trimble 48.27

146.Rod Coombs. 48.38

149. John Porteus 48.55

157. Louisa Gilbert. 49.40

165. Trevor Faulkner. 51.05

173. Roy Pownall. 51.39

189. Rob Dunkley. 53.49

236 finishers . Dave Wheable also ran but I could not see a place in the results despite having a big grin on his face with 200 metres to go (Now included). Don Bullough also ran but pulled up injured . So 25 runners  .

Mid Cheshire Wednesday and Middleton Sunday . Tony chooses variety and thats what you got !

On arriving the sign pointed to ‘Cross Country race’ and not the usual car boot sale that is held in the large parking area on Sunday mornings . Cross Country was a touch extreme . This is actually a road race with a couple of sections of trail at the start and finish. I was told that it was undulating . Most people would suggest on a sticky Sunday morning a tad more than undulating .

A burnt out car was being towed way as I arrived , someones amusement from the night before .

As the start approached , I was pleasantly surprised that it was proving to be another fine WRC turnout .

The start is from the car park ( very good ,room for a good few hundred cars ) and the first 2k are on trails through the park before entering a large council estate in Middleton where the undulation kicked in . Mike again sat off at a blistering pace and the lead bike was having difficulty keeping up. A second trail bike was drafted in to lead the second group which included Rob Downs as by now Mike and his lead bike were out of sight .

At about 5k , the course starts to undulate ( no longer all up hill) and bends back for the park and another lap of the trail section. By now the heat was telling and the last 2k seemed a tough finish.

We were all appreciative of WRC support in the form of Luke Bishop, Bill Stanniard , Son of Steve D (?) and partner of Dave W(?). It does make a difference .

This was a well organised race by a friendly club ( Middleton Harriers) and although it had a fair bit of road , most people seemed to have enjoyed themselves .

The ‘council pav’ which held football nets etc was also race HQ. Refreshments on sale …..oh just call it a quid luv…..An ageing Buddy Holly  was pumping out 50s and 60s music while we awaited the presentation .

The men came second ( 4 cans of beer each) and the ladies won . A bottle of wine and choxs each. As I left I got the impression that our ladies result was being questioned but with possession being 9/10th of the law , you could say that the wine has been drunk and the chox scoffed . Tony did mention that it was just a ploy to make us slower next year !

I congratulated the organiser as I left as it had been a good morning , a fun atmosphere and well worth the effort ! If you agree , he did ask for a note to be sent to RW as they had some critiscisms after last year .

See you all Tuesday.

Nick.