Woodbank Pk : Sunday 13th January
Overcast skies and the car park resembling a lake : how would the course be ?
A short stroll from the car park and the answer was apparent ! Mud , and an energy sapping course : but after the race all agreed : some course ! A 600 metre dash across open field to battle for the best line across a root strewn and mud covered trail before a 270′ turn and a mad dash downhill …then over pastureland and copses before a real battle up to the top : runners sliding backwards became obstacles to avoid…off the brow of the steep incline to try to get the legs moving again and dash back to start the next lap . Wow !
The ladies were strong in both talent and numbers : we had a squad brimmimg with ability.
Captain Kate will provide more details but my best guess is that positions were :Claire 6th/7th, Sue 10th/11th , Kate late teens ,Nicki mid twenties ,Sally P late twenties and we then had a real charge of the cavalry as Huma , Cat and Angela all came in not far behind and all well up the field.
It was just fantastic to see the ladies doing so well and such an obvious team ethos developing .We cant wait to see the results come out.www.bbresults.com should be on line Tuesday/Wednesday.
Cant be too specific on the mens placings but we had real competition on our hands with Stockport on their home course out in force.Tony ( thanks for the support and to Roy and Ray E.) thinks we were a touch down this week and its going to go to the wire at Wythenshawe Park ( Saturday 9th February)
With Malcolm nursing an injury, a cautious start was made but gradually he picked his way through the field to be first counter : Rob had a real battle with Stu and Jim not far behind . A returning from injury Tom soon followed and the in form Ian finished as our sixth counter .
Nick followed Ian home and we then had a strong team presence packing the next places . Mark had a fine run beating Gavin with Don next , and then Gareth : We welcomed Ian Ashcroft for his first XC of the season . Trevor ran well and was full of praise for the course " that was fantastic ". Thank you ladies for staying to support.
So Wilmslow had 20 racing on an overcast Sunday ! The winters endeavours will all come down to the final race . Cant wait !
See you at Wythenshawe Park when we welcome Mike Halman and Sally Maddok to our ranks for the last big push.
Nick.