Goyt Valley

In the sort of August that made Noah famous, it looked like we might have a dry race but with an hour to go the drizzle moved in. This did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of a smaller than usual Wilmslow contingent who were already sensing a points bonanza.

Any thoughts of emulating Usain Bolt in the first 200m across the dam were doused by the sight of a steepish climb on the far side, although Damian and Malcolm seemed to be treating it as a sprint. Fortunately they were soon out of site and we could judge our efforts in a more favourable perspective. There was a front of Group 4 cluster on the road; Chris, Owen and myself  then a gap to the Group 3 cluster; Kate, Geoff, Don and Gareth. Roy had assured me before the start that he was going to run this one sensibly and set-off at a pace he could sustain rather than doing his dying wasp act after a couple of miles. Nevertheless after a mile he moved to the front of Group 4 but, shortly afterwards, the road went up a slight incline and that was the last we saw of him. By the time the route had taken a detour off the road, we had dropped Chris. When we finally left the road to cross the stream, Owen and I were together but then for a mile it was just like our own peat bog after a week of continual rain and Owen took 100m out of me. The final two miles was the most enjoyable with a firm, dry track going gently up through the woods but I could not regain the lost ground. I past Nick on the way, he was limping badly. Desperate for his seven Series races he had declared himself fit enough to run but clearly got it badly wrong.

Chris, who was also limping afterwards with a recurrent knee problem, followed me in. Next was Catriona who is now consistently running well. Her sister(s) were watching and, as she collected first her F40 and then her team prize, she managed to give the air that this was a post race norm. Next was Angela, who was originally only doing it for the t-shirt, but now, like Cat, was on double gold – F45 and team. The two, burdened with their winnings, could barely stagger from the club house

A police Land Rover, lights flashing, siren blasting heralded Roy, who had managed to hold it all together despite starting too fast 

These were absolutely not Peter’s condition, but he’s tight on his seven races. His leg was bleeding and he was comparing wounds with another inevitable faller, Kate, whose thigh was bleeding. Both were adequately compensated at the prize giving; Kate third lady and Peter 1^st. M65. Gareth, without Sally to push him over, had stayed on his feet but lost his shoe in the peat. It was often difficult to differentiate between ground that was solid and that in which you would sink to your calf. The

, the wrong sort of altitude training.

Despite the continued absence of mentor Trevor, who is becoming something of a dilettante, Sarah refound her form and was more confident over the more difficult terrain than Nina. At the start Nina had been concerned about being last and was too circumspect over the slippery section but in fact was nearly quarter of an hour in front of the back markers.

had a big fall, albeit with a soft landing, which cost her a number of places. She finished covered in mud and, in the style of Clare at Rudyard, she discarded torn tights and socks at the finish, but it was all made worthwhile by the L50 prize.

Damian won, Malcolm was a close second, Jim 4^th. Mike 9^th., Steve 11^th. (a long absence but now feeling the strain of needing his seven races) , Tony 15^th. and 1^st. M60 and Don 21^st. My stats. program says that this was not only Owen’s first 4/5 Series win but his best-ever run.

Despite failing to get the point I needed for the 4/5 table, I thought this the best of the four courses Malcolm has done for us this ‘summer’, I very much hope it is in next year’s Summer Series but perhaps with more notice and a 7:15 or 7:30 start to help those who work in Manchester

Ian Ashcroft