Damian wins the race, Rob is 1st. M45, in fact, first vet. Nicky is 1st. L50 despite this not being her greatest run. Mick, Katy, Kate and Penny are all 2nd. in their age categories. Graham, Tony, Geoff, Sue and Charlotte pick-up bronze. Against medical advice Chairman Nick makes his first start since Goyt Valley 2008, Kate will assess the damage. And the cream is coming to the top; Damian 50 points, Rob 49, Jim 48. 45 of us at Bowdon, 37 at Lymm – the Summer Series is in full flow.
The hundred percenters are down to three; Tony tops the main table followed by Don and Kate. Steve, Ian and Angela lead those who have run five. Rob, Mick and Nicky top the fours. But don’t look over your shoulder; Damian, Malcolm and Jim lead those who have run three and Rob, Tom and Stuart the two-race runners.
I’m not sure how many Summer Series races Katy has run since Lymm two years ago, clearly it’s her speciality, but she added intrigue to the Ladies by taking the 50 points. She registered one of my many running humiliations beating me when she was pregnant but the story of her outsprinting Roy at Dunham when 8 months pregnant is, I believe, exaggerated. I think it was seven. Sue, winner at Bowdon, was second. Vicky won Shady Oak. The Ladies’ leader, however, remains Kate. History says Kate sets the early pace but gets caught in the Autumn, but this year she’s setting a tough target for the chasers. Angela and Penny are second and third.
Mick and Ian pushed Tony into third place at Lymm but he continues to lead the 3/4 league ahead of Don and Kate.
In 5/6, Ian gained revenge over Christine for Bowdon. A trade-mark finishing sprint took Catriona past Penny and Owen into third. Ian regains overall leadership but it’s extremely tight, one point separates Angela, John and Penny. Martin relieved Charlotte of the laterne rouge but her Bowdon record stands.
Rob was first at Lymm after the times were discounted for age and sex followed by Mick and Damian. Tom remains the one to beat with two wins out of two races but is now injured.
The best races in my view have something for everyone; uphill, downhill, flat, on-road, off-road. This makes our next race, Roaches, my favourite although this year I’ll be away and my fellow old men tend to shun it, injuries along the ridge are not unknown and in the wet it can be tricky. We all have sections in which we can excel and sections where we know will struggle and the race order keeps changing.
Ian