Sunday May 16th.
A fast course, and a race for which entries were closed almost as soon as they opened, promised both good times and good points. I can bring you the facts of the day but sadly not the flavour. My third cycle ride with the pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, this time the Pyrenees section, brought even worse weather than the first two (the airport on the way out was closed due to high winds and snow)and I returned with a cold – my experience suggests that if you want to cycle in the sunshine then go to Wales not Spain.
In fact it was a day of attrition for many of the ten who had previously run all five races; Tony, Don, Roy and Martin also didn't start, Owen didn't finish and Sarah limped home as last Wilmslow runner.
Was anyone else under the impression that Damian didn't do half marathons? Well he does and it would seem he does them rather well – he won the race.
Tom was, 17th. overall and 1st.M55 and James was third Wilmslow runner home.
So how does the main table look after six races? You may be surprised; Kate first, Sarah second, Clare third and Julie fourth – you could have got good odds on that at the beginning of the season. However that's where the fairy tale ends, Damian moves up to fifth followed by Tony, Richard and Don.
Katy's number swap, which is critical to our Grand Prix score, was not recognised in the initial results list. She has now picked-up 60 points in all of the four races she has run. Clare was second followed in quick succession by Christine and Kate then came Sally, Penny, Monique, Julie and Sarah. This sees Kate and Clare tied at the top with Sarah slipping to third and Julie fourth. Christine, on five races, is pushing hard but Katy is unbeaten.
Steve (disguised as Pete Stock with the blessing of the authorities) made it two wins out of two in League 3/4 , Katy was second and Richard third. They were followed by Gareth, Clare, Kate, Christine, Sally and Sarah.
Sarah's gutsing it out to finish paid dividends, she moves to the top of 3/4 just ahead of Kate with Clare third followed by Tony, Richard, Don, Christine and Ian.
Matt again waltzed away with 4/5 again beating a number of 3/4 – I'm anticipating, in the none too distant future, a stewards' enquiry as to whether he might not be in the correct league. Penny was second and Rod, only quarter of an hour outside his course PB, was third then came Monique and Julie.
Julie, she'll love this, tops the 5/6 League. Of those who have run five races, Owen leads from Roy, Monique and Martin. Matt looms large and John lurks dangerously.
Tom, last year's winner, took the age/sex adjusted 60 points. Damian was second and then Clare, Steve, Christine, Kate and Sally.
Kate tops the age/sex table followed by Clare, Sarah and Julie. Tony leads those who have completed five races, then come Damian, Christine, Ian, Don, Richard, Roy, Monique, Owen and Martin.
Next on the Summer Series agenda are two 5k races; Hollins Green on Saturday 5th. and Bowdon on Thursday 10th. but don't forget the Malcolm's Mobberley 'Round the Runway' this Thursday.
Ian