24th Cloud Nine Hill Race (incorporating Cheshire Fell Championship)

Sunday 6th March 2011

* Add 4:00 penalty for breaking the fellrunning code of not pushing in while others queue in race order to negotiate a stile !!

Full results at : http://www.congleton-harriers.co.uk/Cloud%209%202011%20Results

Photos courtesy of Bryan Dale at :  http://www.racephotos.org.uk

cloud nine n. Informal. "A state of elation or great happiness…" 

Well, for one, it should be.  For on a glorious spring morning, Damian became Cheshire Champion again, in finishing a close second behind the indomitable Simon Bailey. 

Otherwise, Cloud 9 is an multi-terrain hill race over 9 miles with a total ascent of 1250ft.

With half the club's ladies seemingly "trimpelling" up in Lancashire the other "half" endured the (not as muddy as usual) local classic Cloud 9.  The large quality field set off along the disused railway line with Tony in hot pursuit having not quite made it to the start in time.  We ask not why?

Although the summit of Bosley Cloud is not half-way it psychologically represents the turnaround point of the race, with the bulk of the climbing complete.  But, there's no time to stop and admire the extensive views of the Cheshire Plain and Derbyshire hills – another time. Along with many people atop, Mike and the "boys", provided welcome encouragement before we disappeared over the back and quickly down through the trees ….. to the stile!  Even at this point the finish is still some five miles away, and off we head on a big loop where a few metres could save a whole mile.

Apart from Damian, Jeremy and Dianne, who had good races, the rest us were out merely for the exercise with our various excuses and disabilities!

Don