2011 Summer Series > Race 8 – Boar’s Head

Wednesday 8th June 2011

Below is the report from the race organsier by way of explanation to some of the evening's events!

Surprisingly enough, a rain-free evening’s running was enjoyed after a day of torrential showers and it was a larger than usual field of 171, swelled by quite a few of Wilmslow Harriers (for whom it was a Club Championship race – thanks lads!), who set off up the track from the canal bridge. However, by the time they came back there were one or two unusual issues to attend to – it transpired that the first two back had somehow contrived to miss out the final checkpoint and consequently had to be disqualified and the race’s run of 17 years since the last injury was well and truly ended by two apparently broken ankles, one of which turned out to be a really bad sprain and ligament tears. The strange thing about the other one was that it occurred after the runner had finished in a very creditable fifth place and was on his way down the funnel – his prize voucher is in the post and both the runners met up in Stepping Hill A&E and no doubt compared notes. Best wishes for speedy recoveries to the pair of them.

It was James Scott-Buccleugh who therefore came home in first place half a minute in front of Simon Harding, with Malcolm Fowler, five times winner of the race coming in to claim third place and first V40. The V50 prize went to Mark Richards and the V60 to the Great Merchant of Alderley, Tony Hulme.

Olivia Walwyn had a fine run to win the Ist Lady spot, seven minutes clear of Claire Aspinall with Rebecca Avanssian arriving three minutes later for third place. The Ladies’ V40 was claimed by Kate Sutton and the LV50 by Angela Maziere (not, as announced at the prize-giving, by Helen Todd).

Macclesfield and Stockport shared the Men’s Team title with 19 points each, while Altrincham were clear winners of the Ladies’ Team with 235 points.

I continue to get a bit worried about the long-term future of our sport; a staggering 67.3% of the field were vets, topped by the 75-year-old Andrew Gregory (who did NOT come last !!), with only 32.7% being under 40. While this is clear testimony to the long-term health benefits of fell-running it does make you wonder what a large proportion of the internet/technology generation do for exercise other than develop massively powerful and versatile thumbs!!

However, enough of geriatric whingeing – everyone who came along, with the possible exception of the two injuries, seemed to enjoy themselves both at the race and in the Boar’s Head, so thank you for your participation and I look forward to seeing you next year, when it will be the 25^th Anniversary of the first running of the race.

Dave Jones

League tables updated above

Don