There is a story behind the Fairy Freckled Cow but it doesn’t have a happy ending, it involves a wicked witch and, whilst it may not be 100% true, we did get a yoghurt at the finish. This was Tony’s annual aberration; the 2011 race for Summer Series for obsessives or those desperate for points. The one and a half hour drive took us to a beautiful setting of the Llyn Alwen reservoir where they had imported flies from Shuttlingsloe for the start area. It transpired that Trevor, Nina and Sarah were going to arrive late so the race was held for fifteen and then a further ten minutes. Wilmslow runners spent most of this time counting other Wilmslow runners, the usual camaraderie being strained as the numbers swelled. The good news is that this equalled the lowest turn-out for the Series, so, if you didn’t get good points, you have to look to your own performance.
We now were ready to start, the sun had risen, Trevor had arrived and donned his foreign legion outfit, he was clearly planning to be out there a long time. The temperature, at the end, was, in fact, only 20o. As I get older I find the heat easier to tolerate, it’s the cold I can’t stand, but many found it uncomfortable. The organiser thanked Tony for the healthy Wilmslow turn-out, he’d probably been counting the money. Whether the locals were as enthusiastic about Malcolm running-off with the main prize is more questionable.
Jim, 2M40, finished 4th, Tom, 1st.M50 was 5th., Graham MacNeil, 2M50, was 7th., Andrew, 3M40, was 9th., Graham Screawn was 10th and Mike Hill 15th.
Christine, 3L40, was first Wilmslow lady followed by Janine, Kate, Angela, Laura, Huma, Melissa, Carolyn, Julie, Nina, Sarah and Gail.
Andy, 1st.M60, led-in Group 3. Then Paul Garnett, Tony, who was 2M60, and Paul Norris.
Gavin, 3M60, chalked-up his second League 4 win. He was followed by Christine, Geoff and Janine. When courses are talked-of as ‘undulating’, it is often a euphemism but here it was an accurate description. I settled-in behind Angela and Chris, which was ok, but I would want to address it in the second half. A Glastonbury-weary Kate was in front of them. Then Melissa and Laura came past. Having not run in recent races this was new territory, I tried to picture my spreadsheets, should they be ahead of me, I concluded they shouldn’t . Up the big hill we learned that Laura is a better climber than I am (unsurprising, everyone except Rod and Roy come into this category) but I was better coming down. Angie has good stamina but the heat brought her back to me. I had been closing on Curtis since the top of the hill but he seemed to revive in the final k. Sorry Alan, he was too good for me.
Second in League 5 was Laura with Melissa third. Carolyn took Roy on the big hill and gained revenge for Lymm. I had seen Richard in the newsagents in the morning, he was concerned about her hamstring but she survived. Then Julie, Nina, Sarah, Gail and Trevor.
We got a pretty T-shirt with the famous cow on the front, Huma and Angie looked sweet in the XL. Plus a yoghurt, which is perfect post-race, never seen that before. The car parking, many were ¾ mile from the start/finish, could be a problem on a wet, windy day, and they have a few of those in Wales, but this is a superb course.
Malcolm deposes Andrew Whittington at the top of the Main Table. Damian, Tony, Paul Garnett, Gareth, Paul Norris and Geoff all drop a place. Janine moves above Andrew Dodd. Chris, Angela and John drop a place. Carolyn moves above Alan. In the surreal arithmetic that characterises the Summer Series, Don, who struggled-in as the last Wilmslow runner, actually moved ahead of Roy and Gail, who both finished above him. Trevor Faulkner and Sarah Miles make it 20 names on the 2011 T-shirt and mug.
Janine, Angela, Carolyn and Gail hold their positions at the head of the Ladies’ League. Sarah jumps to 5th. Christine, Kate and Soraya, all needing one more race to qualify, threaten to shake-up the leader-board.
Tony, the two Pauls and Gareth continue their dominance of League 3. Andy moves-up to fifth.
Geoff retains top spot in League 4, Janine moves above Andrew into second and Angela above John into fourth.
Chris moves ahead of Alan in the battle for League 5. Carolyn, Roy and Gail hold their places. Trevor and Sarah move up to six and seventh above Soraya but the change is likely to prove short-lived.
12 runners have the potential, at Bollington next Sunday, to qualify and take the total above 30.
Ian