Boar’s Head – 6th June 2012

Though nobody can write a race report like ‘The Ashcroft’ in his absence and the absence of another I will happily share what happened to me at this race.

Race 9 in the Series, and 35 of us turned out on a bleak looking evening though probably almost perfect running conditions.

I had travelled down with Steve Russell, John Porteous and Louisa Harrison. On route Steve started ‘coaching’ Louisa with directions for the best routes to take in the race, by the time of our arrival I felt sure she was sufficiently confused and would not only end up going the wrong way but probably end up in a different County, the 60 points would be safe, I could not have been more wrong.

I normally like the hills, I have always taken scalps on the hills that on a flat race I wouldn’t normally, not on this night however.

Group 3 had the normal suspects in attendance, could anyone stop the steam train that is ‘The Harrison’ from another 60 points? Breamie had run this race well last year, surely he could, Steve Russell still in fine form from London, perhaps so, Diane Bygrave had beaten her at Cloud 9 so had a chance and the ever improving Dr Matt is now always a consideration for 60 points.

I felt tired from the start so my plan was to just try and live with the others for the first 4 miles and then be brave on the downhill’s, it was a brilliant plan for the first 400 yards then I soon saw Louisa, Matt, Di and Steve go past me on the first hill and that was that. I then stayed on Kate’s shoulder up the hill to the Tower, I could see as they lopped round Steve Russell was leading both Louisa and Matt , I couldn’t see Pete Bream but knew he was either just in front or just behind, looked like a great battle was beginning to commence.

From there on in I just tried to survive, numerous runners went passed me, with the only exception being Christine who really struggled in the last mile on the uneven downhill’s, though I was sure she would catch me near the finish I just managed to hold her off.

Louisa makes it 60 Group 3 Points in her last 4 races, murmurs of promotion to Group 2, well there wasn’t to be honest, but now it’s been mentioned? Great runs by Pete and Steve for 59 and 58 points respectively.

Julie Lucas on her home turf ran a brilliant race and took the 60 points for Group 4, nice to see Melissa run so well after her recent Marathon efforts, hasn’t she heard about Marathon legs?, followed in by Sharon. Simon not on his favourite terrain was pipped by Huma, who informed me this morning she had run part of the course the wrong way and lost a good few minutes, it just gets worse Si.

I would love to give more detail of the battle at the top of the table but I only got to see you guys at the start, although I was ahead of Mark Bale after 200 yards so I did run the beginning bit quite well, or he had turned up late?, suffice to say that was the last I saw of him.

Diane Mcvey our first lady home and 2nd lady overall, Malcolm our first male and 5th overall.

Great support from Roy, Gail Hill and her family, it’s not often you climb up an almost vertical rock face on a Wednesday evening to be met by a smiling Roy Pownall with his words of encouragement, then high fives from the Hills near the finish, always appreciated.

Onto Llandudno, it’s a long way to travel, I wouldn’t bother if I was you, see you there.

Andy D