Bollington Nostalgia

Summer Series, Race 12

Sunday July 14th.

Another scorching Sunday. Another elegant setting. Another race dominated by blue and gold vests. Julie and I agreed that we enjoyed this week more than last, but that may have been subjective, we are both in recovery mode and we had both improved. But maybe not that subjective, Bollington was voted the club's favourite race and this despite, as Paul pointed-out, that the ascent was almost twice that of last week's Freckled Cow. Last week was one for what Andy and Janine call the Summer Series tarts, this week, less than 20 minutes from home was, unless you were in Group 1, not about points but pride and pleasure.

Rob was 4th., and 1st. M40, a place ahead of Jim with Barry 6th. and, league leader,  Andrew 7th.

Diane was our, and the race's, first lady in 12th. place, just 6 seconds ahead of Mike,with Malcolm, 1st. M50, only 10 seconds further back in 13th.

Janine took second place in the Ladies' League and was also 1st. F40, Nicky was third lady then Sally and Zoe.

Diane notched-up another Division 2 60-points, Allan was second and Nick third. Next Andy, who was also 1st. M60, Jarrod, Paul Garnett and Richard Hirons.

We're now at the stage where Andy normally comes-in and is able to give a first-hand account of the action, but no Mr. Dodd. Janine made it two Division 3 60-points in succession, Patrick was second, Nicky third, then Jamie, Chris and John.

Amanda always runs Bollington well. Angela traditionally leads me up the hills, I pass her on the downhill and then we fight it out on the tow-path.  I warned her to be wary, but it was bluster, I never saw her after the first climb. I said last week that Gail had been a star, well now she's a superstar, we reckon she's running close to 10 minutes faster than two months ago, all down to getting her diet right. At the trig point a line of Wilmslow; Carolyn, Simon, Don, Gail, Ian. A mile downhill and it read Carolyn, Don, Ian, Gail then Simon. By the end of the tow-path; Carolyn, Alan, Gail, Simon, Ian and Don. Gail pushed-on further taking Carolyn and Simon, another M70 prize, passed Alan on the run-in. Quite where Claire was in all this I'm not sure, she fell heavily at the first bridge over the stream,emerging with earth all over her face but was able to continue. I didn't see her again until as I crossed the line, I was surprised to find her just a pace or two behind me, having cleaned herself up somewhere on the way. Gail got her first Divsion 4 60-points from Carolyn, Claire, Don, Julie and Judith.

Few of you will remember Roger Bannister, the first sub-4 minute miler. He quickly lost his world record to the Australian, John Landy. The two then met in the mile of the century. As they sprinted for the line, Landy glanced over his right shoulder, just as Bannister took him on the left. Well history repeats itself. Roy and Nina came down the final cobbled hill, hand-in-hand, taking the rapturous applause of their Wilmslow colleagues, totally oblivious of the advancing Leanne who, face all grins, neatly skipped round them both to pick-up two extra Series points.

Owen says that you can always guarantee that there's some guy in the race, on a bet from the local pub, who's never run before and will save the proper runners the embarrassment of coming last. Well at the trig point he feared it was him. But the downhill came to his rescue, he managed to get passed Jan and they both, in the end, avoided having to go home in ignominy.

Good to see Stuart and Rob out there supporting. Thanks to Malcolm as race organiser, Dave, Christine and Kate on the finish. Bollington's a great race.

Ian