Summer Series, Race 22
Saturday October 18th.
A Tony treat this one, Saturday morning in Yorkshire. I think it was Yorkshire, a hill off the M62, but there are a few of those. It looked likely to be a points bonanza, and it probably was unless you were unfortunate enough to be in League 4. Gail and I looked in disappointment to see Jon and Clare, nice people, good company but not wanted here. My dismay was fully justified; an excellent Main Table score but in League 4, long before the race was over, I knew I would be dropping from third to fifth in the table.
The race started at the Summit Inn. In normal parlance you might expect to be running downhill from the summit, but in this race the summit was at the bottom, there was another pub at the top, The White House. The legend is that 48 years ago someone won a bet that they could run from the Summit Inn to the White House and back in 30 minutes. The race has been run annually ever since. He won his bet, but no Wilmslow runner would have done so and a few might have struggled to get halfway in that time. Getting halfway was the challenge, it was a tough two miles. The course was said to be runable, but not remotely to anyone in my neck of the woods.
Having got to the top you had to touch the wall of the White House, there was a man checking. Then, initially, you returned down the same path. This inspired good Wilmslow camaraderie between the flyers coming down and the strugglers heaving their way up. It also allowed you to assess who you might catch in the second half and to whom you might be vulnerable.
Allan was first Wilmslow runner home, 8th., followed by Mike, 10th., Di, 20th., and Tom, 23rd. Allan, Mike and Tom and are all vying to finish the year second to Damian.
Diane was second lady. Louisa's 59 points may have secured her third place in the Ladies League table and given her a platform to challenge Janine for second at Langley. Clare was our fourth lady on the day, then Nicky, Gail, Carolyn, Sue and Nina.
Steve took league 2 from Jon, both are challenging to finish third in the table (Phil and Craig lead). Andy was third. Next Louisa who runs this sort of course well and then Janine, who of course doesn't, she'll be happier at Langley.
Richard has dominated League 3,10 wins already, more interesting was his battle with Steve which he won by a single second. Tim's 59 could be important, securing him second place in the table. Geoff was third.
Clare is running so well, and was so far ahead of me at Norland, that I had removed her from my calculations, concentrating on Gail and Carolyn, with just the possibility of beating Jon. No chance. Not only was Jon miles ahead of me but he was also well ahead of Clare, a brilliant run. My main aim was to try and stay with Gail and Carolyn going uphill, both are better up than down. Bernard, I had beaten reasonably comfortably at Norland, and wasn't in my game-plan, but he started well gaining 100m in the first mile. He then, if anything, extended this up the second mile
Coming down I was following Alan and Nicky with none of us were making any ground on Bernard. I occasionally glanced back just to re-assure that Gail and Carolyn were behaving themselves before turning my concentration back to Bernard. I was starting to make some ground on Alan and Nicky when, with about half a mile to go Bernard's wheels seem to come off. Nicky caught him and then I caught first Alan and then Bernard, and with him a critical League 4 point. Gail pulled away from Carolyn coming down and both of them overhauled Patrick.
Sue consolidated her leadership of League 5 with another 60-point victory. Trevor's hill-climbing ability proved too much for Nina, who has finally dragged herself to qualification.
Ian