Sport in the Port

Cheshire Grand Prix

Summer Series, race 13

 Ellesmere Port. A new venue for me, a PB course say the organisers. Good news for some, but my 7 counters for the Series consist of 5 off-road plus two parkruns. Not, I believe, a reflection of my road running but others off-road reticence. The Port, though, is for the flat-earthers a ‘flat, fast 10k’.  But even for those of us for whom adding to their points total seems unlikely, there is plenty to go for, a chance of a best 10k of the season, taking-on times from Llandudno, Trafford and Crewe. And, for the stars, further progress in this year’s Grand Prix.

 We were blessed again with a good running temperature, 13^O, but, being near the coast, there was a wind blowing up the estuary. Yesterday’s forecast had been for drizzle, which was heavy on the M56, but it held-off for race, with the sun increasingly breaking through.

 Ellesmere Port does not quite match the intrinsic attractiveness of St. Tropez, that’s October, but I like an out and back race, where the turn enables you to see how everyone else is doing. Sadly, at my age, remembering who was where is tricky. Peter was up front (and finished 8^th) then came Paul, 20^th., Barry 25^th. and then an impressive cluster of League 1 Wilmslow runners. Andrew was 34^th., Nick 41^st., Mike 45^th., Allan 51^st. and Graham 62^nd. This sort of race, off the main circuit, is often where we, in the past, have outgunned the bigger clubs. Our club spirit and ethic meaning we get the best team out on the day. Tony, whose own commitment has much to do with this, disappeared in the first half mile, but he’s not one to let the odd disappointment get in the way of his enthusiasm. Wilmslow numbers were good if not, by Summer Series standards, high but rich in quality.

 I missed Di, and was frightened that she was the Wilmslow vest I had seen drop-out early-on. In fact she finished . 3^rd. lady. Janine was 1^st. F45 and Diane 2^nd. F40. I’m not sure how many ladies count for the Grand Prix but they were followed by Nicky, who was 1^st. F50,  Huma, Kate, 2^nd. F50, Sally, Amy, Gail and Clare.

 Matt seems to have found the route this week leading in League 2  from Mick, 1^st. M65, Steve, Paul, Richard, Janine and Tim.

 I don’t recall Diane winning League 3 in the past but she got the 60 points, a lengthy search for an entry in the week having brought its reward. Gareth took secon. Nicky edged-out Patrick for third, both of them finding the road more to their liking than the fells. Huma was followed by Amy and finally, hamstring-inhibited, Chris.

 Bernard is braving the Tour of Tameside alongside Christian. Jon favours off-road, Angie’s search for an entry failed. So perhaps pursuit of League 4 points was a possibility?  Sally appeared to have a commanding lead at halfway but was overhauled by Kate on the home leg. Gail, one of the returning mountaineers, and Clare were together until 7k when Gail started to gain supremacy. Sharon was determined not to start too fast, I don’t think she did, but had slowed, albeit temporarily, by 2k when I picked her up. She’s a better runner than I but injury has robbed the miles from her legs. Carolyn has the opposite problem, perhaps a race or two too many over the last couple of months, she looked to be running tired.

 Nina had had the better of Simon on the road so far this year, but here she never challenged him. Simon after a long series of wins was pipped for the M70 prize. Elspeth had removed any pressure by not wearing her watch whilst Belinda chalked-up a valuable 57 points.

The initial impression was that the course is slower than both Crewe and Trafford, or that the wind was a factor, was born out by the stats.  We were 1.4% slower than Crewe, 34 seconds for a 40 minute runner. It is a well-organised race and the goodies bag is generous. I thought putting the 5k and 10k through the same finishing funnel might prove good in theory but brave in practice but the prize ceremony was speedy and the results were quickly on the web.

Ian