Summer Series, race 16
Sunday July 12th.
I try to make a decent start at Bollington otherwise you waste time over the stile across the stream. Having run yesterday, however, I didn’t push it, I wanted to feel how strong my legs were for the two further hills to come. I was with Sarah, a bit behind Simon, I glanced back as we left the road to check how we were placed. The road was empty.
Bollington has frequently been voted the favourite race of the Series. Trail, roads, uphill, downhill it offers something for everyone. 35 is a good turn-out but, I suspect, fewer than in previous years. The heavens opened 15 minutes before the start and we huddled together doing our warm-ups under the registrars’ awning. It stopped just before the start and once the race was underway it became quite humid, a shower, then, would have been welcome.
We always win lots of prizes here and I’m not sure who won what. Rob was 3rd., Jim 5th., Mike 7th., and James 16th.
First lady overall was probably spoken-for before the race started, Sharon was very much best of the rest. Diane was our second lady with Janine 3rd. and Sally 4th.
Brian, perhaps misplaced in League 2, made it 3 races, 3 wins. Matt was second and Sharon 3rd. Then Jarrod, Steve, Richard, Janine and Ian. A tough day on which to pick-up points.
League 3 was also very competitive. Diane led-in league-leader, Gareth with Sally, and Tony following. Then came Geoff, Nicky, Zoe, Patrick, Chris Cannon, Huma and Chris Grime.
In League 4 Sally and Clare both had excellent races. Gail and Gavin were perhaps feeling Buxton in their legs and then came Colin.
I picked-up my second wooden-spoon of the weekend. I caught Simon near the top of the big hill but was nearly on the tow-path before I passed Trevor. Simon overtook him on the tow-path to take second place to Julie, who gained enough ground on the hills to hold-out over the second half for the League 5 60-points. Sarah was laterne rouge.
Many thanks to Nick, Rob, Roy and others who handled the race organisation.
Ian