Cheshire Grand Prix, Race 5
Summer Series, Race 13
Sunday June 26th.
Our men were dominant; Peter 2nd., Damian 3rd., Jon 10th. Andrew 13th. We understand that our Ladies have also been declared winners; Janine 8th., Louisa 9th., Diane 10th. Though the Ladies’ win seems to have asked as much of Janine’s negotiating skills as her running.
This was a new course to me. It had the feel of Arley and, until I talked to Matt, I had assumed it would be pancake flat. Matt warned me of a hill at 7k and there was an earlier one, at 3k?, but it wasn‘t Buxton. The atmosphere was damp, but it didn’t rain and there was no noticeable wind – a good day for running along some pleasant Cheshire country roads.
Was this the first time that Peter has beaten Damian? A good run by Peter or below-par from Damian? Peter was first M40. Wilmslow is a successful club because when we need our good runners, they make themselves available and deliver. No less than 9 from League 1; Nick was 32nd., Tom 35th,and first M60, Brian 43rd.,Jeremy 49th. and Craig 116th.
In the Ladies Ginny, new to me (making her debut?) and Nicky followed the front three.
In League 2, flat and on the road means Matt, hilly and off-road means Jarrod and so it proved. Then came Janine, Christian, Louisa, Diane, Pete and Paul. I had a party to go to and didn’t have a chance to talk to Paul, but this looks like an off day.
Bernard had a stunning run, was he really League 4 last year? Top of the league, Gareth, then led-in Tony, who was first M65, Ginny, Geoff, Nicky, Chris, Mark, John, Patrick and Alan. John had talked beforehand of a sore calf but was not blaming it at the finish,
Alan, who has run so well to date, had a poorer day which took him into a fourway battle, a steady inter-change of positions, with Gail, Carolyn and Sue. In the closing stages Gail pulled ahead and Sue dropped back. Much to her relief, an indication of Gail making real progress after her injury. Carolyn‘s form has been mixed since an excellent London. Sue started the Series well but this was her best run for some time. James, another PB, is running superbly and was nearly 5 minutes ahead of his League 4 rivals, he has won all his races this year. My collapse is difficult to fathom; Llandudno 49 minutes, Whitley 51, Colshaw 53, not a good trend. Simon is in similar disarray. Andy gave us, and I’m sure everyone else, vociferous support, assuring me that I had Simon beaten but I could hear him a few second later telling Simon he could catch me. I lost-out on first M70 by one second, despite having the best chip time.
Jan was ahead of both Simon and I and chalked-up another League 5 win. Elspeth was next. Nina, who has been over-indulging across the continents of the world, is having to work her was back. And, long time, no see, good to have Martin back.