Wednesday July 20th.
Annual Triangular Competition
Summer Series, race 15
We won….again
- Wilmslow 2. Macclesfield 3. Congleton
Well that was the story on the night. But not the reality, a great effort, a great turnout but it would seem we were edged-out by Macclesfield.
Awaiting my first Forest 5 race, I was talking to Stuart Parrott.; it’s a tough 10 minute ascent at the beginning, he said, not really what I wanted to hear. I was watching, as we climbed, the minutes tick-away on my watch, when somewhat belatedly it sunk in, 10 minutes for Stuart is not 10 minutes for me. I always associate the race, however, with Mike and the year he and I battled one another all the way round. Few of you have been around long enough to remember him, he was a violinist with the Halle, he and his wife died in an avalanche climbing in the Alps.
Leaving Wilmslow it had been hot and sticky so it was pleasant to arrive at Macclesfield Forest to a pleasant breeze, ideal temperature for me, though most prefer it cooler.
The race breaks into thirds; first uphill, then undulating, and finally downhill.
Maybe we did not win the shield but we had the race winner in Damian. Barry was second, Andrew 8th. Tom 13th., Mike 14th., Brian 18th. Vincent 21st., Jeremy 22nd.,Mark 25th. Adam 28th., The first 7 being our counters in the inter-club competition. Craig was 74th.
Barry, Mike, Tom and Ian took age-category firsts.
And, wait, I’m now hearing of an appeal based upon a vest technicality and a recount that has made Wilmslow the winner, you’ll have to find a more authoritative source for the definitive answer.
Diane was the first of our lady counters in the triangular competition with Janine and Amy, who continues to demonstrate that youth is a great asset, filling the two other places.
Jarrod got another League 2 win over Matt as he has twice before in the hills. Pete then led-in Diane and Paul. Janine, Christian and Andy were further back behind the top League 3 runners.
Bernard gained another League 3 win just seconds ahead of Tony with League Leader, Gareth, in third. Then came Amy, Ginny, Chris, Steve, who has re-emerged from his hibernation, John Geoff and Patrick.
Gail and I had (correctly) got the points in League 4 sorted before the start. We should have talked to Sally, another 60-point haul, and Simon so the four of us could, instead, have retired to the Leather Smithy for the evening. I struggled with a heart rate over 185 early on, so finished the uphill sector in the company of the sweeper and his dog. It dropped to a regulation 150 thereafter and I had the psychological boost of passing lots of people in the undulating section. I could see no more Wilmslow ahead, so the downhill sector should have been consolidation but I kept catching site of a blue and gold vest pursuing me, Nina. I follow the lifestyle of a committed athlete, Nina, in contrast, indulges herself in the good things in life. Surely she did not have the fitness and energy to overhaul me in the final minutes of a tough race? You’ll be relieved to hear that righteousness prevailed and I held her off.
Cat, making it 5 out of 5 in League 5, and, true to current form, came in ahead of all League 4 except Sally, although she only beat Gail by inches. Leanne also beat both Ian and Simon whilst Nina, Don, Roy and Elspeth separated them. Roy is going through an unexpected revival, he’s perhaps left it too late for Rio, but for the second time in a month he beat his old pal/rival, the gloating in the bar is going to be painful. Elspeth, as at Bollington, was great going up the hills but not so great coming down and Trevor has always had that same strength and weakness. Good to see Stephen racing again particularly trusting the knee that has plagued his last two years on a course that was hardly sympathetic and finishing closely behind Simon.