Kingsley, Mid-Cheshire 5k

Cheshire Grand Prix

Summer Series, race 4
Friday April 28

Not only the Cheshire Grand Prix but also the English 5k Championship, some frighteningly fast runners from around the country. Not to take too much glory away from them, or us, NiftyEntries promote it hard as a PB course, which it certainly is, but it’s a bit iffy; a 4km. loop but then a repeat of the first km. which is downhill. Still, not to look a gift horse in the mouth, I, like everyone else belted down that final km. knowing this would be my best time of the year. PBs in the comment box, please.

Tony was calling the times at 3km., 14:56, the leaders were already sitting-down having their post-race cup of tea.

Trevor was the star, 1st. V55. It says something about the strength of the field in some categories when Di ‘only’ finishes 3rd. Other categories were less competitive, even Anne, who has been around long enough to know better, was impressed when I told her I was 3rd. in the English 5k Championship. More worthy performances came from Louisa and Paul, 4th. in F40 and M55 respectively, Mick 2nd. in M65, it is not often Mick has to settle for second, and Jan 3rd.F50.

Barry led our challenge for the Cheshire Grand Prix and there was good support from League 1; Jeremy, Diane, Trevor, Matt, and Jarrod.

Louisa was our second lady then Di and Jan.

Craig took the 60 points in League 2 from Louisa, Paul, newcomer Graham, Diane B and Mick.

Mark won League 3.

He was joined by Gail, who had had a tough marathon, a projected 3:47 at halfway was drifting out until a last km. burst brought her under the 4 hours. A race 5 days later is certainly gutsy but wise…? On the marathon report my apologies to Andy, Adam and James; I was using the race website to plot all the Wilmslow runners real-time through their 5km. splits (fascinating watching Patrick, Nicky and Angie swapping places). At 10:20 Andy, Adam and James were all shown as not having crossed the start line, as was Sue, who was a genuine non-starter – I prematurely deleted them all from my Wilmslow array.

Col’s dominance of League 4 continued. He has had two very close finishes with Rachael, whom I can’t find in the results. Jan had a brilliant PB run of 23:08, she’s already booked herself in for the repeat of this race in the summer, let’s see you at Lyme Park, Jan. Even with Gail encouraging her, Julie lost Ian on that final downhill kilometre, Simon got under the 25 and Trevor left a good few in his wake.