Mid-Cheshire 5k

English 5k Championship
Cheshire Grand Prix
Club Race Series, race 5
Friday April 27th.

Richard had won his two previous Club Series races at Poynton and Whitley. How he fared would be a good indicator of whether the race lived-up to its ‘English Championship’ billing. He finished 70th., this was a field, at least at the front (more about the back later) that lived up to its billing. As I passed the 3k mark I wondered if the leaders had finished, the answer is that 35 were already home.

We had had a burst of summer, as our London Marathon runners will tell you, but, although the rain had stopped, it was cold, 7deg as we drove along the M56. There was a breeze, but nothing to stand in the way of a PB and this is a PB course, almost everyone was looking at their watch and smiling at the finish.

Tony had phoned me in the day, he, never one to get carried away, had said that your time at Kingsley is a false high and blights your year because you know you can never equal it on a level course. My Garmin says that there is a net descent of 12m, nevertheless you go home with a warm glow, which lasts until at least the next 5k.

The reason for Tony’s call was to say that the Staffordshire Moorlands races are now on their website. I need to talk to Jan, when she gets back, but we will probably include Roaches, Thu. June 28 and Rudyard Lake, Thu. July 5th. in the Series. We had also hoped for Tittesworth but it is the day after Boars Head. We also now have a date for the Forest 5, Wed. July 18. We possibly have room for one more race if anyone wants to make the case for a favourite.

Andrew was 171st., another indicator of what we were up against. Jeremy came 207th., Nick 244th. , Tim 260th. , Tom 268th.,just a second ahead of Graham, 269th. Paul Norris, who is being groomed for higher office, was 309th and Louisa 326th.

Diane was first lady. Of course we are accustomed to a Diane being first lady but this was Bygrave not McVey. Another indicator of quality, our first lady was the race’s 54th. Louisa was next then Janine, who was 3rd. in the F45 category, followed by Sally, Nicola, Nicky, who was 2nd. F55, Catherine and Julie.

Paul Garnett took 60 points in League Two just 2 seconds ahead of Diane then Janine and Sally.

Nicola scored her first League Three triumph followed, only 5 days after his London Marathon and only 7 seconds behind, Colin, then Nicky and Chris.

Catherine maintained her 100% winning record in League Four. Simon overtook Ian at 1.5k and built and maintained a 13 second lead. Julie starting at the back initially closed on them but could not bridge the gap, this was a good, fast 5k for someone whose primary target is the ultras. Trevor toughed it out near the back.

This was the English 5k Championship. Logic says therefore that Tom (M60), Ian (M70) and Simon (M75) are now the English champions in their respective age groups. Tom is a talent and fully deserving of such status. Simon would not, in the past, have aspired to such but, since he turned 75, he has become a real power in the land. Ian can hide behind the old cliché that you can only beat those who turn-up on the day.