Quarry Bank Trail

Club Series, race 16
Wednesday August 15th.

Having run this course dozens of times, either in the Handicap or training, this was a race waiting to happen. It is very much the Handicap Course (keep Thursday December 27th. free) except for three things. Firstly it starts and finishes at the Mill not the club. Secondly it uses roads not footpaths to get from the Mill to the road. Thirdly it includes the 300m loop in the woods that we now use for Tuesday training. Combining road and off-road, hills and steps, it packs everything into a fairly tough 4.5 miles.

I thought Andrew was pushing it with a 400 entry list, but, by using the roads at the start, he avoided early congestion. It is narrow by the hotel, that everyone still calls the Valley Lodge, but, by then, the field had thinned. I was 142nd. out of 362, so probably close to the busiest section and there was no problem, although the half mile from the Valley Lodge would limit any significant expansion.

Quarry Bank follows our brief that we want more local races, so the turn-out was perhaps disappointing, however this was a late inclusion in the busiest holiday period – it would certainly be one of my picks for next year.

Claire, I think making her Wilmslow debut, was bold enough to steal the show and come-in first lady, not just first Wilmslow lady but the also the race’s.

The Mens’ prize goes to Dan, who was third overall, first Under 21 and first Wilmslow man.

Category winners were James (M45), Colin (M55), John (M65) and Ian (M70).

Jarrod was 2nd. M50, Graham 3rd.  M45, Di 2nd F40. Amanda 3rd. F40 and Roy 3rd .M65.

League 1 reads Daniel, James, Claire, Jarrod, Graham.

League 2 saw Di home first then Amanda, who has been missing since her early burst, coming back strongly. She was followed by Gareth, who, looking at him after the race, may have enjoyed Majorca too much. Mark, after his long layoff, had struggled at Pie & Peas but is finding his way back.

Colin has been complaining about ladies suddenly appearing from nowhere and beating him, Zoe and Sally in recent races. This time he had the field to himself particularly as rival, Patrick, was absent. The battle in League 3 was Chris’ narrow win over John.

Sue, despite still not fully recovered from whooping cough, established a good early lead in League 4. However Ian started to whittle it away as we moved from the road to the trail, he took the lead on the 300m circuit. That should have been that but, with 200m to go, Sue surged back in front, only for Ian to win the sprint. This was a sapping course for Roy, whose knee severely limits his mileage and having been close to Ian at the Valley Lodge he drifted back, albeit it to a very satisfactory time and ahead of 140 other runners.

Lots of Running Club, as well as Strider, helpers.

A most enjoyable evening.