WRC Series Race 2: The Watersons Hale 10k – 20th February 2022

The Watersons inaugural Hale 10k took place today on a rather wet Sunday. The course started in Hale and going through the centre of the thriving village before heading out to Ashley, along the picturesque country lanes, and finished in front of the magnificent Ashley Hall.

Parking was strictly only available at Ashley Hall and was free and with the start on South Downs Road  you had  to be there 10 minutes before the start .

 The finish: on a summers day!

Unfortunately the race organisers waited for the last runner home before cars could leave.

Our senior travel and race correspondent has sent in his report:

Hale 10k

The advanced weather forecast had suggested a miserable running day, wet and windy. In previous years I had run the majority of what was then called the Summer Series races, some, I think Chris and Carolyn, had managed to run them all. However, I now deem a number of the races too long or too tough for me, a bit wimpish, I know, I am sure when Andy gets to my age he will romp round them. This included two of the first three, Stockport Trail and Cloud 9 so I was grateful for Hale; 10k, on the road and hopefully flat, within my comfort zone.

The weather though was getting worse, Storm Eunice had brought down a 60’ tree in our back garden and, as I looked out, this was now lying in Bollin flood water. The Met Office had issued an amber weather warning for Sunday. I have run in bad conditions over the years but never in an amber weather warning, are they new or was it going to be horrendous? Sally, Nicky and Tracy had all said how tough the conditions were at the Stockport Trail and running, when you are getting colder not warmer, is frightening, remember all those people who died in the race in China when the temperature dropped. The saving grace was that a temperature a 12^o was forecast, albeit with a significant wind-chill factor.

I had dropped-out of the Cheshire Cross-Country when I found it too difficult, I checked the Hale route, we passed the Ashley Hall car park at 3.5k, I had a potential escape route, after that I had crossed the Rubicon, I was committed. All this proved over melodramatic, the conditions were not good but we’ve raced in many worse.

The km. to the start was ok, I wore a plastic jacket which I kept on for the early part of the race. The first 3k through the centre of Hale was enjoyable with plenty of spectators. When I first wrote these reports, I was in with a mass of Wilmslow runners, overtaking and being over-taken and seeing who was having a good day and who was struggling. It had not been my intent to write this year, I’m no longer in the mix, but it was thought helpful at Tuesday’s lasagne if I at least kicked the process off this year and hopefully others would pick it up.

As we were approaching halfway I was surprisingly closing-in on Jan but she was carrying an injury, but then, when isn’t she. At 5.5k I overtook her but, as I knew she would, 50m on she surged passed me, moment of glory passed, and took Roy’s, who was supporting, applause. 30 seconds later Catherine also came passed. They didn’t however get away and I harboured ambitions of getting back on terms but these were dispersed by two hills (to be honest a railway bridge and a motorway crossing but they felt like hills) but I managed to keep they in sight, they finished with the identical times.

Good race but two moans. Our cars were trapped until the last runner finished, Catherine suggested to the benefit of the hospitality stalls and secondly, looking to see if I had won the 75-9 category, they had lumped all the >60s together, which seemed a bit tight-fisted for an expensive race.

Huma was first over 50 Lady and Nicky first over 60. Paul was 2^nd over 60 Man and Angela 2^nd. over 60 Lady.

First Man : Ross Millington of Stockport Harriers in 30:57; first lady was Sophie Wood in 35:26.

713 runners finished – the last two Robins finished with a time of 1:26:33 on the clock!

		Chip Time	Chip Position	Category	Category Position
Robert	Jackson	38:19	29	M	20
Nick	Jackson	42:21	77	M50+	8
Diane	Bygrave	43:33	96	F40+	4
Paul	Norris	44:10	103	M60+	2
Qes	Hussain	45:56	138	M	66
Huma	Rahman	45:57	139	M50+	1
Tracy	Brown	46:23	152	F50+	2
Nicky	Mowat	47:31	178	F60+	1
Angela	Mccarthy	47:52	196	F60+	2
Ian	Roberts	50:13	252	M50+	34
Nic	Brown	51:11	271	M50+	39
Janet	Wyles	55:11	391	F50+	10
Catherine	Machin	55:11	392	F40+	26
Ian	Ashcroft	56:33	429	M60+	16

 

Ian

 

The results tables are now published on the website. Go to http://wilmslowrunningclub.co.uk/2022-main-league-table/ for the main table. Other tables can be accessed via the WRC Race Series Tab. Notes:

There are six tables: Main (showing all results), Ladies, then leagues 1 to 4.

Everyone has an entry on the main table and their league table. Hopefully Ladies is self explanatory 😉

Position is determined by number of races completed (until you reach 7) then highest score.

I haven’t been able to work out how to directly open the web pages created with the tables. This means when you go on the page you have to click the link shown. I’m still attempting to improve it!

If you see any errors then let me know.

Any questions, shout up!

Jan