Langley 7

Summer Series, race 23

Saturday, November 1st.

Just the first few lines from Penny's epic  written to celebrate Langley 2005

‘Twas the night before Langley and all through the club

Not a runner was drinking or down at the pub.

Our trainers were hung by the heater to dry

In hopes that tomorrow they’d help us to fly.

The WRC poetry tradition disappeared with Penny, her most poignant was a quote from Tony 'This Is Not a Social Club', but even he has given-up that battle, producing a '25 years' cake at last Sunday's Training Day.

Langley is the perfect end to the Series and, whenever I've got people to vote, it comes out as the favourite (I'm not planning to organise a vote this year but if you have strong feelings for or against any races and want to lobby for them to be included or excluded in 2015, I will ensure they are passed on). We have dragged ourselves up Wythenshaw Lane in thick mist and biting cold that has mocked the 'Summer' we attach to our competition, but this year it was preceded by the warmest Halloween on record. It was cooler in Langley, 12^o,a bit of a  wind, but dry, good running conditions. I had looked at the Wilmslow entries, nearly 50 of them, 13 from League 4, not a prayer of a point. Gail and I have been neck-and-neck from the first race, but we had decided on Tuesday that neither of us was going to get anything out of Langley, we were going for the cake and tea.

Others, however, were less relaxed; if my glance down the table was correct Amanda, Rachel, Gavin and Leanne needed Langley to get their 7 qualifying events for this year's League and the mug,  whilst Phil, Jarrod, Andys Watts and Dodd, Louisa, Nicky, Geoff and Bernard needed it for 12 races and their name on the 2014 running shirt.

Then up and down the Main Table and the individual leagues, places, promotion and relegation (quite how promotion and relegation will work seems a bit of a mystery) at stake. None more crucial than Barry, Jim and Rob all with the possibility of finishing second to Damian.

  Don

Peter Speake, with a magnificent run, won the race. Barry was 6th., Jim 8th., Rob 16th., and Mike 22nd.

Janine was our first lady and the race's 1st.L45. Then came Louisa, Huma, Amanda, Nicky, who was 1st.L55, and Angela.

Phil, already assured of the League 2 title, took the 60 points and Craig confirmed his status as runner-up. Then came Jarrod, Andy, 2nd.L60, Matt, Jon, Steve, Janine and Louisa. Paul Garnett, who is undergoing a battery of heart tests dropped-out early on.

Tim was League 3 winner ensuring that he finishes runner-up to Richard. Next Patrick, back in shape after his breathing difficulties. Then came Nicky, Geoff, Andy, Chris and Gavin.

Huma and Amanda broke away from the other League 4 runners early on.  I could see Ang and John over the first two miles but, once we hit Wythenshaw Lane, Bernard was my focus. Clare has been brilliant in recent races but had been ill, for me to overtake her going uphill meant she was seriously off-form. I was closing on Bernard up the main hill, apparently his sudden demise at the Summit race was because he had tripped over a hog, sadly there was not a pig in sight at Langley. Then in the steep downhill section Rachel stormed passed. James was concerned I would catch him on the descent, as I had at Bosley, but I never even saw him. Meanwhile, unbeknown to me, Gail who had struggled in the first two miles was rapidly closing but the finish came too quickly for her. Simon was 1st.M70.

One of the most intriguing contest of the day was between Sue and Catriona for the League 5 championship. Catriona had it for 6 miles only for Sue to find something extra in the last mile. However, with a superb piece of competitive running, Soraya overtook them both to beat Sue by 5 seconds, Carolyn was a further 5 seconds back and then Cat. Next came Sarah, Elspeth, Don, Leanne and Trevor.

Lots of support; Martin, Ian, Roy and Paul.

Cake maintained the usual high quality. A well-marshalled and organised race over a challenging but excellent course.

Ian