2 June 2012
While the rest of you were fishing for SS and GP points at Hollins Green I was over in Wincle where trout was on the menu and my daughters were competing in the junior race.
I hadn't planned on taking it seriously but after the first mile found myself in the lead with nobody else wanting to take it on. The paths through the woods were slippery and I picked my way along with a long line of runners behind me. On the long, undulating climb to Hanging Rock all my followers slowly dropped away except for a SMAC runner, Jason Burgess, who doggedly hung on just a step behind. The descent was fast and slippery and over the twisting paths and stiles I couldn't work my way clear. As we hit the road Jason dashed past me. The last hill was a killer and although I made up some ground I had no sprint to offer as we entered the showground.
Ellen fared rather better in the junior race beating the boys to take the overall win with a well paced effort. Juliet finished 3rd girl to complete a team Downs podium.
It was a good few years since I'd run the Trout and the accompanying village fete seemed to have rather more going on. A big tent was stacked with cake, sandwiches and other post race supplements.
1 Jason Burgess SMAC 39.08
2 Rob Downs 39.18
45 Simon Bolton 48.25
303 finishers all received a trout.
Full results at http://www.ukresults.net/2012/wincle.html. Great Bryan Dale photos at http://www.racephotos.org.uk/
Rob