Summer Series – Race 20

Langley 7

Saturday November 6

It was sunny when we left Wilmslow but Langley was more overcast and at 8^o the last of the Summer Series had a wintry bite. There was no wind and on a perfect running day the views from the top were glorious.

I suspect this first paragraph will stand but the rest may need to be re-considered when Don's computer agrees to release the results

Damian has dominated the Series from start to finish. He has not always won at Langley but he retained the title he won last year by a comfortable margin. Jim, who takes silver for the Summer Series, was third. Malcolm, who takes bronze, was fourth as well as 1st.M45. Tom, who is age/sex champion, was 6th. and 1st.M55. Phil was 7th., Rob Gilbert 8th., Nick's re-habilitation continued at 19th, Steve Dempsey was 23rd., Ray was 25th.  Mick, 29th., beat Andy to the 1st.M60 prize.

In the main table, Steve Dempsey passed Tony to finish 6th. Ray Eagle, in what was effectively his seventh race, moved-up to 8th. Nick took Katy and Matt for 17th. Nicky overtook Chris Watts and Jamie for 28th. Gavin expunged his Sizzler disaster for 31st. James moved ahead of Roy and Angela to 41st. Cat outsprinted Monique and Sharon to 49th. Gail sneaked by Martin and Trevor for 55th. Carolyn has the honour of carrying the lanterne rouge.

Nicky edged Katy by 3 seconds to take the Ladies' 60 points for the second time in three races, she was also 1stL50. Louise had already secured the Series' Ladies' championship. Katy, as well as second on the day, was runner-up for the year with Clare taking bronze for the Series. Christine, despite third at Langley, ceded fourth overall to Nicky. Janine claimed to be less than 100%, but I soon lost her pony-tail in the distance. Catriona chose a tough course to find her form but was well rewarded for a finishing flourish that took her ahead of Sharon, Penny and Nina into 12th. for the Series. Last year's Ladies' champion, Kate, ostensibly paced Gail to another PB but the conspiracy theorists had her part of a female Guy Fawkes plot to get Gail above Trevor in the main table, a scheme in which Julie was also rumoured to have played a role.

Steve Smith emphasised his supremacy in League 3/4 taking 60 points for the 8th. time in 10 races. Paul Garnett continues to move up the pecking-order but joined too late to get seven qualifying races. Andy's 58 points ensures him third place in the league but it was insufficient to get him on terms with Tony, who takes second place for the Series. Paul Norris came-in  third and Gareth fourth. Only 6 seconds separated  Nicky, Katy and James Gowin.  Christine , who was also 1st.L45, was followed by Patrick, Janine, Gavin, Don and Ian.

Gareth climbs above Mathew for 7th., Paul Norris above Katy for 9th. and Christine above Jamie for 14th. Gavin had a highly productive Langley, also going ahead of Kate and Clare to 16th. as did Nicky, who forced her way in front of Sarah Waite and Chris Watts. James Gowin eased his way off the bottom at the expense of Angela.

Do you run or walk when the hills get hard? Trevor, as always, is blunt, we're a running club. My tactics are less pure. I believe that when you slow to a certain pace it is better to walk; the distance you lose through not running is more than compensated by reaching the top with fresher legs. For no good reason, I abandon this tactic at Langley, running the hill is about self-esteem. This was fortunate as halfway up was Penny, who would never dream of walking, and has dragged me up in previous years. To have been caught walking by the poet who put the Langley 7 into verse would have incurred serious loss of face. However, Andy and John, just ahead, each took a short respite; I gained nothing on the climb and failed to catch either on the descent, further evidence in favour of the walking theory. I probably take the form guide too seriously, but being beaten by Andy and John, who are both below me in the rankings, marks this a disappointing performance whereas I thought I had run okay.

John had dominate the early season 5/6 races and, but for his leg operation, would surely have had the championship sown-up before Owen hit his purple patch. Even more unfortunate was his getting snarled-up in traffic, when at the peak of his form, and missing the start of Goyt Valley. In the final analysis, however, someone who is twenty-five years younger has lost weight and gained commitment holds all the aces and Owen, with only one 60-points in the first 15 races, eased to his fifth 5/6 first in a row and is 2010 champion.

Just before the start of Owen's charge, the form man had been Andrew. Langley could have been John vs. Andy for the title, which would have been fascinating because they were swapping places throughout the race.  Finally  Andy, who finish third for the Series, took the 59 and John 58. Cat got her best points haul since April. Then came Alan, Gail, Kate, Julie, Roy and Trevor.

In the 5/6 table Catriona's good day got better at the cost of not only giving Rod more heartache but also moving ahead of Nina and Soraya. We await news of Soraya, away at the New York marathon. Trevor, in the 5/6 table, managed to resisted the advances of Gail.

Roy, who hates hills and is suffering a painful knee injury, was determined to be outright "most races" champion and defied medical advice and common sense to match Don's record from last year of 19 races. Other enthusiasts (anoraks?) were Ian (18), Owen (16), Tony (15), Don (15), Gail (14) and Clare (14).

Support came from Paul, Monique, Mike, Nina, Penny, Stuart, Bill and possibly others.

Thanks to Tony for devising the programme and Don for (usually) being so quick in getting the tables onto the web.

Please email me with your loves and hates of this year's Series and your hopes for 2011.

Ian