Horwich, 20th June 2010
A challenging 5k race around a closed 1 mile circuit around Horwich town centre. There was a sizeable hill to be tackled 4 times but the racing was fast and furious with over 30 runners sub 17 minutes. Unfortunately the quality of the BMAF organisation didn't match that of the athletes – there was practically no current information available before the race and although individual results have finally been published the team results are unavailable – it seems partly due to confusion over the make up of teams and categories.
Wilmslow fielded a V45 dream team and if there was a V45 team category then we won it whether 3 or 4 runners. If it was a V40 team then I think that we were 3rd behind Bingley and Salford but still a fine effort.
Louise carried the flag in the ladies race and finished 4th in her category although like the rest of us she had a few V50s in front.
Hopefully the organisation will be better next year but this isn't far to travel to compete in a national event and now that we know about it Wilmslow would do well to send a few teams in the categories where we have strength and depth. We all found the course tough but we would get faster with practice on a similar loop and as Nick would say we can compete with the UK's best!
Rob
1 00:15:37 268 Parker J CLC Striders V35 M
2 00:15:39 397 Dunkerley J East Cheshire Harriers V40 M
23 00:16:45 307 Downs R Wilmslow RC 8V45 M
26 00:16:50 367 Parrott S Wilmslow RC 10V45 M
39 00:17:22 293 Morris T Wilmslow RC 15V45 M
50 00:17:58 385 MacNeil G Wilmslow 18V45 M
87 00:19:41 249 Rudd L Wilmslow 4V35 F
155 finishers
Wilmslow 1st MV45 team
Results at http://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2010/
I agree with Rob – it was hard going but it would be great for more of us to do it next year. I think the timing was wrong as I clocked myself 6 seconds faster than they did!