Summer Series, Race 17 – Macclesfield Half

 

 

Macclesfield significantly changes the top of the main table. Rob, completing his seven races, jumps above everyone except Damian into second place. He has 344 points whilst Tom joins Jim in third place with 341

 

Rob Downs was 4^th. and 1^st. V45

Tom was 7^th. and 1^st.V55  

Rob Gilbert, was 25^th.

Mike was 47^th.

Andy at 53^rd.. was 2^nd.V55.

Ian at 57^th. made it six Wilmslow runners in the top 100.

 

Five runners completed their seven races at Macclesfield, 27 is a  relatively small Wilmslow entry for a Series race, so points were good and those that ran were justly rewarded for one of the hardest races in the Series. As tends to happen in the last few races, there were a lot of changes throughout the table

 

Rob Gilbert, now 6^th. moves to one point below Tony. Mike moves up to joint 8^th., level on points with Don and Mick.  Ian Smallwood, also completing his seven, is only two points behind the three of them.

Another cluster follows. Gareth’s 38 points means he draws level with Steve Smith, but Geoff got 42 and catches them both, and then Andy, who got 46, is now only one point behind and, on current form, likely to leapfrog all three.

 

Sally Gilliver’s 39 takes her above Ian Ashcroft and Steve Russell. David, now on seven races, comes in above Chris, and could catch Angela. Christine’s 37 takes her above Catriona. Roy’s first half for years takes him, in another cluster, one point above Owen and only one behind Sally Price. Roy’s rival Rod is moving even faster, up three places but he, himself, is being challenged by Steffi who climbed two places and looks set to go further. Also on the move was Simon whose 3^rd. V65 takes him up two places.

 

If you find reading all this somewhat indigestible be assured writing it isn’t easy either.

 

New names on the 2009 T-shirt and mug; Rob Downs, Mike Cooper, Ian Smallwood, David Wheable and Kasey Lynch bringing the total to 41. With two races to go, 54 could complete the Series but Malcolm Fowler, Ray Eagle, Peter Bannister, James Eyre and Sue Hool need to run both Natterjack and Langley.

 

In the Ladies table, Kate beat her two closest rivals Nicky, who was 1^st. L50, and Sally. You might think that, by now, having led from April to October she’d done enough to be sure of winning the title but, although Macclesfield was a big help, she still has a bit to do to ensure she’s not caught in the final straight. Macclesfield also strengthened the likelihood that Sally and Nicky will join Kate on the podium.

Angela and Penny are 4^th. and 5^th., Christine moves above Catriona, Sally Price is 8^th., Steffi moves above Julie into 9^th.

 

Andy registered his first 3/4 win of the Series with Ian Smallwood 2^nd. and Dave (can you really run a PB at Macclesfield?) 3^rd.  None of the top 5 at the start of the race; Mick, Tony, Don, Steve or Gareth improved their score and Ian, completing his seven, moved into 3^rd. place. Geoff closed on the five above him but not quickly enough to prevent Andy overtaking both him and Gareth. With Sally also rising by two places, one race has given a quite different look to the Group 3/4 top 10.

 

Christine won her fourth 5/6 race. Although Angela was second on the day, none of top five in the table added to their overall score. Christine moves up to second, jointly with Penny and John, on 343 points. Angie remains the leader on 347 and it is possible that she will take the title at Natterjack although tradition has it that this league is settled at Langley. Steffi took third at Macclesfield, she eases in front of Roy and Rod (don’t mention Langley to either of them) and level with Sally. Simon and Kasey both move up the table.

 

Macclesfield was probably the critical race in the age/sex table. Tom McGaff took the 50 points taking his score to 349 whilst Rob’s 49 took him to 348. It is not all over for Rob but Tom is now out of reach of long-time leader Tony. Andy, who is having a superb end to the season, took third at Macclesfield and overall he’s now up to 6^th. equal with Jim, at 319. It is, however, extremely close. Nicky and Kate, 4^th. and 5^th. at Macclesfield are on 318 and 316 respectively. Geoff, Sally Gilliver and Don complete the top 12.

 

 

Summer now crosses winter, the opening cross-country race is at Heaton Park on Saturday October 24^th. Heaton Park is softies cross-country, more of a trail run, a gentle introduction.  The proper stuff starts at St.Helens on November 15^th. and by the time you get to Boggart Hole Clough on Saturday December 12^th. there is barely time to get the mud off before the Christmas Party in the evening.

 

Ian