Summer Series Race 8 – Bollington Nostalgia

Group 1 have been lobbying for a number of years to have this race included in the Series. In the bar on Thursday we were already worrying that what would be a great race for Group 1 might be a nightmare for us. By Sunday morning Roy and I, the sole survivors of the conversation, were convincing ourselves that just appearing was act of bravery. Matt, who was running his first fell race said that after two miles he thought that, if it were all like this, he’d never get to the finish. Nevertheless, even at our end of the club, those who took a positive approach and attacked the course were well rewarded.

Rob talked me through the course, there seemed a logical race plan; steady for the first 2½ miles up hills 1 and 2, make-up lost ground in the three miles of downhill and tow-path, grit teeth up hill 3 and then breeze past the girls in the final mile downhill.

Damian won the race, fighting off the challenge of the Cambridge runners. Rob was 5^th., Malcolm 8^th., Jim 11^th. and Stuart 12^th. Rob, Malcolm and Stuart were 1,2, 3 >40.

The names of Angela Maziere and Penny Hinke are added to the three already on the 2009 T-shirt and mug. Steve Dempsey and Mark Bale made their long awaited debuts bringing to 70 the number participating in the first 8 races. The leader-board is unchanged; Tony is still in the yellow jersey with Don and Kate in the podium positions. Tony was second >60.

The Ladies’ table is fascinating with Sally Gilliver, 3^rd.F40, leading the Wilmslow ladies home. She is the 5^th. different lady winner in 8 races. Katy, who won at Lymm, was second and the utterly unpredictable Amanda third. Kate, sensibly nursing her Roaches injury, remains top of the overall table with Angela narrowly ahead of for Penny second. Penny was 1^st. lady >50

This was a course made for Ian Smallwood and he took the 50 points in the 3/4 table. Tony was second and Don third. Tony and Don retain first and second place in the overall table with Kate third.

We were asking Amanda before the race whether she was going to be brilliant or awful, she doesn’t do anything in-between. At Goyt Valley she came through to win the Group in the latter stages but here she simply blew-away the rest of 5/6. Penny also had a great race, following-up her win at Roaches. John was third and Angela fourth (I think my race plan was sound but the implementation proved difficult). Don’s full tables on the website may show my various comments to be here and above to be wrong but I believe in 5/6 we have Penny reversing the lead that Angela has over her in the Ladies with Ian third.

Gun Run on Tuesday, barely worth bothering with a shower.

Ian