Heaton Park X country by Kate Sutton

In the absence of Captain Nick (aka El Presidente) I'll try and summarise yesterday's opener to the X country season.

Previous years have seen Heaton Park bathed in autumn sunshine. The only bathing this year was by some of the senior men who seemed to have  submerged themselves in mud at various points on the course.

After the rain on arrival it settled into a drizzly afternoon and the course was suitably soggy.For us ladies it was slippy and the stream required caution. The hill after was runnable but the descent after required some care. I believe by the time the massed men ran, getting up the hill was also hazardous.

This was the greatest number of women I've seen at X country. Unfortunately for Sue she was unlucky 13 and had to withdraw due to illness. Claire Hawkes made a welcome return from injury and Kasey,Sarah +Nina  made their X country debuts.

• 5  Claire Stevenson 34:26
• 20 Kate Sutton        37:07 1st LV 45
• 38 Nicky Mowat       38:54
• 48 Penny Hinke       40:06
• 53 Claire Hawkes    40:32
• 59 Huma Rahman    41:04
• 74 Angela Maziere   43:49
• 79 Julie Lucas         44:43
• 83 Kasey Lynch       45:22
• 85 Sarah Miles        45:48
• 93 Louisa Gilbert    47:36
• 99 Nina Birch          49:13

110 runners.  7th seniors out of 12. 2nd vets out of 10.

The men's race was good to watch after changing into dry clothes and being fortified by Louisa's hot vimto. Jim led Malcom on the first lap but experience won in the end.Apparently Mike Cooper thought he was doing 2 laps not 3 and paid the price. Gareth continues to improve and claimed the scalps of Gavin and Andy.

• 15 Malcolm Fowler      36:40 1st V45
• 22 Jim Pendrill           37:09
• 28 Rob Downs            37:58
• 33 Tom McGaff         38:34 1st V50
• 71 Ray Eagle             40:51
• 85 Trevor Morris       42:29
• 88 Steve Dempsey     41:41
• 123 Mike Cooper       42:43
• 132 Mark Bale           43:13
• 166 Gareth Trimble   45:03
• 170 Gavin Mendham  45:12
• 175 Andy Watts         45:30
• 234 Ian Ashcroft        52:05
• 258 Trevor Faulkner   58:45

264 runners. 6th seniors out if 17. Vets results awaited.

About  15 of us also went out afterwards to try out Revolution the new vodka bar and also enjoyed a curry at the Eastern Promise.The real hardcore then went on to the Rectory….