Alsager 5 by Kate Sutton

The 2nd Grand Prix race of the season had a good a start when then day was still and bright.As we drove down the grasses on the side of the road were highlighted by sun on the thick hoar frost. But by the time we’d started to warm-up so had the weather and the frost was now dripping on us as it melted off the trees.

The ladies team was not in the best of form – Nicky nursing a heavy cold and desparate not to get worse before the London marathon, Sally Price with a sore throat and Sally Maddock coming back from injury. So not surprising that I came in just ahead of Nicky (PB for her though ). Excellent run by Sally P (PB) who has a lot more speed to come – mind you there is the small matter of a wedding in the Brecons next month and a honeymoon in New Zealand before she’ll be free to race again! Sally M said she’d be happy with under 40 mins but we were all consistent and under 36. Team result on the day was 8th but that was just 3 to count – the Grand Prix is 4 and may change things.

Can’t comment on the front runners for the men as they’re too far ahead of me. But Mike was there to cheer us in having finished much earlier and Tom McGaff was around the course on his bike to offer support.Again on the day the men were 8th – 3 to count. They also had a vets team in Stuart,Ray and Tony and were 3rd. As the Grand Prix is 6 counters that result will have to wait – usually available by Tuesday.

Dave Wheable had bought Tess along as team photographer – despite having a thumb in plaster post-skiing. Hope to see the pictures on the website soon. Ian Ashcroft ran as well as last year but Roy Pownall had to pull out half way round as his hamstring injury was not fully recovered.Rod Coombes had his sea bass diet excuse. Don Bullough sustained the same injury part way round but managed to hobble round.

Kate.