The juggernaut that is Team Wilmslow XC have a record 20 running at Boggart Hole Clough …………Read on to hear more about the mother of all finishes : Halman V Fowler .
Full results not available yet but should be available within days at www.bbresults.com
Photos will also be available within a matter of days . Check out if the mud really is that bad .
A cold and blustery day at BHC , not for the faint hearted but the men had 14 runners and the ladies had 6 . Under Kate’s guidance , every chance that the ladies will have two teams out at Macclesfield .Sunday 3rd December ……..Excellent.
Usually associated with mud and more mud , the weather had been kinder and the course while not without its elements was not the ‘bog’ of normal. All agreed that the course was a good one but still tough .
The men were again fielding a strong team , sadly Damian was delayed at work and could not run while Jim Pendrill was visiting the outlaws .
Mike Halman ,Rob Downes and Tom were back and it was good to see Bill Heaton and Colin Fray running . Great to see everyone else from our Heaton Pk team running again at BHC .Welcome also to Tim, Anne’s partner(below), who while still registered with his Midlands club ran as a guest.
The ladies were bolstered by debutante Anne Brindley and Sally Price. Seasoned campaigner Sally Gilliver was running . The ladies looked strong even without Nicki who was missing from HP.
The ladies were strong and they ran strong . The ever improving Kate Sutton led for the ladies until Sally nudged ahead but both ran impressive races . Not far behind came Anne and Kate Ayres . A niggling injury meaning that rather like myself ,Kate has not run for four weeks .
Strong runs from Sally M and Sally P completed the Wilmslow team.
We will most certainly place higher than at HP. The new system of wearing race numbers does mean that until results are published , that individual and thus team placings are not known …………unless you place in the first five !!……..Read on to learn of two mighty battles in the mens race.
The mens field was both stronger and bigger than at HP. Salford , the host club were perhaps still prickling from Wilmslow grabbing 3rd spot at HP. This time our aim was Altrincham. Could we live the dream ? This story is to be continued ………………………………
Back now from having a drink , read on for the full detail of the mens race .
A large and quality field saw Wilmslow men well placed as the leaders left the initial loop and head off into the woods. With six to count we were packing well .
With my enforced lay off , my duties today were as chief photographer . Such was the pace of the lead runners that my attempts to snap Halman/Fowler and all, meant that as I lined up , focused and snapped that my options were rear view shots of our own runners or a runner from Boggart Hole Striders who was being lapped ! Photos to follow .
By the end of lap one the race was unfolding and Mike was moving into the top six with Malcolm a few places behind.
By the end of lap two Mike was fifth and Malcolm making up ground .
With a hush of anticipation , the massed supporters at the finish awaited a first glimpse of the lead runner appearing from the copse leading to the final 150 yard dash to the line ……suddenly not one runner but two appeared , one from Sale and one from Salford . The naked eye could not separate them. So close was the final sprint that I will leave the adjudication to the officials .
There was some gap before third appeared but shortly after the battle of Wilmslow was about to unfold.
No sooner had we caught a glimpse of Mike appearing from the copse , but Malcolm appeared . The gap over lap three had been reduced to just five metres with some 150 metres of running remaining . Mike personified concentration and focus , Malcolm true grit and resolve. Mike was moving economically over the final undulation while Malcolm had arms pumping like pistons .
The lead was down to four metres then three and finally two. This one was going to the wire .
So close was Malcolm now that Mike must have realised that if he had anything at all left in the tank then now was the time to use it . The final fifty metres saw the pair inches apart with Malcolm so close that he was actually moving out to take Mike and head into the funnel……………….A final and desperate effort from Mike was enough to hold off the big man but the difference was inches !!
What a race , what a finish , what a great effort from both . I dont know who was more breathless the runners or the spectators !
So to confirm :
4th Mike
5th Malcolm.( 1st V40)
We were now looking for our next four counters to see if we could nudge second team.
Stuart soon came through another fine race with Rob just behind .
Tom made a welcome return from injury and picked up places well through the race . Graham had another good run to complete the first team . We await the team results eagerly !!
Such is our current strength that we had another eight runners still to come .
Colin , Ray E and Bill H ran a well fought race to pack well.
Next group saw Steve D , Gavin and Mike C fighting their own personal battles . For the first half of the race there was nothing in it but gradually Steve pulled away and ran a strong race .Breaking up the group was Tim .
Steady and solid as ever saw Ian and Trevor complete the 14 of Wilmslow .
So race two of the five race season has been run. Fantastic to see 20 running this week.Who would have believed that XC races could get close to challenging the Summer Series for numbers turning out . With Macclesfield next on Sunday 3rd December , I believe that we can come close to the high twenties racing as happens in the Summer . If you have not tried it yet , come and find out why more and more are experiencing the thrills and spills of XC. You wont be alone , the men only need four more (18) to have three scoring teams and the ladies two more (8) .
So see you at Macclesfield ………deal ?
Before that we keenly await both mens and womens team results .
Very well done everyone.
Nick.