Bryan Markham Handicap Series Race 3

Leinthall Starkes June 3rd 2025

Report by Mike Blenkinsop

The final visit of the summer to the leafy lanes of Leinthall Starkes. The gentle folk of the village peering out of their windows were bemused, thinking that this motley assortment of SAGA louts and ne’er-do-wells had arrived a week early for the annual Scarecrow Festival. I am not sure whether they would pose any threat to the local corvid population, but they certainly scared the living daylights (much politer there than my original thought !) out of me as I witnessed some of the contorted facial expressions as the runners charged for the finish line.
So it was fingers on buzzers for your starter for 5 miles, and the last chance to record a course PB. The tenacious runners did not disappoint and a parade of PBs were logged and a cluster of choccie awards presented. Chocolate bars as prizes ! In t’early days of t’andicap races, when I were a lad, t’winner were thankful to win a single Smartie and t’rest o’t’runners were grateful not to be flayed wi’ a whip. A tube of Smarties would last us 5 years. Anyway ……
The honour of winning the final road race of the series went to the long striding Joe Lynch in a time of 35.14. As soon as Joe hit the front and scented the whiff of enticing chocolate in his nostrils, there was no stopping him. His running style may not score high marks for artistic impression, but it was supremely effective tonight.
It was gratifying to behold Tom Davies crossing the line in 2nd place with a pep in his step. Tom sliced almost 5 minutes off last month’s time and it was lovely to see him re-discovering some of his former glories. Completing the top 3, with the wind in his sails, it was the old sea dog Cap’n Stuart Austin who had recovered well from his weekend’s challenging run in the Lake District.
The biggest recorded PB of the night came from a sprightly performance by Sian Stack, who knocked a huge 2.22 off her previous best. Whopping time upgrades also came from a determined Angus Kirby and the ever-improving Nicola Luscott. Special mention must go to Paul Parker – 3 handicap races and 3 PBs this season and all by a big margin.
One performance on the night troubled the record books, with a fleet-footed Kath Hardwick just sneaking into the all-time fastest female listings in 19th place, with a time of 35.55.
And so we reach the half-way point in the 2025 CARC Handicap Series with the completion of the road section before heading off-road to Bircher Common. Glad to report that there were no incidents of road rage reported and we witnessed, as the highlight of the season, the setting of a course record by the flying Sam Juson. Well done to everyone who has competed.
Finally, many thanks to the merry band of glamorous assistants for all the help at each race.
The 4th race, out of 6, will be held on the slightly hillier course on Bircher Common on Tuesday 15th July. Handicap starting times will be based on a percentage of times recorded on the Leinthall Starkados course.