Race 4 in Bryan Markham Handicap Series.
Report by Mike Blenkinsop.
High summer and the month of July heralds the halfway stage of the CARC Handicap Series and a move to the remaining 3 off-road events to complete the competition. This event also serves as a reminder of 2 of our club legends : Bryan Markham, whose name the event now bears and who would have celebrated his 86th birthday just a couple of days ago, and Tom Davies to whom we said a sad farewell the last time we met here. Both would have been thrilled to see the club, which they helped to form, thriving so well and would have wished for it to be “business as usual” as the Croft runners compete against each other in this time honoured contest.
The forecast heatwave hadn’t yet arrived but it was a balmy evening as 42 runners were hot to trot and they produced some sizzling performances. This particular version of the off-road segment of the series is only in its 5th year of competition, so PBs are expected to be broken occasionally. The determined attitude of the runners, however, surpassed all expectations as 4 age-group records were set on top of the 10 PBs.
The nature of the Bircher Common course allows the waiting helpers at the finish line an excellent view of the race leaders as they hurtle down the final descent. 4 tenacious runners were in contention as they left the shelter of the outer overhang of Oaker Coppice for the final time. It was the muscular Max George, running in only his 2nd handicap race and making his debut on the Bircher terrain, who galloped down the slope as though he was fiercely chasing a Double Gloucester cheese down Cooper’s Hill to overtake his rivals and register an outstanding victory. Max’s winning time of 25.11, which is over 2 minutes quicker than his dad has recorded, now places him in 12th place in the men’s rankings. A debut to be well-pleased with. Just 2 seconds adrift was a battling and ever improving Paul Lewis, who carved 44 secs off his previous best. Completing the top 3, and just a further 3 seconds adrift, was a spirited Irina Whitfield, who is starting to recover her best form, and she was rewarded with a new FV35 course record and a climb up to 6th place in the women’s rankings.
Honourable mention must go to the 4th place finisher Nigel “Tornado” Taylor. He has been devoting himself to crazy ultra events recently, but he also illustrated that he is still a force to be reckoned with over shorter distances as he blew away the existing MV60 course record – his time of 27.00 shattered the existing record by over 2 minutes.
Another over 60 runner to show how sprightly she still is was Steph King, who proved to be the queen of the Common as she beat her own age-group record.
Rounding off the age-group record breakers was the dynamic Sam ‘the Harpoon” Harper, who is setting PBs and winning awards wherever she goes. On this occasion Sam smashed her previous best by an incredible 2.50 to set a new FV50 course record and climb to 9th place in the rankings.
Even more PB annihilation was happening on the Bircher slopes as Tori “the Dynamo” Dickinson destroyed her previous best by 4.29 and Tom ‘The Power”Powell obliterated her best by an unbelievable 6.46 to place her at number 18 on the fastest female list. I have been asked to dope test these 3 MustGetCheers and, thankfully, the results have proved that they are all clean. Tom was guilty of conjuring up nothing more than whimsical padel power. Tori proved positive for extravagant use of Sanatogen, and Sam nothing more than over enthusiastic use of tartar removing toothpaste. So carry on girls, you are running superbly.
Andy Davies continued his spell of top form by chopping a huge 1.14 off his PB and rising to no. 4 in the rankings. The ebullient Reachel Kenny was another to extend her recent run of good form by slicing 1.38 off her previous best.
Course record holder Mia Davies recorded the quickest women’s time on the night, whilst Eric Apperley was the speediest man – he overtook 37 runners on his way to finishing 5th !
Many thanks to the marshals and helpers – your assistance is highly appreciated by all.
The next and penultimate (aaaargh ! That sounds as though the summer is waning too quickly) will be held on Bircher Common on Tuesday 18th August – see you there.
