Batch Bash

Report by Guy Whitmarsh

This Batch Bash, a club championship race, was a wet one. Wet parking field, full streams and wet running conditions, but it attracted 17 Crofties, who between them were rewarded with 4 age category prizes.

Juniors were the first to start with a very challenging uphill out and back run on the same route the seniors were starting on 30 minutes later. Great results for our Croft juniors with Taite winning his age category and Saffi coming in second place.

The main race has three climbs – the first out of the Batch valley involves a short haul, a grassy top and then a gentle run down , over a couple of streams and a long, diagonal climb up to under the golf course, a descent along a narrow sheep path, a wider stony path before the final steep scramble up Novers hill leading to the run down to the finish.

The race was won by Olli Perrat of Ludlow in 26m.21s. Our first finisher was Sam J, who hung on to 6^th place in 29m30s. Nigel T was 1^st M55, with Gary P close behind and then Steve P and Joe. Stuart, Tim and Paul finished ahead of Jo M (1^st W55), who only just finished ahead of Liza (2^nd W60). Guy (1^st M75), Sam H (1^st W50) and Gary G (2^nd M75) were next to finish, followed by Steph K and Huw, and Tom and Ali D.