Report by Sam Harper.
Thanks to what I am sure was some frantic work behind the scenes from members of Hereford Couriers, the flooding of Hereford Rugby Club didn’t stop the Christmas 10k from taking part.
What it did mean was there was no venue for collecting race numbers and tags, just a small gazebo so it was all a little bit hectic at the start and finish and was hard to find all Croft members for the usual pre and post race gatherings.
It was cold and it was wet but it is a great route – starting on the footpath just above the rugby club. With 379 runners taking part the start was a little crowded along the narrow path and runners took a while to spread out – not a problem for me in the middle of the pack but perhaps not such a good start for the front runners wanting to get a good position?
I had managed to persuade two of my boys to join me in the race and had described the route to them as not too hilly and not as hilly as running around Shobdon and I was a little concerned as I followed the lanes around Brienton that the undulating route might have been hillier than I had let on, but they assured me at the end that the hills were not too challenging and it really is not an issue for Croft runners used to pushing up the hills.
For me, I tried hard to race with Huw and an injured Jo who passed me about a mile or so in and seemed quite happy to chat, most likely quite oblivious to me struggling to keep up. I dropped behind for the majority of the race, but worked hard to keep them in my sight. Knowing the route, I was hoping for the chance on the last hill to catch them up and just about managed it and then had to fight hard on the downhill and level section to the finish to keep up. We tried to cross the line together – just a little bit too narrow so I finished one second behind them.
I am sure everyone else had their own personal battles. Eric finished in third place in 33.46 with Sam only four seconds behind him in fourth. Gareth finished in 7th place and Simon in 42nd completed the Croft male team who took home the team prize.
Bryan was the other Croft prize winner – winning the MV80 age group in 1.23.23 – and running the race with his daughter Lisa.
Mia led the Croft ladies’ team home – finishing in 45.48, with Liza, Jo M, and myself taking fourth place for the team.
It was great to get out for a race in between the Christmas and New Year celebrations and I was pleased it was not on a working day for me so I could take part. I was very proud to have Joe and Alec there with me and I know it was the same for Theresa to have Owen and Scott come along. Both Joe and Owen were running in their first organised race. All of them ran brilliantly and I hope we get to see our boys in more races, maybe in Croft vests next time?
Croft Results.
| Age Cat position | Croft Runner | Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Eric Apperly | 33.46 | ||
| 3 | Sam Juson | 33.50 | ||
| 6 | Gareth Leek | 35.14 | ||
| 4 | Simon Norwood | 40.17 | ||
| 47 | Joe Lynch | 43.18 | ||
| 8 | Paul Parker | 45.26 | ||
| 8 | Mia Davies | 45.48 | ||
| 5 | Mark Paviour | 47.03 | ||
| 8 | Toby Spicer | 47.23 | ||
| 4 | Liza Austin | 53.24 | ||
| 24 | Craig Price | 54.19 | ||
| 3 | Rob Wood | 55.48 | ||
| 14 | Huw Williams | 56.53 | ||
| 6 | Jo Marriot | 56.53 | ||
| 7 | Sam Harper | 56.54 | ||
| 23 | Crispin Marriot | 57.28 | ||
| 24 | Stuart Austin | 57.31 | ||
| 4 | Sue Purvin | 58.08 | ||
| 8 | Steph King | 59.29 | ||
| 10 | Anna Bromley | 63.08 | ||
| 8 | Ali Benwell | 63.14 | ||
| 11 | Theresa Jones | 65.29 | ||
| 4 | Sue Wood | 67.02 | ||
| 12 | Ali Davies | 78.53 | ||
| 2 | Tom Davies | 78.53 | ||
| 1 | Bryan Markham | 83.23 | ||
| Friends of the club: | ||||
| 8 | Scott Jones | 35.24 | ||
| 35 | Alec Harper | 41.54 | ||
| 38 | Joseph Harper | 42.42 | ||
| 67 | Owen Jones | 48.26 | ||
| 23 | Lisa Juson | 83.23 | ||
It was great that so many Croft runners were able to take part, but unfortunately given the lack of gathering in the dry at the start and finish we didn’t get a photo of everyone. If you have one you would like to include – please send it to me (Sam)
Huge thanks to Hereford Couriers for all their hard work in organsing and to all the volunteers and marshals who came out on such a wet and miserable day to help it all go so smoothly.
