Report by Mike Blenkinsop
“Ding Ding – Seconds Out” for round 2 in the summer’s Handicap Series, and it was time for Mr Andy Capp to poke his fiendish nose into proceedings. Chase and be chased was the name of the game on a blustery evening, so no more Mr Nice Guy with friendships suspended as each runner’s ruthless streak was exposed for the duration of the full 5 mile challenge, all for the lure of a seductive Dairy Milk choccie bar as a potential reward. Could the 46 competitors also avoid the attentions of the hidden snipers, who had been strategically posted around the course to encourage anyone deemed to be slacking ?
An apprehensive Claire Verran was first away and her eyes were firmly fixed on the road ahead, whilst daring to occasionally peep over her shoulder as she anxiously awaited the approaching sound of ominous heavy footsteps or even heavier breathing. Silence, other than the cheerful birdsong and the random bleating of lambs in the lush north Herefordshire fields, was all that accompanied Claire as she ran solo from start to finish and crossed the finish line wearing an XXL sized smile. Claire’s winning time was also a massive improvement on her time of last month – another reason to wear a beaming smile.
2nd across the finish line, just 24 seconds adrift, was another runner who had good reason to sport a smile of satisfaction was Sue Powell, who sped past 11 runners and also knocked nearly 5 minutes off the time she recorded last month. It is great to see Sue running so well again without her limbs strapped up. Completing the top 3 was a flying Steve Partridge, who had transformed himself into Steve Peregrine as he too was much quicker than last month and soared past a remarkable 36 others, dishing out a cheery word of encouragement as he glided past in full flight. In his defence he had, in April, just completed a gruelling ulta a couple of days previously..
Many of the other competitors had good reason to be pleased with their performances. Tori Dickinson, for instance, is enjoying a rich vein of form at present. Tori finished 4th and sliced a huge 1.37 off her previous best set many years ago. Oli Cameron-Swan is also on a hot streak as he chopped almost a minute off his best in a race that he has run many times before. Sam Harper is another who is enjoying a fulfilling purple patch as she, yet again, chipped away at her p.b. for the 2nd race in succession after dozens of attempts over the years.
There were 10 p.b.s recorded on the night, some by massive margin. Most of these were set by runners who were testing themselves out for just the 2nd time over the traditional course, having made their debuts last month, and were probably expected to show some improvement – they certainly did. Congratulations to Jamie Symonds, Adrian Coffey., Peter High, Sonia George, Nina Warmsley and Christina La Monica. Spirited performances from them all.
The fastest time of the night was recorded by the fleet-footed Eric Apperley with a speedy 27.18. The honour of being the fastest woman on the night was, notably, shared between Jo Tilby and Nina Warmsley, who both recorded the rapid time of 36.12. A head to head race-off will be arranged for the near future.
Many thanks to the course marshals and glamorous assistants at the finish line – you all play an important role in the continued success of this long-established event on the CARC calendar.
The 3rd, and final race on the road section of the 6 race series, will be held on Tuesday 9th June. This will be the last chance, for this year, to set a course p.b. before we head off to the shorter, but hillier, route on Bircher Common for the remainder of the series.
