Presteigne X-C Race 5 winter league – 6 Feb 2022

Race Reports

The final race of the winter league 2021/22 was held over a new course, involving two laps of nearly 3 miles each. 70 years after our last king died (I remember the ink monitor in our junior school class passing on the news), and the accession to the throne of the present queen, Croft Ambrey triumphed in the challenging Nash woods. The men’s team, led by Matt (Yapp, not Japp!), finished first on the day (great packing: 2nd, 5th, 8th, 9th and 10th) and first overall, and now proudly and deservedly hold the team trophy. The women were no slouches either, with Gemma recalled to the squad finishing 3rd, closely followed by Charlotte in 4th (magnificent run!), Kelly in 9th and ever improving Anna in 17th. They finish the season in 2nd place, but with much promise for the future. Liza, Jo and Sam showed solid support, and Sally, like her daughter, continues to progress.

The first kilometer (?) of the course was deceptively easy along the firm forest track, but there was an abrupt change as we swung left up a steep narrow greasy muddy path, where I found it as quick to walk as to run, then onto another firetrack, down to the next sally (excuse the word, Mrs Yapp) into the woods. A pleasant start then it got muddier, and we were forced through various muddy ‘troughs’, and climbing up out of the last one became quite a struggle on the second lap. Dave Lloyd, marshalling at the junction, denied all responsibility for the ‘water jumps’! Another stretch on firetrack, then a steep descent through the trees, with roots and rocks to avoid, onto the original forest track, and all to do again.

Despite the cool, blustery conditions (and the squally rain half an hour before the start) runners seem to have enjoyed the challenges of the course, even describing it as ‘real cross country’! Presumably that was the forest bits between the firetracks! The refreshments in the Memorial Hall were also (apparently – I avoided the close proximity with others) much appreciated.

Full list of category results to follow, but many congratulations to Matt on second place in his first season with us, and after his many battles with Ollie Perratt.

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