Report by Guy.
As I write this the rain is still coming down outside, so we were lucky that yesterday evening was a lovely, warm sunny one. This year’s Ragleth Inn race had an altered course, so that runners ran clockwise round, and only ran to the top of the Callow once, making total ascent of 340m, over 4.4km. So instead of running all the way to the top from the start, we veered off left halfway up, then followed narrow sheep tracks before a steep descent (I mistakenly thought that was too steep for Gary’s notorious descents, but not so! He was right behind me at the bottom), a stream crossing and a tricky rising path alongside the stream. We then recrossed the stream, climbing steeply up to a track we had used in previous years, running the opposite way round, then down till we headed off to a short climb up to the Callow summit and a hurtling descent down to the finish, brought closer this year to avoid a repeat of Steff’s dramatic tumble at last year’s finish.
Although there was possibly less climb this year, it struck me as a tougher course, partly perhaps because of the greater use of narrow sheep tracks
The race was won by Oli Perratt, galloping round in 24.38. Andy Salt (still unattached ) was 7th in 27.50, I was 84th (43.01) (1st M80, though the IT system doesn’t seem to recognise over 80s) and Gary was 91st (45.35) and 1st M75.
There were junior races too with Taite and Saffi taking part – both were age category winners and very likely Summer Series winners, although these weren’t announced on the night.
Thanks to Maxine Reid for the photos of Saffi and Charlie Leventon for the other photos.
Steph King was marshalling, thanks for the photos below.
