There was a comparatively low turnout for the penultimate race in the 2014 handicap series, but we welcomed a few fresh faces and there were some excellent times recorded in the second event over the new course.
Rosie has bloomed since her first outing last month, thanks to some consistent early morning training runs around the leafy lanes surrounding Shobdon, and she ran a solo race – first away and first across the finish line – knocking almost 3 minutes off her debut time of last month. That is a huge improvement and if that rate of progress continues she will be the fastest runner in the club in a couple of years.
Runners starting on estimated times don’t normally feature in the choccie awards ceremony, but the exceptional performances of the next 2 runners home over-rode that restriction – or, maybe, I am trying to cover up my lame attempts at time prediction. Jo Meadowcroft was the next to conquer Heartbreak Hill and emerge from the woods to record a battling second place. We need a different name for Jo as we already have a Jo M. in the ranks – Jockey Jo ?, Mojo ? – any suggestions ? Next to fly across the finish line was a newcomer to us all, who made a breathtaking impression and broke Simon’s course record that had stood for just 5 weeks. The athlete’s name is Will Hayward and he is just 15 years old ! We are unlikely to see much of him as he is a boarder at Shrewsbury School, but his precocious talent suggests that he will be an outstanding addition to the club if he chooses to stay. To run with such maturity on a course that he had not previously seen shows great promise. He even followed this up the following evening by winning the Herefordshire 5000 Metres County Champs. on the Hereford track – again over a distance that he had not previously raced.
Stacey, Mark, Simon – can you beat that time ?
Most runners improved on their times set last month with Ria breaking her own female course record, having resisted the temptation to test the water quality in Fishpool Valley as part of her thesis work. Her sister, Roxy, appeared to be magnetically attracted towards Yarpole, her home village, as she merrily missed the turning into the woods and eventually approached the finish line from the opposite direction. By doing so, she joined the ranks of a select bunch club members who have got lost in the woods and she is the first to achieve this honour on the new course, plus she has set her own record on her own new route.
Almost a third of the runners hailed from Shobdon and, by my calculations ( 6 in a team with 4 to count) the Shobdon Shooters beat The Rest Of The World team by a single point. So no more cries of “Shobdon Shirkers” or Shobdonkeys” if you please – they are all thoroughbreds thriving on the village’s clean and wholesome atmosphere.
The final race in the series will be run on Tuesday 2nd Sept. Please try not to be late as the darker nights are rapidly approaching.
Croft Woods Handicap Race 5
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CROFT WOODS HANDICAP – Race 5
A momentous evening in the history of Croft Ambrey R.C. as the lissom limbed Suzanne sped around the course 4 seconds quicker than the existing course record set by Sue Connop way back in 1999. Zan is enjoying a hot streak of form following on from being crowned female champion in the Herefordshire Summer League, and her record setting time was all the more remarkable as this abnormal summer weather had created difficult conditions as the overgrown foliage impeded the runners as it flopped across the route which was also unexpectedly muddy in sections. Congratulations Suzanne on an outstanding run – we are all Zan fans.
First across the finish line was our super septuagenarian Bryan, who recently completed another triathlon, though he is more of an old Greylee as opposed to Brownlee. Sue D. was a clear second, thankful that her preparation for the event did not, this time, entail running up the steep Yatton Bank to arrive at the start line. Irina also continued her spell of excellent good form as she knocked 50 secs. from her P.B. and just held off the fast finishing Mark L. in a sprint finish. Mark’s first run over the course produced a time that took him to 10th= on the all time list (equal with Neil Powell, who was on the finish line to witness the young upstart’s exploit). Further improvement lies ahead for the talented Mark who has enjoyed a highly successful first season in Croft colours.
Welcome back to Dave Moss, who has been missing for too long, and who still holds the 4th fastest time around the Croft Woods course set 8 years ago.
The final event in the 2012 Handicap Series will be held on Tuesday 11th September. Please note that the earlier start time for this will be at 6.45 p.m. This is necessary as darkness descends early as autumn draws nearer, so please try to be on the start line promptly so that the event can be smoothly conducted.