Like last year, a pleasant sunny evening for the first in the fell series, held on Caer Caradoc (though last year the wind was a force to be reckoned with on the top). Croft had probably a record number of runners, 9 in all. I don’t suppose either there had ever been three Yapps running this particular race.
Wondering why everyone seemed to have taken a good two minutes longer this year, I realised that the start had reverted to the original position, on the road on the edge of an estate. So, there’s 300m or so of road, then a field to run round before entering the wooded lower slopes, still on a (stony) track, before an abrupt change as runners start on the hill itself. Up to the top (a few ups and downs once on the ridge), then back down keeping left of the runners ascending. Once back on the stony track it’s a fast (-ish) run for nearly 1 mile back to the finish.
Matt had a fantastic race, finishing 5th out of 116 runners, in 24.37, though no doubt disappointed to be just 14 seconds behind his nemesis, Ollie Perratt. Brother Aidan was 1stM U19, in 26.13, 10th overall, a fine result with some classy fell runners present. Charlotte, not to be outdone, was 1stF U19, in 30.09. Eric (sorry to have missed you out originally!) gained some of the places lost on the descent, finishing 14th, in 27 mins. Anna faded a bit towards the end but was nevertheless another Croftie in 1st position – 1stF U23. Emma and Greg (in that order) finished 3rd in their categories, in 36.06 and 38.14. Gary was yet another 1st placed Croftie, 1st M75, in 40.31, and finally Steph, reclaimed her F55 award which she had won last year too.