We were blessed with a warm, sunny day for the return to league cross country at Fforest Fields after a year’s lay-off for the pandemic. 201 runners lined up on the grass beneath the hill to set off round the two lap ‘undulating’ course, which took us round the small lake (the startled swans decided to take off on our first visit), along a stony track and then onto energy sapping flattened thick grass, before we began slightly steeper climbing on stony tracks, a run along the contour above the start/finish field and a zigzagging descent back into the finish area.
Two of our newcomers excelled – Matt fighting off Tim Iveson to come home 19 seconds clear in 35.39 in the men’s race, and his win put us in first team place, though equal on points with Builth. Gareth had a fine 6th place, Eric was 11th and Jasper completed the first team in 18th. Charlotte ‘ran her socks off’ in the women’s race, 9th behind Kelly, who was 7th. Jo also had a great run (15th) and Thea, improving all the while, was 19th. The women’s A team were a commendable 3rd.
There are now too many Croft runners to mention all individually but our great team positions are down to every Croft competitor who holds off the opposition (NB Dave and Kelly didn’t really need to fight each other to the line!)
