The conditions were ideal for running with a cool breeze and firm underfoot for the 49 registered on Thursday 20th for a 7.15 pm start. As with last year there were two routes, 6K (blue) for those over 13 and 3K (orange) for 8-13 and anyone else. Tony Kingham and I had set out both courses during the day and there was a slight panic just after six oclock when we discovered someone had been removing the markers towards the end of the course. All was remedied and 37 seniors and 12 juniors were duly registered – not easy given high entry,windy conditions and the fact that many of the numbers were blank!
The table of results are attached and congratulations and thanks to everyone who took part . (Apologies in advance for any inaccuracies )If we keep these courses then we can take the fastest categories as course records and the average as a Harriers template perhaps.
As always, the event would not have been possible without the help of so many and special thanks to Sue Hall for cattle control ( Sue I can confirm that there were at least three runners who would not have taken part otherwise! ),Tony Kingham for setting out and marshalling, Heather and Jason Holder ( parents of a junior competitor ) John Smithurst, Rachel Goulcher ,Gordon Kaye,Mark Westman,Barbara Carney, Dave Weatherhead and Martin Fairall for marshalling and especially to Martin Peace for an inspiring handicap! The runners all came in within a 10 minute window with 63% in the middle 3 minutes, 75% in the middle 4 minutes and the orange route ( juniors ) bunched in the centre of all those – an archetypal standard distribution curve . There was a point when the last 250 meters was completely full of storming finishers – magic and with a touch of genius.
All the sweets and biscuits and most of the fruit went which was heartening and I promise to make the prizegiving a bit more inspiring next year – not my strong point, never having won any prizes! Constructive suggestions welcomed for next year please ( bigger and better! )and once again thanks to everyone who took part and came down on the day – it was a great event.
Martin Bijl