Midland Womens Xc League. Race 2 Sat. 12th Nov. 2006. Droitwich.
I could
not complete my report on Saturday evening after the race; therefore the memory
fairy is already playing tricks. Pat and I arrived at the venue hours too early
only to find several runners and the redoubtable Rob Whitehouse had beaten us to
it. After the usual cock ups in registration we hot footed it to the course and
set up our gazebo in a fantastic location handy for the start and finish lines.
Problem was it directly fouled the line of the course which had yet to be marked
out! So we moved the gazebo to a more suitable spot to await the rest of the
team, without mentioning names Rachel Cook, Michelle Tanner and Claire Beaumont
asked me “Do the numbers go on the front or the back”.
Once again I could see that Telford had a strong team
out, knowing some of them I tried to encourage them into our gazebo so that I
could slip them a radio active pill I bought from a Russian in the Bell pub on
Friday night, sadly this ploy failed so they stuffed us out of sight,
The course was flat--- except for a wicked little
hill which I never saw, and a ditch with a stream similar to the grand canyon
which was a delight to watch, bit like the stream at Senneleys park.
Leading performer today was Amanda Dalkins who
travelled down from Cheadle to run, she finished in 13th place.
Next came our matriarch Professor Cath Mijovic who,
fresh from learning how to abseil, thought she could lower herself into the
muddy chasm by holding on to the race tape, guess what, it broke. She still beat
all you young things and came 20th.
Deputy Head Rachel Cook, (that’s number front or
back Rachel) was next in 31st.
Without wishing to play on this theme the total age
of these three is well in excess of a hundred years. Anyway that completed the
scorers.
New girl
Sally Latham, her sister Kate Simpson, an even newer girl; and junior girl Emma
Lines, had a fine battle through most of the race, with Sally opening up a gap
to finish 50th and Emma out sprinting Kate to finish 63rd
and 64th respectively. Nothing like out sprinting your team mate!
Claire Beaumont came next in 75th
suffering form a similar chest infection that caused Lou “the lip” Harman to
withdraw earlier in the week.
Run of the day must go to Michelle Tanner who lost
one of her shoes in the grand canyon and completed best part of the race with
one bare foot through some quite nasty ground. Spare a thought also for her
coach Phil Smith who bravely retrieved the shoe and tried to give it back to
Michelle who told him to put it where the spikes would do irreparable damage!
Orienteer Holly O’Meara had to put up with the fact
that everyone else new the way also and finished 111th.
Samara Booth was next in 116th. I am so
pleased that so many of you turned out. The craic was excellent please keep it
up.
I’ve noticed Maid Marion’s using less blusher now
I’ve mentioned it in my race reports. New readers will have to ask older
subscribers. Robin’s such a woosie!
Team results,
Telford 1st , two Unis. we don’t talk
about, 2nd and 3rd. Solihull & Small Heath 4th
( this can’t happen again) then Birchfield 5th.
Overall.
Telford 1st. the two Unis. We don’t talk
about 2nd. & 3rd. Birchfield 4th.
Eddie
Cockayne.