Midland Xc Championships Sat. 27^th Jan.2007 Stafford Common Women’s

Alternative Race Report. 

Many were wary of the dreaded Stafford bog and its monsters which devour loosely fastened spikes, and small U 13’s.

It turned out not to be too bad although the going was very heavy and uneven.

Without getting sucked into the whole days racing, that’s for “scoop” McCook I want to mention four U13’s  Laura Muth again had a great run in 15^th, with Sian Whittingham in 43^rd, Faye Morley, with a terribly wounded finger!, 48^th, and Lily Sutton 49^th. All had fine runs though Lily might argue that one.

Likewise in the U 15 girls, bottom age, Danni Johnson in 13^th, and Sarah Hopcroft in 22^nd did really well.

To the senior women’s race,

We had the dreaded “Chips” to record positions and times; you wouldn’t believe the variations Lou the lip can come up with for a piece of plastic and a Velcro strap.

Emma Phillips says she hates cross country and can’t do it, she set about proving that in this race being fairly disgusted with her performance, think she found the “chip” a bit heavy. However, she was still first scorer in 30^th.

Super Cath Mijovic, is enjoying a fine season was only thirteen seconds behind Emma to finish 32^nd. She was still running with daughter Amy round the car park two hours later.

Rachel Cook, stood on the start line and then decided it might be better to wear her “chip” which obviously was in her kit bag in the tent, where else?, talk about keystone cops, it was like watching a speeded up film sequence. She still got back on the line before the race started--- just. Needless to say that put her at the back of the grid, but she fought through to be third scorer in 53^rd.

Lou the Lip Harman fresh from moving into her new house just over the Limestone Caverns in Walsall, “Thought it was a bargain” says she. Anyway she ran well and closed the scoring in 79^th.

Also competing were new girl Rachael Stenhouse wearing the stag for the first time finishing 91^st. Michelle Tanner in 95^th. and Hannah Hore, “I hate cross country too” in 116^th.

There were 150 finishers and the team got 6^th place.

The senior management and I went for a super curry in a real nice place in Stone with Josie Grey, one of our longest serving Ladies, well on the way back to racing.

I thought mine was great, so did Josie, she brought it up for another look in the night!!

That’s all folks.

Eddie Cockayne