National Senior Women’s 4 Stage Road Relays Sat. 21^st Oct. 2006 Sutton Park 

Alternative Race Report.

I think I’ve passed away and gone to heaven! Why you may ask, well read on.

Well not much to tell really except we’re only the NATIONAL 4 STAGE ROAD RELAY CHAMPIONS FOR 2006 !!!!!!!!. That means the best team in the country, no debate.

This would seem to be a good day at the office wouldn’t you say?

Also the “A” team were supported fantastically by the B and C teams plus reserves.

I wish I had a video of today and I could replay it every Monday morning.

THE RACE.

A Team.

Debbie Walters, caught a cold on Friday, got her phone out to text me she couldn’t run and dropped it in the bath; I dropped my phone down the Loo once and that’s a much smaller target. Anyway being unable to drop out she ran that amazingly difficult first leg at this standard to bring us back in 22^nd from 98 teams.

Amanda Wright is still performing fantastically, considering she runs relatively low mileage and spends untold hours on a turbo trainer. She thought she passed 9 runners but came back in 8^th which shows that running ability and arithmetic aren’t necessarily consistent with each other.

Cathy Mutwa, after three years is now an integral part of our club. She runs for our track team, and fortunately for us, being unbeaten in road races since June, is happy to run in the relays. She flew round in the third fastest time of the day to take us into the lead. Watch how she runs tomorrow in the Great South half Marathon

Emma Phillips, was looking cool calm and collected, I said “you’ve got six minutes” she said “****” . Anyway we got her to the start line complete with magic socks again. At this point I would like you to imagine standing there about to go out in the lead and knowing that seventy odd teams are chasing you, very testing to the sphincter. With six hundred metres to go she had almost been caught by Stephanie Twell from Aldershot, but nobody was getting past Emma at this point, so we won.

TIMES (who cares)

Debbie Walters, 15:05. Amanda Wright, 15:03.

 Cathy Mutwa, 14:13. Emma Phillips, 15:12   

Total time—59:33

B TEAM.

Amanda Dalkins, continues her come back, and knocked off 20secs. from her Midlands time to run 15:57.

Rachael Rowberry, was feeling a bit under the weather but still justified her place and ran 18:10.

Rachel Cook also had a fine run in 17:21.

Michelle Tanner, who I nearly missed out and quite rightly sent me an indignant email telling me so, improved her midland time by 6secs to 18:44   

C TEAM

Louise Harman, had a particularly horrible previous week, ran 20secs, quicker than her Mids. Time and ran 18:52.

Claire Beaumont, who is Louise’ great rival (all friendly of course) pipped her by 13secs. to run 18:39.

Sarah Capewell, who is the youngest member of our team, arrived yesterday again. It’s her Dad Joe; he likes to be on time. She ran 19:35.

Rachel Denham stepped in at the last minute and improved by the biggest margin of the day, 33secs. to run 21:44. 

My thanks to all who supported us on the day especially my wife Pat who’s always there and I couldn’t do the job without her because basically I’m certifiably incompetent.

Due to the fantastic spirit engendered now we don’t have several teams, we have one team split into segments by entry requirements. Let’s keep it moving forwards.

Eddie Cockayne,