BIG MUDDY PUDDLES GALORE

At last we had a cross country this year that wasn't like running on the road. The course got cut up badly and with slippy, muddy bankings it made a good West District XC. After the junior races which im sure Richard will post about on the junior blog we had our senior ladies running the supposedly 8.5k course (turned out to be just over 9k ). Four ladies running for us today over the two and a half laps. The course is fairly flat with a few twists and turns and it was some of these turns that were pretty treacherous as they were sharp and badly cut up. As they finished the first short lap we had Kay Conneff just in front of Frances Ferguson then a little gap to Lorraine Buchanan who was running for the first time in really muddy conditions but im sure the experience will make her even stronger the next time. Sandy Hayden was our fourth but Sandy has been suffering with an illness and she found this a struggle today. Through the finish area for a second time and onto the last lap and Frances had passed Kay and opened up a considerable gap with Lorraine and Sandy still going strong but finding the conditions ( mud, wind and rain ) difficult. Into the finish with Frances finishing in 43.16, Kay in 44.36, Lorraine in 48.24 and Sandy in 54.49 with the team finishing in 11th place.

Onto the men and seven harriers Kenny Leinster, Jim Holmes, Richard Lawton, Alan Cullie, Kevin Farmer, Andrew Buchanan and Russell Couper. Same course as the ladies and round the short lap before the race settles and you find whos in front of you and whos behind and whether your catching or being caught. I found myself with a Westie on my tail and as much as I tried to drop him I think the most I was getting was 10 metres then back on my tail.

The extended lap was under the M77 and into the fields but was shorter here from in previous years due to the reduced distance. It was the only hilly part of the course but not much, they did however manage to place a log over the course just to give us something to skip over. Onto the last lap and I was still ahead of the athelites that ive been beating lately but still had the Westie on the piece of elastic behind me. As we came under the M77 for the last time he just about got onto my shoulder and I was having none of it and started my push to the finish and even managed a sprint to the line beating him by a clear 7 secs.

The men finished with Kevin 38.32,  Andrew 38.50, Alan 42.50, Kenny 43.27 (chicked by Frances) Jim 44.00. Richard 45.20 and Russell 48.15 with the team in 18th place. A good day of racing and some fine performances from our members. Lets see if we can get more out for the National in February.

(Thanks to Frances for the photos, a few more of which are here).