March 2010 Handicap results

[alf tupper]

Cold! 1.5C but bright, still, and dry, so actually these times may be difficult to beat if we have a wet or windy summer. 3.39 miles (on Paul's Garmin watch) with lots of gates and stiles, and one large bull. Obviously, new course records were set and, perhaps less obviously, some remarkable performances from the middle order surprised the handicapper who was relying for his predictions on the longer distance results of the winter cross country races. Naturally there will be radical revisions to the start list, but in general the finishing order was fairly tight and most people didn't get lost. Sympathy cards are needed for Tracey who injured her calf and could not finish - which robbed her of the inaugural women's record, and this goes instead to Menai* who kept her head while the first four men charged past so that she stayed in front of the new course record holder: Peter A**. Take a moment to think about the implications if Rhian had run - who was due to start with Peter, and who has beaten Duncan in the past by over 2 minutes over this distance (if more hilly). A girl holding the absolute course record?? 'Might have to go out and shoot myself. Anyway, it didn't happen, so that is heartening isn't it?
.....................................Finishing time.......................Actual time............................Points
1st.....Peter B..................38m18.......................... .........28m18................................1/1
2nd....Roger....................38m30............. ......................28m30....................... .........2/1
3rd....Dave......................38m39............ .......................26m39...................... ..........3/1
4th....David......................38m53........... .......................31m23...................... ...........4/1
5th....Menai.....................39m12............ .......................37m12*..................... .........5/1
6th....Peter A...................39m35......................... ..........24m05**............................6/1
7th....Mike.......................39m38........... ........................27m08..................... ...........7/1
8th....Duncan...................39m42............. ......................25m42....................... .........8/1
9th....Steve......................39m45........... .......................26m45...................... ...........9/1
10th..Alun........................39m49........... .......................25m49...................... ..........10/1
11th..Frances...................40m04............. .....................40m04........................ .........11/1
12th..Arwel......................40m54............ ......................27m54....................... ..........12/1
13th..Tony.......................40m56............ ......................27m26....................... ...........13/1
14th..Martin C..................41m14.......................... ........25m14.................................14/1
15th..Paul........................41m47........... .......................26m17...................... ...........15/1
16th..Vicky.......................42m06........... .......................40m06...................... ...........16/1
17th..Rachel.....................42m27............ ......................42m27....................... ..........17/1
18th= Ron and Richard........43m12.............................. ....36m12.................................18/1

The next race will be on Tuesday evening 6th April at 6.30pm. Thank you for all the positive comments about the new course.

[Kiss the Blarney Stone]

'Thank you for all the positive comments about the new course.'

Never mind the positive comments, where were you when the negative comments were flyng around?

Nearly twice as many stiles, twice the climbing, felt like a bl**dy mountain steeplechase. No wonder Peter A, the Pwllglas hurdler, won the damned thing!! Oh well back to drawing board - I'm going to train on our local menage.

Thanks anyway Chris for sorting the whole thing out - I know you were happy to watch and see - come April you'll be there or thereabouts no doubt.

[alf tupper]

'Thought you were mumbling a bit about something - but we have got used to that. Just you concentrate on beating that Rhian character in case she turns up next time. As you can see from the start list she will be your responsibility, on behalf of elderly male curmudgeons everywhere, in April. I don't think my war wound will quite allow me to share the burden by then - but by jove, I wish I was going with you, my boy.
Do you think I'm spending too long reading the back numbers of "Eagle"?