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Noel Morris Memorial 5K Handicap Race October 2007
A carbon copy of the excellent conditions of last month – no wind, 15C, no long grass, possibly slightly spongier ground and the same obstacles of 7 stiles and 9 kissing gates due to all the 6 main gates being closed. Surprisingly, because it felt fast, everybody was at least 30 seconds slower than September, which might be something to do with most people having run the tough Colwyn Bay cross country three days before.
In this final race of the series the starting times of the eleven competitors were spread over 15 minutes but they all finished in close formation with 65 seconds between first and last. A triumph for the handicapper! But a bigger triumph for Bob who romped home after a close battle in this race with last year’s champion, Keith, to confirm his clear victory for 2007.
| COMPETITOR |
ACTUAL TIME |
START TIME
|
POINTS
|
| 01 Vicky |
36.04 |
5.58.00 pm |
19/02 |
| 02 Ron |
26.42 |
6.07.30 |
32/5* |
| 03 Pater |
23.22 |
6.11.00 |
21/5* |
| 04 Alun |
21.28 |
6.13.00 |
18/5* |
| 05 Geraint |
22.36 |
6.12.00 |
28/5* |
| 06 Tracey |
23.40 |
6.11.00 |
25/5* |
| 07 Martin C |
21.11 |
6.13.30 |
19/5* |
| 08 Bob |
23.49 |
6.11.00 |
13/5* |
| 09 Keith |
23.55 |
6.11.00 |
28/5* |
| 10 Paul |
22.35 |
6.12.30 |
49/5* |
| 11 Chris |
23.09 |
6.12.00 |
24/5* |
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*Best of five races
Series Results for those finishing five races: 1st Bob (13), 2nd Alun (18), 3rd Martin C (19), 4th Duncan (20), 5th Peter (21), 6th Chris (24), 7th Tracey (25), 8th= Keith & Geraint (28), 10th Ron (32), 11th Roger (34).
Fastest Man - Martin C 20m31 (September).
Fastest Lady – Tracey 23m07 (September) – New Course Record, beating her own 23m12 in October 2005.
Most consistent:
- Martin C (22m35, 20m50, 21m11, xx, 21m17, 21m15, 20m31, 21m11)
- Chris (24m27, 22m35, 22m49, 22m47, 23m25, 22m46, 22m35, 23m09)
- Alun (xx, xx, 21m49, 21m21, 21m29, 22m01, 21m05, 21m28)
- Tracey (25m22, xx, xx, 23m27, 23m47, 23m29, 23m07, 23m40)
- Ron (30m31, 27m15, 26m28, 27m01, 27m19, 27m11, xx, 26m42)
- Peter (25m26, xx, 23m52, xx, 23m55, 23m07, 23m06, 23m22)
- Bob (30m11, 23m04, 23m20, 23m34, 23m33, 23m03, 24m25, 23m49)
Well done everybody! 2008 Handicap series will start at 10 am on the first Sunday in March.
Noel Morris Memorial 5K Handicap Race 4th September 2007
A beautiful evening for racing with no wind, dry underfoot, and 17C. Unfortunately ALL the gates were closed and walkers on the course created additional obstacles. Even so, this month proved the fastest of the season with a new Women’s record going to Tracey, and the intense competition in the last mile was very exhilarating.
The series may already have been wrapped up by Mr. Smug so his return to the ranks of the bigger boys in terms of starting time did not produce any fireworks. Either the Brenig 9 mile race at the weekend was still in Bob’s legs (when Keith and Tracey blew him into the weeds) or he is not yet ready to stay with the early pace the rest of us expect from Ken.
For whatever reason, a sub 23 performance eluded him again. It eluded Ken too, but he has been representing Wales at hockey for the last two weeks, with commitments in the bars and the curry houses of Birmingham, for the sake of his country you understand. Having swapped shirts with most of the New Zealand women’s team, he now has no Welsh jersey, but three of theirs. This is not the best preparation or clothing for our hilly course.
On the subject of kit, it should be noted (since nobody asked) that Chris was wearing the Ron Hill original string vest which took him to a silver medal in the World Medical games 5000m in 1982. He almost looked the genuine article again too, with a rare sprint victory over Tracey, and the claim that he dragged her to another record. Tracey was not wearing her black sequinned shroud when left for dead with 600m to go. Therefore she was able to stage her usual rapid recovery after the telegraph pole and produced the blanket finish which tested Maureen’s timekeeping skills (thank you, Mo).
Sarah and Alun looked suitably smart, as young professionals should, while Duncan in his flappy T shirt lacked the sartorial finesse to stay with Alun, but was good enough to edge ahead of a not entirely well Paul. I say as little as possible about Mr. Baggy-shorts-Martin except that he returned another run of real quality, as befits the North Wales champion for his age group at every distance from 5K to 13.1 miles. His name-sake, Martyn, looks too cool in those shades to be serious (but welcome back from injury).
N.B. Next race on 2nd October is at 6.00 pm due to poor light.
| COMPETITOR |
ACTUAL TIME |
START TIME
|
POINTS
|
| 01 Martin C |
20.31 |
6.43.00 |
21/5* |
| 02 Alun |
21.05 |
6.42.30 |
25/5 |
| 03 Geraint |
22.34 |
6.41.30 |
34/5 |
| 04 Chris |
22.35 |
6.41.30 |
24/5 |
| 05 Peter |
23.06 |
6.41.00 |
29/5 |
| 06 Tracey |
23.07 |
6.41.00 |
27/5 |
| 07 Keith |
23.50 |
6.40.30 |
28/5 |
| 08 Duncan |
22.13 |
6.42.30 |
19/5* |
| 09 Paul B |
22.30 |
6.42.30 |
49/5 |
| 10 Sarah |
27.23 |
6.38.00 |
21/2 |
| 11 Martin F |
27.23 |
6.38.00 |
11/1 |
| 12 Bob |
24.25 |
6.41.30 |
13/5* |
| 12 Ken |
25.22 |
6.41.30 |
37/4 |
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* Best of five results. Duncan might still win if he comes first in October and loses this 8th place. Otherwise Martin can draw with Bob if he wins again and loses his worst 9th.
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Noel Morris Memorial 5K Handicap Race 7th August 2007
It was pretty much the same conditions as in May, but slightly cooler at 18C, with five of the six gates closed (as in May), and very similar times for our regular competitors. So, a bit disappointing for those of us who thought we were making progress!
Bob, starting with Tracey and pursued by Chris, Ken and Paul, was taunted into going out fast (because he is making a comeback and threatens to upset the natural order which frightens the rest of us) so the hammer was down right from the start. Curiously, Bob stayed ahead of the chasing pack almost to the end and his 3rd place ensures that he takes an enormous lead in the points for the championship. This is because it is the best of five races and he now discards his appalling 17th place in March. Chris also discards his worst 10th place but is nowhere near in contention due to being too consistently mediocre.
Duncan, on the other hand, is running better than for several years and gets rid of his 13th place in June. Do not forget Peter, looking a lot fitter than recently, who must have pushed hard to stay ahead of a storming finish by Paul. With the usual fast performances by Alun and Martin we hopefully have all our top male runners looking good for the start of the Cross Country season in October.
Pity we are getting older! On the other hand Ken (the reigning Henllan Mile champion) has been selected for the Welsh Veterans Hockey team for the World Championships in Birmingham next week. That means he will probably be playing against former Olympic gold medallists. Given the speed he started today, he will run five rings around them!
Only the September and October races to go. Remember that you need 5 races to qualify for the series.
| COMPETITOR |
ACTUAL TIME |
START TIME
|
POINTS
|
| 01 Peter |
23.07 |
6.40.30 pm |
23/4 |
| 02 Paul B |
22.08 |
6.41.30 |
40/4 |
| 03 Bob |
23.03 |
6.41.00 |
13/5* |
| 04 Duncan |
22.07 |
6.42.00 |
20/5* |
| 05 Chris |
22.46 |
6.41.30 |
27/5* |
| 06 Tracey |
23.29 |
6.41.00 |
21/4 |
| 07 Ken |
23.10 |
6.41.30 |
24/3 |
| 08 Ron |
27.11 |
6.37.30 |
44/5* |
| 09 Roger |
25.31 |
6.39.30 |
34/5 |
| 10 Martin C |
21.15 |
6.43.30 |
30/5 |
| 11 Alun |
22.01 |
6.43.00 |
23/4 |
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