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5km Race 2 Page 2 Page 2
5km 2013 Race 2 Page 1
Sorry for the delay.
ELIOT ADDS SHOBDON TO HIS GROWING PORTFOLIO OF VICTORIES
After a useful 3rd spot in 16.37 in the first of the 5K Series, Eliot registered a comfortable victory over the Muddy Woody winner, Mike Pfeiffer, on the tough Shobdon course which seems to have been increasingly used by horses since the last race here. In dry conditions, with a light wind and an ideal temperature for running, Eliot went clear early on and very much had things his own way, winning in 35.10, 5 seconds slower than his Dad’s winning time in 2002. [The statistics I have to hand!]
In the V6O’s, Steve L continued his fine run of form, putting over a minute into the jaded Herring. Clive wasn’t well and shouldn’t have started and had to pull out to fight another day. A big field of over 120 took part.
SWEET DREAMS IN THE MIST
The Couriers Fell squad was out in force for the longer Sugarloaf race which attracted more than 80 runners on a day of drizzle, chilly wind and mist growing increasingly dense towards the summit. There were many tales of poor navigation [especially from the Wye Valley boys] but on the descent, after once more letting the Herring play patsy to the top, young Littlewood hitched his wagon to one of the canniest exponents of fellcraft, Simon Blease and found himself guided with geometric precision to the lower slopes and another well deserved V60 victory. He was paced across the playing fields by Neil who for the second week running decided that he wanted to run a longer route than the one required. Rich, after a strong ascent, swapping places with Fishface on the way up, charged downhill but a bit too fast as, not for the first time in his career, he overshot his turn and surrendered positions to Little and Lewi. He did manage to hold off Clara however who herself had gone walkabout halfway down the hillside, hoping to lose the Courier she was with in a mist pocket. Behind her, Steve H, Clive and Martyn arrived in due course looking, well, ready for their slippers.
Click Here for Provisional Results:
20913 5K Race 1
The Series, in its 20th year, consisted of 8 short mountain races held between October and March with your 5 best results giving your final Series score. Some of the races, notably the Cwm Nant y Groes in January, were held in abysmal conditions but this did not stop the Couriers performing with gusto and, out of nearly 200 participants through the winter, we managed to place 5 runners in the top 15 places in the Series after the last race at Llanthony 16/3/13. If there had been a team prize, we would have carried it off, finishing as we did ahead of Welsh fell specialists such as MDC and Mynydd Du, as well as Chepstow Harriers.
Max had a brilliant Series, finishing 3rd overall and clear winner of the competitive V50 category while Steve L had no trouble taking the V60 title at the first attempt and claiming a fine 10th spot in the open. Both Neil [V40] and Steve H [V60] were second in their divisions, placing respectively 5th and 14th overall. Rich Wall improved throughout the Series to finish one place behind Steve L in 11th while demon descenders Clive and Martyn were also high up the field.
It may have been a pretty miserable winter on the weather front, but at Llanthony on Saturday, Couriers celebrated at the Priory [see pic, courtesy of Dick Finch] before going home to watch a wretched sports fixture played under cover. No roof for runners of course, only the sky and any precipitation you like: on Saturday, rain, sleet, hail and snow. Lovely grub!
