Thank you to everyone who took part, see you all next year!

There’s nothing like the Summer Series for drawing out of their lairs, ancient [and not so ancient] Couriers who had gone to ground after the exertions of the winter campaign. We mustered 12 runners though sadly the women [woman] were outnumbered 11 to 1.

On a delightfully gilded evening, with the may and bluebells vibrant in the westering sun, red vests were quickly to the fore on this tough but unusually dry 4.9 mile course prepared by Wye Valley’s Merv Thomas and Bousty Bouston. A previous day’s warm-up of a 90 mile spin on the bike set Eliot up for a decisive victory over half a minute clear of his pursuers, his Crocodile tears now brushed aside. In a field of 122, we managed 7 in the top 20, an indication of our persisting quality in the male division. It was great to see Matt back, loping along as of old and finishing an encouraging 5th on only a modicum of training. One place behind came Luke who has been out of action with illness and injury yet still turned in a fine performance. Despite using valuable energy before the race bemoaning the hills that reared before him, Russell mastered them with all the ease of an old champion and held off Richie for 12th spot. This is likely to prove Richie’s last league race for some time and he gave it his all. We will miss his quality and great enthusiasm. Mike Link started somewhat leisurely and looked as though he were searching for the mud which is his natural habitat. Even so, he was well up in 18th, two places in front of evergreen Dave Williams who took the V50 category win without trouble.

Behind the quick boys, there was a sulphurous battle between Kay and Kipper for the V60 crown, Fishface leading for the first 4 miles before the taller man, lurking at his shoulder, unleashed his trademark devastating kick on the forestry track, leaving the Herring even more smoked than usual and coming home 29th to the latter’s 33rd. Chris Cleary, another youngster we will be really sorry to lose as his career takes him out of town, was next in in 47th. Kev rounded off the men’s team in 81st after going walkabout in the woods. Onlookers at the finish did not know whether to be more outraged by his post race expletives or the three words emblazoned on his tee shirt…..KILL SHEEP SCRAM. No wonder members of the farming community were eyeballing him so beadily. Not far off Kev in 84th came our first and only woman, Ali, a supreme competitor for Couriers over the years and here taking the first V50 spot despite persistent injury problems.

Through her efforts we were able to finish a team and lie 3rd overall with 3 races to make up some ground on Valley and Croft. Come on you women, give Ali a hand at Kinnersley in two weeks!

Steve

Venue: Tump Farm, Whitebrook,NP25 4TT (only 6m from Monmouth and 12m from Chepstow)

10k – £10 (+£2 on the day)
Half Marathon – £15 (+£2 on the day)

In fact, because of injuries and perhaps the twilight nature of the space between the winter and summer seasons, activity levels have been rather low. Come to think of it, some athletes may even have been training!

On the fells, Steve Littlewood has been nothing short of rampant [God help us all]. He strode to a fine V60 victory in the wretchedly cruel Cribyn race which climbs over 3000 feet in 5.5 miles Then, on a tough Steam Bunny course down at Pontypool, he dominated the strong V60 field stripped to his skin-tight black leotard in the freezing rain while his competitors shivered in three or more layers, unable to see him as he forged ahead,eerily silhouetted against the murky skyline. He followed these wins with an easy category victory in the Crocodile which at 8.8 miles is a little long for him given that his running is only squeezed in between his real interests [cycling time trials, climbing, swimming, gymwork and clubbing]. Watch out for him at Snowdon this year. He is in the mood for something special. Also on the fells, Martyn Peters kept the red flag flying high with some fearsome descending at Cwmdu, another 3000 foot + event, with nearly 10 miles to negotiate. Martyn likes it tough.

At the Crocodile we were unusually sparsely represented. Poor Eliot was unwell on the day and struggled home in 16th when he was strongly tipped for victory. Dave Williams managed a creditable 23rd [out of 248] after injury woes but apart from the illustrious Action Man, these were our only runners.

There were a few more at the Hereford Half, with Richie Bamford well up in 15th in 1.25.19. It was also good to see our ace cyclist, ironman Luke Williams touching the ground with his feet again in 32nd, in 1.28.27. Neil was 97th in 1.35.59, Clare Scott 130th in 1.38.43, Chris Cleary 260th in 1.47.05 [presumably finding the distance a bit much] and Bev Tyler 436th [still with well over 100 behind her] in a shade over the 2 hour mark.There was a stunning run from Rich Hughes in 6th overall, clocking 1.21.56. And remember, 13 miles is a bit more than his normal weekly tally. A brilliant effort!

At the Magic Roundabout, surely the most scenic event on the calendar, we were strangely only represented by a couple of pensioners, with the Kipper for once in a blue moon managing to get in front of Littlewood [but only by 8 seconds!] to carry off the V60 prize. The undulating course was thought not to test the latter’s virility sufficiently.

The 5K Series will be reported on after the final race on 12th June.

For more photos of the Hereford Half see our Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/herefordcouriers/?bookmark_t=group

#RedOrDead

Sorry for the delay.

Click Here for Results:
SHOBDON WOOD RACE RESULTS 2013