Leek Cricket Club Final summer Series Race (Gun Hill 1st August)

I was sad to see the final summer series and the arrival of the final race, it seemed to come about too quickly. Lets hope it’s not a goodbye!

The final race was a 5 mile race starting at Leek Cricket Club which then leads on the Gun Hill and then back towards Tittesworth and then finally back down to the Abbey Inn and up to the Cricket Club to start/finish. Am a bit unsure of the actual course as me and most of the front runners got a little lost for a change! Hence the lack of detail. This slight detour meant that we had to do an extra mile or so.  Well they do say things come in threes and in a mysterious way it maybe as luckly as a rabbits foot for I had a good conclusion.

So this is how the story of the final race unfolded.  It was another hot evening and my stomach as usual was flowing south… Once I managed to compose myself, I meant up with some of the competitors and people I had gotten to know. Amongst them was Gareth Briggs, Robin Hope, Dale, Matt, Tyler, Toby, Richard, Lee and Andrew. With the support of Cara who was always ready with my water I was final making my way to the start. My Brother had come to support and watch the race too.

I wasn’t sure of the course at this point, but I thought that didn’t matter as I was going to be at the front… Well in hindsind it would of helped.  O well.  The whistle had gone and the front-runners we off like lightening bolts looking for a point of contact.  As usual my game plan was to stay with the runners I usually finish around.  I took it steady on the road as I wanted to make my move on the uphill towards the top of gun hill and put my hill sessions to practice. It seemed to work as I managed to pass about four or five other runners and found myself in about tenth once I reached the top of gun hill to hear my brothers voice of support and encouragement. Thanks Ant.

Top of Gun Hill (Me and Richard)

This gave me a little more oxygen as it was tough running through the farmers fields, my legs aching from the long uphill struggle.  Unsure of the route I followed those in front. Having heard a few shouts I looked around to try and see if we were going the right way, I assumed we were and I became to follow the leading group apart from the leading two who had ran to the top of the field! We took a gate to another field. Both of these paths were wrong and we should of taken a gate leading to some farms earlier on.  I realised that we were going the wrong way after we hadn’t seen a marshal or any signs to leads on the right route, so I followed Gareth Briggs and Robin Hope as I knew they knew the area.  After several ploughed fields, cattle grids, and climbing of fences we hit the road that goes to the Meerbroke or the Abbey Inn, I knew where we were! I knew I had to work extra hard in order to finish well. I panicked and wondered if I would finish near the back of field due to the extra mile or so detour.  I followed Gareth with heavy legs and had to find some inner strength to carry me through. We eventually managed to catch up with the race that I entered.  I saw Gareth Knapper and Lee Campbell and I knew I was near the top end of the race, which was relief.  The next part of the route was uphill, I tried to keep in touch with Gareth who at this point had made a good gap on myself, Robin and Adam.   I managed to see a few familiar faces who made fun of us going the wrong way for a third time but they also offered me encouragement to fight for a good place and not to give up.

I did this and soon started to pass those that started behind me, through the woods near the Abbey Inn I could sort of sense an end to this race, providing I didn’t go wrong again. At this point I was racing to try and keep in touch with Gareth and to hold off Adam.  I got to the Abbey Inn, a pub that through back good memories… I also came across my brother who had come to run with me to the finish. Thanks for the support Ant. He pushed me on and told me to keep going, he also said I was in second place. I not entirely sure how this happened but I was pleased to be in this position. I ran with inspiration of the ghosts of my past and the beating voice of my brother to hold off Gareth till the end of the race.

A strange race that lead me to second place, maybe next time I ll get there without people taking the wrong route.

My best result for Team Raidlight and for me. I was over the moon with my finish though. I collapsed on the floor to find Cara cheering me on and offering me water. Thankyou.

Well done to Gareth for winning the race.  

Running like Pony

Gareth Briggs and Simon Bailey

Am really pleased with how the summer series has gone and also even more pleased to meet so many nice people who love to run and love the landscape. I would recommend the series to anyone, no matter what their standard.

I would like to thank everyone who has supported me during the series and all those that have given me advice.  Thanks to my Brother as always and also Cara for her support.  Thanks to Dale, Clive, Matt, Gareth B, Robin, Matt, Tyler, Toby, Lee, Gareth K, Andrew, Dean, Frank, Ellie, Adam, Sam, Jason, and Roger.

Final Results for the final race:

Gareth	Briggs	618	SMAC	1	00:40:17	M40
David	Bethell	417	Team Raidlight	2	00:41:00	M16
Adam	Brearley	434	SMAC	3	00:41:17	M16
Richard	Marlton	456	Stockport Harriers	4	00:41:35	M45
Matt	Bigley	765	Unaffiliated	5	00:41:43	M16
Richard	Cooper	762	Boalloy RC	6	00:42:04	M45
Deborah	Thomas	613	Trentham RC	7	00:42:21	F16
Lee	Campbell	453	Boalloy RC	8	00:42:29	M50
Matthew	Statham	487	Unaffiliated	9	00:42:41	M16
Gareth	Knapper	469	SMAC	10	00:42:57	M16
Ruth	Watchorn-Rice	511	SMAC	11	00:43:07	F45
John	Green	442	SMAC	12	00:43:21	M45
Ian	Yates	759	SMAC	13	00:43:23	M16
Toby	Miller	536	Boalloy RC	14	00:43:26	M16

Final Results for the Summer Series Championship

Julian	Goodwin	455	Boalloy RC	M	1	9
Simon	Myatt	535	Unaffiliated	M	2	26
Dominic	Stafford	515	Boalloy RC	M	3	26
Adam	Brearley	434	SMAC	M	4	34
Richard	Marlton	456	Stockport Harriers	M	5	41
David	Bethell	417	Team Raidlight	M	6	43
Dan	Croft	592	Macclesfield Harriers	M	7	47
Andrew	Mayers	443	South Cheshire Harriers	M	8	48
Tyler	Goodwin	525	Boalloy RC	M	9	52
Toby	Miller	536	Boalloy RC	M	10	70
Pete	Newham	604	Congleton Harriers	M	11	77
Roger	Grand	435	SMAC	M	12	90
Matthew	Statham	487	Unaffiliated	M	13	93
Lee	Campbell	453	Boalloy RC	M	14	96
Gareth	Knapper	469	SMAC	M	15	104
Dale	Colclough	486	Trentham RC	M	16	110
Terry	Fowler	451	SMAC	M	17	112
Dean	Windsor	431	Boalloy RC	M	18	118

I managed to finish six overall and fourth in my age category.

Rudyard (25th July, Summer Series)

This was the week of my 30^th Birthday, so celebrations were in full swing three nights before the race after an evening in the Silk and Strand (leek) with family and friends as we celebrated mine and my twin sisters birthday party. Most of the people who turned up were for my sister…I did managed to eat her cake and try to ride a child’s bike down some steps… Thanks for everyone who came to celebrate with my sister and myself.

After a sore head the two days later I had to put on my racing head, as I wanted to try and finish 3^rd in my category in the overall prizes.

With the support of Cara and other friends I made during the series I was surprising pleased to find myself feeling I could race this one, as I knew the course from many walks around the lake.

The Lake is named after Rudyard Kipplin as him and his family visited the lake regularly to feel the breeze in their hair to look upon the silver veils that rippled around the lake.

The first part of the race consists of approximately 2miles of straight and flat road.  This is not my strong point so I knew I had to hold a good position until we reached an uphill.

The race started at a fast pace as I expected, I hung back and tried to stay with those footprints that had become a familiar path, this came in the form of Richard and Toby.

After the nutrition of some fly’s and the summers heat, I felt a little tired as people passed me, I knew I could not do anything about it as I would blow up.  It wasn’t until the never ending straight had finished I could make my move. 

This came after the cattle grid followed by cows that made for some unusual spectators. I could hear the sound of bagpipes from the lungs of Johnny Whylock. This inspired me to put a little more effort in and this worked as I passed some of the runners that overtook me on the flat.

I managed to overtake and catch up with Tyler and Richard both were having a good race.  I knew it would take a lot to bet these two, so I tried to maintain my pace and put more effort on the gradients.  This seemed to work as we approached the boat houses I had made up some positions and with the support of members from Staff Moorlands Running Club I managed to hold off Tyler and Richard after an exchange numbers.

I then reached the visitor center and mooring points for the boats, it’s a good view from here, but I didn’t have time to admire it this time. As I had to burst into a spirit to pull away from my pursuers.  I managed to do this until the finish with a time of 31 minutes and 02 seconds to finish in 5^th place, my best finish since starting the series. Result for Team Raidlight.

This was my first race in a Team Raidlight shirt. 

Summer Series, Oakamoor. 4th July

So this race was something of a revelation for me, as Dale and Clive have told me not to run with my water bottle. As It added extra weight and there was no need for it for the distance that I was doing. I agreed, I think I did it for a comfort thing. 

At this point, I also like to point out that doing the summer series has been a massive learning curve for me, and a most enjoyable one. I have meet lots of new people who are all friendly and all supportive. It really has helped me improve my running over short distances. Thanks to everyone who has helped me so far.

Again I was excited about the race, as I knew Oakamoor well due to friends that I know living in Dimmingsdale and also because I go climbing there.  I was also nervous and excited as per usual.

I meet up Dale, Richard, Tyler, Matt, Clive, Andrew, Gareth and Toby at the start of the race and we were all excited about it too.  We joked about not going wrong, or making any silly errors like last week. I was told to go fast at the start in order to get a good place for first up hill climb. And that is what I did. Though I didn’t expect the climb to go one for as long as it did.  I was knackered half way up the hill but I kept pushing myself as someone breath was on my shoulder, I fought as long as I could until Tyler came running past me. 

I tried to keep up with him but couldn’t, as we started the downhill towards Dimmingsdale I lost ground on Tyler. I managed to keep up with Richard, as we bounced through the brecon and over the tractor tracks. I was pleased with my pace at this point and tried to keep it up, though I was sure of the route so it was hard to judge it.

We head past the pools in dimmingsdale and I heard a voice from Toby to tell me that we had missed the turning, so myself and Richard and a few other runners ran back as quick as possible. “O no” myself and Richard said, twice in two weeks. Nightmare I thought.  We had previously passed the marshal who was walking up to his checkpoint. I think we arrived a little early. Thanks Toby for calling us back.

We carried on with the race, even more cautious of the route. I was making sure I went the right well.  After more tractor paths and jumping of the timber and lifting our sticky muddy shoes we reached the rambles retreat and I knew we were near the last and long straight home. I put in the effort and tried to keep up with Richard, but he was too strong. Well done Richard good race.  As I headed to the home straight, Jack Ross came flying past me, which was strange as I thought we would of finished the race by now.

It turned out that he and the top 8 went the wrong way also, and made the same mistake.  This did play a part in the results.  Never the less I was pleased with my pace and happy to of finished 5^th with a time of 33minutes. 

Jack Ross still managed to win the race for Staffs Moorlands with a time of 32 minutes and 41 seconds even though he went the wrong well. Impressive.

Shooting Guns

Photo Mick Hall