Hoby Hop

[anthonykay]

Enjoyed the 2022 edition of this village cross-country race. Start was in waves again (fastest runners first), although only 57 runners in total. I was in the third wave, and went off like a nutcase as usual, soon getting away from the rest of the runners in that wave. Passed two second-wave runners on the village street in Ragdale (one of the few uphill sections of the course), but was passed by one third-wave runner a bit later. Managed to maintain a good pace through to the finish, despite my stupidly fast start. Then back to the village hall for drinks and cake: lots of cake, baked by the RO's mother.

Sunshine, but not too hot, and a pleasant breeze; a course along field-edge footpaths (but the RO had cut away most of the nettles, which spoiled some of the fun), drier than I would have liked, but otherwise very pleasant. And the cycle ride there and back (12 miles each way, out via Ratcliffe-on-the-Wreake, back via Seagrave) was also very enjoyable. There were huge numbers of cyclists out on the country roads, most of them going considerably faster than me.

As usual, Tim Hartley won the race. He's only 53; will he still be winning races when he's an M60? Apparently my time was more than a minute and a half faster than last year; if this continues, I could be as fast as Howard Partridge and Mick Moorhouse by the time I reach M70 [see Bamford Sheepdog Trials fell race results].