Warwickshire County Champs seemed decently well attended, on an absolutely freezing day.
Although mirroring some of the comments on here, it isn't as strong as the league fixtures (although our league covers a huge geographical area).
The league seems to be as well-attended and competitive as ever.
Another tough Birmingham League race at the always testing Warley Woods in Smethwick.
The race was particularly tasty at the front end as i believe it was the selection race for the University teams for BUCS. Loughborough who were nowhere at the last fixture, turned up in force and took 5 of the first 6 places.
We had a fairly consistent day, our first team were 10th on the day, but consolidating 7th place overall. My B team up to 4th after a reasonable performance today. My masters team suffered with our fastest oldie not running, and our 2nd fastest oldie retiring half way round, and we drop to 7th overall.
As to my own race, seemed fairly par for the course, felt i went well enough, didn't have a great deal of speed on the flat, but its a tough course, always going up or down. Was 9th counter (2nd master) which is my best finish of the season, but we had a couple of no-shows and retirements due to illness, which gained me a couple of places over my usual 11th/12th.
Hello to GazB, stalked me round all race and came past with 400 to goi didn't see the end of the ladies' race but your daughter seemed to be well up.
Midlands Champs in a fortnight.
Last edited by Travs; 14-01-2023 at 07:18 PM.
Cheers Travs. Another time you would have held on and I wouldn't've caught you. The field was unbelievably strong, although I would say that with my lowest ever finishing position! Your club trounced mine though. Louise ran well for 8th and was 2nd junior, thanks.
I ran round the woods on Friday and it was very wet but not as bad as it can get. Had I have known you were just down the road I would have popped down and offered my support!
The top wooded area was quite muddy but nothing to be too alarmed about.Originally Posted by PeteS
For me the struggle is when you are on the other side which is short grass and should be good running, but there's a film of sticky mud which just takes so much traction away... really want to push on there, but it makes the whole lap so arduous.
Set up the course for the Northern Champs today at Witton.
I designed a new 3 lap route for this one.
The course is in good nick for those racing tomorrow. No need for any monster spikes.
Just two muddy parts coming downhill off the saucer.
If you are racing, have a good one, and maybe come and say hello. I'll be wandering around in a royal blue waterproof.
Richard Taylor
"William Tell could take an apple off your head. Taylor could take out a processed pea."
Sid Waddell
Leeds City look pretty unbeatable if they have a near-full team out.
Midlands for us at Leamington Spa. We've allegedly got a fairly strong team out, but i'd be surprised if we make top 4.... vying with Birchfield & Tipton Harriers for 5th/6th/7th would be my bold prediction.
Last edited by Travs; 27-01-2023 at 08:58 PM.
Good day of XC today.
Ladies up first, Gemma Steel (Charnwood) taking the win by 12 seconds from our Julie Emmerson.... if the race had been over the usual hilly route i think Julie would have took the honours.
In similar fashion, Charnwood took the team gold over Cov by what must have only been a matter of 2 or 3 points... Bristol & West with the bronze.
In the men's, i haven't seen results yet, but i think we were 5th team. Looked close between Notts AC and Bristol & West for the win, BRAT 3rd, Tipton pipping us to 4th place.
As to my own performance, well having suffered with a cold all week i wasn't expecting much, and ran 43:22 for what was a couple of hundred metres over 10km, on an undulating and sticky surface, with plenty of twists and turns, and little ditches to negotiate. I expect my cough/cold didn't actually make much more than 60-90secs difference, as there's no way i'd be running close to 40mins for 10km on that surface.
I see Keswick sent a team to the Northerns which was full of fell-running names, and came a very impressive 5th, beating some well-established XC/Road clubs.
Be interesting if they sent the same team to the National how well they'd do... (15th - 20th in my view)
Always used to see Bingley and Pudsey/Bramley get their fell runners out in the past, even at road relays, so good to see. It's a cracking day out so why not.
Witton suits folk comfortable on the fells. The ground is sapping even if not muddy and the climb at the back is one of the more testing cross country climbs in the country.
Joe Steward yesterdays champ is one such person, but we've also had Steve Vernon and Andi Jones win the mens at Witton in recent years.
I've been told the National is flat. They had to move venues late in the day, so to get a venue that could manage an event of that size was lucky.
Might suit the roadies a bit more.
A shout out for the ladies winner Phillipa Williams. I haven't come across her before and when she set off like the clappers, a few of us thought she wouldn't keep it up, but she did.
Put a real gap between herself and some decent runners.
Richard Taylor
"William Tell could take an apple off your head. Taylor could take out a processed pea."
Sid Waddell
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