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Great Hill Spring Handicap 2008      

Handicap Results0508

The race took place in perfect conditions. Gratitude is extended to Kathleen Griffiths for all the splendid photographs. She is rapididly becoming our ace camera girl. Was it Neil Sedaka who....? Oh no that was Calendar Girl!

I was the oldest old blogger in the Handicap. Once again the Handicapper penalized me, but the pen is mightier than the sword. I hope to live to tell another tale after the Winter Handicap!

 First Report from Karen Nash (& very well done Matthew)

Great Hill Handicap

 Matthew was up for this run. He was determined to put the last curry run behind him after running fast with John G and then being led astray by a chalk arrow. (One day he will learn to listen to me!!! I did offer him a look of the map in the car park before we set off.) I on the other hand was not so sure. Buttermere had gone better than expected but slower than last year, Fairfield was hell for the first third and my times seem to be going backwards as my hip gets worse and added to by other niggles. At the last winter Handicap Matt was only seconds behind me so the chances were he was going to complete my depression and beat me today. The boys were full of energy and bounce, playing silly games like hide Chris in the boot. We got there early for parking and because Bob thought he’d have an early handicap. Chris agreed to stay with Robyn until he had crossed the road, although in the end he was accompanied by Malcolm (thanks). Matt being a teenager was muttering about being able to cross on his own. It‘s not him I doubt but the speeders doing 60 plus on that road. We set off together Matt, Roger and I but before long they were pulling away and that was before the road crossing. Going up Great Hill I could see Matt just trotting steadily upwards. Before long I was on my own and with no bodies ahead to try to wind in. Still it was a glorious evening and the views were superb. The ground was about as dry as a Pennine Moor can ever get and the descent to the Goyt a joy. Heading up through the plantation was soon over and I could see someone ahead – Philippa, not sure what to do about the JCB logging machine. A quick detour and we were off across the final fields catching Robyn and Bob along the way.  Needless to say both Matt and Chris were back before me but although I was sore I wasn’t dripping blood like Bob who fell four times (and that was before the pub). When times were announced Matt was made up! Third overall, beat my best time by 2-3 minutes and my time on the night by about 5. He now has the record in his sights and intends trying to whittle away at it over the coming years. Chris not to be out done was only a minute or so behind me on the night so I can guess what his next target is. 

Karen (feeling old and decrepit)

Chris Nash flies in. Pete McDermott leads in Mick Mack. Malcom Holmes finishes just behind Mick

Eddie just a stride ahead of Dave at the finish.

Lots of fell runners break away from their original running clubs, mainly because they have no interest in track & field, fell running being their main interest. The fell running section of our club decided to have their own website, probably for the same reason. Now a V70, George Arnold is our oldest active fell runner. There are a few more of us close behind! One of our top female road runners, whilst marshalling recently at Chipping Show Fell Race commented on just how friendly fell runners are.