Wessex XC, Glastonbury - 9th Oct 2005
IT was a fast, dry and mud-free affair for the opening Wessex Cross Country League race of the season.
With the opening race of the campaign clashing with the staging of the Great South Run, and with the Hampshire Cross Country League taking place the day before, Stubbington struggled to put out a team.
However, manager Andy Simpson still managed to persuade and cajole four others to join him for a stroll around Glastonbury to complete two teams for the seniors and vets.
Andy set a fine example by easing home in 38th place, followed by Ian Smith in 43rd, with Phil May 58th, Nick Crane in 75th and Graham Watts making up the squad in 92nd .
The senior team finished 15th and it was a tremendous effort bearing in mind that both Andy and Phil had competed at Farley Mount in the Hampshire Cross Country League the day before.
This year everyone, including Andy, managed to start the race on time but due to poor levels of fitness Andy, Graham and Ian were two to three minutes slower than 12 months ago, even though conditions pretty much the same as last year. Andy said: "We should see big improvements as the cross country season gets into full swing."
Sadly no ladies or juniors were present but with the next two races are just up the road, Salisbury on November 13th and Newbury on December 11th , Andy is hoping for a bigger turnout.
Details of these races are on the website, or you can e-mail Andy Simpson at michelle.simpson@tiscali.co.uk or Chris Haskell on haskells@sarisbury.fsnet.co.uk