Wessex XC, Salisbury - 13th Nov 2005
WHO said running's for softies? Caroline Watts proved at Salisbury that not even childbirth can get in the way of a muddy cross country run.
It was on September 20th that Caroline gave birth to Eleanor May Caroline Watts, who weighed in at an impressive 7lb 15oz.
Three weeks after Eleanor's birth, Caroline, who along with husband Graham is now living in the west country, competed at the Street 5km Winter Series.
And then on Sunday, she and Graham drove down to Salisbury to join up with the rest of the Stubbington team for the second round of the Wessex League cross country series.
Caroline finished 80th at Hudson's Field, clocking 27min 11sec for the 5km distance. She was part of a three-strong ladies team. Debra Masson was the first Stubbington lady to finish in 25th place, with Lesley Harding in 32nd spot.
For the men, Mark Le Gassick finished third in the 8km men's race, which consisted of four laps around the field - hilly, and potholey, but not too muddy. He clocked 27min 28sec, to finish a minute and 37 seconds behind the winner, A Marriott from Yeovil.
Team manager, Andy Simpson, seen handing out chocolate bars afterwards, wasn't too laden down by all the confectionary to finish 34th, and Mike Harper was 44th - 47 seconds behind the Sweet Man!
Tim Crumpton, over a nasty cold, started off quickly and was on the shoulder of Mike Harper for most of the way before tiredness kicked in towards the end and he finished 60th. Dave King, in his first cross country outing of the season, completed the veteran's team with 75th. Graham Watts was 116th.
In team rankings, the lead men's trio gave Stubbington a seventh placing and the B team came 25th - Newbury took top honours. For the women, Stubbington were 14th with City of Salisbury running away with the team title.
In junior action, Stubbington managed to put out a team, with Dan Dell leading the under-17s home with a 19th place finish. Jamile Hogg was not far behind in 24th, some 42 seconds down on his team-mate, while twins Daniel and Lloyd Payne finished 30th and 34th places respectively. The under-17s team were 10th with hosts City of Salisbury emerging top of the pile.
In the under-13 boys race, 10-year-old Paul Mason finished a commendable 46th despite running against guys two years older than him.
The next round of the Wessex League takes place at St Gabriel's School in Newbury, on Sunday, December 11th. That is the same day as round three of the Today's Runner, which will be held earlier in the morning in Farnham, Surrey.
Men's race: 3 Mark Le Gassick 27.28; 34 Andy Simpson 31.04; 44 Mike Harper 31.51; 60 Tim Crumpton 33.58; 75 Dave King 35.01; 116 Graham Watts 43.56.
Women's race: 25 Debra Mason 18.09; 32 Lesley Harding 18.56; 80 Caroline Watts 27.11.
Under-17 men: 19 Dan Dell 15.46, 24 Jamille Hogg 16.28; 30 Daniel Payne 17.28; 34 Lloyd Payne 19.49