Hants XC, Farley Mount, Winchester - 7th Oct 2006
CHRIS VERNON led Stubbington’s charge up Farley Mount on a very successful opening day of the Hampshire Cross Country League season.
Chris was fastest out of the blocks and up the steep hill, putting the normally swift starting Andy Simpson in the shade. “I now have somebody challenging me for my title as the fastest starter,” said a rueful Simmo, while chomping on a Twix bar!
The Milky Bar kid, who was delighted at the strong turn-out of Stubbies at the Winchester venue, later eased past Chris on the 8km course to finish in 105th to Chris’s 136th and 44th vet. But it was Chris and the vets team who stole the limelight by finishing in an impressive third place on the day.
Mike Harper headed a strong vets line-up finishing in 90th place and 20th vet, with Ray Gunner 14 seconds behind in 96th and 22nd vet. Mike Bainbridge and Chris Hall followed in swift succession with Mike a further 26 seconds adrift in 99th and 23rd vet and Chris just yards behind in 101st and 25th vet. Chris Vernon made up the fifth vet in the squad.
The senior men finished eighth in the team rankings with Mark Le Gassick leading the Green Vests home in 22nd spot, almost three minutes behind race winner Ben Moreau from Aldershot Farnham & District who dominated the race with seven runners in the top 20.
Zippy Grice was 43rd and Graham Bell was within shouting distance of Chris Vernon at the finishing funnel with 139th. Tim Crumpton ran hard in a competitive field for 160th, Graham James was snapping at his heels in 162nd, and Mike Bell enjoyed his first competitive run for a few months after injury with 213th position. The ever-reliable Phil May called in at 222nd, Gordon Westley was 244th and Roger Simms 258th.
For the women, Stubbington had a good turnout with the vets finishing seventh and the combined ladies’ team 17th. For Donna Shaw, Lucy Simmons and Geraldine May, they were making their Hampshire Cross Country League debuts.
Penny Forse made a welcome return after a summer working on her fitness after injury and she led the ladies home in 72nd place in a race also dominated by Aldershot, Farnham & District. Penny was 23rd vet on the day. Lucy Simmons was 84th, just 30 seconds down on Penny, and Lesley Harding ran well for 88th, well within sight of her two team-mates and 30th vet. Donna Shaw finished in 127th and Geraldine May 132nd for 62nd and 66th places in the veteran standings.
Andy Simpson was chuffed to bits with the sizeable number of Stubbies who made it to Farley Mount on the opening day of the season, and who ran so well.
“It was great to get such a good turnout,” he said. “I was impressed with the vet team, especially Mike Harper, whose six to 10 places he made up in a sprint finish got the guys 3rd instead of 5th! I know a lot of us guys are a bit off full fitness (me by about stone and 30secs a mile!), so I know we can improve as a team and climb up the seniors’ table. The challenge for vets is to go one better at the next race!”
For the full set of results, please click here.
Next up on the cross country front is the Wessex Cross Country League at Salisbury this Sunday afternoon (October 15th). The Hampshire Cross Country League moves to Goodwood in West Sussex on Saturday, November 11th.