Winter Handicap - Sunday, 22nd January
STAND by your beds, the Stubbington Winter Handicap is just around the corner.
The event for club members takes place on Sunday, January 22nd. The aim is simple. Start at the car park off Passage Lane in Warsash and navigate your way round an undulating and meandering route to finish by the pink Hamble ferry hut.
There are no watches, and the runner who finishes closest to 11.40am is the winner. It costs £1 to enter, and the prize is 50 points in the Cross Country Points League, a bottle of wine, plus the chance to gloat and bask in the glory of victory in the pub afterwards.
The route is as follows:
The race starts in the car park off Passage Lane in Warsash. Head along the footpath past the Hamble ferry hut and then continue along the path until you reach the boat yard.
Turn right and go up through the boat yard. At the road, turn right and go up the hill. At the 'T' junction, turn right, then take the first entrance into Holly Hill on your left.
Continue down the hill past the barriers. At the bottom, turn left and go over the bridge. Then turn right. Follow the path along the side of the lake.
At the end of the lake, turn left away from the lake. Follow the sign for the Hamble foreshore. At the second Hamble foreshore sign, continue straight ahead. At the top of the incline, turn right and follow the path round until you come to the wooden fence. Follow the fence and at the top turn right.
Go through the barriers and turn left. At the end of the road, turn right and head back into Warsash. Go straight through the village past the School of Navigation. Just before the end of the road turn right. Go down the road, not the footpath, and at the end of the road follow the footpath round and over the small bridge. You should end up on the foreshore.
Turn right and head back along the foreshore. This path will lead you back to Warsash. Go past the Rising Sun pub, then turn left along the footpath beside the car park you started in. The finish line is outside the pink Hamble ferry hut.
Anyone wanting distress flares in case of emergency should contact the chairman!