Hants XC, Basingstoke
A VERY wet and windy day at the Hampshire Cross Country Championships in Basingstoke saw the green and white army battling around a churned up course. The team had been ravaged by injuries and the dreaded virus that's going around!
A few late changes to the team saw the senior men coming home in ninth position led home by Mark Le Gassick 15th; Tony Allen 17th; Alasdair Ewing 51st; Andy Simpson 88th; Chris Vernon 110th and Nick Crane 158th.
The vets were eighth and lost on count back for seventh. First home was Tony in an excellent 2nd place, next was Alasdair 12th; Chris 50th and Nick 80th.
Special thanks go to Chris, Nick, Richard Simms and Andy who stood in for the injured/ ill runners at the eleventh hour.
Alasdair came to the rescue of half the team by reading and giving the numbers out after the starting gun had gone, which must have been a comical sight for anybody watching - not sure why he bothered though as at the end of the race most people's numbers had been washed and blown away in the rain and wind.
Chris was seen hurdling the barrier at the last minute and chasing Alasdair for his number!!
The next cross country race is the Hampshire Cross Country League at Reading on Saturday, January 13th. Anyone not running the Stubby 10km, could you please run cross country - we desperately need you help.
We are short of ladies and even men for this Saturday's race.
Please contact Andy Simpson to let him know if you are racing on michelle.simpson@tiscali.co.uk
Hampshire Championships results
15th Mark Le Gassick 47.23
17th Tony Allen 47.47
51st Alasdair Ewing 51.38
88th Andy Simpson 54.46
110th Chris Vernon 56.22
158th Nick Crane 63.14
166th Gordon Westley 64.37
177th Richard Simms 66.50
182nd John Tussler 67.14