Todays Runner, Manor Farm - 7 February 2010
The penultimate race of the Todays Runner Winter League was our own which took place at Manor Farm Country Park on the 7th February and with the help of a number of club members this went off without a hitch. With this event clashing with races in Ryde and Chichester numbers were inevitably down on those in the earlier races but there were still 183 runners turn up to tackle the course which although being predominately on firm tracks and forest paths did have a number of stretches consisting of thick energy sapping mud and the sharp hill close to the end left many runners gasping at the finish.
With many of our regulars running at Ryde our first male runner to cross the line was Jon Leigh who did well to finish in 39th place considering that he had also run out to the race. Not far behind was Mike Bell (43rd) and Nick Crane was the third Stubbie home in 55th. Phil May and Mike Clarke were both first time scorers this season coming home 68th and 80th respectively giving us 285 points and 7th place on the day for the men. John Vose (98th) and Andy Tomlinson (102nd) were our other men runners.
For the ladies Penny Forse was our first runner home with a top ten finish of 9th place. She was closely followed by Sally McGrath (13th) and the third scoring place was completed by Marina Odey in her first outing in the series who crossed the line in 32nd place. We therefore accumulated 54 points which put the ladies in 5th place on the day. Jaz Smith (37th) was next home and Ann Blake came in 48th to maintain her full record of appearances this season. There were 116 men finishers and 67 ladies.
Farnham Runners had a strong team out for both the men's and ladies section (in fact their first lady was second overall in the race) and inevitably took first place and look to have the League sewn up with one race to go. We were 5th equal on the day with Liss Runners which was enough to keep us in third position in the League and a good turnout for the final race which is being held at Staunton Country Park near Havant on the 14th March should see us maintain this. Details of this event will be published as soon as they are known.
Finally I must say a very big thank you to Glen and Caroline Street who gave up their Saturday afternoon to mark the course out, to all the marshals who volunteered their services and to Di McEwen and her catering army for an excellent job which prompted some good comments from the Divisional Co-ordinator. Without your help the race would not have been a success.