The Christmas Mulled Wine Christmas Handicap returns!
A lovely mild winter’s day on Sunday 18th December greeted our 37 intrepid seasonal runners this year and there were about as many supporters (the mulled wine and mince pies draws them in!).
Plenty of alcoholic and chocoholic prizes to go around this year, not least for the ever increasing efforts put into fancy dress outfits! I went for a run along Solent Breezes just before the handicap race and was rather surprised to encounter 4 running Christmas trees (maybe I need to cut down on the booze next year?!). Anyway – yet again after an enjoyable 10k trot the finishers were all very close to the target 11am deadline with the winning male, Nigel Whitcher, coming in at 11.00.08 (good arrows Nige!) and first lady, Julie Ashman, arriving just 1 second later with husband Kev at 11.00.09!
Once all were accounted for (well at least I think they were!) runners and supporters gracefully retired to Lord Kimber‘s estate for the mandatory hot wine and pies and reminisced over what might have been had Mike White not been dragged along too fast by his dog and had Liz got out of bed in time for the race! Suitably stuffed, we handed out the prizes which this year included best fancy dressed couples and family! Jill Rose and Richard Snell were rewarded for their Joseph and Mary (Mary complete with very large bump) and Phil and Sarah Martin for their elfin efforts.
The family prize had to go to Jaz Smith’s family of very well made (albeit hot after 10k!) Christmas trees. Fantastic effort by everyone all around and we look forward to even more inventive costumes next year! Many thanks yet again to Nick and Helen Kimber for offering up their driveway to the hordes and preparing some very Moorish mulled wine. Great to see everyone smiling at this now well established club event – watch out for details of the Easter handicap soon!
Tim Sullivan
For Social Committee