...................The ultimate cross country course, a beast amongst beasts. This is the kind of course cross country runners dream of, we just practice on the other courses until this one comes along, then it is for real!!!

The under 13 boys set the event away as ever, Birtleys’ two competitors Ade and Robbie running from the fast pack, still just learning the ropes, Mark had wanted to run with them, but was poorly, and slept right through ‘till teatime. Being the canny bairn that he is, looked like he had given little bruvver Ade a share of whatever he had to keep for him. Adrian who usually loves the hills, struggled and trailed home behind Robbie once again.

The lasses once again had a full team Our Sophe, Paige, Bethan and Chelsea. They should have done quite well this season, as far as I remember they must have had a full team at just about every harrier league. Sophie Taylor, plagued all season with a bad chest, who normally doesn’t care much for hills, had the run of the day, finishing 4th from the fast pack, and almost managed to clinch 3rd place on the run in.

It was a cold and windy day (decidedly summery compared with tomorrow, Sunday). The under 15 lads had a full team, with James Bennett, Josh and Sam. Well done lads I know it was hard cos I followed you, and I had to do that flippin hill twice.

The under 15 lasses had nobody, Steph turned up but just to support her mum, she had a bit of what Mark had….a coincidence I am told.

Under 17’s lads and lasses, just one competitor each for the club, two ever presents, in Monique and Richard.

Congratulations to Monique for winning the Under 17 women overall title. Well done.

The big lads race…..I thought I was having a great run until Lee went passed me on the hill. I used to be young Lee and pass people like that you know!! But I still had a couple of goals to achieve on this course. I last ran this course about 7 years ago and tore my ankle ligaments. Nearly snapped my knee this time, grrrreat that is what this is all about…hard work. Then on the last lap Janet distracted me, and I came a cropper, again just about snapping my ankle, but I was nearly finished and wasn’t going to stop now. Pat Kelly walked off with a strain to his ham string I am surprised there wasn’t a stream of casualties. Alan Wear turned up and completed the team, cheers Alan, you ran the legs off me strangely I didn’t expect that, well not by so much anyway. Dave Ransen is flying at the moment, getting stronger every race. My two other goals, Zak and Karl didn’t catch me from their packs…although they nearly did. Close lads, but no cuddly toy.

Maggie was again the lone senior runner for the women, well done Maggie, great course isn’t it.

After the races there was a lovely surprise for one of the most pleasant bairns at the club. Sophie Taylor under 13 won the overall individual second place in the harrier league. When we saw the medal, Sophie just blushed shyly, and couldn’t understand how she had won it. I will tell you how Sophie, and it isn’t a fluke. The results are collated and the best 4 race positions are gathered the points added up and put in order, that is how they decide who wins and who doesn’t. That is the fairest way, because it means that if people are poorly for one event, it doesn’t drag them down, and if you cannot make a race, that doesn’t cost you either. It means that basically you have been the second most consistent runner in your age group in the league, and that is borne out by your position in the Northerns and Nationals….and didn’t you win the club championship at the North Easterns?? Well done you should be very pleased and proud.