Durham Relays at Maiden Castle - 29th August 2007

?????? I could see no maidens, ….then there she was …Our Tracy from Chester le Street. Now I have found her you can call it Maiden Castle. The fairest maiden of them all, and she owes Adrian a hug, because he picked her out for a spot prize, a bottle of wine.

This was a strange day, in my efforts to gather a third member in to complete a team, I ended up having to take part, and I haven't run for 6 weeks. So taking things as seriously as I could, me and my three best mates went for a Chinese lunch, and then bowling after that. Mark went on to play football, and the rest of us went running.

We had a canny turnout, a complete girlie team, at the start an incomplete young lads team, a senior AND veteran male team and two young ladies for the womens team.

It was a nice night for running, and there were some great performances all round. Our Sophe, full of Chinese chicken, ran the fastest girlie under 13 leg Bethan ran second leg, and then Steph ran the fastest girlie under 15 leg (beat Sophie by one second) and I do believe they were second girlie team.

Robbie set the lads away racing Jake Archer, a champion under 15 runner, so we knew he was up against it, he handed over in 4th place to Adrian, around about this time Mark arrived, (just done an hours footbaaal) and was told in a menacing way by Mick Loraine that he was the third runner for the team, so he borrowed Robbies vest and trainers Adrian came round in second place to hand over to his big bruvver, and then mark set off, and finished a very creditable third. Tommy nominated Mark for the run of the day, for his performance, effort and team spirit.

There was a dubious moment with the time keepers at the end of the night when Adrian was given fastest under 13 leg, there was a call that it may have been Robbie, but there was only a second in it according to their timers so I think they both received a prize. The main thing is though, and you may not believe this but…..THE BOYS RELAY TEAM BEAT THE GIRLS RELAY TEAM, NURNY NURNY NUR NUR!!!

Lee, Karl, and Richard ran the legs off Paul, Vince, and myself, but no times available as I was running and couldn't time them at the same time.

Maggie and Janet were the ladies who participated well done ladies.

So Birtley got 3 out of 4 fastest legs in the younguns race, the lads beat the girls, and our Tracy from Chester le Street was a winner with her team for the big girlies.

Then we all went upstairs to the bar for the presentation and food. I would like to thank Mandy Watt for letting me sit on her knee when nobody else would give me a seat. Thanks.

Didn't miss anyone this time so no apologies, and it is all factual, I saw it all with my own eyes. There was a little letter left on my car from a friend, and the reply is …"You are very welcome anytime!!"