Well done Eric and Tony, today’s course was a very good one. It was only a few days ago it was decided to change back to a 10K for the Seniors and to find a safer course that wasn’t on the main road. This one fitted the bill perfectly with a 1.25 circuit, virtually no roads to cross and 1 slight dog leg. We also had a slight downhill and uphill section. The weather was perfect, a bit of sun, no wind and just under 10 degrees. So the scene was set for some hot racing.
When we have races with Handicap starts it is actually unusual for the fastest in the Race to win. Handicap racing is all about being fair, but the top athletes in the club can’t always race hard (especially when they have events they are peaking for), whereas the middle of the pack walkers like myself race our hardest most club events. Today was unusual in the Senior’s events with Rachel first overall on handicap and Eric first man and second overall. Now I know what Rachel’s secret formula is, but I’m not sure of Eric’s – he did give me a lift back from Wellington last week though!
Welcome back to Gaylene and Katie. It was fantastic to see you out there today Gaylene, we have missed your smile and we hope we see more of you.
In the Women’s event as I have said there was really only a 1 filly race today – Rachel had passed the whole field with 2 laps still to go. Vanessa was 2nd on handicap and Anne in her fastest 10K of the year was 3rd home. Rachel did 56:11 which is her season’s best.
The men’s race was much closer and although Eric won on handicap, he had to work to the very end only catching Dave not far from the finish; in fact only 3 seconds separated these 2. In third place was Peter. Eric’s time was 53:41, again a season’s best. Now just in case anyone thinks the handicapper is easy on himself, my time today was only 2 seconds different to what I expected to do and I finished mid field. I might give myself a nice Borassa Shiraz before the next handicapping estimations!
In the Masters section, Tom seems to have found a new lease of life; he took out this race on handicap after winning the Senior men’s trophy at the Open walk. Whatever you are on, can we have some please. Ivor also went very well today and came home second with Arthur 3rd. Arthur also took out fastest time in 36:40.
The racing today has made for a very interesting look for the Points trophy. Arthur (Mr Metronome) and Tom (the dark horse) are level pegging on 25 points; Wacky and Helen are 1 point further back and then Mike on 23. The big mover though is Rachel on 22 – but she will have to work hard when she finds herself starting with Peter in the next race!
Thank you to Theresa and Colin for the morning tea. The soup was really appreciated by everybody.
Results:
