Sandra's Safari 2008
A day befitting Mother’s day, one that is so nice it just wraps itself around you with it’s warmth. A further tweak to the layout of this course this year – 3 years; 3 different courses. This time we raced only on Barry road which kept us away from any traffic and we did not have to cross any other roads. The course was one kilometre up and back; this meant you had 10 hills – gradual hills, but I am sure someone made them steeper on that last lap.
Everybody enjoyed this race. We started according to handicap times and because we were on a 1km stretch of road it meant you could see each other many times. This is what an open handicap event is all about, chasing and being chased by your competition; and when they smell the blood, the chase becomes even more intense.
The 10K race was a cracker! I was worried I had got the handicap times wrong, everyone seemed to be racing very hard today. The field started to close up fairly quickly, but the early pace setters of Michelle and Anne weren’t going to give up without a fight. From about 2K you could see Dennis kick into overdrive and started going through the field. Rachel did her usual and went from the gun – only one way to race – as fast as you can for as long as you can. These 2 were picking off all contenders. When Natasha was passed by Rachel, she held on to her for quite some time; but that gritty Gibbons heritage was too much and the gap opened. At 2K to go I went around the turn, looked back up the road and I could see, Dennis, Rachel, Denise etc. I thought to myself you want to catch me, it’s going to hurt you! I went round the final turn and I had the lead, a whole 100 metres I held it. Dennis went past like I wasn’t moving and then Rachel followed not long afterwards. At that point I thought that Rachel would win; I was wrong, Dennis seemed determined he would get 7 points again this week and he managed to hold on by 4 seconds. That is what racing is all about. I managed to keep Denise at bay (only because she was tired from the marathon the week before) and got 3rd place. Mental note – handicapper had better be tough on himself next time or will not be popular! Anne Fraser was second woman home and Denise Stewart-Jacks 3rd. Dave Barrett was 3rd man home. Eric Kemsley took fastest men’s time in 53m 47s; Rachel was fastest woman in a time of 57m 16s.
In the Master’s event, Ivor proved too strong; Arthur had been getting things his own way this year, but Ivor has obviously had his spinach and did a very slick 40m 20s. There was nothing wrong with Arthur’s time, he went under estimate and came home second in the fastest time of the day – 36m 23s. Welcome back Sue – really good to see you racing today, handicapper wasn’t too kind to you today, but will get nearer to estimate next event and it won’t even cost a bottle of wine.
Well done to all the juniors today, wish I could walk with half the grace you do – you all make it look so easy! Some good times as well. In the 1K Deanna Morrati did 8m 20s. In the 2.5K, Renee Moratti did a very fast 17m 42s; Genevieve Van der Merwe 19m 50s and cousin Caitlyn did 22m 50s.
Richard did his usual fine job as timekeeper – today against all odds with lots of additions to his sheet – a lesser man would have struggled.
Many thanks to Sandra and Colin for the judging and encouragement (I think that’s what Sandra was saying to me anyway). Thank you to Sandra and Theresa for the wonderful morning tea.
Results:
