Summer Handicap, 27th July 2020
For the second club handicap of the Covid-19 era, runners were given the choice of a 5K route of their own choosing (not downhill!) or running the real Summer Handicap course in Exhibition Park and over the Town Moor hills. The weather wasn’t very kind for those who waited until today – I bet it was a bit exposed on the Moor!
As is often the case, the handicapper was beaten by a relatively new member as Laurie Johnson led the field home. Well done, Laurie – it will be tougher in 3 months time!
Not far behind Laurie was the ever-improving Tara Hipwood and another good run by Michael Teasdale saw him complete the podium places. Honourable mentions go to Lena Webster-Costella and Nick and Tanja Cooper. All that running up and down her street is doing wonders for Lena’s times and her run of 25:50 saw her finish 4th (that sub-25 minute 5K will come). Nick and Tanja ran in their first handicaps since 2008 and 2009 respectively and even had their own in-handicap race! Nick benefited from having to chase the missus and finished 5th.
Although we were missing a couple of the speed merchants, Paul Robinson ran an excellent time of 19:08 in unfavourable conditions to be easily the fastest on the day. Second quickest was Tom Tinsley in 19:49. Sarah Kerr (21:33) was fastest lady and 3rd fastest overall. David Lydall was 3rd fastest man in 21:48, with Nina Jensen (24:51) and Clare McKitterick (25:20) completing the ladies’ top 3.
Full results can be found here.
There was a well attended Zoom social afterwards, when the results of the quizzes were announced. Alice Vialard was the best at identifying Claremonters from their legs, while Hazel Juggins won the prize for recognising us as children.