Autumn Handicap, 25th October 2021
On a surprisingly mild night, 35 runners took part in the Autumn Winter Handicap down on the Quayside. Alex Harding fooled the handicapper by running the Summer Handicap the day after a 24 mile run, thus registering an uncharacteristically slow time! He took full advantage and ran well this evening to romp home in first place. It will be tougher next time, Alex!
Mungai Wairia also had a good run to finish second – and I thought it took Mungai 4 miles to warm up these days! Third was Rose Hawkswood who must have been putting in some sneaky training runs. Well done to all.
There were only two qualifiers from the summer race for this quarter’s final. One of them, Roberto Marzo, couldn’t make it this evening, so there was no pressure on Catherine Young who claimed the Autumn Cup unopposed. Catherine will also be in the next final in January, when she will be joined by Chris Jones, Tom Tinsley and Dave Roberts.
There are no prizes for being fastest, but it is always interesting to see the times recorded by the speed merchants. Fastest on the night were Kris Axon (21:29), Jonathan Gilroy (22:56) and Mark Anderson (23:40). Kris’s time will just put him in 3rd place on the all-time record list. Fastest woman was Catherine Young (26:14), Nicki O’Brien (28:12) and Sarah Kerr (28:43).
Many thanks as ever to Hazel for organising the volunteers, the marshals on the course who gave great support and encouragement and the start and finish team without whom there wouldn’t be a handicap. Also thanks to Anna for finding a heated, covered outside venue that worked very well for the post-race social and presentation.
