Winter Handicap, 27th January 2025
After the weekends storms and frosts, it was a chilly but pleasant night for running down on the Quayside, with a field of 34 runners turning out.
Despite her recent scintillating form, and following her huge victory in October’s Autumn Handicap, Lena Lou had to settle for just biscuits this time, coming in shortly after winner Nina Jensen. Alan Dunning completed the podium.
Anton Mirafsari’s reign of terror came to an end after 3 consecutive victories in the cup, as he was neither eligible nor running on this occasion. With Janet Palmer volunteering, and Jim Crinnion and Anneliza Andreadi AWOL, it was an unopposed triumph in the Winter Cup for Eddie Smith. Due to further absences tonight, it will be a two-person head-to-head in the Spring, between Lucy Keating and Dave Roberts
Familiar faces in the fastest runner honours. Harry Mawdsley was the quickest man again, followed very closely (as is becoming the norm) by Mark Anderson, and Roberto Marzo. Izzy Neatrour finished as fastest woman, denying Nina Jensen a double-victory, with Aoife Campbell coming in 3rd as she did in October.
We brought our extended stay at The Carriage to an end, relocating to The Lost Wanderer pub for the post-run social. It was still a slight squeeze, but overall people seemed to appreciate the space, and everyone was in the same room. Thanks to Anna as usual for her work with the venue and organising the always amazing pizza, to Tom and Alex for their work on the handicaps & results, everyone who volunteered/helped in any way, and to David Lydall for wrangling everything together.
