Wessex Ridgeway
Relay, 17th May 2009
This has now become such a popular event that we only managed to get one team entered, and that with a bit of sweet talking the organisers. There were eventually 25 teams, and some clubs obviously had the bit between their teeth to settle old scores with rivals.
As usual, Wells City Harriers decided to do our 12 legs in consecutive pairs to cut down on the travelling time to darkest Dorset (actually 3 counties of Wiltshire, Dorset and Devon). Jason Keast took the early morning stint and started at 7.30 in gathering gloom (the weather, not his enthusiasm). Despite his predictions of a long leg time, Jason came in well within 2 hours, and only a small fraction slower than last year’s participants. The foul weather must have spurred him on.
Bob Powell took over for the second stint, and enjoyed probably the best weather of the day. The last section was beautifully flat, so he managed a sprint finish to hand over the baton to 3rd stager Jason Tuck. Jason got a bit out of kilter with the mid-point check, but ran a great time despite more horrible weather. Recce-ing is definitely recommended!
John Reynolds took the baton from Jason, and sprinted off with “guest runner” Jane Whittaker in support. By now the storm clouds had deteriorated onto a gale-blown torrent. John complained at one point of making no headway into the icy blast, but it didn’t really seem to slow him down.
By now we were 20 mins ahead of last year’s time, and Ian Carpenter’s leg maintained this despite some nasty hills. Ian did have something to prove with one of his offspring cheering for the family honour. By the time he handed over to Martin Berkeley and bag-carrier Mike Brown we were nearly home, if not dry. The last stint is definitely one that needs careful recce-ing, with more chances to go wrong than all of the other legs combined. One runner from another team was heard to comment “I got lost again, in exactly the same place as last year, and the year before, and I only recced it last week!”
Suffice it to say, we ended a mere 3 minutes behind last year’s time, in a very creditable 9th position out of 25. We then discovered that one team had been penalised 2 hours for having lost one runner completely on the first leg – she may well be still there!
All agreed that it was a grand day out, finished off with tea at Club Mascot Sue Cook’s parent’s house, and fish and chips at a pub on Lyme Regis sea front. Well done to all, especially those who came out for the first time on a relay. We’ll have to make sure we get our entries in sooner next year so that more can enjoy the fantastic countryside.
Pictures now on Rogues Gallery courtesy of Club Mascot Sue, or at http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/sredir?uname=suecook1962&target=PHOTO&id=5338029622699637890&aid=5338028039342620465&authkey=Gv1sRgCIu-jILroc3-mwE&feat=email .
Bob Powell