The setting was an absolute delight. We’ve had some great settings for this race over the last 10 years, but in my opinion this beat them all. The parkland was landscaped by Capability Brown (Pauline you were right) and we were blessed by being able to be there.

The race set up was perfect with the start and finish very close to the club tent area and the car parking only a couple of yards away with plenty of space with easy access and exit.
I think it is reasonable to describe the course as flat. Because the laps were large (ladies running two and men three) it wasn’t the best for spectating because for long periods the runners were out of sight.
The weather was gorgeous for spectating (about 17 to 19 centigrade with blue skies) but for running 5 and 7.5 miles cross-country it was too hot. Oh, for it to have been a cool day in February. The addition of a water station would have been so welcome.
Although we’ve had a lot of rain this year (the reason for the February postponement) the course was dry. The grass was a few inches high and spongy which sapped your energy. I expect that in the winter the course would cut up and be a bit of a mud fest.
A disappointing aspect was the low number of runners. I don’t think the location was an issue, I think it was down to many clubs and runners thinking cross-country shouldn’t be run in September.
The usual preliminaries of us all arriving, putting up the tents and getting our race numbers all went off without a hitch. Miracles never cease.
So how did we do?
In the ladies’ race there were 266 finishers (last year 774). The finishing places were:
119th Jane
187 Suzzy
188 Clare
201 Pauline
230 Manisha
Out of 32 teams completing 4 runners we came 25th.
I was able to watch the race with Jenny, and we were both so pleased with how well all ran. Jane looked so serene floating along the course, and we had a team manager’s delight, a close finish between Suzzy and Clare. Now I couldn’t see the finish, but knowing the two of them there would have been no quarter given. This is more than can be said about the men (more on this later). Pauline hasn’t been back in training too long and really stuck to the task well. Manisha tells me she fell over twice because her spikes got caught up in the grass.
What was really pleasing about the ladies is that we finished a team. This is to be applauded when so many clubs didn’t.

In the men’s race there were 529 finishers (last year 1,472). The finishing places were:
429 Andy W
451 Charles R
453 Barry
454 James H
470 Simon O
491 Andy L
501 Graham
527 Craig
Now, I couldn’t observe the race for an obvious reason. And the ladies are keeping what they saw to themselves, except for Pauline who told me about the Charles, Barry and James grouping. Pauline also has photographic evidence.
If I say that after nearly 8 miles (the course was measured at longer than the published 7.5 miles) only 3 seconds separated them, I don’t need to say much more. I’m letting Charles off (it was his first National) but for the other two, I’ll let you be the judges. Weirdly, Andy W, like Manisha, said he fell over (badly fitting running studs). Simon, after returning from living in Norway, and in his first National for a few years found it warm. Oh, to be back in Norway. I got the impression that after just a few weeks’ training that Graham enjoyed it. The less said about me the better.
I have to say it, although it will annoy Barry. Therefore, a good reason for saying it. For the 2nd year running we came last. 28 teams completed 6 runners and we came 28th. This year we made Northbrook happy who would have been last if we hadn’t been there. Andy W spent a good part of our pub meal looking at ways we could advertise our achievement. A couple of his better ideas were:
Come and join Sparkhill Harriers, the 28th best cross-country club in England.
Come and join Sparkhill Harriers, a club that in just 12 months improved by 70 places in the English National Cross-Country Championship.
Let the committee have your thoughts. Andy does sit on the committee.
Once again James stepped up to the mark and had pre-booked us into a pub in Penkridge. Finding the car park was a little tricky but we all arrived safely. We had a great meal and plenty of laughs. A really good end to the day. Thank you, James.

A big thank you to all those that drove.
Here’s to next year’s ‘National’. Don’t miss it.
Craig
Comments