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Leg 1 (10.1 miles) 1.23.14 – Tony French (Northbrook AC – Guest) Good old Tony. A pal from a previous second claim club I was involved with started the team off from the American Fountain in Stratford at 6am and ran a very creditable time, keeping the Stratford runner behind him. Carol did actually call Tony at 5.30am from the M69 just to check Tony was in place and of course we need not have worried as TF was already in Stratford and raring to go in my XL Club vest, which he wasn’t too chuffed about. |
| Leg 2 (10.2 miles) 1.38.12 – Carol Watson Reckoned to be the second toughest leg - although, I hear many mutterings saying “you should have run my leg”! – Carol kept going well, accompanied by her early morning support team - me!! |
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Leg 3 (10 miles) 1.24.25 – Rob Sharratt Not too bad a leg. Nice down hill start and although there were a few hills, they didn’t seem too long and I reckon I did well organising this for myself. Carol was providing water at various points around my leg, but I was also grateful to Howard from Northbrook AC – the eventual winners of the 7am start for dream runners – for stopping and providing extra water. |
| Leg 4 (10.1 miles) 1.15.35 – Darren Holloway Definitely the toughest leg of the event and good that we had Darren “tough as nails” Holloway to run it. Darren’s time was excellent and when the results are published, I think you will find his time faster than a number of the top clubs – Sphinx AC for definite. The Sharratt and Watson support team were on hand and Darren’s comment just before two of the longest and steepest hills in the world, near the end of his leg “any more hills to come” was replied by me truthfully. Darren’s reply is not for publishing before the 9pm watershed! What a great run though. |
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Leg 5 (10.5 miles) 1.33.05 – Steve Chamberlain Boy was it hotting up by now and Steve from looking cool, calm and collected at the 40 mile start, soon found out the hard way how tough this event is, particularly with the temperature around 30 degrees Celsius. I was cycling with Steve and providing water constantly – as well as a banana and a go faster bar and even stopped at a house to replenish the water bottles. Not sure if seeing the first of the collapsed runners – a Stratford AC guy waiting for an ambulance just as he reached Northleach – encouraged him or discouraged him. Maybe he then thought that he wasn’t doing quite so bad and dug in to the finish. Whatever, it was a gutsy performance and no way was Steve not going to complete his leg and let the side down. |
| Leg 6 (10.3 miles) 1.30.12 – John Henshaw I cycled this leg also and started off thinking I could quite fancy this leg myself, good downhill start, but as with all the legs, hills came later on and the temperature was scorching. Big John – encouraged by a seemingly cheerful Darren – dug in and was rewarded on his leg with two extra water stops at the rivers in Bourton on the Water and Lower Slaughter. If I had have been John I would have wallowed in the streams like a hippo, but he simply filled his cap up with cool refreshing water, plonked it back on his head and carried on manfully, with Darren’s encouragement!! ringing in his ears. John’s run London a couple of times, but I reckon a harder event than this he has never come across before. |
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Leg 7 (10 miles) 1.17.01 – Mick Andrew Didn’t see much of Mick’s performance, as I had a leg driving and had an appointment in Moreton in the Marsh with a pint of Wadsworth’s 6X – cheers big John – but the time speaks for itself. Mick supported the event in a whole hearted fashion and after his run, cycled legs 9 & 10 back with our runners and seemed to get on most of the photos taken and gets an award for most photographed of the event. Your prize number one – leg 4 next year!! |
| Leg 8 (10 miles) 1.32.48 – Ray Sharratt An excellent showing from my V60 brother. Never walked and to my knowledge never took water on – we must have some camel in the family! Plugged on well, supported ably by biker Steve Chamberlain and bikers moll Carol! Also had the dubious pleasure of running past the second casualty, a Bromsgrove and Redditch runner lying prostrate in a hedge, waiting to be air lifted to hospital in the air ambulance. He had overtaken Ray and probably got what he deserved! |
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Leg 9 (10 miles) 1.33.55 – Steve Blackshaw Yet another tough leg and up against a very fit young lady from the Shaky Ladies Rowing Club in Stratford. Found a very long and unrelenting hill early in his leg and with the temperature still at the top of the scale, it took some negotiating. As with the other guys though, Steve kept going and the Andrew / Sharratt back up team were always available for water and cheery advice like “walk a bit more Steve!” |
| Leg 10 (10.1 but Mick recorded it as 10.6 miles) 1.19.27 – John Queenan The jewel in the crown. John definitely brought home the Bacon – pun Stratford / Francis Bacon?! – in great style. Another desperately tough leg, up steep hills to the village of Loxley, with John bouncing along and overtaking the Shaky Ladies and Kenilworth Ladies who had started the race one hour before us. John had travelled with Darren and big John and was dropped off at his leg around 9am, giving him plenty of time to warm up for his leg at around 7pm!! Luckily, after he had breakfasted on tea, toast and conserves with a local family and sunbathed for a couple of hours, he was rescued by Mick and brought back into the fold. Myself and number one cycled with John all the way and he really did put up a first class show, storming into Stratford and finishing the event for Ilkeston in a total time of 14 hours 27 minutes 41 seconds. |
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SUMMARY Usually a demanding event, made more so this year by the extreme temperatures encountered. Thanks to everybody who supported the event and who gave their all to ensure the baton made it round. It is rumoured some teams split their legs into 2 x 5 miles as a result of the weather – but not Ilson. Mick, Steve B, John Q, Carol and myself met at the finish and boy did the beer taste sweet! Well done everyone. |
Last Revised: 01.06.2006.
CopyrighttmDrKeys-2006