Olivia ran superbly last night to secure the 2011 Handicap Trophy. She was first away and sprinted off showing everyone that she was going to fight all the way to the finish. Champing at the bit waiting their chance to go off in pursuit were Brent and Steve, but sadly not Graham and Tracey, both of whom were confined to stables. This took some icing off the cake as both of these were in with a real chance of winning. As the laps unfolded the gaps were closing and you could see that Olivia, Brent and Steve were all going very well. Greg (clothes horse) and I waited with mounting excitement to see who would come into sight first. It was Olivia but Brent was only a few yards behind her. Would he play the gentleman and allow the lady over the line first – not likely! Olivia sprinted for all she was worth but Brent charged past 10m from the line. So Brent won on the night but Olivia deservedly won this year’s series.  

Here is Olivia’s list of times over the year. She started with 5 PB’s and finished with another 2 – an amazing achievement. But Steve and Brent also recorded PB’s with Brent getting under 22 mins for the first time, so congratulations to them both for giving it a really good go. Congratulations also to Sam Birch for a PB on his second run.

Previous PB 27:01  Jan   26:43  25:42  25:39  25:18  25:06  No race  26:28   26:08  

Oct  24:29  24:23

It was good to  have Pippa and Richard joining in the fun for the first time this year and we also welcomed two new runners Rod Inglis (Hash runner from OVH3) and George Young who is getting himself fit before joining the army. 

The Handicap Trophy this year is going to the final furlong. The two stallions looked like a couple of old nags as the galloping filly stormed to the line to record her 6th PB this year! Graham also put in a very strong challenge and continues to gain ground. He was only a few seconds behind Ian who was making a welcome return to the race and he also notched up a PB. Not to be outdone was Mark who is getting quicker as the weeks go by. To think I managed to out-pace him a month ago. Steve sprinted round like a young colt but Brent’s jockey could do to lose a few pounds. There’s no time to extol the racing qualities of the rest of the runners but suffice to say they all galloped and snorted their way round the 3 laps, and any of them  could get a run out at Ascott next year – if they eat their  oats! Welcome to new runner Sam who ran with Roger  to start with and recorded a time of 22:34, and thanks to Greg and Fiona for acting as baggage handlers, cheer-leaders and recorders.  

Graham, fresh from a HM PB at Cardiff, took the honours in tonight’s handicap run, after setting off after all other runners apart from Steve and Bruce, and taking a 26 sec PB in the process. Jo Jo, (recorder) Fiona (clothes horse) and I thought Tom would come in first but Graham got past him on the run in. Did the compression sock on just one leg give Graham an advantage? It was good to see Jennie and Bill, both doing their first handicap run of the year. Jennie stripped down to a bright pink top and obviously was so cold that she had to sprint faster than normal just to keep warm, recording a PB in the process. Julie also is fresh back from a very good HM at Eden and ran “IN A VEST!! – Brrrr!” very close to her PB. Steve and Bruce had their usual tussle and Steve ran a great last lap making Bruce fight every inch of the way. It took a 3 second PB for Bruce to get over the line first. Judy  and new runner Mark also had a great battle but Judy managed to pull clear on the third lap. Bill loped round in his usual languid style but was suitably knackered come the end. Nick B-C had a rare off-night but should be well-poised for a high finish next month.

With two races to go Brent is still in pole position, but there are several well-poised to give him a run for his money – not least Graham who could snatch victory in the final race in December.

It was good to see 4 new runners taking on the Handicap tonight. Becky is a Junior whose main winter sport is hockey, but she also enjoys her running and paced herself very well  round the course. Louise is just about to join the club and is coming back to running after a few years absence. Coming from London she is not yet used to our hills (most of us aren’t Louise) so wisely stopped after two laps. Reis came along and left his old man trailing in his wake after two laps and finally Clare brought along Jay with the strict instructions that he was not to beat her otherwise “No tea!”. We wait with baited breath to see what happens next month. 

In the main event Tracey had another comfortable victory with an impressive 34 second PB. Vanessa also had a good run and is marking her return to full running mode by entering next year’s Grizzly. Lynn was the only other PB performance with a terrific 50 secs off her previous best. Those of us who run regularly have seen Lyn together with Carol always going for the longer distances on club runs and always running the hills – motto “Hard work pays off”. Bruce was just one second slower than last month but if Judy had not been a tantalising 10m in front him approaching the finish he may have been a bit slower. As it was he chased after her and Judy, despite all the spectators cheering her like mad couldn’t quite hold him off. Of the other stalwarts who came along a glance at how near or far they were to their PB’s shows how difficult it is to keep one’s fitness month after month. Tim is getting back after a long layoff with his calf injury and Nick is hoping that Fulham finish a bit higher in the league than he managed tonight. 

Thanks to Julie for recording, Mickie and her girls for doing a lot of shouting and Stuart (Becky’s Dad) for acting as clothes-horse. Sandra also joined the cheerleaders after pulling up with a sore leg.

14 members decided on a steady 5K town run tonight instead of risking a downpour on a 5 mile slog along remote muddy East Devon footpaths. Roger came along to  make sure the weather behaved according to his forecast; I’m sure I heard him muttering a spell “Rain, rain go away, come again on Bank Holiday”. Actually Roger thought he was going to time-keep so had done a brisk 4 miler before arriving, otherwise he might well have won. As it was Tracey completely surprised herself by romping home first, almost a minute in front of Graham, who as you can see scored an impressive PB. Actually there was a steward’s enquiry into Tracey’s run. Does it count if you are dragged round the course by two speedy terriers – see photo below. Greg thought that if dogs were allowed why not horses! Nick did well to hold off the charging runners behind him and Bruce who was last away managed to overtake most of the field and get within 4 seconds of his PB. It looked as though he would pull right away from Steve, but Steve hung on and made Bruce work to stay in front. Judy and Greg crossed the line together – Judy just would not let him win but she did drag Greg to a PB by 5 secs.  Julie had a good 10K PB the other day and won June’s race but slipped down the finish order tonight. It was good to see Clare back running again and she knocked 11 seconds off her May qualifying run. It was also good to have Vanessa back running again after her enforced layoff. After 6 successive PB’s it was reassuring to see Olivia rejoin the ranks of the mere mortals, at the rate she was going she was on course to beat Kevin in 2015. Mention should be made of Brent and Tom who both overtook Olivia within yards of the finish – there are just no gentlemen around these days.

Thanks to Fiona and Fran (Box) for giving their help and cheering everyone on and to Clare’s partner (Whoops forgot his name again – sorry Clare) who we tried to persuade to come along and run next time. Having seen various bodies collapsed on the grass or gasping against a fence, he didn’t seem too keen.

The two crocks in the club, Fiona and Tim bravely limped along to officiate at the June handicap run, ably supported by Pete. Mickie and Warren with their off-spring also cheered us round. As you can see it was Julie’s turn to kick ass. She knocked a whopping 61 seconds off her PB, and this from someone who has been taking it easy since her exertions on the London marathon. Heaven help us when she really puts her foot down! I was her first victim. Starting a mere 8 seconds in front I heard the patter of feet after about 300 metres, just when I was thinking this is no way for an old bloke to be spending his evening. She galloped past at an obscene pace and disappeared into the distance, leaving me trailing 90 seconds in her wake by the finish. Steve was last month’s winner and had a very good shot at retaining the trophy finishing just 4 seconds over his PB. Next in was young Graham who only did the qualifying run last month but cut a dramatic 39 seconds off that time, and is certain to get better still. Judy had a good run, recording her quickest run of 2011. She couldn’t quite hold off Graham’s charge but did just stay in front of a fast finish Brent, who also set his fastest 2011 time. Nick B-C gallantly held off most of his pursuers until the run in but had the satisfaction of just beating Bruce to the line. But Bruce can also be pleased with his fastest run this year. As I began the long run down to the finish I  had to pity Olivia who was the hare for the 5 hounds bearing down on her, but she ran superbly, and made the hounds fight for every inch as they squeezed past; BUT WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT – She SET YET ANOTHER PB, this time by 12 seconds! This makes 5 PB’s in 5 months which has to be a record. Here are her times from February: 

          26:43 25:42 25:39 25:18 25:06

Helen was also doing her first handicap proper after qualifying in April and although she did not feel on top form, she should be very pleased with 18 seconds knocked off her time. Most runners you hear coming up behind you; it’s the patter of quick feet or the heavy breathing,. Not Ceri, she glides along like a super-charged ghost. I was gasping along as normal when all of a sudden she was there in front of me. She zoomed away as if I was pushing a zimmer frame, and finished by equalling her 2011 PB set in January. Despite this  the old boy did manage a 2 second PB and did overtake Tony and Tracey. These two crossed the line together in a very friendly fashion, which does make the point that you don’t have to run the handicap as though your life depended on it. You can just come out and enjoy a three mile run in very good company and to hell with the times.

 Yours truly was offered the poison chalice of an opportunity to run The Handicap by Roger, so obviously it would have been churlish to refuse. The last time I ran this was about a year ago and I had a poor run, so my handicap was a bit generous to say the least. I slogged round the three laps and moved into pole position with the finish beckoning. A few more yards remained and my moment of glory beckoned, but then a blur of pumping arms and long legs shot past and over the line – STEVE DAVEY! With a new PB and such consistent support for the run he certainly deserved it. Olivia set her 4th PB in a row, this time by 21 seconds so another excellent achievement. Nick BC, Judy, Brent and Bruce are also regular Handicap runners and set new best times for 2011. It was good to see Jo Jo back out on the course and with her marathon fitness she was expecting a good run but was slowed down by leg trouble, as was Nick T who had to pull out. Clare is another lady who is running better and better this year and she can be very pleased at her 8:39 pace. She actually had one run round the course last year but is running so much quicker now that it is fairer to treat this run as a new qualifying time. It was good to welcome Graham and Ben to the course. Graham is a young developing runner and set a very good time. As you can see Ben is an even speedier performer and it was good that Tim was there so he had someone with similar pace to race against. Many thanks to Roger and Vanessa who did the recording and cheered us on.

A smallish turnout again for the April Handicap despite Bruce’s encouragement to several ladies to come and have a go. Actually Wendy did come and decided to do just two laps which she ran very well. We did have one newcomer in Helen Davy – not another Davy? (Actually a slight difference in the spelling). Helen had a very good run in The Hippo recently and put in a good qualifying time on her first Handicap Run. Four London marathon runners came along, two sensibly to help, Jo Jo and Tracey, both sporting their hard earned medals and two to run – no need to say who! As you can see the 26.2 miles was still in the legs as Judy and Steve brought up the rear. Nick T. is only 10 days into recovery from his Rotterdam marathon and also found it tough going. Julian was on a very generous handicap rating because injury last year kept him out of running for a while and his Handicap runs in 2010 were well below his best. It was no surprise that he romped home in first place but he is obviously back on form as he set a new PB by 15 seconds. His new handicap will be a bit more challenging. Brent put in a very good run to finish second despite suffering from an over-ambitious pace on the first lap. Olivia, with two wins under her belt, was again to the fore and shaved 3 more seconds off her PB to achieve a hat-trick of PB’s over the last 3 months. Ian’s PB by 36 seconds was the best of the night so congratulations to him. Nick B-C was chased home by Bruce but successfully held off the challenge.