MESSAGES FROM YOUR CROSS COUNTRY CAPTAIN
Date line: - Saturday, 13th February, 2010
Venue : - Wilson Fields, Hyndburn.
Event : - Mid-Lancs. Cross Country League
Seasonally mild weather was the order of the day at the East Lancashire venue of Hyndburn where, for the 3rd year running, the course was set through the woods with not a water crossing in site, those with a long memory will hark back to the days when water crossings were de-rigor, conditions under spike were as dry as could be expected.
Despite some notable absentees the ladies fielded a full squad under the stewardship of their new Dear Leaderette, Tracey H, with continued success, placing 2nd in the LV35 category - well done girls.
Ten senior men took the start including a welcome return of, after a mystery bout of fainting, (must be the worry of fending off all his harem of concubines), Charlie P, who lead from the front and boosted "Wesham’s chosen few" back up the results table. The MV 50's also reasserted their authority placing 1st in category with the ever reliable Alex R back in harness and a sparkling performance from the "evergreen" John Collier, your Dear Leader once again got his lazy a--e into gear as the final counter, how short are we if I can count in the V50 squad? Come on guys, turn out and put me back in my box.
On a final note, many thanks' to all who turned out, it is appreciated as it keeps the Wesham profile firmly up there where it belongs.
Nostrovia
Your Dear Leader - Alan
Date Line: - Saturday, 23rd January, 2010
Venue:
-
Event: - 2010 Northern Cross Country Championships
Cool misty conditions greeted Wesham’s chosen few at Blackburn's Witton Park which must have acted akin to a Klingon cloaking device because, despite searching high and low, your Dear Leader couldn't find a single Wesham lady, what happened girls?
Nine men took the start led by Alex R and including your Dear Leader, making his seasons long over due debut, all strained manfully against the climbs cast in front of them, as always, a big Dear Leader thank you to all.
Despite improvements to Saucers path and the re-routing of the course eliminating the narrow gate just after the saucers peak a tough track welcomed the senior men with both the saucer and the teaspoon to be tackled x4 and x2 ascents of the nasty little dig adjacent to the school adding spice to the mix, 11.5k in total.
Conditions under spike, ( or stud ), what ever takes your fancy, were as expected with only the traditional mud bath's to be negotiated so leaving the runners free to contemplate the climbs, without exaggeration, probably the hardest course of the 2009/2010 XC season. I did have in mind a further course improvement, we have the Saucer and now the Teaspoon but what happens if you take sugar? Maybe, just on the tip of the teaspoon the organisers could dump a couple of tons of sand, to simulate the sugar and thus make the course more interesting, good idea? Your thoughts welcome, two word answers welcome, suggest, “deep joy” or “absolutely brilliant ".
Nostrovia
Your Dear Leader
Alan
Date Line: - Saturday, 16th January 2010
Venue: - Blackpool (Lawson’s Road Fields)
Event: - Mid Lanc's Cross Country
With the early morning rain relenting and the wind dropping to a whisper Wesham’s chosen few could have few complaints about the weather however a revised and shortened course meant conditions under spike were leg sapping as all age groups used the same track.
Despite only five ladies taking the start continued success was the order of the day with a 5th place in the overall standings and a magnificent 1st in the V35 category - go girls.
The gent’s squad was again depleted through injury, work commitments and, I suspect Blackpool FC's home game however, all who ran, as always, put everything on the line resulting in 13th position overall, 9th V40 team and 4th in the V50's. A big Dear Leader thank you to all the girls and boys who turned out to both run and marshal.
Your Dear Leader
Alan
Date
:- Saturday 19th December 2009
Venue
:- Townley Park, Burnley
Event
:- Mid - Lanc's XC
Six ladies and eleven men travelled to a Townley Park already firmly in the grip of winter. Although driving conditions were treacherous course conditions proved ideal for a fast race, the frozen compacted snow presented no barriers although the air temperature was more akin to the Baltic than Burnley.
The girls continued their strong start to the season with a 3rd place in the overall standings and 1st V35 team, keep these results up girls and I will be in touch with Vladimir P to recommend the Order of Lenin's mother to be bestowed on the brave comradettes.
As for the boys, the few who turned out battled manfully but to no avail posting only a 4th in the V50 category and 14th overall which puts our presence in the top division under severe pressure for next season.
As a reminder, the next Mid-Lanc's is at Blackpool, 16th January 2010 so I shall order the press gangs into action if necessary to ensure a full turnout.
Salud
Your Dear Leader
Alan
Date: - Saturday 18th
November 2009
Venue: - Show Ground,
Kendal
Mid Lanc's Cross
Country League
The opening race of the 2009
/ 2010 Mid Lanc's Cross Country season was blessed with warm sunny
weather run on a new, to most of the Wesham
contingent, course.
A couple of steady up
hill pulls and dry conditions under foot lead to fast competitive racing which
saw nine senior ladies and sixteen senior men pull on the blues of Wesham.
The ladies excelled with 5th place
team overall, 1st ladies over 35 team and 4th ladies over 45 team
results, nothing like setting the benchmark early, well done girls.
Missing several key players the men were slightly under par with 7th place overall, 8th senior men's over 40, 3rd men's over 50, but, with an encouraging 2nd men's over 60 placing. The bus pass brigade set the standard.
Cheers
Alan
Date: - Saturday 31st
October, 2009
Venue: -
English Cross Country
Championships
It was all aboard the Socialist
Express, piloted by non other than your Dear
Leader himself, for Wesham's
annual pilgrimage to the
Two senior ladies teams and
two senior men's teams made up the Wesham
assault troop to take on the top cross country relay event of the
national calendar.
As always conditions were
dry under spike with the nation’s elite athletes exploiting the situation
to the full by putting on a feast of fast running with several
Weshamites in tow posting PB's for
the Berry Hill course.
Although non off the teams
featured high in the results all the clubs representatives gave, as
always, their all for the cause. So, from your Dear
Leader and chauffer for the day, a big thanks'.
Cheers
Alan