CROSS COUNTRY UPDATE

 

Here goes, the 2008 / 2009 XC season so far, I will try to keep it short and sweet.

 

Date line: - Saturday 1st November 2008

Venue     : - Berry Hill Park, Mansfield

Event      : - The English Cross Country Relays

 

§         One senior ladies and three senior men's teams crossed the Pennines to compete in, what is now, the pre Mid Lancs. XC ‘leg loosener’ at Mansfield. It was a chance for the Wesham Troops to rub shoulders with the countries elite on a course and distance more suited to track runners.

§         Weather conditions were good, the course dry, the atmosphere tense, needless to say we didn't trouble the front runners but made up for it with sheer weight of numbers, an encouraging start to the season.

 

Date line : - Saturday 8th November 2008

Venue     : - Townley Park, Burnley

Event      : - 1st mid Lanc's of the 2008 / 2009 season.

 

§         A whole battalion of Wesham RR's descended on Burnley to contest the first Mid Lanc's of the season, job number one, brush up on our tent erecting skills whilst Julie C and your Dear Leader registered the stragglers.

§         With weather conditions decidedly inclement and conditions under foot claggy it was a rude awakening for the fleet of foot road racers but a welcome return for the more diesel powered sloggers amongst us.

§         The girls did us proud with a quality performance in Div 2 whilst the boys put in a solid performance in Div 1; the Vet 50's took up where they left off last season with a victory.

 

Date line : - Saturday 29th November 2008

Venue     : - Sefton Park, Liverpool

Event       : - Mid Lanc's

 

§         This time it was Wesham Chosen Few against the rest, including some of the countries TOP girls and boys, think Steph Twell etc, etc etc. With numbers depleted by the annual clash with the Wesham 10k the girls fought a brave rear guard action to achieve a middling points tally whilst the boys took a pounding, the only ray of sun shine was the evergreen Vet 50's who, despite having your Dear Leader as 3rd place counter, snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

 

Date line : - Saturday 13th December 2008

Venue     : - Europe's biggest and best holiday resort, Blackpool

Event      : - Mid Lanc's

 

§         Welcome to XC hell, in foul weather and swamp like conditions was it studs or spikes, on mixed bag of a course nothing completely fit the bill, to top it off your Dear Leader was getting hot under the collar re the tent, conditions inside of which, were just as bad as the course. The girls roared back with a power performance which secured them a hefty points tally in both DIV's 2 & 3 & Vet's Cat's 35 and 45, the men followed suit with a strong showing in Div's 1 & 3, the SV40's did us proud and, well you know the rest re the SV40's

 

Date line: - Saturday 10th January 2009

Venue     : - Witton Park, Blackburn

Event       : - Lanc's XC Championships

 

§         For the first time this season the infamous saucer beckoned, in Baltic conditions, on a rock hard course, and with numbers thin, again the few showed true grit to get amongst the medals. Carmel came away with a Gold in the lady SV35's, Alex was in unchartered waters with a Bronze in the SV50's however the SV 55's tag teamed the opposition with a John Collier Gold and your Dear Leaders Bronze.

 

Date line : - Saturday 17th January 2009

Venue     : - Worden Park, Leyland

Event      : - Mid Lanc's

 

§         In reverse conditions from Blackburn it was back to mud plugging for the troops of Wesham, on another mixed bag of a course, grass, mud, technical descents and narrow paths to negotiate, the girls again showed strongly in Div 2 but it was a mixed day for the boys with only the SV50's retaining their strangle hold over their division.

 

Date line : - Saturday 24th January 2009

Venue     : - Sedgley Park, St Helens

Event      : - The Northern XC Championships

 

Once more Wesham’s few ran into the breach against the cream of the North of England.  A disappointing turn out saw the troops running, at some points, in what can only be described as a quagmire. It goes without saying that nobody showed at the sharp end but heads could be held high for turning out and competing.

 

Summary

 

§         With the ladies "A" holding 2nd place in Div 2, the Vet 35's & 45's both 3rd in their respective divisions it's hat's off to all.

§         The picture is a little more mixed with the men; the "A" team is currently in the drop zone however the "B" team is 3rd in Div 3.

§         Life is much more rosy in vet's world with the Vet 40's 2nd and the Vet 50's Top of the Pop's.

§         The question the men need to ask themselves now is, do we won't to avoid relegation, and I hope the answer is ‘yes’. If so, we need to turn out in numbers at both Hyndburn and Blackburn to give ourselves a chance.

 

Salud

Your Dear Leader