It’s almost like he was there!!
The
There was
something of a break from my normal reporting for this event in that I actually
turned up!
I missed the
convoy from the Fairfield Arms as I
was working in the morning. (Oh yes I was! Now don’t start that pantomime
routine or we’ll be here all day!)
I made my way
to Witton Park and arrived in good
time and it’s just as well I did. I got my number and then looked for the rest
of our squad. Well, I was four times round Witton Park looking for the Blue
Tent that is Base Camp Wesham
for Cross Country, only to discover
that we now have a marquee and it’s green! Hmmm, thanks for keeping that little
secret. Anyway, the marquee is fantastic. It is much bigger than the old one
but seems to be just as easy to erect. Did Yvonne
time the erection? It’s also a politically correct marquee that complies with
the new expanded European Union – there
were lots of spare poles left after the marquee was put up! (I know, it’s a bad
joke but what do you expect from me??) There are three rooms at the back of the
marquee for changing – that will be Ladies,
Gents and Not Sure!? I told you
it was politically correct.
Peter Waywell’s message board entry is posted below:
“On Saturday we are going to the X country - I am looking forward to
this as it will be my first outing. It sounds jolly good but I don't want to be
disappointed. My understanding is that we meet at a pub, (good start!), then
get into a convoy, (is it CB's
or walkie talkies?) and head off with horns tooting for a country estate in
I hope I've got it right as the closest we got to afternoon tea in the park
when I was a lad was a biscuit in the back of the car after digging worms on
the beach with Daddy!!”
A few issues Peter:
- Yes, we met at a
pub but unfortunately we don’t go in (well, not before we run)
- We do not ‘toot our horns’ (I’ll leave that
one to your imagination!)
- We do not all wear
white socks and shiny new trainers. Only Les Cornwall has the street cred to be able to do this with
any style so we leave him to it. However, more of white shoes later.
- They are not man
servants but sad individuals who think putting up the marquee will get
them more points in the mud sweat and spikes stakes.
- We do not ‘run round an estate’, we run
round ‘in a state!’
- You are partly
right, sometimes there is catering provided. For those who weren’t there
today, it was mulled wine, assorted sandwiches, piping hot tea, coffee or
Bovril. The quality and quantity of catering varies.
- Finally, the
comparing of tattoos, piercings and slapping of backs is down to the
individuals concerned, but you are right, it does happen.
I
hope that’s cleared that up.
Many
of you will know Ben Fish because he
works at Sweatshop at Wrea Green. Well, he does when he’s not
racing here, there and everywhere. If you haven’t met Ben, go in and have a good look at his face because you’ll only
ever see his back in a race!
Ben and I did
all that “Happy New Year” stuff and
he asked how I thought I would do today. “Badly,” I replied and later proved
it.
Ben informed me
that he wasn’t keen on sticky mud and I told him I’d remind him of this later
as he lapped me to become
I
was about to go and watch the under 17 men and senior ladies race when I was
accosted by one of my colleagues on the Lancashire
Athletics Association who decided that 
I could be put to a modicum of
good use by passing medals to the Mayor and
Mayoress of Blackburn. I quickly saw
an opportunity here: If these presentations go on all afternoon, I won’t have
time to get changed so I couldn’t run. Anyway, that idea soon went out the
window when Tony Wood finished
announcing medal presentation.
I
mentioned white trainers. Tony had a
pair of white trainers – at 10am on Saturday!
They certainly weren’t now.
In
no time at all it was time to get ready and warm up. I felt good in the warm up
but knew it would all change when the gun went to start the race.
As
we lined up my attention was drawn to Capt’n
Barlow. How can I describe his shorts? Orange, paisley pattern, finishing
just above his knees. Perhaps they were a Christmas
present. (Sorry, winter seasonal holiday
gift).
Cross Country
stalwart Mr Vickers was moving his
head violently to draw my attention to something else, but I was missing the
point completely. Finally in desperation, Graham
punched me in the stomach. This had the effect of making me double up in
pain and then I saw it, or rather them. Andy
Yelland wore new spikes today for the first time and they were white! Not only that, he had new white
socks too. Oh to be a fly on the wall when he asked Sally to wash those shoes!!
Off
we went at a fast pace and soon we slowed as we began to realise how much mud
there was and just how sticky it was.
There
were words of encouragement and the words that were not so encouraging. For
example,
“Go
on Brian, you’re supposed to be running not talking.”
“I
can’t run so I talk, OK??”
Onward,
and up onto the dinner plate, tea cup, cereal bowl, or whatever it is. There
was lots of encouragement from the Wesham
spectators on this part. I was grateful on the first two laps as they
spurred me on. I rather hoped they’d have gone before I got to it for the final
two laps so I could walk up it! No chance, they stayed to make sure I went up
four times.
Can
I just add that, although I was running slowly and getting slower all the time,
holding up torches for me on the last lap was not big and it wasn’t clever!!
Ben, (I don’t like
sticky mud) Fish duly lapped me as I
started my third lap and he his last. I was able to see that the mud wasn’t
causing him a problem and he was going that fast there was a slipstream keeping
him off it!
As
I headed towards the finish I could see four of our men’s team on their cool
down. Their cool down was faster than my race pace. Thanks lads!
I
finished and I have it on very good authority that it was still the same
afternoon, so there’s a bonus!
And
then my attention was drawn to the finish line officials, for the finish area
was made up almost entirely of Lancashire
Athletics Association Committee
members! To think I could have got out of running after all! No, perhaps you
are right, I was better running – keep him out of the way.
Thanks
as always to the many people that make these events happen. Without them it
wouldn’t be the fun it is.
I
will leave you with this thought:
‘What
I lack in ability I recoup in enthusiasm’
Onwards and upwards.
It must be
Written by Brian Porter
Submitted: 6th January
2006
Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR
Editor