NORTH EAST XC CHAMPIONSHIP - BRANKSOME SCHOOL
DARLINGTON 12th DECEMBER 2009

 

Conditions : 5 deg C ; light winds ; ground – very soft to muddy

 

NSP RESULTS :

 
SENIOR MEN (13th TEAM POSITION)

  14      0:41:34        TWADDLE, I

  52      0:45:43        HEMY, V

131      0:50:47        ATWELL, S

135      0:50:56        YOUNG, B

179      0:54:18        JOHNSON, M

195      0:56:07        STEPHEN, J

 

206      0:57:33        WEBB, A

211      0:58:18        BAKER, R

221      0:59:10        MORRIS, D

230      1:02:50        HITCHEN, T

 

 UNDER 17 MEN

1          0:19:50        PRIESTLEY, M

28        0:23:52        CREAGH, L

 

 UNDER 15 BOYS

27        0:16:05        WALLETT, A

 

 SENIOR GIRLS ( 8th TEAM POSITION)

 20       0:37:22        ROBINSON, L

41        0:41:22        STEVENSON, V

54        0:43:54        ROBINSON, E

 

63        0:45:13        VICKERS, L

72        0:49:27        JACKSON, H

 

 U17/U20 GIRLS

23        0:23:57        WALLETT (U17), G

 

 Report – Glorious Mud

 

Napoleon was reputed to have said (in  French) that ‘my generals are made from mud’.

 

The Club Captain would have probably said in answer to this : ‘Merde !’.

 

The inside information from local spies – and historical records from T Wallett indicated that the course was very muddy or like a pig track. (Tony even said he had lost a shoe in Branksome mud many years ago – but it was definitely NOT one of those skillfully fitted ones from Start Fitness). He didn’t say if he ever found it again during the drought. To add to the problems the Club were without their mud maestro, Frosty, and his invaluable technical expertise and knowledge on these surfaces.

 

Branksome School was the venue. The course combined their playing fields with an open area bordered by a housing estate. I guess the open area was the flood plain (which is usually not a bar to building in the UK) – and in fact there was a wide area of water at the eastern end of the course. You weren’t allowed to run through the water as they’d put up lots of yellow tape to stop you. (In fact those from a purist cross country background were to be disappointed that you were forced to cross the stream by 2 wooden bridges – rather than having to wade through).

 

Finally, there was a third circular area of wilderness land ( rough grass hemmed in by hawthorn but with no apparent practical use for this area other than for botany lessons – which is a very practical use). This had a muddy track round the perimeter. Three quarters way round the track someone had decided to build a sand pit! Maybe this  was after all the school’s circular running track. They do things differently in Darlington.

 

Perhaps next time we renew the Poly track – we can build a sandpit into the main finishing straight just to confuse Bruce and his sprint squad.

 

Gemma and Anthony – the only juniors who made it on the day – coped very comfortably in the early races and both finished well in their respective races.

 

Then it was to the main men’s race – where the team were looking to improve on last year’s performance in driving rain and hail ….. but didn’t. The Capt’s resources were stretched again to the limit – as he called to arms a mixed band of hurdlers, steeplechasers, sprinters and other non conformists.

 

I was quizzed at the start by a rival competitor, as to why we’d brought a long jumper with us. I hadn’t even looked at the course properly at that stage. I was a bit confused about this myself  as it did seem a bit pointless(a bit like getting Jeremy Clarkson to ride a tandem) I then realised that this was a reference to our successful athletics capt ( R Baker) – who was lurking around at the back of the field before the gun went  (looking probably for starter blocks) .

 

Richard has a great ability to multi task – and invented it way before females adopted this term as one of their many self proclaimed  qualities (although  I think in the female  sense it means an ability to hold a mobile phone conversation while applying lip gloss rather than doing anything useful ). The problem is that all RB’s events require less than 60 seconds’ worth of effort and concentration – about the attention span of a butterfly. A 12 k off road race generally lasts a bit longer than 60 seconds (at least for most Poly runners it does)  – so this is an epic event for RB. Then again maybe he’d heard about the sand pit.

 

Maybe this entire event should be re-cast as something equivalent to an etape of the Tour de France – where you can get time bonuses, for say, a sprint during the course of the main event. It could even things up.  That way if RB won the long jump (which I’m sure he would) then he could get a 5 mins time bonus . (Sadly in RB’s case – that still wouldn’t have been enough to bother the stats). It would mix things up a bit if further impromptu events – during the 12 k race could be added in – with maybe a high jump and shot putt. Javelin could be a bit problematical but we could take out a few of the fast Morpeth lads such as Mike Dawson – given half a chance – even if we fell short on distance. (If golf is now to be an Olympic sport – or indeed a sport at all – why stick to a 100 year format for the xc champs?). Something for the organisers to think of.

 

On the day the Club Capt’s patched up team managed 13th place finish – behind ‘local heroes’ Darlington Harriers & Athletics Club. (Does anyone know why this Club has given itself the double barreled title of both ‘harrier’ and ‘athletics’ club? Are they just posh or uncertain? I can’t think of another Club that incorporates both. I guess Wallsend couldn't do it - otherwise they'd be called WHAC - but maybe that would be appropriate).

 

Ian Twaddle led the battlegroup  in – but would probably have liked a more demanding course. The Club Capt had an inspired run pushing for glory for a top 50 finish – and then it was down to the
main cavalry being led in by the injured Steve Atwell , US 7th cavalry officer Jesse and a band of
marauding Scots and Tom battling to the end to close us out. There were no Prussians to arrive late for us on this occasion – if ever.

 

Then to the girls. The first 4 runners in – were all tall and willowy. An impressive sight as they bounded along the ridge in convoy. The 4th placed runner was the prettiest. Just checking my notes here, (and I do need to cross refer with other experts to get a balanced view) there were also good lookers at positions 11, 20,41,45,54 ,63 and 72. Wallsend had done really well turning out an entire team of fine redheads (great coordination - and well done lads – for organising that!).

 

The NSP girls finished a bit lower in the placings than last year – and the huge supply of talent in the earlier races had trickled down to 5 brave runners. They came in a very creditable 8th – with Lucy bringing the team home. Well done to Emma Robinson (to my knowledge and her’s no relation of Lucy)  – with a first podium finish .  Conditions were quite demanding and it’s always good to see the girls tackling these harder courses.

 

If it’s any consolation, the legendary Brian Clough did say “I like my women to be feminine, not sliding into tackles and covered in mud.” (‘ The Damned United). Phew! So there’s a relief for you. It’s not clear what Napoleon’s views were on this subject  - but maybe ‘Not tonight Josephine’ was cover for the mud wrestling  he enjoyed with his generals.

 

As the Club Capt would point out anyway – Cloughie won 2 European titles – while Napoleon was French (actually Corsican) and lost 2 finals – one at Moscow in the snow – and the other at Waterloo in the mud. The Capt is more Cloughie than Napoleon – and given time he’ll win those titles !

 

The day finished for the Club on a high - as Michael Priestley cruised to another strong victory in the Under 17's race. Michael faced some close competition in the early stages - but in the end (at least as an observer) the lead looked comfortable. Lloyd Creagh put in another strong performance in the race.


The season continues…………….