There were a lot of sky blue vests in evidence at the start, under blue skies, but on a chilly morning. Overnight rain had made the course as muddy and slippery as I’ve possibly ever seen, not helped by the churning up caused by (huge!) Highland cattle in the woods. So, it was always likely to be a Croft affair, and no great surprise to see Scott J crest the rise first, quite closely pursued by Mark T, both a good 50 seconds ahead of 3rd placed Andrew George, who’d dusted off his running kit after a dormant year! Young Forbes Wilson of Lucton secured 4th place, having lost some ground on the initial climb. Sam R, Will George and Alec were the next three (average age 16.5?) over the line, with guests Steven Oldfield and Chris Neil hot on their heels.
I didn’t hear the team result declared, but Croft had 18 of the top 20 places. It appears a small group of Lucton runners took a wrong turn (when I had so carefully marked out the course, believing it fool-proof – providing arrows didn’t get obliterated by passing runners!), which may have lost them a few places. Croft’s sheer advantage in numbers (51 runners, as opposed to Lucton’s 21) inevitably put the odds in our favour, whatever the declared result!
Thanks to Alison for sweeping (and nearly accidentally ushering a group of walkers up to the finish line!), and to Bryan for the organisation and for the calculation of the results.
BOXING DAY CHALLENGE – 2017
1 Scott Jones 16.57 Croft
2 Mark Thomas 17.05 Croft
3 Andrew George 17.52 Croft
4 Forbes Wilson 17.58 Lucton
5 Sam Roberts 17.59 Croft
6 Will George 18.42 Croft
7 Alec Harper 20.38 Croft
8 Steven Oldfield 21.02 Croft
9 Chris Neil 21.07 Croft
10 Robyn Gore 21.22 Croft
11 Lucy Austin 21.39 Croft
12 Will Gore 21.48 Croft
13 Jo Tilby 21.58 Croft
14 David Richmond 22.08 Lucton
15 Alex Powell 22.39 Croft
16 Neil Taylor 22.43 Croft
17 Daniel Austin 22.52 Croft
18 Gary Gunner 22.59 Croft
19 Paul Colley-Davies 23.03 Croft
20 Liz Bowers 23.12 Croft
21 Sam Harper 23.26 Croft
22 Tim White 23.35 Lucton
23 Aoiph Clarke 23.44 Lucton
24 Oscar Austin 23.57 Croft
25 Callum Gullis 23.59 Lucton
26 Lorcan Clarke 24.41 Lucton
27 Jodie Sage 24.49 Lucton
28 Tod Bassett 24.50 Lucton
29 Tom Davies 25.01 Croft
30 Scott Hardie 25.08 Croft
31 Rob Wood 25.15 Croft
32 Liza Austin 25.21 Croft
33 Herbie 25.27 Lucton
34 Benjamin Williams 25.28 Croft
35 Carol Powell 25.29 Croft
36 Ian Williams 25.42 Croft
37 Ellis Yates 25.50 Lucton
38 Zach Powell 25.53 Lucton
39 Jude Horton 26.21 Croft
40 Mr Powell 26.45 Lucton
41 Amelia Bassett 27.12 Lucton
42 Mr Bassett 27.44 Lucton
43 Flora Gunner 27.49 Croft
44 Paul Norman 28.13 Lucton
45 Ian Johnson 29.13 Lucton
46 Ellie Painter-Black 29.43 Lucton
47 Ivy Horton 30.00 Croft
48 Rudy Green 30.40 Croft
49 Steph Main 30.42 Croft
50 Tom George 32.06 Croft
51 Sue Wood 32.08 Croft
52 Clive Austin 32.09 Croft
53 Malachy Clarke 32.36 Lucton
54 Angus Wilson 32.42 Lucton
55 Evan Roberts 32.45 Croft
56 Wayne Jones 33.02 Croft
57 Sam Johnson 33.11 Lucton
58 Tom Austin 33.52 Croft
59 Rachel Austin 34.22 Croft
60 Paul Green 34.35 Croft
61 Jamie Symonds 34.46 Croft
62 Lisa Gray 34.40 Croft
63 Teddy Moffatt 35.45 Croft
64 Matt Moffatt 35.56 Croft
65 Hilly Moffatt 35.56 Lucton
66 Jo Moffatt 35.58 Croft
67 Tim Symonds 36.24 Croft
68 Heather Powell 36.33 Croft
69 Suzanne Field 36.39 Croft
70 Ruth Roberts 39.16 Croft
71 Bryn Roberts 39.17 Croft
71 John Russell 41.02 Lucton