‘Croft Ambrosia’ and the Brockhampton Beast

Race Reports

Sunday 6th November dawned bright but chilly, ideal running weather. Jasper & I took part in the second of the Winter Warrior series organised by Dirt Run/Pulse Pursuits taking place in picturesque National Trust properties. The setting at Brockhampton Manor, just the other side of Bromyard, was stunning, beautiful scenery, great views, with the race headquarters just outside the Manor house, built in 1425, perhaps by one of the nobility evicted from Maine & Anjou in France. Won back by Henry V after Agincourt, this was part of the territory ceded to France as a part of Henry VI’s wedding to Margaret of Anjou. Thousands of English were dispossessed & sent back to England)

The race itself was pretty fast for a measured 10k cross-country. True, there was a fair amount of hillclimbing, but none of it was excessively steep. Also, the muddy bits were quite manageable. The start was flat for about 300m, then continued uphill on a muddy woodland path for the next 2K, where it flattened out somewhat, though still gently rising. After crossing undulating pasture, at just after 5K we entered some wonderful woodland that meandered up and down for 4K before opening out onto a field that led to the last 50m on tarmac.

The adult race was preceded by a junior 3K race for 8-15 year-olds. (Younger runners can only take part if they are accompanied throughout by an adult).

As always, the marshals were all volunteers from Friends of St Richards Hospice, to which was donated £1 or more from each entry. Since there were 30 juniors & 128 seniors (119 finishers) I hope these stalwarts were happy with this.

There were also lots of yellow direction signs & distance markers every 2K.

Jasper finished 17th in 46.22. I came 26th in 47.20, 1st MV 60.

Before the race, Robin the PA man was going through the list of clubs represented in the race. He obviously couldn’t read his writing and announced our club as “Croft Ambrosia” I gently pointed out his error and he just about got it right at the finish (announcing each person as they are coming up to the finishing line)

The next race in the series is at Wyre Forest on Sunday 20th November

http://www.pulsepursuits.co.uk/our-events/dirt-run/

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