By Scott Hitchcock
The weather conditions for the 15 January race on the Ashdown Forest were terrible with rain, ice, snow, mud, mist and wind but that didn’t stop the 400 or so runners from getting stuck into a proper x-country race.
There were no facilities apart from a gazebo to put your kit in and register for the race but there was food and drink there for us when we finished. Photo below courtesy of Debbie Plant – nine brave Striders before they set out across the mud… and snow and mist and ice and wind and rain!
We all gathered for the start cold and wet but raring to go, and we headed out with mud, ice and water flying everywhere but I was absolutely loving it! Runners were trying to find the best route but there wasn’t one as it was boggy everywhere. There was a massive downhill, passing two ponds where I wasn’t far from falling in. Then it was through woodlands and back up a massive hill about four miles in, where runners were really put to the test. I started to lose ground and thought I would lose positions but managed to stay strong and get to the top without doing so. This was followed by a slight downhill to the welcome of the finish line.
There wasn’t one person who wasn’t covered head to toe in mud and we all loved it! What I liked most about this event was that we ran as a team: me, Luke, Ed and Dave all stayed together during the race and helped one another throughout. What a great Sunday morning, with all the Striders demonstrating great sportsmanship to one another and I even had runners from other clubs saying what a close connection our club has. Every single one of us was there until everyone had crossed the line, even though it was freezing.
Once finished, the faster runners ran back along the course to help and encourage their slower team mates. Striders performed very well indeed with the first five runners arriving within the first 35 finishers.
First home was Josh Rudd finishing 12th in a time of 32:54. Next and in quick succession were Scott Hitchcock, 34:25; Ed Tuckley, 34:32; Luke Borland 34:42; Dave Dunstall, 34:53 – earning him first place in his age group.
Next, making his debut in cross country was our youngest senior, Joe Plant in 43:31. Peter Weeks crossed the line in 44:16, ahead of the only female Strider in the race, Carlie Watts, in 50:07 and Tom Roper in 64:00.
Given these excellent results, I think this year will be a great season for us. Well done Striders!