Thursday 26 June 2014

Colworth Challenge Weekend - 20/21/22 June (Too Hot To Trot)

This is the biggest write up of the year due to the massive turn-out we had at this weekend. If I miss you out, sorry.

We set up camp to find we were by far the largest gang camping, joined by family, young kids, youths and pets and all seemed to have a great time.

Some came just for one race, others to attempt the three. Some came to do one and ended up running all three.

34 of us ran 69 races between us totalling 720 miles + under a burning sun.

All the kids ran in the junior races and were showing off their medals to all.

30 of us took part in the Fri 5, some new faces and some old ones also. Hardened Colworth veterans and newbies wondering what they were in for.

A nice gentle 5 miler on a beautiful evening followed by food, beer, football. Nothing to it.

Saturday is a different story however. The campers were joined by those softies preferring their home comforts for the dreaded 8.1 mile trail race.

Although dry and hard this year was particularly tough due to the long grass and deep, rock-hard ruts and there were many tales of falls, grazes and bruises at the finish line. Twenty ran, walked, swore, and hobbled their way round with the thought of cake and more beer to help them along. The 12 o’clock start and very hot day ensured that there were some very red faces on the finishers.

The campers waved off the home lovers and settled down to talking rubbish, a few drinks, and judging the bake off. I wonder if Mo could compete on burgers and beer. Steve got his table of torture out and rubbed up sore calf muscles with the old burger fat.

Sunday morning started at 4.30am with the sun turning my tent into an oven. Another hot one was on the way.

It is by now easy to tell who has been camping by their semi-comatose condition. Still only a mere 13.1 miles to do.

19 of us completed the half, and of those 19 an amazing 16 had completed the whole 3 race marathon challenge. All were frazzled and shattered at the finish however all knew they had completed what is a very special event. First time Challenge finishers always deserve a mention and they were Keren, Jo Letts, John Eales, Steve and Beckie.

This events popularity with us is all due to Mick Clarke. He started running it over 10 years ago. Every year he nagged a few more to join him. Numbers from NRR grew and grew and here we are now.

Mick's last Challenge, 2013 saw him collect his 10 year award. As a tribute to Mick Colworth Striders presented a special commemorative Mick Clarke Award to the oldest finisher of the Challenge.

After the awards were dished out with trophies for Tony and Wendy it was time to relax, and try and chill out.

So another Colworth over. Same weekend next year however the weather can never be as good again can it.

Congratulations to everybody whether running, supporting, marshalling, entertaining or whatever. A damn fine weekend that took my mind off the footy.

The kids were good fun, the dogs behaved, the support was very welcome and the running was pretty good also.

Colworth striders once again put on a fantastic event and we are very grateful for their efforts.

See you next year hopefully. Number 9 for me.

Mark Garrett

Colworth Friday 5 mile
7 Tony Letts 29:09 - 1st mv40
47 Stu Drummond 34:27
65 Mark Garrett 35:33
79 Dave Whatton 36:24
91 Darren Baldwin 37:03
100 Ronnie Ambrose 37:37
111 Jo Windrum 38:12
112 Beckie Hollowell 38:13
115 Steve Prior 38:16
149 John Eales 40:10
151 Wendy Parker 40:17
162 Jasmine Banks 40:49
163 Jim Anderson 40:51
171 Elaine Palmer 41:26
193 Sharky Cottrell 42:39
198 Becky Eldridge 43:12
199 Richard Wild 43:13
228 Alan Palmer 45:02
236 Eamon Kennedy 45:29
251 Andy Pate 46:09
261 Suzanne Baldwin 47:10
262 Jo Letts 47:14
299 Paula Pinney 51:08
310 Carole Whatton 52:50
311 Rachael Smith 52:58
312 Jo Smith 52:59
321 Carrick Baldwin 54:12
322 Coral Baldwin 54:12
328 Keren Irving 55:40
332 Sally Garrett 57:22

Sat 8.1 mile Trail Race
7 Tony Letts 52:34 - 1st mv40
50 Mark Garrett 1:06:32
68 Ronnie Ambrose 1:08:58
75 Steve Prior 1:09:29
76 Darren Baldwin 1:10:01
83 Beckie Hollowell 1:10:38
98 John Eales 1:12:49
99 Martin Rowe 1:12:55
105 Jim Anderson 1:13:53
111 Sharky Cottrell 1:14:44
124 Elaine Palmer 1:16:30
126 Jo Smith 1:16:46
128 Suzanne Baldwin 1:17:21
144 Eamon Kennedy 1:20:00
145 Wendy Parker 1:20:05
154 Caroline Powell 1:22:09
156 Jo Letts 1:23:45
205 Keren Irving 1:45:40
206 Spike Breydin 1:47:45
207 Sally Garrett 1:50:44

Sunday 13.1 mile half
8 Tony Letts 1:24:56 - 1st MV40
19 Andy Blaize 1:33:14
39 Stu Drummond 1:41:05
45 Mark Garrett 1:42:59
53 Richard Wild 1:44:21
69 Ronnie Ambrose 1:48:20
91 Steve Prior 1:53:07
93 Beckie Hollowell 1:53:39
97 Darren Baldwin 1:54:45
108 Wendy Parker 1:59:10 - 1st FV50
117 Sharky Cottrell 2:01:45
120 Jim Anderson 2:02:11
136 Elaine Palmer 2:06:33
143 Jo Smiff 2:07:37
154 Eamon Kennedy 2:10:14
158 John Eales 2:11:08
175 Suzanne Baldwin 2:15:13
179 Jo Letts 2:16:20
216 Keren Irving 2:54:53

Full Marathon Challenge
Tony Letts 2:46:39 - 7th overall
Mark Garrett 3:25:04 – 8th challenge completed
Ronnie Ambrose 3:34:55 - 6th challenge completed
Steve Prior 3:40:52 - 1st full challenge
Darren Baldwin 3:41:49
Beckie Hollowell 3:42:30 - 1st full challenge
Jim Anderson 3:56:55
Sharky Cottrell 3:59:08
Wendy Parker 3:59:27
John Eales 4:04:07 - 1st full challenge
Elaine Palmer 4:04:29
Eamon Kennedy 4:15:39
Jo Smiff 4:17:22 - 7th challenge
Suzanne Baldwin 4:19:44
Jo Letts 4:27:19 - 1st timer only came over to eat cake.
Keren Irving 5:36 13 - 1st timer, ran injured, only intended 2 runs but carried away in excitement, fantastic effort.

I apologise if I missed you out of results.

No comments:

Post a Comment