Paul Hine reports.
This year WACers
arrived at Bridport to beautiful conditions and unusually it was the
Senior Men who got off first. The conditions were cool but bright with a
level run around playing fields and a hill to negotiate which soon cut
up, more of that later.
Graeme provides a
study in commitment and focus in the men’s race.
Graeme Furley settled
into a controlled and comfortable pace and finished strongly to get an
excellent 3rd place and a prized County vest slot, the first of many it
would transpire. Can someone please tell his nurses, doctors and
surgeons who pieced him together all those months ago, they would love
to know how determination and skills win through. Both Paul Hine (man
flu) and Ian Kennedy (torn calf) travelled but didn’t run.
Next came the under-13
boys and girls after a delay when a senior lady slipped and broke an
ankle on the hill, spikes and/or studs may be a good investment after
all. Lynn Hutchings also took the sensible option of not running (girl
flu!).
And there off. Red
shirts everywhere in the under-13s race. The boys and girls started
together.
At the start there
seemed to be red vests everywhere and some strong running from Ryan
Walbridge (5th), Piers Copeland (7th), Jordan
Symington (8th) and Alex Diment (11th) doing the
club proud. In the girl’s race Abbie Hine came 6th with
Sharon Hutchings (11th). Sharon is still shaking off a bug
and ran with great courage, Chloe Morris warmed up with the team but
showed good sense in pulling out with a knee twinge.
Moving up to under-15s
the ever-improving Callum Kennedy finished well to achieve an 8th
place and a coveted green vest, Alex Vaughan-Johncey came 13th
in fine form.
Alex V-J shows
excellent technique in the under-15s race.
The future for WACers
looks very bright for the South-West Championships on January 10th with
a strong core of juniors coming through, witnessed proudly by Peter
Impett and Richard Nunn on County duty on the day officiating.
Paul Hine
Mascot Bertie the bear was mightily impressed with the young WACers
performances
