North Staffs Cross Country – Park Hall – 7th Nov ‘09
This was the 2nd race in the North Staffs XC League for 2009, the event was run in the Park Hall Country Park around the Hulme Quarry end.
Great scenery, mostly dry weather if a little bit windy at times. The course was mostly firm on gravel tracks and well drained grass, not much here for the mud enthusiasts. Access to the event is good, a straightforward run from the West Midlands up the M5 and M6.
Well what a race this was for me, a full day of firsts, unfortunately not really in all the right ways…
1st time I’ve ever run in the North Staffs XC League.
1st time I’ve ever run at Park Hall in Stoke-on-Trent.
1st time I’ve ever failed to finish a race (it had to happen one day).
1st time I’ve ever fallen ar*e over tip during a race.
I wouldn’t mind so much but it was only the first lap! A short decline down a gravel track towards the end of the first lap did the damage, to be honest I don’t think I was wholly concentrating on where I was putting my feet and the end result was a sprained ankle, skinned knees and elbow, dented pride (what again?) and some careful and expert attention from St John Ambulance. There ends my personal race report!
Stourbridge RC had a great turnout and turned in some good results, the ladies did particularly well with Louise Collins and Amanda Dibble making it into the top 25 in the senior womens race, and Joan Clarke winning the W50 category (nice one Joan!) and Matt Giles making 19th in the senior mens race.
I’ll just have to look forward to next year… with a bit of luck I’ll finish next time!
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