CAAC Devils Unburdened
Fife AC once again pulled out all the stops with this classic hill relay. Skys broke, winds died and we had 3 complete teams toe the start line and we got off to a flying start! CAAC Go with Dave Simpson and Kris Berry battled with Shettleston and Carnethy but pure speed seen them steal a march handing over in 1st by a whisker. Moray Anderson really got some steam up on Leg2 consolidating the lead to hand over with a ~20s advantage. The chasers however were not to be taken lightly with an International hill pairing in the shape of Jethro Lennox and Tom Owens for Shettleston and Central lining up Scottish 10K Road Champion Ross Houston for a run over less familar ground and Lewis Millar. Tom Ferrington and Grant Wilkie our hard men of the road sailed through the navigation points and ran strongly but the strong hill runners proved difficult to hold off and the lead was lost, a resolute run in seen them hand over to Bryan Clark in 6th with men and sight. Two were dispatched and we rolled in 4th overall. I think our best result yet in this relay?
Our mixed team was Set to battle over the whole distance with the second mens team who were Ready. With very little in between the teams overall i reckoned it was going to come down to Leg 4 and Kerry Porter vs Chris Peggie. Doubts on that theory were thrown up early on as thanks to Steven (O'Brien) pushing me up East Lomond we had a solid run to sneak in in 4th. Dad (Paul O'Brien) and Jan-Bert Van Den Berg from reports after were back and forth on the up and down and paired well but unfortunatelycar logistics didnt allow too much watching at this point so i am not sure of the gap. Corrie Roberts impressed with her hill ettiquette letting the Leg 3 CAAC Go team through the turnstile at the last Leg2 CP first, before doing what all hill runners shouldnt afraid to do and took a minute and referred to her map when unsure as the way through to the finish. The stream of Leg 3 runners causing the distraction. She still had time to spare and handed over with a reasonable gap to the fast finishing Dave Law.
The third leg was where the moving was done and with two pairings i felt looked perfect on paper, Ruth Gibson and Martin Hulme vs Scott Williamson and Alex Cumming. Both proved to be good foils for each other. Ruth and Martin seperated by 2s over a number of recent Border races strode down the field to the changeover with matching strides and reports of the perfect partnership. Ruth setting pace on the climbs and Martin pushing the duo on on the descents. Not unsuprisingly reigning CAAC PAPs champion Alex who modestly reckoneded he wasnt up proved every bit to be, finishing with a smile with ever improving Scott Williamson leading the charge to the finish looking like he had gas in the tank. The gap had to no more than 4-5mins.
Teams Ready and Set turned heels and headed for the cars as Kerry and Marathon bound Chris set off to do battle on the trail of the 4th leg. Chris was set too tough a task though and the gap remainined, i think this was in no small part due to Kerry's excellent navigation skills. Further displayed in the hall at Falkland where she managed to skip a mammoth queue to the soup ;]
Well done all you did the club proud today!
Great soup was there for all at the finish in Falkland. Other notes from the day include the fact the Dave ran almost all the course give or take very little in 2H42mins! Chris Peggie has put an early claim for most ridiculous (you can read this as unfortunate also) injury of 2012 whilst innocently packing his bag into the car another car used him, his ankle and his achilles tendon as a reverse proximity system. Word has it the car heard Chris's squeal and safely completed the manouevre!
... Chris is ok too, walking on it after some magic sponge action.
EDIT : just realised missed end of my report, dinner was obviously a too great a pull.
Provisional results are out on Fife AC website, but many split times are missing as yet. However, mixed team came 44th, with 2nd mens team snapping at their heels in 47th, and only 45 seconds separating these two. So well done COB for inspired team composition, with Scott and Alex doing an excellent 1.08 in leg 3, and Chris P just over 31 mins. The rest of us will just have to wait for our splits.
I see from those provisional results we were actually 1st Mixed team! I'll ping them an email seeing we didnt get our wee moment of glory ;]
Its a mammoth task they have with the course marking, registration, marshalling round the course and soup making. All before the results are to complete. Ill pass on our thanks to the hosts.. cracking event.
After last year's post-CAAC PAPs injury I felt it necessary to get an early marker down in the injury stakes. Thankfully fate was smiling this time and I have walked away with no fractures or breaks. Simply a large degree of shock from feeling the car wheel try and get up & over my ankle.
Apparently no way out of tomorrow's long run...
Brilliant fun as usual!
Having had to get up at 5am to take Joanna to the airport meant that I could - as I think Chris P had intended - to get in a swift 3/4 miles before the race. However the cold and rather blustery weather persuaded me that going back to put my feet up and make myself a lovely cup of tea won the day...........
The promise of some Human League meant that for the journey there and back at least I was part of the elite team. Dave S had popped over for a swift first leg (or so I thought) and Grant - I will never speed in an average speed camera zone - Wilkie was convinced that this time he was not going to get lost. Although when enquired whether he had been to map reading night classes, he just said "No, but Tommy is ace at reading maps". So much for some proper prep!
Having got there my running partner PoB did an interesting appearing and disappearing act. Fortunately we were reunited for the start. We both started from the back and slowly picked our way through the field. Having got to the top of East Lomond I realised that Paul had temporarily disappeared. I waited - and really shouldn't have as Paul is a lot better at downhills then Jan - I really want to be careful it looks awful slippy - van den Berg. I spent most of the first leg trying to catch up again.......
We handed over to the OCH who had about 10 minutes to make up on the mixed team who had been given a brilliant start by the O'Brien boys and about 12 on the other mens team. I had every faith. And failing that we had the fast boys - Alex C and Scott - waiting to start reeling in the opposition. At the changeover on leg 3 Corrie looked pleasantly surprised that she had actually managed to find the finish and with a good advantage over the OCH. Alex and Scott where champing at the bit - or in Scotts case feigning complete disinterest in the run ahead of him. Alex is always excitable, bless......
A storming third leg by Alex and Scott meant that our gap behind the mixed team was significantly smaller - although Martin H and Ruth looked well in control as the sent Kerry off for the last leg. Chris only had about 3 or 4 minutes to make up so we knew it was going to be tight. Apparently Dave S had been seen at every change over too and not as a spectator........... the mad Irishman was running whole thing! I think he came in 10th as a team of one.
At the finish the 1st mens team came in 4th with BC picking up 2 places - a brilliant finish and a our highest placing yet. The next CAACer to come in was Kerry to the delight of the mixed team - Chris ran an absolute stormer and had managed to reduce the gap to 45 seconds. Most probably the closest finish between to CAAC teams in the Devils Burden.
We all returned to the community center at the start for some great soup and Chris' case an altercation with a car! Luckily we were able to establish - with the help of a gaggle of doctors including an Orthopedic Surgeon and Gastrointestinal Specialist - that no permanent damage was done.
'Gastrointestinal Specialist' - that was close to being the off running highlight of my day. That was quite a battle with doctor's all deferring to each other, i was able to skip Holby City after the drama ;]
Great report Jan!
Full results and fastest leg ordering for all stages are now up. Tommo and Grant ran a storming 1.02+ in leg 3, but were still 30 secs behind the first ladies. Gentlemen you have now joined the honourable club of mere men that have been narrowly 'Mudged'. Congratulations!