There was one other race for me to go: the inter counties in Wollaton park. I was fortunate enough to do this race two years ago, so I sort of knew what I was letting myself in for – hence the nightmares in the week before.

I arrived in good time having told myself that I just needed to run a good race, after all I was 8th in the pen so my job was to stop too many others passing me. Oh how wrong I was. I met up with Eddie, the team organiser, to be told people had dropped out and I was starting 4th…..no pressure then…..

Having found my parents, dumped my kit on them and got to the start, I was infected, I even found myself doing strides up the first hundred metres. We had last years winner, Laura Kenney, as our first runner, so I had to be sure not to embarrass myself as the camera came by. After a reassuring chat with my new team mates (which was slightly strange as I’ve been racing against them all season), we were all facing forwards and off.

I’d like to provide a blow by blow account, but to honest, it all sort of blurred. It was much drier than two years ago, apparently thanks to Nottingham Council providing copious amounts of sand to absorb the moisture. I mainly noted the support of Margaret, Andy, Ann and my parents.

It was tough as it was really fast, there’s only one steep hill, which leaves the rest of the course, err “undulating”, and forces you to play to your strengths, as well as trying to promote what you thought were your weaknesses. When I was still over a kilometre from the finish, the first ladies were racing home. The only way to reconcile this is that they are the best in the country (and somewhat younger than me).

It was a brilliant experience and a really good course, as always I wish I’d been stronger, run faster, etc., but I can honestly say I did my best on the day. My poor parents had to practically catch me at the finish, I even broke out of the finish pen to get to them…..well, I’m only 29, I’m still allowed to let them look after me ;)

Ann Kenchington was much more adult about it, she had a fantastic run looking really strong to the end, and didn’t feel the need to collapse on her mum afterwards – maybe I could learn something….

I came 157th with a time of 33:37 (I think) and as 5th counter for Warwickshire, we came 14th overall, I’m not sure out of how many the figures are out of, the queue for results was longer than those for the toilets and I was more interested in seeing the men start their race.

Linda

Team report:

Arguably the best XC race on the Calendar took place today at Wollaton Park in excellent conditions. Arriving at 9:30 we were beaten by the redoubtable Ray Morgan and Graham Aston who were erecting the tents. The ladies soon started to trickle in, Laura was first as usual. We had a full compliment of 9 runners, although it took all 15 entrants to achieve that. Solihull and Small Heath again proved to be the major contributors, a record they should justly be proud of.

THE RACE,

Laura Kenney was defending champion and, as such, was the attention of much unwanted attention; especially as it was her first big race after having knee problems, she still produced an excellent performance finishing 8th. Incidentally her time last year would have beaten today's winner Steph Twell by 19 secs.

Lucy Flanner was 196th last year in 35:04 This year she was 61st in 31:04!!! truly a remarkable run.

Rachel Buxton was a first time senior in this race, I think, also had a tremendous run to finish 87th.

Sophie Williams aka Bambi hates XC ,she says, but had her best run of the season to finish 120th. I returned a piece of kit she left at the last race to replace the one she left at this race!

Linda Howell is a great contributor to Midlands XC racing and again today turned in a strong performance to finish 157th.

Helen Finch was given little notice of selection but still performed tremendously to close the scoring in 172nd.

Rebecca Smith, Joanne Finch, and the wonderful Rebecca Freeman who not only ran but team managed and doled out some of the vests, completed the team.

Team position was 14th, much similar to usual. I can't thank the ladies enough for their efforts on a challenging course.

Eddie Cockayne,
Senior Women TM

Pos RaceNo Time Name Club
8 1437 00:29:15 Laura Kenney Warwickshire
61 1434 00:31:41 Lucy Flanner Warwickshire
87 1430 00:32:10 Rachel Buxton Warwickshire
120 1443 00:32:57 Sophie Williams Warwickshire
157 1436 00:33:44 Linda Howell Warwickshire
172 1432 00:34:01 Helen Finch Warwickshire
177 1441 00:34:10 Rebecca Smith Warwickshire
198 1433 00:34:54 Joanne Finch Warwickshire
249 1435 00:36:59 Rebecca Freeman Warwickshire

Pos	Points	Team Name	Placings
1	253	Scotland East	( 5 24 35 58 63 68 )
2	272	Yorkshire	( 22 36 41 48 50 75 )
3	275	North East	( 6 30 37 38 40 124 )
4	342	Nottinghamshire	( 3 13 16 34 137 139 )
5	349	Surrey	( 11 33 57 72 83 93 )
6	414	Middlesex	( 27 42 43 65 97 140 )
7	421	Essex	( 15 25 44 95 101 141 )
8	430	Hampshire	( 1 17 92 102 108 110 )
9	459	Leicestershire	( 4 49 55 69 138 144 )
10	483	Hertfordshire	( 31 56 66 82 116 132 )
11	513	Lancashire	( 20 21 81 106 114 171 )
12	577	Shropshire	( 12 46 62 76 143 238 )
13	603	Devon	( 7 64 99 123 146 164 )
14	605	Warwickshire	( 8 61 87 120 157 172 )
15	618	Norfolk	( 19 28 70 104 173 224 )
16	659	Cheshire	( 26 29 59 148 192 205 )
17	673	Cumbria	( 2 10 14 194 214 239 )
18	689	Kent	( 39 89 91 119 130 221 )
19	693	Suffolk	( 18 45 98 126 191 215 )
20	739	Derbyshire	( 71 74 103 152 161 178 )
21	773	Sussex	( 23 67 125 160 189 209 )
22	805	Staffordshire	( 80 107 129 151 168 170 )
23	903	Oxfordshire	( 118 128 142 147 162 206 )
24	969	Merseyside	( 100 136 145 156 197 235 )
25	1061	Bedfordshire	( 32 158 181 203 225 262 )
26	1068	Berkshire	( 94 121 190 202 208 253 )
27	1069	Gloucestershire	( 60 134 176 184 251 264 )
28	1083	Buckinghamshire	( 122 154 179 200 212 216 )
29	1090	Cambridgeshire	( 112 149 183 195 210 241 )
30	1195	Lincolnshire	( 115 159 175 227 250 269 )
31	1216	North Wales	( 131 166 201 219 240 259 )
32	1285	Northamptonshire	( 187 199 217 218 222 242 )
33	1315	Humberside	( 51 207 256 257 268 276 )