A strong team of Striders – thirteen ladies and fourteen men braved Icelandic conditions
to take on JAFFA over 12½ laps of the Northgate track.

The Challenge was to find the best team over 5000m on the track. We were up against a
strong turnout from JAFFA, rumours were that several members turned up who didn’t 
normally run with them on Monday nights and didn’t that guy now run for Colchester? 
Obviously they realised we would be no push-over.

The Ladies Challenge started a few minutes late and our trump-card, Gail Sparkes, stepped 
up to the start line with seconds to spare. Tamara was first Strider, in second place; Linda 
got the biggest cheer and Ellen enjoyed it so much she did 13½ laps and then cheerfully 
thanked her spotter for letting her do the an extra lap.

Both men’s races had several close personal battles and the first few runners in the over 
21 minute race were all under the time.

In the final race my targets were 1) about 20 minutes, 2) beat Gordon and 3) only be lapped 
twice by the winner. I finished at the back of the field in 20.11, just ahead of Gordon and 
Richard Jordan only lapped me twice – mission accomplished. However, by the time I had 
showered, changed and got to the bar all the sandwiches had gone.

JAFFA were the winners of the challenge but winning is not everything, it’s the taking part 
that counts! We did well considering they have over 150 members to call on.

This was a competition, speed session and social event all in one. It was a good night despite 
the gale blowing down the back straight. Following the success of this race we hope to arrange 
a return match next year, either in June or September when it should be a bit warmer.

When we get the full list of results we will put them up on the notice board and in the next 
newsletter. Let me know if you did a PB so I can note it in the results.

Thanks must go to Stuart who coordinated the whole thing for us. Without his efforts it
wouldn’t have happened. 

Chris Gladwell