Woodbridge XC

If it is not the wind from Framlingham, it's the rain at the Woodbridge cross country. The next race must have some other weather extreme, and being so close to Christmas perhaps it'll be some snow?

This is the third time in as many years that the course has changed. Many a disheartened groan when the runners realised that this years course was 2 laps and a granduous 9km. However despite the persistent rain and the extended course, the race saw possibly the largest turnout of Striders for a race in 2002. Many runners reported positively on the race and would be tempted to do it again.

The race wasn't without incident though. Our 'Kate Aide' of the running fraternity, Anne Fish, found herself in yet another war zone in the race to the finish. Anne came across the finish line covered in blood oozing from her nose and grazes on her right side. Katy, our club official for the day, reported back that a man walking his black dog had unjustly crossed in front of Anne's path causing her to trip. The gentleman was alleged to have ran away in guilt of his actions. The real story was that it Anne and a gentleman from Bungay Black Dog were running the final couple of hundred yards when they clipped feet and Anne went sprawling while it was alleged that the man ran for the line with barely a backward glance. Thanks goes to Katy for the embellished gossiping!

For those concerned for Anne, she has been in contact to advise that she is okay albeit in a little shock.

In terms of the series, this event showed that the Striders can really perform by exceeding all other clubs but for St Edmund Pacers (who indeed are in a different category). Most of this was down to the numbers we managed to turnout for the event clearly showing that although you may not be scoring, you will be reducing the points other teams can score by beating them. (Grayhame asked me to put that in!). Well done everyone.

Full results will be available by following this link. Here are the Stowmarket Strider results:-

Men's:

Men's Pos.	Race Position	Name	Time
4	4	Colin Pitts	33.10
6	6	Chris Starmer	34.03
15	15	Nick Stephens	35.14
25	25	Richard Denwood	35.47
34	34	Malcolm Penn	36.34
43	43	Adam Allard	37.21
49	49	Michael Jones	37.42
65	69	Gordon Slack	40.01
67	73	Bernard Debney	40.27
74	80	Peter Tricker	40.54
85	94	Richard Nash	42.30
99	116	Ben Whiting	43.59
100	118	Richard Fellingham	44.18
112	135	Jim King	45.48
119	147	Les Basham	47.53
121	154	Grayhame Fish	48.56

Ladies:

Ladies Pos.	Race Position	Name	Time
8	85	Tamara Jordon	41.19
16	113	Gail Sparkes	43.49
24	137	Ellen Broughton	46.13
29	148	Karen Goodwin	47.56
30	149	Mary Tricker	48.06
33	153	Rachael Champion	48.46
38	163	Anne Fish	49.40
40	166	Anne Fellingham	49.54
41	167	Jane Fellingham-Boyce	50.05
45	172	Denise Naughton	51.14
47	177	Rosemary Thurston	52.26
48	178	Jenny Relf	52.56
49	179	Jean Lynch-Aird	53.12
50	180	Linda Steward	53.28
57	189	Jan Starmer	58.14

Junior:

Ben Naughton came in 20th out of 45 junior runners in a time of 23:32.

Team: (out of 13 teams)

Position	Team	Points
2	Men's	818
4	Ladies	150
2	Overall	968

Team: (out of 13 teams) After 2 events

Such a good event was Woodbridge that Striders have jumped from 5th overall to a clear 4th, with a mere 20 points behind Waveney Valley & Bungay. St Edmunds Pacers clearly lead the way with 1728 points followed in 2nd place by Newmarket Joggers with 1571.

Position	Team	Points
4	Men's	1261
5	Ladies	238
4	Overall	1499