5th January 2003

• Men's Results
• Ladies Results
• Team Results

THE JOYS OF CAPTAINCY

In January 2002 the Striders won the Men’s team prize for the Suffolk County Cross Country Championships and got to hold the Cup for the year.  The women too did very well and for once the Bury Free Press was able to report a Striders Team win!!  I seem to remember some comment about “thanks mainly to experienced partnership of Ling & Pitt.  However they were well supported by Nick Stephens and Tom Jarrett (now Jaffa) with Richard Denwood in support.  We got the Trophy engraved (eventually) at our own expense (County don’t pay for such things) and thanks to the generosity of a Stowmarket based Strider, we increased the width of the Plinth on the Cup, in anticipation of more success!

On Sunday 15^th December I got my hands on the application forms for the next County Championships on 5^th January 2003.  The first point that caught my eye was the December 20^th deadline (6 days).  The forms had in fact been ‘out’ since October but had been mislaid.  (no names).

Next there followed some frantic lobbying for volunteers to run, some Striders were aware and had indicated a willingness to run so it just needed me to put the finishing touches.  Having phoned the organiser I established that I could post the form actually on the deadline day 20^th.  I drafted the forms out on Tuesday with 12 men and 8 ladies of what looked on paper a very solid team.  That evening I had my first dropout (No 1) so using Tipex I found a replacement and posted the forms on the Thursday, I now had 12 men and 9 women and made out one of my cheques for £52.50.  A copy of the team was then pinned to the Club Noticeboard.  Thursday evening saw the second dropout (No 2) so now the forms were wrong but a replacement was readily found so no probs.  I’d been advised that names could be changed later, so what did it matter.  I photo copied the forms as well as a map of where West Stow was and posted them to each runner on Christmas Eve.  At this point I was feeling good, runners had changed shift, were fit, keen, it looked like it was all coming together – even complements about organisational skills !

Over the festive week I had a further two dropouts (No’s 3 &4) and whilst Anne and I were away in Somerset others had not had a good Christmas (No 5).

Reports of a good turnout (30) at Nowton Park on 29^th Dec were encouraging however it was such a pity that Chris Ling (is he a member this year ?) and Colin Pitt were reported as being under an umbrella watching.  New Year’s Eve I waited patiently for an opportunity to ‘con’ two more runners to fill in (between the chorus of ‘Old Lang Syne’) and the plans were almost back on track.  New Years Day Anne and I did the Wymondham 10Km in reasonable times considering the eating and dancing the night/morning before (ok if you must know I was just ahead – ok, yes it was another sprint finish).  So the countdown to the big event (Sunday 5^th) started with a call and another sick runner (no 6) on Friday another call (No 7).  The membership list was studied again and a chance comment lead me to tracking down Andrew McIntyre who agreed to run.  I phoned the Chairman for moral support only to find out that had I ran on the Thursday night I would have heard ‘first hand’ of number 8 dropping out (No 8), this I confirmed by phone.  Further calls and a replacement found – feeling smug again!!

Now into the 11^th hour and 2 more calls reporting further illnesses (No’s 9, 10 &11) it was just as well that my plans included a contingency.  Now it’s Sunday morning and the phone an object of hate, one more call and a round dozen is reached (No 12).  I pack my clipboard, camera, gloves, flask, crystal ball.  Anne phones Denise Naughton to advise that we are going early, to pick up the race numbers and to help with the Marshalling.  Each Club has a commitment to supply two marshals but that wasn’t my brief, Chris Starmer announces that he must leave after the Men’s race to pick up a new tractor (!).  Denise advises that Jo (Men’s B team) “is out with the Boys in the 4 wheel” and “why so early”.  Anne advises men’s race is one hour before women’s – Denise makes frantic phone call.

The event picture this – Car Park in the middle, race start ½ mile in one direction, Registration ½ mile in the other direction.  Early reports (from normally reliable sources) indicate that the organisers have been having problems in the ‘Visitors Centre’ (Registration) and that “nothing was left” in the Visitors Centre.  So Team Captain (me) goes to Race Start to find out that  the numbers are all in the Visitors Centre,  Anne and Jan go marshalling.  I collect the numbers and the “final team sheet” that has to be submitted 30 minutes before the start, so just how confident am I about who is going to turn up ?  I cross my fingers, fill in the sheet and retire to the car park to await the arrival of the willing runners.  Soon familiar faces begin to appear and a warm feeling (woops I just spilt the coffee).

My back up supply of pins held in the car is quickly used up, all 44 of them.  10 minutes to go and the final 4 pins are handed over, a few introductions between runners (who’s Andrew McIntyre ?).

The hooter goes and the Men’s race is away, that was easy wasn’t it !!  I rush to a suitable vantagepoint to take a picture of the 9 Striders as they pass.  First shot is Chris Starmer and the camera film rewinds (it was a 24 and not a 36) no spare film, dam.  Now return to the Start for the Women’s Race, I ask Denise to deliver the “Women’s final team sheet” as I would like to encourage the Men as they go around the three circuits, she does so willingly (1 &1/2 mile walk bless her).  The Men are well into their 12Km before the women all appear for their 6Km, I find some more pins (I must be a sad person) but it’s nice to see the smiling faces and enthusiasm.

The Men’s race is now finishing and Chris Starmer, our leading man in 7^th place appears, he’s being caught on the run in, I scream and shout “your being caught”.  He takes no notice, he is caught, he finishes 8^th.  I am reminded about the important tractor collection and see in the next two or three men then go to relieve Jan, Daniel and Joanne at point “C” on the course.  I cheer the ladies on as they pass on the short circuit then long circuit and await the next race.  Suddenly I realise that I have Andrew McIntyre’s Car Keys (who) and he needs to get away, as he has to drive to Lincolnshire, plus if Anne is running and Chris has left Andrew won’t know where I am.  Abandoning my post, I return to the start/finish only to find Chris, Jan, Daniel and Joanne watching the finish of the Ladies race (the tractor must have lights after all).  I hand the key’s over to Andrew, wish him well with the Flying training, and return to point “C” for the final race.  Once the final race of nine, Under 17 men, passes for the second circuit, I finally abandon point “C” and return to the finish.

I didn’t manage to thank all the Striders Men or all the Striders Women, but we achieved a commendable 4^th place in both events.  Chris Starmer was invited to attend the inter Counties in Nottingham, but the dates clash and he can’t make it.  My ‘Man of the Match’ is a woman, Rachel, she finished 20^th just behind Gail Sparkes in 32mins 52secs, her third ever race I believe.

I hope to get the £52.50 entrance fee from the Club Treasurer soon, along with the money for the stamps and envelopes. 

I can’t wait for next year’s event !!!!!

Grayhame Fish   6/1/2003

I would like to Thank the following for making the day one to remember.  Cast on the day were:-

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

Men's Senior:

Ladies:

Team: (out of 7 Men's teams & 7 Ladies)

Although our result was a long way off the winners, St Edmund Pacers with a meir 34 points, the Strider Men's team were only 6 points behind Jaffa in 3rd and 10 points ahead of Framlingham in 5th.

The ladies had a sterling effort coming in 4th overall.  The might of St Edmund pacers prevailed with a minimum score of 6 points.  Jaffa and Newmarket clinched 2nd and 3rd respectively with the Striders 5 points behind Newmarket and 1 point ahead of Framlingham.