Thanks to everyone who helped make yesterday’s 44th Annual Christmas Handicap such a success.
The race was won by Emma Coombes who, after going close to winning several times in the past, strode to a well deserved and very popular victory. Emma closed a 3 minute gap on the 3 ladies in front, passing them just a few hundred metres from the finish to win by 11 secs. The first man to finish was Matt Bray who set off 9 mins behind Emma but finished 32 secs behind in 5th place.
The fastest laps of the day went to Alex Alston and Molly Blizard with 14:29 and 17:34 respectively for the traditional course of approximately 3 miles.
The youngest competitor was 7 year old Isabelle Janes who ran round with her mum former women’s National Cross Country Champion Lizzy Janes. Isabelle who is only just turned 7 recorded an excellent time of 27:43. Her 12 year old sister Florence also excelled, with 22:04 running round with her dad Matt ( 7 times fastest lap winner in this race). The final member of the Janes squad 10yo Elliot was guided round the course by his uncle Neilson whose navigation skills were sadly lacking leading to a significant loss of time. Elliot was not amused. No one told him that Neilson has form for getting lost having almost lost his National CC bronze when trying to run an extra lap at the 2013 National CC Championships. Jo Wilkinson and her children Callum and Neve again travelled from Hereford to compete. They all ran well, and surprisingly all beat handicap despite the handicapper ignoring Jo’s sob story about a broken toe!
The wooden spoons for the female and male back markers went to Divindra Baines and Ricky Harvie.
The race raised almost £700 for Pancreatic Cancer UK in memory of club stalwart Pete Dancer who ran in every one of the first 34 editions of this race. Thanks to everyone who donated, and please note that you don’t have to run to donate. If you’d like to make a donation, the Link to the Just Giving page is:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/bedford-and-county-ac-1732827471398
Full results below:
