Despite the wintry conditions the Bedford and County Annual Christmas Handicap went ahead for the 42ndconsecutive year. Due to the quite treacherous icy footpaths on the traditional embankment course, the race was moved onto the snowy sports fields adjacent to the Stadium. The 2.9 mile race, which comprised 3 large and one small lap, was quite intriguing with the group of 3 who were sent off first almost completing their 2ndlarge lap as the last pair of runners off were only just starting. The nature of the race with the field of 24 spread around the lap, some having completed 1 or 2 laps, others just on lap 1, made fascinating but very confusing viewing for the spectators and officials.
The leader at the commencement of the final small lap was 6 year old Monty Jones, being chaperoned round by his dad and grandad, but Leila Dancer, daughter of Bedford & County legend Pete Dancer was closing up behind. The whole field was closing up as the late starting faster runners made huge inroads into the many minutes they’d conceded at the start. Not to be denied, Leila surged past the leaders to take the title following in the footsteps of her dad and her daughter Georgia who won in 2004 and 2019 respectively. 2nd place went to a charging Michael Harrison whose time of 16:12 was 12mins faster than Leila’s 28:55! Leila was rewarded for her efforts with the Pete Dancer Memorial Trophy which was instituted in memory of her father who sadly passed away in 2016.
The fastest lap of the day went to Ed Blythman with the excellent time of 15:15.
