Monthly Handicap, Thursday 28th August, 2008. 4.35 miles

Where a handicap was an estimate for a new or lapsed runner they only score one point but their handicap for next month will be based on this time and qualify for a full score. A season’s best (SB) or personal best (PB) earns two bonus points. Please check your statistics on both tables and notify me of any errors.

In what was the most hard fought race of the summer an unprecedented twelve competitors ran PBs or SBs with eight of them PBs. It was really exciting to see such a closely grouped mass of bodies charging down Mythop Road towards the finish line!

Congratulations to fast-improving Lucinda whose winning time was almost two minutes better than her first run last month and to the very-much-in-form Mel who increased her lead at the top of the points table with a third consecutive PB. On a night when three ladies took the honours newcomer Claudia, running on an estimated handicap, was first across the line with a sub-ten minute mile pace that is very encouraging from so inexperienced a runner. Just to show the men weren’t right out of the contest Chris Holland was another notable performer with his own third successive PB and Graham Webster recorded the fastest time.

It was encouraging to see Mike H., Neal and Phil back in the handicap after prolonged absence. I hope you all enjoyed it enough to return in September.

Thanks to Terry, Layla and Dave Wood for their help at the finish and to Mel for the double ration of chocolate cakes, her fourth PB of the summer. Bill.