A windy and blustery, cold day welcomed the five JJs for the return of the Masters XC championships. Kari was unfortunately the only female JJ to enter. The women set off with the windy blowing hard up the first straight. A unique course of a figure of eight, meant that the climbs came quickly. Kari made a great start and continued that form with the fast downhill section in the start/finish area being very welcome. The men were at the top of the hill to cheer on Kari trying their best to stand up straight, Kari made a strong finish down the hill to finish in 72nd position and 11th in her age group.
The four men set off just after one with the wind getting stronger, a warm up jog up the starting straight didn’t bode well with the wind howling in to our faces. The men started in to the wind and the men’s field charged in to the wind and up the first hill. The wind and lack of rain meant the ground under foot was good to firm going and the JJs master thoroughbreds made light work of the first hill without the mud from the last XC we had encountered. At the top it was still blowing a hooley as Tom moved effortlessly down the hill and in to what shelter there was. Cliff was steady as usual building through the field with Simon not far behind and Rob bringing up the rear. The men enjoyed the different course and the slightly different distance of 5.2 miles than the normal 6miles of the NEHL. Unfortunately, we scored only one complete team, in the M45-54 age group due to late withdrawals. A tough age category saw the team finish 6th.
Great running in difficult conditions and a competitive fields in all age categories.
The NE Masters Association run different events for all athletes over 35, and you race within your own age group. Watch out for the more races coming up such as the Summer Track and Field League and other races.
Woman’s Race
72nd Kari Best 0:31:33 11th W45
Men’s Race
53rd Tom Dowling 0:35:53 9th M45
82nd Cliff Veitch 0:39:10 12th M55
87th Simon Wells 0:40:08 20th M50
102nd Rob Dooley 0:43:27 18th M45
Men’s Team Race – M45-49 (aggregate time)
6th Dowling, Wells, Dooley 1:59:28