Astley & Tyldesley Gin Pit 5 Trail Race – Championship race 11

As I failed to ask John Williams or Ian Riggs to write a brief report of the race, I’m afraid that you’ve got to put up with a bit more of me!

Anyhow, as you’ve no doubt guessed from the intro, three of us went to Tyldesley for the 11th race in our championship, the Gin Pit 5. As usual, I was there in plenty of time, having popped a couple of Nurofen Cold & Flu pre race to try and ignore the cold that I’d been suffering from all week. Outside registration, I met up with first John and then Ian, who’d only made the decision to run about half an hour before arriving.

As we all assembled for the start, John and I congregated near the front and Ian made his usual excuses about not being quick enough (rubbish) and moved further back. John and I had a quick chat about tactics and agreed that we’d both do the usual – i.e. I’d set off at a suicidal pace and see how long I can stay in front before John passes me (usually about 1.5 miles later).

Anyhow, after a quick talk from the organiser, we were off. The race followed that usual pattern to start with and I shot off to try and put some distance between us. However, after 0.6 of a mile things started to go wrong with the plan as John passed me! Somewhat confused as to why I was passed so early, I stayed with him and then passed him up the hill at the end of the first (short) lap. John though promptly passed me again soon after we crested the hill and pulled out a 10 yard lead. I hung on, with the plan of trying to stay close enough to give myself a chance to take him on the hill – we had two laps and therefore two hills to go.

However, I got into a bit of a rhythm and found myself edging nearer, so much so that I actually passed John at 1.5 miles before we reached the hill for the second time. Not being quite sure what was going on as I’d not overtaken John before, let alone twice in one race or even beaten him, I tried to keep the pace going and didn’t look back.

Up the hill and second lap completed, round the third lap and up the hill again for the last time. I reached the top, the finished was only 200 yards away so I glanced back and couldn’t see John! Thank goodness, given my sprint finish is non-existent! I crossed the line and was followed shortly afterwards by John and then Ian came in close behind – I feel I was slightly helped by both John and Ian running Parkruns the day before so this was their second race in two days. That said, I managed to claw back two points on John and maybe take that race for second to the final race – Heaton park on the 7th November!

In a field of 238, our official results were as follows:

1. David Simmons – 48th – 33:45 – 20 points

2. John Williams – 66th – 34:49 – 18 points

3. Ian Riggs – 83rd – 35:58 – 16 points