Report from Sara Treacy in Midland UK CC

MIDLAND WOMEN’S XC LEAGUE RACE1
NEWBOLD COMYN SAT. 12TH NOV 2011
A RACE REPORT.
Newbold Comyn was being kind today, the weather being more “printemps” than “hiver” . The ground was soft enough to take a spike without being boggy. There wasn’t even any water in the brook much to the disappointment of vicarious spectators.
There must have been 250 women competing in this increasingly popular event. So popular in fact there is a move afoot to create 2 divisions, giving the opportunity for promotion and demotion to take place..
In this event we are joined by our men’s team who despite being a bit messy do add to the occasion.
I digress,
From the gun Sara Treacy was up with the first three or four runners who included Chloe Richardson. A bit further back was Dannii Johnson, then Sophie Williams, finally Holly O’Meara, Tracy Clarke and Emily Evans.
As the race unfolded it became a battle at the front with Sara and a Loughborough athlete, taking advantage of a slight mistake in the course by the Loughborough girl Sara found herself leading and decided to go from a fair way out. Despite a strong challenge from her opponent there was no denying Sara her first victory at her first attempt in this event.
Meanwhile Claire Martin (Telford) edged Chloe into 5th place which is where she finished, a remarkable performance from a girl who is still three weeks shy of her 18th birthday. All donations to *********.
Dannii Johnson is still trying to decide whether she likes cross country or not but still made an invaluable contribution today to close the team scoring in 45th. Sophie Williams was pleased with her performance being still on the come back trail and finished 47th.
Holly O’Meara finished 162nd followed by Tracy Clarke resplendent in her first pair of XC spikes in 199th. Finally Emily Evans, also coming back after injury finished 210th.
The team finished 3rd behind the two University teams, Loughborough and Birmingham, which is like a victory, though we were only 2 points in front of Coventry and given Sara is no longer available this season we cannot be complacent.
Eddie Cockayne