panto season no match for 5k handicap

21 toed the start line on Lancaster Park for the 5k Christmas handicap.
Numbers were a little down due to cry offs because of bugs going round but primarily because Clan MacDonald & JB had sacrificed the handicap for a trip to see Aladdin at the Theatre Royal... "oh yes they did”.
I’m not sure what the Panto was like but the gathering at the start of the race was like a scene from a Carry On film – total pandemonium with a delinquent Christmas Pudding misbehaving until the Chief Steward Mr Michael Briggs got a grip of proceedings – give that man a pen and a fluo jacket and he can sort anything... possibly even next year's handicap??!!
Micky Groves got the field underway, and Linda Bray on the lead bike led Sue Smith and Pam Woodcock around Lancaster Park and these two ladies stayed ahead of the chasing field to cross the line together, just ahead of 12-year-old Michael Leeson (we need to get Michael signed up – he’s got a great running style)!
I got all of you to the finish within 3.33 and only my mess up with 14-year-old Harry Armstrong's handicap led to a big gap at the end – apologies Harry and well done for turning out and taking part!
So here are the final results:
 
Position/Name/ H’cap time/ Actual time/ %age effort
1= Pam Woodcock 26.23 26.23 81.14%
1= Sue Smith 26.23 26.23 74.37%
3 Michael Leeson 26.34 23.44 60.77%
4 Gary Mason 26.36 23.46 63.03%
5 Robyn Ferguson 26.51 23.31 62.79%
6 Jane Briggs 27.12 24.22 70.90%
7 Les Cavill 27.14 24.26 64.82%
8 Paul Waterston 27.17 23.17 67.47%
9 Gordon Dixon 27.17 24.07 67.32%
10 Jane Kirby 27.26 21.36 75.67%
11 Andriy Volkov 27.34 19.24 69.68%
12 Jamie Johnson 27.37 19.27 75.27%
13 Rob Hancox 27.40 19.10 80.12%
14 Adam Pratt 27.43 17.28 76.36%
15 Andy Leeson 28.07 21.17 66.77%
16 Gwenda Cavill 28.10 23.20 78.49%
17 Gavin Bayne 28.21 19.51 85.37%
18 Lee Bennett 28.25 18.03 83.64%
19 Mark Snowball 28.31 18.09 72.39%
20 Claire Calverley 28.49 23.35 60.70%
21 Harry Armstrong 29.56 22.06 62.00%

As you can see, some outstanding performances from Gavin, Lee, Pam and Rob all smashing the 80% effort barrier and Adam running the quickest time of the night with an excellent 17.28!
Back at the hut there was lots of chat and the prize table was soon empty as were the boxes of Pringles on the buffet table – the samosas got rave reviews and Pam’s stollen was lush!
I finished Claire's biscuits with my morning cuppa and the unopened goodies and drink were sent to the food bank.
Big thanks to Peter Scaife, Bill Tilley and George Patterson for marshalling and recording on the night and thanks to all the runners for turning out to support the event – your kind comments are appreciated! It was a good night!
Happy Christmas and all best wishes for the new year,
Kevin Bray