Harestock Handicap - January 2023
18 runners turned out to contest the January Handicap and to get the 2023 series off to a great start. Jess Millborne as a welcome event newbie and we had some old friends returning - welcome back Derek Gilby and Paul Oxley.
nIt was good night for running and great to see so many joining in with some threshold laps around the Westman Rd loop (that's the shorter/flatter loop Stephen) so properly warmed up for a fast handicap lap to finish. It all makes for a proper session.
nA strange night for handicapping with bulk of the crowd running to form, enjoying a good chase (half the field meeting or beating their handicaps) and the intensity of the blanket finish whilst a few others trotted round at the back coughing, spluttering and waving their sicknotes.
nOur winner on the night was Anna Bion (7'03 net) enhancing her HH record to now stand proudly with 2 runs and 2 wins....not many have that kind of record but please don't retire on it Anna. Tamas Bown (6'29 net) was chasing hard to end up with no cigar in 2nd and Jess Milborne (7'52) ran brilliantly on debut to finish 3rd and hold off Stephen Lowy (7'30) in an elbows-out battle to the line.
nFastest on the night was Tamas Bown with the aforementioned (6'29) and second fastest was Simone Paulson (6'38). Fine times from both and awakening interest in the old Honours Board.....it's looking a bit neglected after the Covid years but with a lick of paint, who knows? Anyway quick inspection shows Simone may have climbed to 2nd in the ladies all-time list...there are a few famous names trailing behind her now!
nAs regards the overall standings the season is just begun and all we know is that Anna Bion is out in front. More importantly at this stage we now know that there are only 18 people in the whole world who still have a chance of winning a coveted "12 out of 12" medal. As this is our 12th year of doing the Handicap then doing 12 out of 12 this year could be very special indeed.....
nThe February 2023 Handicap will be, as ever, on the first Thursday of the month...the 2nd Feb 2023.
nMeet at the bus-stop warmed up and ready to go at 19.30 or join us up there from 19.00 for some threshold loops as your warmup with the handicap lap as a "fast rep" to finish.
nDespite all the fuss about 12 out of 12 for most folks it's really all about the overall series trophy and everyone still has a chance of winning that - even if you didn't do January you can still win. All welcome we can make up unsuitable handicaps for newbies on the night.