Harestock Handicap - June 2023
Once again perfect conditions allowing around 2/3 of the field to meet or beat their handicaps and our winner, Steve Goodwin, shaming the handicapper by coming in a whole minute ahead of his. Despite the hectic race schedule and the school mid-term we had 14 runners taking part including Will Hadley making his first appearance of the year and a very welcome event newbie, Jonny Herron.
nOur winner on the night was the whippet thin Steve Goodwin (7'59 net) a whole minute under handicap and already looking absurdly fresh at the finish while the others still battled to the line. Steve is supposedly not yet allowed full effort running but Gill wasn't there so I guess what she doesn't know....
nJohn Reed was making a welcome return to the handicap after injury and smoothly picked up the burden of being the high handicapper on the night to cruise round passing all but one to finish 2nd (6'18 net). Bracken Dawson was 3rd similarly burdened by a high handicap (cruelly imposed after his impressive warmup pace) but had no bother in finishing 3rd (6'29 net).
nFastest on the night was the aforementioned John Reed (6'18, new PB) and our fastest lady was again Lynn McKeague (8'23). Kudos here for Paul Horler (6'52) and Will Hadley (6'56) who also recorded PB's and got their names onto the Honours Board.
nAs regards the overall standings we're halfway through the season and it is still wide open because the scoring system keeps it that way....even if you haven't yet run a handicap in 2023 you could still get involved and be the overall winner. That said it's worth mentioning that Paul Oxley still sits top of the pile with Steve Oliver, Lynn McKeague, Ian Parker and Stephen Lowy in close attendance.
nMore importantly with a few regulars missing (something to do with the school holidays) we're now down to only 6 people in the whole world who still have a chance of winning a coveted "12 out of 12" medal in 2023.
nSpecial mention now for James Day, maintaining his 12/12 streak but taking it easy tonight ahead of his 100mile South Downs Way Ultra on the weekend of 10/11 June. Good luck James!
nThe July Handicap will be, as ever, on the first Thursday of the month...the 6th of July.
nMeet at the bus-stop warmed up and ready to go at 19.30 (the run/handicap/run combo) 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 (the thresh/handicap combo).
