Headbangers Reports
Headbangers 2006
Full Moon Run Report 15th March
The first Headbanger, the Full Moon Run, got the season off to a flying start. This was based from Milford on a hilly but varying route over the Chevin, and criss-crossed parts of the Rugby Rover route, with some woodland paths, fields and tracks, the route was at times muddy after the snow, but that added to the “enjoyment”. The main instruction was to bring a torch, so out of the 12 starters, it was no surprise to get 2 runners without a torch, 1 with no batteries, and 1 with a torch about as useful as a chocolate fire guard! This made for an interesting time in the woods!
The run was done as a social run to keep the group together, and we needed to get back safely for a few ham and cheese sarny’s ably made by Carolyn, before a quick visit to the pub. Unfortunately the moon didn’t show, (but 2 false ones were spotted on the route!) but that didn’t dampen any spirits. The route will be used again for the Full Sun Race, so you will be able to see the course by daylight on July the 26th, this again will be a Wednesday night.
Shining Cliffs Fell Race 16th April 2006
The Shining Cliffs race was held at Ambergate on a pleasant running morning. The course was a two lap event up and down through the woods, overall in the 5 mile event there were 115 finishers, with 8 Striders competing.
First Strider home was the newcomer to fell running Ed Murden in an excellent 7th place in 32.07, followed by Andy brooks and John Thornton. Sandra Butcher followed in by Carolyn Lee won the Ladies race.
Mentions for Sandra for arriving by the skin of her teeth with no money! Shaun for being very “enthusiastic” about fell running, and for Ed who has finally realised what he has been missing by just running on the road. The full results can be found at David’s web site at http://www.runningwithdavid.com/
Roaches Race Report
As the 2006 Headbanger’s drew to a close, the Ladies Championship and Men’s placings were finally decided at the Roaches Fell race. This 15mile, 3700ft event was supported by 10 Striders on the day, with Roger Booth stirring things by coming second to Andy Brooks, with Sean Cooper holding Harry Sloan off for 3rd place, followed in by John Thornton, Sandra Butcher, our first lady, Steve Carter and Carolyn Lee, and with Dean Robinson taking a longer “scenic” route on the last hill letting Dave Nunn slip past him. Dave did mutter something about it being the hardest thing he had done. The race started dry with some 250 runners this year but cloud and rain closed in on the return over the ridge, justifying the “full body cover recommended” by the organisers, the river, as always was cold, and the farmers mud was a little smellier than usual! Sandra got a little too excited about the hot water at the end, and started mooning at the people in the kitchen, whilst Harry went for the flapjack, we retired to the pub for a swift 1/2 or 2 before heading back, Dean also succeeded to lose his car in the carpark, take a wrong shoe and leave his backpack behind, but he did get home safely. All in all a typical Headbanger day!
Headbanger Review
After taking over the series from Andy Brooks, we decided to try a few ideas and made a few changes to the scoring, which we know has been the subject of some debate, and added a night time run. We had some new faces near the front this year, Sean always nagging at Andy’s heels, and making Andy work to the end, and Gayle Gamble steadily improving her times and places, and an early win by Ed Murden, causing some panic in the old school, what happened Ed? Louise Moss ran an intriguing Brooksie bash, succeeding to get lost, retrace her steps and get through the search parties to turn up 1 mile from the finish without a care in the world, her threat to do the Roaches made some heads turn, next year maybe Louise? And we must not forget Sandra Butcher winning the Headbangers for the first time, well done Sandra So to give you something to discuss on the long winter runs-John, we will be tampering with the scoring again, and changing some more of the events included in the championship. The ideas are only in their infancy, but watch this space, needless to say the first Headbanger of 2007 will be the Hollybush New Years Day race at Makeney, we had the first male and female places last year and won 12 pints of beer, its only 2.5 miles, so lets see some more new faces, both in the race and the pub afterwards to help with the beer!
Chris and Carolyn