We had 22 runners out contesting the September handicap including 2 event newbies in Chris Yoxon and Helen Jones plus Paul Horler making his first appearance of the year. On the last of the light nights there was lots of hi-viz clothing in evidence as runners sought to post a good time before the dark months are upon us. Exactly half the field beat their handicaps and we had 11 runners in the blanket finish either side of par.
Our winner was Paul Oxley, our defending champion from last year and again riding high and in form as this year’s handicap series approaches the sharp end. In a close finish Paul and a fast finishing Christian Brookes caught and passed Gill Goodwin in the final straight whilst Gill herself sprinted hard to keep third ahead of Matt Grote in full afterburner mode. A real cocktail of rabbits and hares; Handicap racing at it’s best.
Fastest on the night was Pete Sansome (6’17) with Matt Grote (6’37) and Christian Brookes (6’46, #75 on the honours board) the other sub-7 notables. Our fastest female was Helen Jones (7’36 on debut and straight onto the ladies board at #25), Liz Marshall (7’57) was our other sub-8 notable.
In the overall standings whilst it remains open and anyone of a few could still win our coveted trophy the cream is rising…..John Mills (2022 winner) now leads from Paul Oxley (2023 winner) with Ric Pike, James Bailey and Matt Grote in close attendance.
In the perseverance stakes the attrition continues and we are now down to only 3 athletes in the whole world who are still in with a chance of achieving the fabled 12 out of 12.
New to this and wondering what it is all about? A monthly handicap race (on the first Thursday of the month) around an urban 1.14-mile loop in the Harestock area of Winchester. In handicap racing, the starts are staggered according to handicap, and the faster runners thus chase the slower runners to the finish…..the fastest in the club and the slowest in the club can literally be racing side by side at the finish line. It’s a bit of fun that fits perfectly as a race effort rep to round off a threshold session or as a pickup interval in a block of tempo work. All are welcome, and all running speeds can be catered for. More info here: Harestock Handicap