The start headed North on the private roads in the camp, so at least the battle against the wind commenced when you were not fatigued. I was amongst many runners who also wisely decided that running in a sheltered pack was a distinctly good idea. The sometimes muddy off road conditions from an earlier sharp shower did not help matters on Ermine Street, and it was also the hilliest section of the course, making it a very tough start. So few will have noticed an historical nearby landmark at Temple Bruer. which is one of a handful of surviving Knights Templar churches dating from the Crusades, now lurking in the middle of a farm. When you got back onto the tarmac road west towards Wellingore it felt much easier, and the race was a comparative doddle from then on being mainly just undulating from this point. At the turn back south close to halfway, a sail would have come in handy to blow you back, and you felt like you were running on air, if you had any energy left. The last part of the course retraced the route back into the college, finishing in style after one lap of the RAF running track. A T shirt was a welcome souvenir as it was still very cold.

Congratulations to Will Strangeway, finishing second overall in 1:18:57 - very well done. A mere 10 minutes back was Simon Covell in 29th place with 1:28:04, not feeling any ill effects from a good performance last week at Stamford's 30k. Close behind in 35th was the veteran Steve Campion with 1:29:10, again quite fast for him. These efforts were sufficient for LWAC to claim another 2nd place, this time in the male team placings, pipping Redhill RR by just one point. Well done guys, it was worth it.

Just showing what he can do when he pulls his finger out, Brian Fox recorded an excellent time of 1:32:14 and a top 50 placing. Unable to catch him was Anthony Gerundini in 53rd place and 1:32:58, although starting a minute late and running with a cold did not exactly help. A moral victory was claimed based on a 'virtual chip' time. Anthony should have known better than to run whilst unwell and has since had to take 2 weeks out to recover from a chest infection.

The first Lincoln lady home was Jo Campion with another consistent time of time of 1:42:09 and 135th place, just holding off Patricia Penistan in 141st place with an even more impressive time of 1:42:46, especially in these conditions. This pair may have some good battles to come over the season, although both ladies need to improve on their sprint finishes, narrowly missing out to their closest rivals at the line, despite much encouragement. Elaine Spedding just missed out on a sub 2hr finish by 11 seconds in 281st place. But her efforts were rewarded as the LWAC ladies clearly won the team placings outright by 108 points.

Jim Diamond was paced by his son Richard, 178th place and 1:45:57. One day, we will see Richard post a top 10 time in anger. Even with this assistance, they still could not catch Dave Strangeway, 171st with 1:45:13. Running with the ladies as usual was Brian Simmonite just 1 place and 2 seconds behind Elaine in 2:00:13, belatedly starting his FLM training the hard way. But watch this space as his performances should drastically improve as the pounds fall off and the miles kick in. Christine Jones posted 2:00:44 and 288th place, just pipping Shirley Devlin in 292nd and 2:01:07. Jane Ramsden came home in 328th place, with 2:09:26, then Alison Dale with 2:10:08, 331st. Stalwart Pat Kimpton was 358th with 2:16:22, followed home by Ann Storr in 2:17:41. Tracey Carnall ran consistently to finish 369th in 2:23:10.

Someone has to finish near the back, otherwise we would all be winners, but well done to Helen Simmonite for keeping going despite injury and being forced to walk the last couple of miles to claim a hard earned 387th place with 2:39:12, and beat 5 other club runners too (even if the youngest was 56!). Not so lucky was Anne Gilroy, who was unfortunate but wise enough to retire midway through the race, and was then turning blue with cold waiting at the finish. Lets hope she sorts out the injury bugs for the rest of the season.

LWAC Placings:-

2	William Stangeway	M17	1:18:57
29	Simon Covell	M33	1:28:04
35	Steve Campion	M41	1:29:10
48	Brian Fox	M42	1:32:14
53	Anthony Gerundini	M35	1:32:58
136	Jo Campion	F38	1:42:09
141	Patricia Penistan	F40	1:42:46
171	David Strangeway	M47	1:45:13
178	Jim Diamond	M57	1:45:57
179	Richard Diamond	M23	1:45:57
281	Elaine Spedding	F43	2:00:11
282	Brian Simmonite	M50	2:00:13
288	Christine Jones	F46	2:00:44
292	Shirley Devlin	F43	2:01:07
328	Jane Ramsden	F44	2:09:26
331	Alison Dale	F42	2:10:08
358	Pat Kimpton	F43	2:16:22
359	Ann Storr	F48	2:17:41
369	Tracy Carnall	F26	2:23:10
387	Helen Simmonite	F23	2:39:12