| The bad weather and a gap in the racing calendar meant it has been three weeks since the last event. For this reason the 25 starters by the town clock in Steyning High Street were pleased to get back to their sport. They were not deterred by the extra distance from 7 to almost 10 miles, the hills and, for some, the complicated journey to this pleasant town. The conditions were ideal – cool but not too cold with no wind – and good times were recorded by the majority with Surrey Walking Club well to the fore in first and second places. Mark Easton, turning out for his longest race for many months, intended this as a warm up for the imminent 10 miles Club championship was still able to hold off his younger clubmate, Stephen Crane, by about a minute although the latter recorded an excellent time. A second half surge from Shaun Lightman gained only a couple of places but stretched the gap back to Peter Hannell from a few seconds at 5km to over 6 minutes by the end although the latter’s time was a considerable improvement on last year. With some of the Clubs slower walkers missing Peter Crane was our last man home although in a reasonable time. Although the course is mainly up on the way out and back down the return journey still includes a testing climb and the tiring walkers tended to close up and places change as fitness told. The finish back up through the village, as always, brought welcome cries of encouragement from the supporters as well as passing shoppers. |