Chingford League Relays, Wanstead Flats: A Great End to a Great Season!

Saturday 7th March saw the final Chingford League race of the season and fittingly there was plenty of mud on the course!

I’m delighted to say both our men and women consolidated their position in Division One which is a huge achievement given how competitive the Division is and we can be very proud of this which is testament to the team spirit and enthusiasm for club racing which we have at our Club. Everyone who competed, helped with transport, assisted with numbers, baked cakes, took photos or marshalled has contributed to this success. Well done all!

Our turnout has been consistently good throughout the season and the envy of most of the other clubs. Eighty-six Stags have competed; (49 men and 37 women) and a record nineteen (Anneli, Des, David, Ann, Richard, Pear, Matt, Charlotte G, Jana, Andy R, Kirsty, Bev, Jenny, Piji, Chun, Laura, Linda, Shayna  and Yllka) competed in the first six races earning the sought after ‘ever presents’ mug in the process. All ever presents deserve high praise of course, but we were all especially impressed with Bev, Jenny and Piji who I am sure will admit they did not find it easy, but they stuck at it and thoroughly deserve their reward. We look forward to seeing their return to the mountains of Epping Forest next year!

In the Individual Points Competition Richard was presented with his trophy for being the best M60 by far for the 3rd year in a row. Simply magnificent!

As for the Relays themselves they consisted of teams of four each running two miles on a multi-terrain course. Each leg was a flat loop round Wanstead Flats on trails in fields and woods, muddy and slippery in places as Costa and Kathy will attest; both falling in the first 400m. Needless to say they picked themselves up and ran great legs.

Injuries and race commitments impacted our teams this year, but it was noticeable that the first 4 women and the first 4 men in the Winter Points Trophy competition all competed including the winners Alex and Yllka and they were all great. As ever the battle between the women’s B team and the Men’s C team was fierce, and the men edged it by 22 seconds! All our teams gave it their all and Mark G, Charlotte C, Dave B and Laura were particularly impressive.

It was great to see so many of our competitors enjoying the occasion; Michelle ‘loved every step’ and is clearly developing a passion for mud while Lynne who ran the dreaded 4th leg of the women’s C teams so well thought the race was ‘lovely’. Three Stags; Gary, Tim and Erica made their debuts in this season’s Chingford League and they were great.

It was another great day of racing and once again special thanks are due to our helpers on the day; Julian who spent the whole day marshalling while Di and Pauline helped with numbers and child minding duties.