Winter Wobbler No 3 - Coleford

A bright, sunny and chilly Sunday morning brought out over 30 of our club runners after an excellent presentation evening the night before (bad planning Mike) for our third Winter Wobbler. After another scenic and nail biting ride (care of Tessa!!) we got to the venue, to find a few more people who to my delight looked worse than I did. Mike was on hand dishing out the maps very detailed and professionally produced, with an enlarged diagram of the Vobster Inn (was that for my benefit Mike) mind you I could have done with a top up by then. Everyone studied the map! worked out there time, told Lin, then it was off to the start. A little bit of confusion here, fish shop or surgery!! (nothing to do with Duncan or was it?) by the finish we certainly didn't need the fish shop. After the usual photo call, we were off, down the road a short way, through the style onto the first of many fields, slippery slopes, woods, hills and tracks etc, this course had everything my sort of course and (Lin's, not!). The run across the first few fields sounded like a bunch of kids on a school outing, and I was chuffed, as I nearly got in the lead, due to my off road shoes, well I got passed Peter and Miriam with Frank, Paul and Nigel only metres in front, but that didn't last long. I started to fade halfway (nothing to do with the night before!!) as Bob and Tessa started to close in, I managed to hold off Tessa, but Bob was to strong and had inside information about the route, didn't need a map. Des's lot had a social run, well I think Adrian was suffering badly, due to the fact he fell over 3 times, it was good to see Tracey out running again well done! I think only one group got lost as Duncan remarked! At one stage he had no one in sight for ½ a mile or so, Doreen had a lucky escape I thought we were going to need the fire brigade to pull her out of the mud, (it would have been easier if she stopped laughing). Sheila and Ger nearly got lost, but then they heard that wonderful voice in the distance (I don't know who that could be!!) Thanks Mike for the little sting in the tale up to the finish everyone loved that, especially Andy and Joe.

The trophies were bought with no expense spared! a bottle of plonk and chocolates. In first place: Bob Pearce 22sec inside (what did I say about Bob earlier) second: Miriam Freemantle 44sec outside, third: Tessa Alton 1.16 outside, fourth: Frank Gould 1.58 outside, fifth: Nigel Stone 2.14 outside and sixth: Paul Newman 2.16 outside.

Well done to everyone who took part, especially after the night before for most of us and a big thank you to Mike for organising a great course and Lin, Andy and Joe for officiating.

Hope to see you all again at the next one at the Miners Arms Farrington Gurney 1100 - 1115hrs date to be confirmed organiser Wooster!!

See you there! "KEEP ON WOBBLING", Chris Fiddes