Page 32 - BBHAC Winter 2015-16 Gazette
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Continued
so this year she didn’t run in this was a sign of things many of the ‘kids’ can do
London and concentrated her to come? Well she replied, them. That in itself is more
efforts on the cross country potentially……. than just mere prescience.
and duly experienced an Hopefully with more younger
improvement. If the Cup has been in the runners coming through the
past the preserve of the club might be able to arrest
Of course she still has a seasoned male veteran the decline in mob match
lot in her favour having no runner, usually middle aged participation and lack of
parental responsibilities or and ‘sporty’ in pedigree, noticeable upcoming talent,
being encumbered by family then it’s about time that the and be able to field a larger
commitments…. “I can get barriers were broken and contingent of runners at these
to run races….. I do them other categories were given events.
and sometimes am the only the chance to show what they
female there…” But she can do, particularly the young She acknowledged the fact
accepts that it is hard for athletes coming through. that we have struggled to
other ladies to compete due She hopes that the kind of get decent turnouts at key
to their other commitments. courses which the nine races cross country matches, and
That is why being the first are run over ought to become that switching home fixtures
lady to win the Bennett Cup more attractive to young (pre- from Saturday afternoons
is such an achievement. adult) runners and expressed to Sunday mornings has
In doing so I asked her if her pleasant surprise to how not seemed to make much
difference. Sometimes though
it is whether the appeal of
running over rough country
and in different degrees of
mud would be an incentive
for the youth of the club to
take to the country. In the
end it is probably more of an
acquired taste which comes
with maturity.
On the subject of running
conditions underfoot she
admits to being something
of a purist. “I like the hillier
courses and prefer it when
they are wetter too”. She
feels less happy with firm
ground especially the kind of
rutted surfaces which when
uneven are most likely to
cause ambitious competitors
to sustain a twisted ankle.
