Saturday race was the fourth in the club’s Hastings’ Financial Services sponsored 2023/24 Handicap Series. In total 15 runners, discounting those club members who earlier in the morning suddenly remembered that they had something better to do on such a fine, Irish, Spring morning, lined up for the start of the 5-mile race, which started and finished close to the front of Dixon Hall and was run over trails and tarmac, paths and public roads.
Even with a relatively small field, more than twelve minutes still separated Michele, the first runner to start, and Dale, the last to be given the off but, as is always the case with the handicaps, once all the runners had left the metaphorical starting blocks no-one waiting in the Dixon Hall for them to return had any clue who was doing what, where or when, which explains why this report skips over the huffing and puffing parts of the race and goes straight to the finish.
Heading back to the finish line to resume their timekeeping duties, the poor sods with the watches and results pages were just in time to take advantage of the health-giving benefits of yet another spattering of the soft, Irish rain that the green hills of Antrim are famous the world over for. Spirits were far from dampened however, and shortly after they took up their positions they witnessed Jose making his way towards the finish line in splendid isolation. ‘But’, I hear you say, ‘how come the results show him finishing in twelfth place?’. Don’t worry, all will be revealed below!
Jose was followed home (not literally) by Beverly, the actual winner of the handicap, in the corrected time of 40:48. I could be wrong, but this may well be Beverley’s first success in a club handicap so double congratulations to her. Second and third places were respectively filled by Thomas Craig and Alan Lockington in the corrected times of 34:54 and 37:47, Thomas’s time was the fastest of the day by more than a minute and a half, which suggests that even after his recent training setbacks he is still is good shape for his forthcoming run in the Belfast Marathon.
The second and third fastest times of the day (36:28 and 36:51) were set by Granda Thompson and Dale respectively. Maybe now the ‘oul’ boy will stop telling us that he’s not ready or fit enough to race! The fastest time of the day by a lady (39:17) was set by Juliane, who crossed the line in eighth place in the handicap.
Full details of all the results are set out in the table below, but let us first return to why Jose is shown as finishing in twelfth place – in other words, the ‘Story of Jose and Jackie.’ To a native of Spain, Jackie’s English is probably much like Jackie’s Spanish so when he was explaining the route to Jose pre-race, the bit about waiting for the starters to give him the go-ahead to set off somehow got lost in translation. Perhaps Jackie should have asked Rhonda to translate for him given her recent experience of practising her Spanish via the tried and tested method of ordering in various café, bars and restaurants while on holiday in Torremolinos. Ultimately Jose graciously forgave him and no harm was done.
This morning’s race marked the halfway point in the handicap series and it’s worth taking stock of the current position. So far, five members have run in all four races, with seven having competed in three races, fourteen in two races and twelve in one race, which means that everybody who has so far competed in a handicap could still claim the prize for the overall winner of the handicap series. Of those who have
completed four races the lowest scorers, and technically jointly leading the series are Diane and Dale.
Thanks to all the runners and supporters who turned out for the race, especially to Jackie and Rhonda for help with the timing; to Sharon, Rhonda and Ian for marshalling in such miserable condition; to Diane for organising the prizes; and to Eddie for the much appreciated tea, coffee and refreshments. Finally, it was good to see Michelle (McIntosh) out and about again, proof that she’s well on the mend. Also, welcome back to handicaps to Alan and to the handicaps and the club to Dom. Finally, finally, hopefully Laura (Smith’s) injury turns out to be not too serious or too painful and with any luck we’ll see her back at the club again before too long.
| Race Place | Name | H’cap | Race Time | Corrected Time |
| 1 | Beverley Gaston | 05:25 | 46:13 | 40:48 |
| 2 | Thomas Craig | 11:46 | 46:40 | 34:54 |
| 3 | Alan Lockington | 09:05 | 46:52 | 37:47 |
| 4 | Billy Thompson | 11:18 | 47:46 | 36:28 |
| 5 | Dom Dorris | 08:55 | 47:59 | 39:04 |
| 6 | Colin McVicker | 10:15 | 48:18 | 38:03 |
| 7 | Laura Brennan | 02:43 | 48:27 | 45:44 |
| 8 | Juliane Keane | 09:15 | 48:32 | 39:17 |
| 9 | Michelle Woods | 00:00 | 48:45 | 48:45 |
| 10 | Dale Smith | 12:25 | 49:16 | 36:51 |
| 11 | Paul Tilson | 10:55 | 49:20 | 38:25 |
| 12 | Jose Leal | 11:46 | 50:43 | 38:57 |
| 13 | Emmett Woods | 10:25 | 50:46 | 40:21 |
| 14 | Diane Hawthorne | 01:40 | 52:06 | 50:26 |
| DNF | Laura Smith | Retired Injured | ||