Cornbury Cross Country Report by Steve Garton
As a recently-joined ERR member with very few race entries ever, arriving at Cornbury for the first round of the Oxon Cross-Country League was an overwhelming experience indeed.
As one who generally views running as a solitary pursuit, and for whom most races are either fun runs or ‘niche, small-field’ events, arriving to see (apparently) over 800 runners and their entourages, complete with club tents, billowing banners, a huge car park and some serious warming up happening, I felt distinctly intimidated. Friendly Eynsham faces settled the nerves however, and before long we were legging it down the first not-too-muddy hill, the senior Men’s race having followed on from various age categories and preceding the senior Women by half an hour (with me thinking that it would just be good to try and avoid being caught by too many speedy women!).
It went by in a blur of sticky woodland trail and a couple of slightly longer-than-you’d-like hills. All great fun, and even better to finish. Many thanks to Tom B for organisation and such encouragement out on the course, to Richard H for being the perfect hare that I never quite caught, and to everyone else for making it a great introduction to the world of cross country. Cheering on the women up that rather brutal final incline was much more enjoyable than running it (well done in particular to Liz McA for winning her category). I also got to catch up with a couple of school colleagues (one who’d just finished second in V60, but then he was Head of PE for decades (!), the other, the proud father of the U20 who won the Women’s Senior race with apparent ease, over 2 mins ahead of the field…). So with four rounds to go, I’m not sure my legs are really looking forward to the rest but I’m intrigued to see what the remaining races have to offer. Thanks for the wine, all the more incentive for further racing!
