Wrekin Fell Race 2003

The weather was fine for the 26th annual wrekin fell race & this year the junior Ercall races were focus of attention as they were included in the English Championships so competition was of good standard.

As for the main race there was a good entry with good representation from the U18 & U20 catagories indeed the first 5 finishers were all juniors!

I ran a steady start sneaking in just behind John Sanders knowing his fitness hadn't deserted him from the knee operation. As we started the first real testing climb up through Ercall woods John joined the leading bunch leaving me to eat his dust, good luck I thought to myself I'll be
having you later when he blows up!

John soon disappeared into the distance as we decended off the Ercall & I saw him next as I started the climb up the scree towards halfway house,
from then on he just pulled steadily away.
The rest as they say is history, even the leading Lady coming past me
decending the scree slope wasn't enough to spur me to greater things & I settled for my comfortable position behind her yet infront of out of form Roger Lamb (the winter series overall champion, yet to be crowned for
2002/3 season).

John finished in a fine 13th overall & 5th SM, whilst I came in 19th overall & 4th MV40.
Other finishers were Andrew Davies 41st overall & 3rd MV50 with Alison Lewis 62nd overall & claiming 1st Vet Lady.

Andy Smith (TAC)