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Black Cap Handicap
Friday 19th June 2015
Our club Blackcap Handicap is an annual event undertaken in the spirit of competitive fun. The course totals five miles of downland ridge from the east side of Ditchling Beacon east to Blackcap, around the trig point and back. The runners are set off at handicapped intervals from 19:00 hours based on their estimated time and the estimated time of the handicapper (whose decision is final!). The idea is for all runners to race to the finish line together. The club awards are for the first paid-up Phoenix member across the line and fastest Phoenix male and Phoenix female overall.
The best weather we’ve ever had saw a field of 29 runners and five volunteers gather on the Downs. (A good turnout by the flies too, many of whom were stuck to the runners by the end of the evening!) We were pleased to have five family and friends join us for the fun of it. Our time keepers (without whom this event cannot take place) Sue Hudson and Erica Martin did a great job setting our runners off in the handicap order and recording them back in. Kathryn Harnett cycled out to the trig point to make sure everyone passed around it properly and Jon Wright was photographer for the night. Liz Halliday struggled with the base 60 maths against a babble of excited chat to announce provisional results to which there must be a slight correction.
The first runner home was former member Jake Elliott who also recorded the fastest time on the night of 30:26 but as a non-member Jake doesn’t count in the trophies but due recognition must be given for a good run from someone that’s away at uni and “not doing much running at the moment”!!! So his dad, a fully paid up member and regular coach at the track, Daren Elliott is the handicap winner this year. I think Daren has got the better of the handicapper once before.
Our club fastest man was announced as Donald McClellan on the night and so he is but the correction is that there were in fact joint fastest men because both Donald and Tobias Bremer recorded 30:38. Tobias I’m sorry I denied you that moment of glory on the night but the hug you got from Donald must have made up for it!
Our club fastest female was without doubt Lizzy Miles in 35:36 having set a blistering pace from the outset that had some of the men on the start line behind her raising an eyebrow and muttering a bit.
After all that excitement many of us descended the steeper side to the White Horse in Ditchling to enjoy some refreshment and good company. Thanks to all who turned out and engaged in the true fun spirit, it was a good night. The trophies will be awarded at our club awards evening later in the year.
