Damon said...

Deary me! What does a chap have to do to beat Brian Marshall?! Pulled a decent gap on the first climb, held it on the first descent, increaased it on the second climb and had an uncharacteristically speedy descent all the way off the hill and onto the road to hold him off until 300m from the end, when he came chuffing past on Melrose High Street. Hit the rugby field for the final 200m and my legs and joie de vivre gave up simultaneously, both rattled to extinction by the long, long fast descent.

Great little run, and Melrose is a grand wee town.

I ran for Gala, as at the time I registered there were no other Westies in evidence. I thought I'd left it pretty late, but Hamilton turned up two minutes before the start and had to tag on the back of the field as it started the climb through Melrose.

Chivalry award for the day to Drew, who pointed out to the organisers that they'd failed to notice the HBT ladies presence when totting up team prizes, thus depriving wor lasses of a bottle of wine!

Chevy Chase next weekend, if anyone's interested.

Sunday 25th June 2006 10.33am

Hamilton said...

As Drew says a Gala, Fair, cement lorry taking up the whole road, and the 40 m.p.h.ers in the 60 zone,can severely impede normal progress,or anywhere near it.So you just have to submit to it ("get there,but get theresafely"). Submit to it,if not entirely supine at the steering wheel. Arrived at last abandoned the car,threw money at one lady who ran to try to delay the start,another lady ranin to the clubhouse for a number-clutched in hand. So accomodating. No good - they were off & racing. That'so.k. they shout, go on. It's all a blur from there on,my sight being immeasurably impaired by the luminous green socks in my field of vision.A local lad,obviously,being given a hard time for wearing such ostentatious clothing by the Marshalls at one stage, I agreed loudly that it was o.k. for them, I was forced to look at them. Just had to get in front. The finishing lap-the longest lap any of us could remember.The scene of merciless barracking of any runner,"He's on your shoulder now", "Come on, he's catching you". Nobody anywhere near. Well done to all runners. Our Damon had a monumental race, & ,as above is rightly gutted. You'll get him next time. After being refreshed in the clubhouse with fine hospitality, Rosie,Hilary & I went to the Kings Arms for atasty meal and should you be in the vicinity try the Abbot, Tetley's, IPA, ... Thank you again to the organisers for a great race. As it goes, the delays were not over yet. That sinking feeling as you return to the car after paying for yourpetrol to hear air hissing inexorably from a tyre. Space-saver tyre on for the second time this week made the journey home very,very,very slow. "Hey ho, at least the music was sublime.

Sunday 25th June 2006 8.01pm

Nige said...

Blimey Damon

What's got into your legs ? - still it doesn't feel so bad that you beat me at KPs now. As far as the boys go it seems to be turning into a Damon/Manny kind of year.

Wednesday 28th June 2006 12.06pm

Damon said...

What's got into my legs? A few miles seems to have worked wonders, although once I got my nose in front at the Eildons, they were fuelled almost entirely by fear...

Manny who? Bring him on, the fat dipso!

Thursday 29th June 2006 10.17am