| Date | Hare | Scribe |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sep 2024 | David | Kevin |
Welcome to The Silks on the Marlborough Downs for the main race of the day at 11:00am. The KVH3 Cross Country Flat Handicap for the over 40’s being 5 miles 4 furlongs and 120 yards for the runners and 3½ miles for the walkers. The weather is set fair with a possibility of some thunderstorms later. The going is good to firm. Here are you runners and walkers for today’s main race (left to right):
- Henry – light blue shirt with braces
- Mike – navy blue shirt with old KVH3 logo
- Karol – lime green 20:20 Fission shirt
- Niki – turquoise track top and white cap
- David – non-runner
- Pete – navy blue t-shirt
- Mrs GOM – black hooded top
- Phil – red shirt with white cap and sunshades
- Jane – pink t-shirt
- Kathy – grey/white print dress with sunshade
- Keith – royal blue t-shirt
- Annie – light blue shirt with pink sweater
- Viv – light blue track top
- Brian – navy blue shirt with light blue trim
- John – yellow/brown shell top
- Simon – orange shirt (supplemented)
- Jeremy – white shirt with light blue trim and white cap
- Maurice – beige shirt with yellow trim
- Rocky – black fur coat
- GOM – black shirt with KVH3 logo
(not visible as was also official photographer)
Simon had to be supplemented to enter the race as he was a late entry and newcomer to KVH3 (welcome Simon).
It’s nearing 11:00am and the runners and walkers are circling around The Silks car park waiting for the off. There is a buzz about the place as to who is going to start as favourite – Brian or Jeremy? It is certain that GOM will be the rank outsider and he starts with the lowest odds of 150/1 to win.
The starter, David, has gathered everyone to the start line and he is making everyone aware of a new mark to look out for (a circle with four dots around) which indicates a coming together of the runners and walkers after the long/short divide. The starter is also reminding everyone that the flour marks are on the right and not on the left. It looks like everyone is ready for the ON! ON! and the starter raises his flag and sets them off. Oh! Hold on a minute! There seems to be a false start – something to do with the first flour marks being some 200 yards away. The starter has rushed ahead and is gesticulating to the runners and walkers and is directing all into Ogbourne St. Andrew. Now everyone is definitely off with John and Brian leading the way at the start, closely followed by the other runners, including Maurice & Rocky and the walkers.
The runners are well ahead sharing the same course as the walkers for the first mile and half having raced through Ogbourne St. Andrew and Ogbourne Maizey and crossing over the Marlborough road then following the railway line towards Chiseldon. Here the long/short divide is giving the runners and walkers the option to head out on the long course towards the Poulton Downs or to stay on the short course along the railway line.
Most of the runners seem to have taken the long course and the walkers the short – except the outsiders Mr & Mrs GOM who have decided to also head up the Poulton Downs. Some two miles up and down the downs the runners rejoin the walkers’ trail having identified the circle with the four dots by a disused railway bridge. The short course is taking everyone back over the Marlborough Road towards Southend (not the Essex seaside town) and back towards the finish line at The Silks Ogbourne St. Andrew. Everyone has finished ahead of Mr and Mrs GOM who are bringing up the rear and finish last. One runner pulled up early after the finish line and left the après early.
There is a stewards’ enquiry at the après with GOM acting as chief steward. The enquiry is looking into whether the race organiser David had put down sufficient flour and if the runners and walkers enjoyed the course? After some deliberation, the places remained unaltered (no idea which runner or walker came in first) and the first prize went to David as recommended by the runners and walkers for a very enjoyable and well laid course!
