The heaviest
of colds has decended on my most ancient of bones.
It might have explained a less than impressive run out
on that wet and windy early Sunday morning. However,
with Dan's legs still heavy from his heroic Rab win, the
scene was set.
A dangerous
surge ahead may have been a dangerous deed, for the
sure-footed Dan would pick the finest of lines and wipe
out any veteran advantage. With John Hoos about to drop
over the clag bound edge, I looked back, aware that the
line 'felt' wrong. With not so much as a shout the
'youngsters' were 'sneaking' off taking the 'recced'
line.
"JOOHHN!!" I
bellowed, and thankfully he caught the shout and turned
back. We dropped in behind Dan and Hodge who spritely
paddled through the scree. Safe and sound efforts were
guarenteed across the Ambleside board. As I decended Red
Screes, I thought about Barnesy looking up at the scene,
elated as Dan and Hodge appeared out of the 'clag' and
equally deflated as the veterans emerged close on their
heels.
Barnesy and
Hugh would be 'Ducks' to be shot at as the 'hunters'
Simon and John D chased the 5 second disadvantage.In any
event, it still drew a good performance out of the
'youngsters' with a sharp finale from the Knott to
Hartsop clawing back over half a minute on their
illustrious elders. Their time will come!
Ashy and
Tony solidly 4th fastest on the leg pushed ahead as big
Stu and James Byrne worked hard to chase on. At
Patterdale the big guns waited. I saw Ben Bardsley
pacing around like a demented cave man ready to commit
murder as the Pudsey boys pushed ahead by 3 minutes.
John Hunt visibly shrunk when I told him who was on our
final leg "its bad enough knowing I've got to chase
(partner and form horse ) Jon Morgan for more than an
hour" but the news of the re-incarnation of Riggers and
Atky was perhaps too much. No Dark Peak cake walk today
I'm afraid. And no Pudsey party either! as the
Borrowdale tide washed over their opponents again, but
only just.
Barely half
a minute separated the Blue and Green old and young
boys, class all round!.
A successful
day for Ambleside AC 5th and 7th but is this just a sign
of what is possible?
