Ashton Court Parkrun – Saturday 8th September 2012

Those of you familiar with the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle should be able to imagine the scene. It is an autumnal dawn. There is a low lying mist swirling around. All is silent until out of the murky landscape, there is a bloodcurdling howling, echoing across Ashton Court Estate…………….. Yes folks, the dogs are back.

This morning’s briefings were carried out to the sound of the baying “drag” hounds. Voices from the back asked Geoff and Co to speak up above the din. Then the fun began as parkrunners took evading action from excitable mutts as they charged back from the half way mark. After the run, one lady was overheard congratulating Tracy Allan on her performance of finishing as the third lady, but adding that the feat was especially commendable as she was the first of those who were running unassisted. (I.e. two legs instead of ten).

Seventeen runners represented Bristol and West AC and there were seventeen PBs, two by considerable margins, Steven Emery and Paul Noyce by 46 seconds and 23 seconds respectively. However, the Performance of the Week goes to Pete Mountain who went round in a PB of 19:10 and also attained an age grading of over 80.17%. He is only the ninth runner to achieve an age grading of over 80% at Ashton Court and the first from Bristol and West.

Helen Brookes, Jacob Butterly and Paul Burgess volunteered this week. Carron Downer was one of the photographers.

Finally apologies are due to Alex Leitch. He was unfortunately chopped of the bottom of the report last week, when he volunteered as the tail runner. Not only that, last week was his 50^th parkrun so he qualifies for a red tee shirt. So congratulations are due on that achievement[r3] .

 Roger Brocklesby Reports