Last year's growth in the number of teams taking part continued this year with thirty-six teams entered and thirty-five there on the day, up by six from last year. The weather for once wasn't too cold, to put it mildly, which probably accounted for the slower times overall although the route was longer.

Looking back from three weeks on, my main reaction is how much easier everything seemed to be this year and the reason for that is almost certainly having the teams wear running numbers. As all of you who were present at a changeover noticed - and thanks again to those of you who were noble enough to be there - getting down details of arriving and departing teams was hugely easier when you knew who each person was running for and this in turn led I believe to a more relaxed atmosphere generally.

Anyone who has ever been to the start will probably remember it as a grey overcast dull place, cold and windy. Not this year! Brilliant sunshine and warm even at 7.00 a.m., with for once glorious views in every direction. It really is a very beautiful piece of country (has anyone noticed just what a huge amount of Wild Orchids there are on Ivinghoe Hill?). Parking seemed much more simple with ferocious marshals present (thanks, Cherry & Margie!), and they were needed too, with one visiting team-member being very determined that he was going to park where it best suited him, despite requests to the contrary.

However, the rest of the day seemed to continue with a minimum of alarums and excursions. We did not get it completely right, and probably never will, but it was much better that last year and we should be able to build on that for next year and make it even better.

One thing we could not fix was the heat! Every team was slower than last year and everybody was thirsty, which is probably why Ray sold out of beer at the Finish. Our teams had a cunning plan, hatched by Ted. He decided to call our 'A' Team the 'C' Team and vice versa, with, a touch of genius here, the 'B' team staying as the 'B' team. Tragically, somebody must have talked, because all the other teams were not fooled and beat us anyway. We actually ended up 11th, 27th and 31st (last year 7th, 20th and 27th), but the overall standard, despite the heat slowing people down, was considerably better than previously. Headington A, the winners, were only 5 minutes slower than last year, on a course longer by some 2.6 miles, while everyone else was a lot slower (Swindon 66 minutes for example, Reading 54 minutes and our best team 56). They could present a challenge in the future!

We had a couple of clubs who could not make it; the Gurkhas and HMS Marlborough were both otherwise engaged on active service, Amesbury ran out of runners generally (not just women this year) and Quantel and National Power had a lot of trouble finding people who could turn out. Against that we had a couple of new clubs, Great Western, who should actually have had two teams but who had five people injured in the week before the run, and Kennet Valley Hash House Harriers, who apparently enjoyed it very much but did complain that we didn't supply enough beer en route. Then there were the ladies teams. As everyone said last year that they were very enthusiastic about the idea, I had hoped that we might get a ladies team, or even two, but it was not to be, despite some sterling efforts from Jane and Sharman. A couple of clubs did get ladies' teams out, and all the more credit to them. Come on you girls, if Inkpen can do it......................

A special mention is also due to Reading Vets, all over 60, average age about 64 with at least one man over 70. It is comforting to those amongst us fast approaching that level to know that we may be able to get an invitation to join them in the future, if we are good enough, that is!

All in all then, there seems to be no reason why, with proper help, marshals, etc on the day we cannot continue the event next year with perhaps even more teams present. There does need to be more help along the way for the organiser, though, during the rest of the year, so please form an orderly queue and stand in line to offer your services, because I can't do it all alone.

Many people deserve huge thanks. First and foremost to everybody who ran and marshalled; without them it wouldn't be worth doing in the first place. Then to everyone who came along to cheer and support on the day; they were very much appreciated on what was a fairly testing event this year. Keith (with a great assist from Alan) deserves a special vote of thanks for making the results an incidental rather than the major exercise and headache it has been previously, Graham and Dave who gave a brilliant presentation afterwards, Ray for providing the bar and Margie for letting me out to play.

Next year it's probably on Sunday June 17th. Come along and take part!

Nick J.