Time: 11.15pm
Location: Home - slowly drifting off to sleep on the sofa.

Beep beep goes the mobile phone; message from Dave H asking me to write the Cross Country report. Oh no - my turn for the race report. Why didn't I do that one I promised about Sydney - sorry Dave! I suddenly get a cold tingle through my body as flash backs of today's race come back to me.

For those that have never done cross country before, this is the part where Dek would like me to write 'you don't know what you're missing' and that 'you should have a go yourself'. Rubbish - you are obviously the intelligent ones in the club and come any quiz night I will be sitting with you guys.

For those that did the race and want to re-live the memory (good or bad), here goes:

Well its over how do I hate Stafford common. With gales and showers forecast it could be even worse than normal. As usual i arrive early with Kevin to errect our tent yes i know i spoil them but they are not a bad bunch maybe a mad bunch.

Everyone arrives early to watch our ladies in their race thats the fun part. With luck they have to run past our tent so we can keep out of the elements while they are running. As the 1st of our ladies comes past some crazy fool starts our lot doing the sort of chant you might hear in a football ground (sorry Laura) then the next one came and a Mexican wave started (sorry Bev) oh what joys. Yes i was starting to enjoy Stafford Common. The girls did us proud well done Laura, Bev, Sam, Lucy, Rachel and Yvonne.

Then oh no its my turn. Stay in the middle and keep to keep warm then bang we're off i'm out of breath before the 1st lot of water. Why am i doing this. Don't think i will try and stay with Kevin. Here we go again Dave and Neil pass me must stay with them but before long their heels are out of sight. Concentrate Derek don't let any more pass at least Mr Blobby won't be running today. Here's Lucy going to get her own back for the Mexican wave serves me right. I can't help worrying if the tent will still be there when i finish i hope the extra guy ropes are working. Oh no Andy passes me he's getting back to form. I manage to hold on I start to feel better and somehow pass Andy before long its over iv'e had the best lap for ages and feel great. I turn to look back at the finishers and see Keith who has passed Andy what a great run he's had. Then he tells me that he was catching up till the last lap good job i speeded up he wouldn't let me forget it if he had beat me. Must get the other 3 laps sorted and give kevin a run for his money (look i can dream) and what do you know the tents still there a little wet but thats why we bring it. Yes its been a good day the camaraderie within the club is the best its been for ages. Kevin even said well done "old Chap" cheeky I don't know where he gets it from.

Derek Loundes "The old chap"

Well done to everyone who took part today: Laura, Bev, Lucy, Sam, Rachel, Yvonne and for the guys Kevin, Steve, Andy, David, Neil, Derek, Arthur, Paul, Keith, Andy, Phil, Rob and Darren. It was a fantastic turn out.

Additional: Apologies for the photos that will be posted in the gallery when they are available. I know for one Im going to look pretty awful as always ;-)

David