The success of the weekend in my eyes wasn’t any individual’s run but was achieved by the large number of SELOC members who turned out in force to put on our major event in Liverpool, in conjunction with our neighbours from DEE. Thanks to everyone who gave their time, effort and skills to make that happen, especially to Caroline as organiser. There were some problems on the day with gates we’d be promised would be open but weren’t, and with others that were open when we’d been assured they wouldn’t be! But that’s one of the hazards of urban races which doesn’t normally arise in forests – though having just read about problems at the European Youth Champs on the BOF website this weekend, maybe I should revise that view. As usual, SELOC coped with it as best we could, well done all and good to see a few old friends that we’ve missed over recent months.

Out in the beautiful forest and complex dunes of Formby on a gorgeous sunny Saturday we had 14 competitors – too many to list every one of them so I’ll just pick a few highlights. Best placings were Joe Mercer, 2nd on the Black course and top Brit, plus Kath Etherden also 2nd and leading woman on Very Short Green course. Cath Wilson was also top woman but this time on Blue course, 19th overall, with Robert Seddon not very far at all behind her in 24th place and taking a few experienced scalps in the process. Matt Driver just missed a top ten place on Black, and his splits suggest it took him a while to get into the map so might have climbed a bit further if the course had been longer than 11k.

Sunday’s race saw an even stronger turnout of our members fitting in a run alongside their long day of helping. Results won’t be finalised until the controversies mentioned above have been sorted, but provisional results suggested excellent placings for Matt Driver, Rachel Mercer, Cath Wilson (again), Robert Seddon (again), Lucy Seddon and Theo Middleton.