So after three days, Richard was battling for the first V65 award, Chris was trying to get into the top 20 and Andy hoping to hold on to the top spot.

Race 4 of the series saw everyone take to the country with year's cross-country taking place in Potterspury on the North side of MK. The course consisted of two small laps to start then a couple of large laps. Five stream crossings and two stiles to contend with over the 5.4 miles made it a challenge for all concerned with legs starting to tire as the second half of the week started.

At the front end of the field, Andy went off with Matt Clarke, who was his nearest rival and they worked together over the small laps and half the large one to pull out a healthy lead on all the other runners, but as they left the woods on the first of the large laps, Matt decided that was his time to kick and he immediately pulled away up the hill, with Andy having no answer. The rest of the race was a case of hanging on, which was enough to retain second place overall but the 50 second victory for Matt gave him a solid lead with two races left. Neither Chris nor Richard had their best runs either, with finishes of 22^nd and 51^st leaving them in 20^th and 45^th overall respectively.

The fifth race of the series this year was the Campbell Park "5" (It's actually 4.5) and it is roundly detested by almost everyone as the start is very fast down a steep hill and the second half of each of the two laps consists of a long drag back up. With Richard unable to attend due to a meeting, he had already completed the course (with Amy as a pace maker) on Wednesday before the mile. His 35.47 for the distance gave him a comforable 10 minute lead over his nearest rival for the age group trophy and a night of to recover!

Chris produced his best run to date by finishing in 15^th place in 28.23 and taking the scalp of Chris Mahon. That moved him up into 19th position overall and with a target of 18^th now in mind. For Andy it was the same story as the cross-country, with Matt joining him to break away from the field in the first half before the MK runner made a decisive break just after half way that Andy couldn't answer. With one race left Andy was now a minute behind Matt, but 90 seconds in front of third place.

The last day of the tour took everyone to the traditional finish location of Woughton playing fields for the Willen "10K" (It's about 6.4) and all the gates and cattle grids that it entails. Richard was comfortable in his age group, but was having a private battle with Eddie Hill and so needed to beat him on the day to be assured of not losing any places. As it was, they finished just twelve seconds apart with Richard the victor and he completed in 51.54 to take 43^rd place and the 1^st V65 with a total time of 3.33.38 for the 25 miles.

Following on from his excellent run the previous day, and with legs aching after six days of racing, Chris once again had a strong finish to come home in 16^th place in 42.51 and move up to 18^th in the overall standings with a total time 2.54.24. For Andy, it was a case of deja vu as he went out with Matt and Steve Herring, but his attemp to break Matt at 2 miles, went unnoticed and the reverse happened at 3! With any hope of overall victory gone, just holding on to second was the challenge and but he just about managed to cross the finish line in 37.37 and a total time of 2.32.31, 1.27 behind the deserved overall winner.