While some LBAC members were enjoying the warmer climate of Lanzarote I was competing for England in the annual British & Irish Masters Cross Country International. Running as a Master this is the only race where you have to be selected – a process of various races throughout the year in Masters National competitions.

This year the event was hosted by SVAC at Bellahouston Park Glasgow where the 1978 World Cross Country Championships took place. My coach Tony Simmons was 4^th on that day and he warned me how muddy it could be – he wasn’t wrong.

Not only had it rained heavily for weeks before the race but we took a battering from gale force winds which even blew portable toilets over. The course’s very steep descents became treacherous leading to a number of fallers. Luckily I wasn’t one of them!

In such a high standard race I was really happy with my run despite the conditions leading home the English W55 team to a Gold medal and a Silver individual medal is a great honour.