Thursday, March 1, 2012

MOISTURE MEANS 'LIFE ON MARS'

Moisture indeed. In fact a sort of constant damp, clinging, slippery, soaking wet type of moisture - again! Sadly, yet another rainy Summer Series event to bespatter the white running sox and fog the glasses. BUT, there is no denying the collective enthusiasm on the night, as scores of Sydney Summer Series scientists took to the Buffalo chase and did indeed report back there was life on (the Field of) Mars. Si kind of life, you know the sort that goes beep in the night and sends out a little red signal to a galaxy far away.

And looking at the chief collector of 'beeps', Ross 'Dr Who' Duker's screen, it seems there were 125-130 nags doing a Tim Winton at last night's damp outing at Buffalo Creek. No matter what the weather, it seems the squelch of Volley on pavement, the cling of the Kathmandu, the fog of the Christine Cragie's, and the struggle to change in the cars front seat, are all just too alluring to ignore. Bugger it mum, I'm going running was the cry.

So another wet one, but what a good one. The 'Lassoo' and the 'Garage' have been responsible for some of our most memorable SSS outings (including a biggie hereabouts a couple os seasons ago), and confirmed their reputation again last night with a cracker at the Field of Dreams - and the new start area. How would the spread work from Westminster? Would Karin go for the sugar bowl? Would she work the bus depot? Would the delights of board walk running again feature? Could we expect some fun in the cemetery? Would mangrove splodge in shoe render the Nike's a bit sniffy? And, given the rain, would the splash-O-metre replace the puff-O-metre?

Let's have a loop at what transpired.

The new venue had just enough shelter for the Garingal shop to be well deployed, and the Doctor to have room to screen. String twirlers had to huddle up, or resort to the dunney, to get room to manouver their custom inscribed 7klms twine out of the rain. Many stood and stared - hoping. But no, the Banjo bought the course but not the sun, no matter how long you delayed. And too much mulling, bought no warm wine, only dimness in the bush as the late starters strained against that compelling combination of fading light and confusing track junction.

Looking at the beautiful full colour A4 landscape presentation entitled 'Buffalo Creek', one saw the Sugarloaf in play, the FOM bush in play, and some interesting street work on the way to these two. No Boronia Park this time, and no Pidding either. That took out the bus depot flog, and made for a compact aesthetic. Not unworkable, if the high northern run suited the quads, and the bush tracks were not too slow. It looked close to a six, and may have been on a dry day. Perfect setting on offer with the 560 winning score confirming my initial hunch - and no doubt Karin's hopes.

Control #20 was temptingly close to the start/finish and was a 'must get' - sometimes at the beginning as in/out, or as an ending anointment after tasting the 30 point alter wine at #21 on the way home. Other points to stand out of the order of service, were the nice 80 on the Sugar, the linked 14,15,18 street collect, 30 being a 'must' (until your glanced up from the 17-21 route with five to go), 6&25 calling the Maserati drivers, and the gaggle in the FOM bush - including the 12-24 temptation and its over friendly botanica. Much to mull over, with routers (I know what your thinking James) mainly going 1-21 bush, or 14,15,18 and to mangrove munchies via 9 and 28/29. A middle option that proved a master stroke for many, was working 18 down via 27 and west, and ignoring the eighty points on the eastern loop.

It seemed that the bush tracks in the 4,22,23,12,5,11 loop were of good quality and this was a smart plan. Then adding 17,13,7,19 (boardwalk fun, and a must do), back to 27 and then Streets Ice Cream bagging as many as time would allow. The high threes were done this way, with the Sugarloaf adding into the fours. Three stallions used the whip to run out the 600 furlongs, with Richard 'Two Seconds' Green claiming ten from Glenn for their 560/550 scoring after their 48.33 and 49.06 runs. Lee 'Vi Strauss' Coady was our other nag going all stations, working the 501's in fine style for 55.4 minutes and a 490 score. All three would have had to factor in the 'lonely pot', with Pork Pie's guess that it would have been #3 or #2. Both delicious in their annoying aloneness, and hard to split the vote. Maybe we can go political and have a coalition of LP's.

Because of the damp, and lack of milling together space, The Pork didn't collect his usual number of route tales. A couple to note however, are rising LM star 'The Trouser' working the 4,22,23 etc bush loop mentioned above before going hither and thither in the streets - and bagging the ton for his excellent 370. Ronaldo, working the right cross in the REAL Madrid colours, had a top night in this category also - only twenty back from John and giving his Legend Men score a touch of the 'about time'. Terry & Rosscoe couldn't match it with these two GOers, but were well clear of the nights most amazing LM outcome - Heiko Schaefer posting the evenings longest time on the paddock, 77.47 minutes of intense pleasure, that unfortunately for 'The Hitchhiker', reduced a handy 360 beeperoonies to just thirty! Heiko is never one to go just under. It's a win or the dungeon. Last night, it looks like a case of the Dees.

Other scoring to briefly note: Junior Sammy Rogers enjoying a close win over young Duncan (340/320), Michele Dawson really putting down the pedal with a 390 to 310 win over Rachel '& Back' Noble, Steve Ryan working the striking blue outfit to a nice OM win with 550, twenty clear of Mark Schaefer. 'The Sandal' had the velcro tightly strapped and in with 18 seconds in hand, while 'The Shaver' was on a longer lead, dropping sixty of his hard earned 590 points. As usual, great running from these two stallions.

In other classes, I note Lisa held ten over Gill in OW, the Vets didn't surprise, Louise 'So' Brierty forewent the Schnapps to win the MW sector with 280, and Adrienne 'Nock &' Kirby, Carol 'Of Christchurch' and Helen 'Of Troy' all held hands in SVW with 240's apiece. Sue Thomson enjoyed a win in LW with another 240 post - a popular score, although not quite as popular as the nights most often pencilled pairing - 340 and 350, with eight runners apiece. This attests to the wide spread of scoring last night. An unusual feature. Wiz knocked off Mel in the mens walk, while Michelle claimed in the womens.

Lots of other good scoring of course, including a trio of Europe's finest - Pierre 'Napoloen' Francois (OM) with hand in tunic for 450, Hana 'Wimbledon' Roubalikova (OW) hitting the forehand winner across court for 410, and Henrik 'The Viking' Larsson (OM) going 380 in the helmet with horns. Great to see them down under enjoying our sunny skies!

So to wrap, a wet evening, but another excellent event. Great setting, nice site's and good admin. Great to see Mike 'Enzo' Weller & Su Lin at the Garingal desk, along with the many other ponies in the orange and green taking the dosh and dispensing the scones and jam. Huh....? Thanks Larry & Karin for putting in.

Next Wednesday sees the caravan moving east to Mosman and the artists camp at Sirius Cove. This is a great start spot on the harbour where it would not be innapropriate to come dressed as Tom Roberts or Freddy McCubbin. Come to think of it, bring the watercolour kit and indulge as your famous forebears had done. Dan 'Not On The' Dowle is our enthusiastic course setter and we can expect Dan to have us singing a breathless Danny Boy as we encounter step work, city views and real estate envy. A tenner is all it takes to live amongst them, so come on over and enjoy a great Sydney run.

Also next Monday sees the last of the Sprint events - this time back at Balmain where Dave Lotty is devising loops and twirls to confuse the mind and loosen the trouser. A good pub nearby for 'afters'. Don't miss it.

3 comments:

Bruce S said...

Chris Brown's Solutions is brilliantly presented ... well done Chris and thanks.

Life on Mars, Pork Pie ... such a joy to read even after one has been flogged by the conditions.

Alonso said...

A great report as usual, Ross.
I started off 20, 21, then down into the bush, going 4, up for 22 and 23, 12, 5, 11, 17, 13. Then across to 7. 19 and 26 were too tempting, but then I had to cut short my planned route, going for 3, 30 and 1. Sadly I was back a little bit late.
Next week at Mosman should be great.

Alonso said...
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