FRA Relays, Grasvegas.
A few dropouts coming into it, but team still decent on paper but knew it would be a big ask to continue the 9 year run of top 3 finishes (8 in a row for me, 9 for Little Rob! Plus we got gold and silver one year) - this is very much our relay in modern times.
Rob worked hard on first leg but was a little below par of his usal high standards (18th - splits suggest he made a mistake climbing Seat Sandal), and Pete and Josh were steady as expected on 2 (B team boys actually were marginally quciker - chapeau!), meant me and Tom Saville were heading out in about 15th.
Took the stream scramble route to 1, which was a good choice, before climbing away from the tarn quickly into the mist - which turned out to be a bad choice as there was an unmarked path taking the teams that stayed lower up to the ridge much quicker. Balls. Didn't know this at the time, pinpointed my position on the ridge and used the waterfalls to drop into the CP in the thick mist. Lost nearly 3 minutes to fastest leg here, due to path?
Due north to 3, smashed it, 30 seconds quicker than anyone. Apparently in 9th here I was old afterwards. Then a strong climb back into the mist, passing Carnethy and surviving an assassination attempt by boulder.
Sat behind Helm and Calder traversing Great Rigg before a classic Worsell as we dropped into the long descent. Spotted Scotia and Murray of HBT below us (last seen as they climbed out of 1 ahead of us) and ran them down. Fastest leg here too, Tom took a little while to get going but once h did - good running. Ran the rest as fast as I could whilst not breaking Tom who had dug deep, racing head to head ith HBT, finishing just behind them in 5th.
Ben ran a great last leg, though he was never going to compete with Jonny, and we held 5th, which, depsite being our lowest postion for 10 years, was a good result. 2 minutes off a medal by the end, close stuff.
Mist caused usual havoc, Keswick blowing a 3 minute leasd going into the nav - Ive seen their GPS and their decision making is a little baffling, but I guess thats pressure for you.
Fastest nav leg of the day, which was a nice consolation.
Pleased to feel strong and comfortable after an iffy week health-wise.
Late night in Ambkleside afterwards!
http://www.sportident.co.uk/results/2018/BritishFe...