This remains a challenging route, even though it was the 7th race. Tim Rutter, last year's winner failed to find the Wreck, as did John Webber. It was a clear night and the wind had dropped, it's possible that the chirpy presence of Ian Winterburn at the Wreck prevented others wandering around in the upper stretches of Oaken Clough. Times were a bit slower for some runners but Neil, Pez and Simon ran well and Majka was only a little slower than her time of 2018.

At a time when the world is once more closing in the little points of light dotted around the hillsides reminded me of the end of Auden's poem 1st September 1939 where he talks of ironic points of light shining and out in a time of "Negation and despair" and the need to show "an affirming flame". In the dark or light we too need to find the resilience to keep on through.

Andy