Phil Wylie won the first Gloucester XC League fixture of the winter season, but I was very happy to finish second only six days after a relatively quick 10 miler. Rachel Felton convincingly won the womens race from Rebecca Randell with Sian 7th. The start wasn't as frantic as some, every cross country race starts fast, but after a small lap it was clear that B&W were going to be the strongest team. I began to push on, but after a big lap I was conscious that I didn't want a very hard race and eased just a little. Phil W drifted away very easily and wasn't really tested in the race. Craig was going well in second, but as the race went through the confusing twisty wood sections he fell away from the pace I thought was sensible - he misjudged the laps, I think most of the leaders misjudged the laps, but simply thought the turn into the finish was a bit further on. Craig was right back on the pace by the end, so there's a lot more to come from him. Rich had a solid winter strenghtening run for a middle distance man and finished fourth, Alec, who's just been draft into the England Masters XC team made it five in the first six. Rachel Felton led the womens race from the start, and looked a class above the rest of the field. Rebecca R made her way through the field in an amazingly accomplished run from somebody we haven't seen much of recently. Jane W, another England Masters athlete on the 'pane to Belfast, was fifth, a little way ahead of Helen F in sixth and Sian. All the Bristol girls did well, Camilla around 10th, Suzanne not far behind and Jo proving that age is no barrier. I can see that outside of the "Championship" races we're likely to go to the nearest league race, the Gwent was in Swansea, and many of the club travelled there, but Sian and myself already have trips lined up to Sutton Park, Exeter and Leeds before Christmas, which is enough travelling on its own.