First Event of 2026 - Windsor MABAC

By tradition and/or convention, the MABAC year always starts with the run in Windsor Great Park. In the pre-Covid, pre-Brexit era, when the sun always shone, trains ran on time and after buying a pint of beer in a pub you would still have enough change from a £5 note for a packet of cigarettes, it was held in January. Snow on the ground was not unknown although ice and/or freezing rain were more common, and the course was longer than it is today. Now, in 2026, it is mid-February before it is run. Admittedly, it was originally scheduled for the previous weekend but was put back at the request of some of the bigger clubs, who were concerned that a clash with a Surrey League cross-country event would have meant their star runners were unavailable.

This year also saw responsibility for organising the Windsor event switch from MAGIC, the league’s smallest club and one of the founding members, to Runnymede Runners, one of the largest. Whether it was just coincidence, divine intervention, foresight or brilliant planning who knows, but it was a day of glorious sunshine that made a welcome change from the seemingly incessant rain of the past weeks. But the cold seems to be a constant feature of the Windsor MABAC, at least while waiting for the start. While we gather in the prestigious surroundings of the Guards Polo Club, the clubhouse is off-limits to mere runners, who must congregate in the horse pens, designed to provide shade from the summer sun for the horses, not protection from the winter cold for runners.

Puffers ended last year on something of a high. Could we carry on where we had left off? The initial signs were promising. We had a full complement of both female and male runners, not something we could take for granted last year, and a welcome mix of regulars, newcomers and some returning after long absences through injury.

First runner home for the Puffers, in his first run for us, was Warren Gibbs, who just missed out on a top ten place by six seconds. Warren admitted afterwards that he was more comfortable running on road than cross country but we hope we’ll see more of him in the coming months – some of the MABAC routes are really smooth after all! Next Puffer home, just thirty seconds later, was David Ebert, rapidly becoming a MABAC regular. David had run the Farnborough half the previous weekend despite which he put in another very strong performance, just being edged out of 13^th place in a 3-way photo-finish.  After David came Craig Waddle, also in a three way finish, four seconds separating the three of them although in this case Craig successfully held off the chasing runner, who had been on his heels the entire run, apparently. That gave us three finishers in the first 25. Although Waverley Harriers had five finishers in the first ten, as at Wisley we had the benefit of strength in depth, well demonstrated by our next finisher, Will Westlake turning in another steady performance to end in 33^rd place.

What can I say about Paula Holmes that hasn’t already been said? Someone who clearly enjoys her running, shows it, always looks relaxed and turns in consistently impressive times. Yesterday was no exception. Paula was our first lady home, 6^th lady overall, in just over 52 minutes, followed a minute later by Katy Gibson. Work commitments meant Katy could only make a handful of MABACs last year, hopefully this year’s schedule will be more to her liking for, like Paula, she is an inspiration for the rest of us. The next lady runner to finish after Katy was another Puffer and another Katie, in this case Westlake. Last time she ran for us she was Katie France, so belated congratulations Katie. The Westlake name is clearly going to be one to watch in 2026.

Years ago, when I joined the Puffers, Will Archer-Burton’s name was a regular among our top finishers, but injuries have kept him away from full MABACs for many years. Wisley saw him make a tentative return to a full course event but yesterday it seemed as if recent years were just a mirage, as Will was our fifth man home, in comfortably under his one-hour target time. Well done Will, and hopefully it marks a full return to form. Not far behind him was Ken Swan, consistent as ever, so we can expect a regular tussle between these two over the coming year. Exactly one minute behind Ken was our next lady finisher. Like Will, Katie Wiggins had been absent through long-term injury. Indeed, many of us wondered whether she would ever return to MABAC races. Yesterday she put those doubts to rest with a fine sub 60-minute performance, despite not having run such a long distance in many years. Another great performance, and the potential confusion of having three Katies, or Katys, in the team is a small price to pay for the results they achieve! Next Puffer home was Ian Holmes, another regular, who also achieved a strong sub- 60-minute finish.

Ian was followed in by another newcomer, Matt Parkin. Matt has already become something of a regular at the bridge on Saturday mornings, but this was his first MABAC, and a longer run than he is perhaps used to. His finish showed strong potential, and he should be a welcome addition to our MABAC complement. Well done Matt. Immediately behind Matt was stalwart Barbara Rossouw, whose time meant that our ladies were all within the top 25 lady finishers. Rounding out the main course Puffers team was Roger Clark. What can I say about Roger other than that he is an inspiration and example to us all? That he finished 29 places and 18 minutes ahead of the last regular finisher?

Collectively that meant a fine group performance, but we had support from the joggers too. Elizabeth Swan was the 16^th of 43 finishers on the ‘short course’ (still almost park run in length), and was joined by George James, who out of consideration for the marshals decided to join her, rather than delay the overall finish of the race. While George’s public spirit is to be commended, as the last regular finisher took almost 90 minutes, I am confident that George would not have been the last. (There was also a partially sighted finisher who, with her guide, took a little longer).

Creditable individual performances by all the Puffers and a very impressive team result.  Despite the presumed presence of Surrey League regulars in many of the teams, we were 4^th overall on the day, our best start to a year in a long, long time. But there are still another nine months and eight events to go, and the next event is only a fortnight away, in Reigate on 1^st March. Back in 2019, in the first MABAC at Reigate, Puffers finished second on the day, probably our best performance ever. Can we match that this year? 1^st March also happens to be my birthday, and a big Puffers turnout would be a wonderful present!