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Newsdesk 2004
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RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 139 12 MAY 2004
Web site: www.ranelagh-harriers.com
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HEADLINE NEWS
* Runners-up trophies for our men and women in the Green Belt Relay, plus
the toilet seat for Bev's Bloodhounds!
* Maximum GP points for Mick Lane and Liz Kipling in the Sutton 10km
RICHMOND HALF MARATHON Sunday May 16th Ranelagh Road Grand Prix race 4
including Surrey Champs and club Half Marathon Champs.
There will be no entries on the day! The new course needs even more
marshalls than the old, so anyone who can help on the day will be very
welcome. Contact Alan Hedger on 01372 740626.
The race starts at 8.30am in Meadlands Drive (5 mins from clubhouse - the
same starting point as the Dysart Dash).
DYSART DASH 10km Sunday June 27th at Ham
Entries are already coming in steadily for our next promotion and there's
every chance the 500 limit will be reached - so if you don't want to be
disappointed, get your entry in now. Forms are available on our web site.
GREEN BELT RELAY Saturday May 8th and Sunday May 9th
More details and reports in the next edition, but our Greyhounds finished
2nd to the Flanders Running Club from Belgium, our Lassies finished 2nd to
the ladies from Serpentine and our Bloodhounds won the toilet seat trophy
for finishing last - again! Double stage wins came from Sarah Seal and Liz
Kipling and one from Mick Lane.
SUTTON 10KM Sunday 2nd May at Beddington Park Ranelagh Road Grand Prix
race 3
Mick Lane and Marius Acker fought it out at the sharper end of the race and
both were rewarded with sub-35 minute times on a flat but urban course. Mick
was the 2nd veteran home. Adam Tapley put in a good run too, followed home
by Trevor Maguire and Mike Peace both inside 40 minutes. Next in was Liz
Kipling, 10th in the women's race.
This race was the third event in our road Grand Prix series, and with the
first three races so close together this year no-one has a 100% record.
Current leader on 19 points is Trevor Maguire, ahead of Liz Kipling on 16
and Mike Peace on 14. Liz and Mike lead the women's and over 50 categories
respectively and Mick Lane, Stephen Instone and Ken Fotherby are joint
leaders of the men's over 40s. Bev Ali is clear in the women's over 50 and
Jackie Alderton and Janet Turnes lead the over 40s. A full score sheet to
date can be found on our web site.
It was also the first event in the Surrey Road League 2004. Our men are the
current holders and they made the best possible start by scoring maximum
points. The women, with only two runners taking part and three required for
a full team, are back in 8th place.
KESWICK HALF MARATHON Sunday 2nd May
Chris Read reports:
"Bob Beatson, John Hanscomb, David Rowntree and I made up the Ranelagh
contingent for the Keswick Half Marathon. Before the race Bob announced that
he was planning to try a new tactic of running with me rather than going for
his normal fast start. The weather was warm and sunny but there was a
cooling breeze on the higher parts of the course.
My time was 1.36.30. Bob's new tactic obviously worked. His time was
1.39.01, which was 3 minutes faster than his time last year. John's time
was 2.06.26. David struggled round in 2.22.30, having picked up an injury
en route. We were all some way behind the race winner, Simon Booth of
Borrowdale, whose time was 1.12.30".
20km RELAY Sunday 2nd May Somewhere in France
Andy Bickerstaff writes:
"Kevin Jacques, Neil Walford and I planned to be the Ranelagh team for this
relay where each runner covers 5km and then all three run a final 5km
together. But cos Kevin is still injured (not to mention slightly over
racing weight) we had a Julie from Brighton in the team aiming for a good
mixed performance. We ended up 2nd mixed, 9th overall. I felt I ran well
only to find Neil was less than a minute slower. Good fun course, very
hilly, a lot of off road and sharp turns. Julie 20:45, Neil 19:04, me 18:14
all 20:46. Fun!"
BARRY JONES 10km Monday 3rd May in Wimbledon Park
1 J Trapmore (Shafts Barnet) 32.50
45 John Hughes 45.00
RON WHEELER HANDICAP Wednesday 28th April in London
The three Ranelagh representatives finished 11th, 12th and 13th in the
handicap.
Speed order:
1 A McGarva (Australia) 13.03
11 Andy Hayward 15.34
13 Chris Read 16.09
15 Alan Davidson 16.24
TWO OCEANS MARATHON 56km Saturday April 10th at Capetown, South Africa
Andy Hayward reports:
"As a follow up to the successful club trip last year to the Two Oceans
(Ultra) Marathon in Cape Town, South Africa, several of us wanted to return
this year and run the race again. This was really for two reasons; we all
felt that we could do better; and because after a break of four years, the
race was returning to the original route over the (in)famous Chapman's Peak.
The recent editions of the run had been routed over Ou Kaapse Weg due to a
landslide closing the road on the traditional course. Unfortunately for
various reasons, but mainly injuries, there was only a party of four of us,
with only Mike Peace and I running the race. In addition, Two Oceans regular
Derek Mason travelled over independently.
As last year, the festivities began on Thursday evening at Newlands Cricket
Ground and the Runner's World Pasta Party. We were happy to learn that Dave
Spence, the unlikely looking on line "virtual coach" had this year named the
parrot that appears on your shoulder trying to persuade you to give up
during the toughest parts, Percy. Then Friday was registration. It rained
hard that morning, and we were feeling sorry for the hundred or so people
who were allowed to run the race on the Friday for religous reasons. When we
got to the UCT, the rains combined with thousands of tramping feet at the
registration had transformed the rugby fields (which would tomorrow host the
finish area) into a bit of a quagmire.
6:00am Saturday found Mike and I in Pen A, right behind the real athletes.
Before we knew it, everyone had moved up, we were swallowed in the mass, and
then we were off. It was raining, but was about 20'C, so not at all cold.
Mike went off on a schedule to attempt a silver medal (sub four hours)
whereas I knew that the best I could hope for would be 4:15 - 4:20, so went
off a bit slower. The course is basically a big loop around the Cape
Peninsula. It followed the same route as last year as far as the turn off
for Ou Kaapse Weg, and was fairly flat apart from an early slight hill in
the first couple of kms, and a section in Fishhoek where the route turns
inland from the coast. Then about half way in (about 28 km) comes the start
of Chapman's Peak. It teases you first with "Little Chappies" which while
noticable is over fairly quickly. However, as you descend and turn a corner,
you realise the "Big Chappies" is waiting for you. And it goes on, and on,
and on. Every time you turn a corner thinking you must be there, it goes on
further. I had to give Percy a severe talking to towards the top of
Chappies, and there was a trail of dead parrots all along the side of the
road!
Then finally you crest the hill, and the view of Hout Bay is amazing. Even
though it was cloudy and raining, at least the cloud was high enough to get
the view, unlike last year. Then you see why they call it "The World's Most
Beautiful Marathon". But like last year on Ou Kaapse Weg, descending was
almost as tough as going up. Your quads really start screaming at you. Then
through Hout Bay, the marathon point was almost at the bottom of the road
that we were staying in, and was at the bottom of the second killer hill,
Constantia Nek. The temptation to turn right to the guest house and a cup of
tea and warm bath was strong! I saw Mike just after this, and we exchanged
the usual lies of encouragement, such as "looking good", and not far now".
In truth we both looked like pooh, and there was still nearly nine miles to
go! However it worked for me, as I managed to brain the imaginary Percy with
the imaginary bottle of beer that I had promised myself at the finish line,
and continue without walking to the top of the second long hill. Connie and
Annie were waiting at the top of Constantia Nek to offer encouragement for
the final few miles.
After that, it is still fairly undulating, but no major hills. However,
remembering how tough those undulations were last year, I was taking nothing
for granted. I looked at my split at 50k and realised that I was just off
pace to get within 4:30 which was the worst time that I would be happy with.
So I managed to grit my teeth and increase the pace. My 5k split from 50 -
55k was my fastest 5k of the run, despite the undulations. The final 1k into
the UCT had one uphill, followed by a downhill into the rugby fields. Horror
- the last 400m or so on the "grass" was actually mud at the start, quickly
followed by a surface with the consistency of very thin porridge. Some
people stopped to take their shoes off as the swampy mud was ankle deep, but
I just wanted to finish, and I still had one eye on the clock. I finally
crossed the line in 4:29:27 actual, 4:29:35 on the clock. Mike came in
twenty minutes later, so we both substantially improved on last year's
times, but were both a little disappointed not to have finished ten or
fifteen minutes faster. However, we both also managed to complete the London
Marathon eight days later, so all in all, a good week of 61 racing miles!
It was a marvellous trip, improved by the fact that everyone else staying at
the B&B was doing the race, which resulted in good camaraderie and support.
They have promised to meet up with us next year if we go out on a club trip
to do the Comrades. Watch this space!"
MASTERS TRACK AND FIELD LEAGUE
Or "Veterans" if you prefer! Margaret Auerback writes:
"The first match in the masters league took place last Monday at Battersea
in perfect running conditions. Unfortunately illness and injury took its
toll and our team was down to four. With Serpentine covering every event bar
one it was inevitable that we were going to get a hammering.
However, there were sparkling performances from those who were there; Janet
Turnes scored an amazing twenty four points finishing in third place in W35
100m, fourth in W35 400m and second in W45 1500m. Mary Nash was back in good
sprinting form finishing second in W45 100m and third in W45 400. Julie
Drummond won her 2K walk in fine style and finished second in W45B 400
despite being called up at the last minute to run in the GBR at the weekend.
Your team manager tried very hard to be competitive in the walk and javelin
but I can see that I don't have a future in either event.
We already have a few more names for the match on 24th May so we should get
a better result. If I haven't already asked you - don't be shy - come along
and give it a go. I am away now until 23rd May but you can get more details
from Robin and Julie Drummond or Frances and you can leave me a message on
m.auerback@btinternet.com If you would like to come. Next match 24th May,
Battersea, at 18.30 for field events, 19.00 for track. I will be there from
18.00, vests supplied on the night".
TRACK TRAINING at BARN ELMS
Margaret adds: "Thursday sessions are going well and we are seeing
improvements in performance already. Last Thursday being the 50th
anniversary of Roger Bannister's sub 4 minute mile we started the session by
seeing how far everybody could run in 3.59.4. We have to admit that nobody
made it to the fourth lap but it was fun and good to see everybody trying so
hard. Sessions are at 18.30 on Thursdays and Steve Hook does a middle
distance session on Sundays at 11.00. Opportunities to try jumps and throws
as well on Sunday.
ROOM TO LET IN HAM
Close to Richmond Park, Ranelagh Harriers, Richmond, Kingston and
Teddington.
Double room with small en suite.
£400pcm inclusive.
Contact: Joanne Muirlittle on 020 8487 2224 or 020 8948 4341.
NEXT...
The 2003/04 fixture list, together with details of the 2004 Ranelagh Road
Grand Prix, can be found on our web site.
More details of the following from Andy Bickerstaff (07966 552302 /
mailto:andy@norris-hobs.co.uk ) or Anna McLaughlin (07971 606521 /
mailto:anna.mclaughlin@itv.com ).
Sunday May 16th Richmond Half Marathon. Ranelagh Road GP
race 4 and Surrey Half Marathon Championship. 8.30am start. Our Half
Marathon is on a different course this year, starting where our Dysart Dash
10km starts, in Meadlands Drive. See our web site for details.
Sunday May 23rd Coombe Hill 5 miles
Thursday May 27th Summer Junior Handicap Series 2km race 2.
7pm at the Hawker Centre, Kingston. All under 17s welcome.
Sunday June 6th Dorking 10 miles. Ranelagh Road GP race
5 and Surrey 10 miles Championship. Start 10.45am. Forms available from
www.dmvac.org.uk
Sunday June 20th Chris Brasher Memorial 10km in Richmond
Park. See www.chrisbrashermemorialrun.co.uk for details.
Thursday June 24th Summer Junior Handicap Series 2km race 3.
7pm at the Hawker Centre, Kingston. All under 17s welcome.
Sunday June 27th Dysart Dash 10km. Ranelagh Road GP race
6 and Surrey 10km Championship. Start 10am in Meadlands Drive, 5 mins from
our clubhouse. Forms available from our web site.
Steve Rowland
e-mail: srowland@calor.co.uk
Tel: 01926 318734
Fax: 0870 4006901