Home
Newsdesk 2004

 ****************************************************************************
 RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 155        20 OCTOBER 2004
 Editor: Steve Rowland
 mailto: steverowland@ranelagh-harriers.com
 ****************************************************************************
 HEADLINE NEWS
 *  Paul Doyle 4th in Cabbage Patch 10
 *  Surrey Veterans Championship gold for Kathy Mallett, plus four silvers
 and two bronzes
 *  David Benton 8th in ITU World Duathlon Series event

 WELCOME...
 ...to the following new members:
 Anne Porter, Nicola MacGillivray, Jaroslava Duskova, James Corbett


 WHAT'S COMING...
 The fixture list for the 2004/05 winter season, can be found on our web site.
 More details of the following from
 Andy Bickerstaff (07966 552302 / mailto: andy@norris-hobs.co.uk ) or 
 Phil Aiken (07739 035189 / mailto: phil.aiken@rnid.org.uk ) or 
 Anna McLaughlin (07971 606521 / mailto: anna.mclaughlin@itv.com ).
 

 Saturday October 23rd            Lee Cup Mob Match v Orion Harriers at
 Chingford.  7.5 miles. 2.30pm start. See below.

                                            Women's National Road Relay at
 Sutton Park, Birmingham

                                            Ranelagh 5 km Time Trial in
 Bushy Park. 9am start

 Saturday October 30th           Ranelagh 5 km Time Trial in Bushy Park. 9am
 start

 Saturday November 6th          Priory Cross-Country Relays at Priory Park,
 Reigate. Men's and women's races starting at 1.30pm.

                                            Ranelagh 5 km Time Trial in
 Bushy Park. 9am start
 
 Saturday November 13th        South of the Thames "Junior" Championship in
 Richmond Park. Men's and women's races starting at 2.30pm
                                             Ranelagh 5 km Time Trial in
 Bushy Park. 9am start                                            

 LEE CUP MOB MATCH v ORION HARRIERS  Saturday 23rd October at Epping Forest
 Our first mob match of the season. A brief explanation of mob matches for
 new members: two clubs only take part, each side fields as many runners as
 possible and ALL count towards the final result. The club that gets the most
 runners to the starting line effectively gives itself a head start, so we
 need as many people as possible to make the trek over to Epping.

 FREE minibus transport will leave from the clubhouse at 12 noon. Please use it!
 If you want to make your own way, the Orion HQ is at the rear of the Royal
 Forest Hotel on the A1069 Rangers Road, near Chingford Station. 
 Don't park at the pub, there's a car park almost opposite.

 The race is 7.5 miles, starting at 2.30pm. The course is scenic
 multi-terrain: some forest tracks, some road, some fields.

 The Orion captain adds:
 "After the mob match at Chingford, Orion are having a quiz night and supper.
 It would be great if some of the core Ranelagh guys could stay behind and
 make up a team (4-6) so that we can return your hospitality of last year. It
 is an informal affair so there is absolutely no need to give any indication
 of how many (if any) might be interested".

 RANELAGH CHRISTMAS PARTY  Friday 10th December at the Turk's Head in St
 Margarets
 Don't forget you need to book your places by the end of this month. Tickets
 are £18 per head for a three-course meal and disco. See the end of this
 e-news for the menu choices. Contact Jo Turner
 (mailto:joturner_45@hotmail.com) or Marina Quayle
 (mailto:marina_quayle@hotmail.com).

 SURREY VETERANS' CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS  Saturday 16th October in
 Richmond Park
 The clash with other events in the area resulted in a relatively soft county
 Vets championship this year: indeed the two individual winners had both
 finished only 5th amongst the vets in the opening Surrey League Division 1
 fixtures the previous week.

 It was soft in another way too. When a heavy shower during the women's race
 sent the waiting men scurrying for shelter, some were heard to remark that
 this was getting the rain out of the way so that their race might be dry.
 Retribution duly came. Shortly after the start of the men's event the taps
 were turned on full and never stopped until we were back in the changing
 rooms. The result was an increasingly soft and slippery course.

 Marcus Gohar was the only Ranelagh runner to contest the sharp end of either
 race, but he unfortunately had to retire with breathing difficulties a short
 way into the second lap. So our highest finisher turned out to be Tim Woods,
 11th in the men's race just one place ahead of Chris Owens. Both were
 rewarded with medals: Tim was 3rd over 45 and Chris 2nd over 50. Chris also
 led the over 50s team of self, Mike Peace and Steve Rowland to another
 silver.

 Our only gold of the day went to Kathy Mallett, first over 50, an excellent
 performance. There was also a silver for Sonia Rowland in the over 45 age
 group and a bronze for Eliete Nascimento in the over 35s. The over 45s team
 of Kathy, Sonia and Corinne Bishop took one more silver.

 Although this is a Surrey County AA promotion, we provide most of the
 officials and race marshals and all credit to them for manning their posts
 in very unpleasant conditions.

 
 CABBAGE PATCH 10 miles  Sunday 17th October at Twickenham
 Paul Doyle reports:
 "This year's race sold out well in advance,  Ranelagh had a good turn out
 for this local, popular fast race. The morning was typically autumnal, cool,
 breezy and damp. The race started without a hitch and quickly settled, with
 the two THH men taking off at the front followed by a threesome of Stuart
 Major and two Africans. I was at the back of  the next  group including
 Super Vets Mike Boyle (Herne Hill) and Knut Hegvold (Belgrave). Two miles
 passed in 10min, felt good, the pace then slowed to the 5.15-5.20 pace.
 Around 4.5 miles Boyle drifted back. We went through 5 miles in 25.50. I was
 feeling remarkably fresh. Playing it safe, stayed with the group until
 around 7.5 miles, just at the start of Petersham Meadows, where I made a
 bolt for home, quickly moving from 8th to 4th, and closing the gap on Stuart
 Major in 3rd.

 At this point things seemed to be going unbelievably  well, I checked my
 watch at 9 miles and the time of 45 min seemed to good to be true, and it
 was. Making a final effort to push to the line, after 5min I was still
 clearly nowhere near the finish, this caused a bit of a wobble, (the
 organisers have since apologised for the incorrect placing of the marker),
 nevertheless pushed on to improve my PB by a couple of minutes, in my best
 race ever.

 After a bit managed to jog back an cheer on a few Ranelagh runners, it was
 encouraging to see such a good turn out.

 Phil Aiken adds:
 "I actually ran 68.28 on my watch. I was having a chat near the back of the
 group and didn't push up far enough before the start and it took 42 seconds
 to cross the line. I'm taking my watch time. The expectation of both coach
 and captain was to beat my 3rd fastest 10m (1:08:33) and I achieved this by
 5 seconds. But Simon Burrell is the big star. PB last week (Great South Run)
 by 2 mins and another 2 mins off this week".


 INVITATION EVENT v OXFORD UNIVERSITY etc  Saturday 16th October at Shotover
 David Wright reports:
 "Only a hardy few turned out for the club and even Peter Haarer our resident
 'Don' (he is actually a temporary teaching Don for a year at the university)
 missed out at the last minute as his wife was taken ill. Twenty-five years
 since last running in this fixture I can report that the hills have got
 steeper and the students faster - or, just possibly, it is me that has got
 slower. Also, despite the lack of a cup of tea due to the blown fuse, which
 presumably in turn explained the cold showers in that mecca of athletics
 tracks, Iffley Road, the jam, peanut butter and nutella sandwiches (not all
 in one I hasten to add) were good student fayre although I'm not sure about
 the plate of jelly babies! 

 The reason Alice ran in the men's race was not to embarrass a slow
 ex-captain but the altogether more practical reason that whilst she was out
 marking the course the Oxford minibus went back to base with all her kit so
 she missed the ladies' race. 77 ran (DW being in that position at the first
 bend). We didn't win the team prize (a balloon) but we did have a pleasant
 evening in a local hostelry afterwards".
 Women
 1 R Deegan (Ox U) 21.05
 7 Sarah Seal 23.00

 Men
 1 M Whitfield (RAF) 30.56
 25 Julian Smith 35.40
 31 Andy Bickerstaff 36.05
 48 Alice Beverly 38.39
 49 David Wright 39.00

 BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL  Saturday 16th October
 Paul Sinton-Hewitt reports:
 "We may not have had a record field, but we certainly had some "class" in
 action today!

 Husband and wife team, Dave and Kate Symons, crushed the previous records
 and have laid down a challenge for those planning to participate in the
 future. A special thanks goes to Kate and Dave and we hope that this will
 inspire others to tackle the record.

 The field was led from the start by first time participant, Tim Elsey, while
 Dave followed with confidence at a distance. By the time they had reached
 the first kilometre mark, Dave was in control and ran the remainder of the
 course in a constrained manner.

 Kate looked confident all the way around and ran in an easy winner in the
 ladies' field".

 1 D Symons (TH&H) 16.39
 5 Stephen Instone 19.47
 6 K Symons (TH&H) 19.57
 7 Peter Wright 20.27
 9 Darren Wood 22.54
 10 Phil Aiken 23.10

 ITU WORLD DUATHLON SERIES  Sunday 17th October at Varrallo, Italy
 David Benton reports:
 "I got my second run out for the GB team last weekend - and was able to use
 my own kit this time! The event was the final ITU World Duathlon Series
 event in Northern Italy, over the standard 10km/40km/5km distance. Race day
 was cold but sunny, with nice views of the snow covered Alps - a bit more
 scenic than Swansea!

 The run course was a 2.5km lap round the old part of the town, with lots of
 twists through the narrow streets, short climbs and even some cobbles. I
 purposely avoided the initial charge, and stayed relaxed, off the back of
 the lead group. Seemed to be a good policy, as the course took its toll and
 people came back during the second half. The five of us Brits managed to get
 to the first transition more or less together about 45secs down on the
 leaders. We were able to work well together on the bike to get up to the
 leaders just before halfway, to give a lead group of around 15-20. Various
 people tried breakaways, but nothing succeeded. I put an effort in up the
 last hill and got off the front with a couple of others, getting into T2 in
 4th position, with the rest of the group immediately behind. Lost several
 places during the transition as I struggled to get my crash hat off because
 of cold fingers! Out on the second run, I struggled initially with heavy
 legs after the bike and lost a couple more places. Fortunately, after about
 2k got settled into a good pace, running with Martin Yelling and a Danish
 guy, before burning them off in the last kilometre. Finished 8th (second
 Brit), behind winner Jurgen Deere of Belgium, recent winner of the European
 Champs (where I finished 30th!).

 Really pleased to end the season on a good note, and am now taking several
 weeks off to recover!"

 1 J Deere (Belgium) 1.48.32
 8 David Benton 1.49.33

 JP MORGAN CHASE CORPORATE CHALLENGE CHAMPIONSHIP RACE  3.5 miles Saturday
 2nd October in New York
 Representing Ove Arup, Jo Ronaldson finished 2nd in the women's race in
 19.48.

 SURREY COUNTY JUNIOR CROSS-COUNTRY RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS  Sunday 3rd October
 at Stoke Park, Guildford
 We now have the individual lap times for our team in the under 15 girls
 race.
 1 Aldershot F&D 21.17
 6 Ranelagh 23.11
 Victoria Elbourne 7.29
 Rachel Pryce 7.52
 Georgia Miansarow 7.50

 MEN'S SHOWER
 Alan Craig writes:
 "The problem we had with the floor last week has re-occurred but in a
 different place. This area will be roped off so the showers can stay in use
 for this week's sessions.

 I was with the contractor this morning and hopefully identified the problem.
 On Thursday the shower will be taken out of service, the floor lifted, area
 dried and re-laid and possibly back in use for Tuesday 26th October. The
 loos and wash hand basins will be in use during this time.

 When the de-humidifier is in use please ensure doors to and from the shower
 room are closed as much as possible".

 TUESDAY NIGHT TORTURE
 Tuesday sessions for the "fast" group over next few weeks, starting from the
 clubhouse at 7pm:
 26/10  2x 4 x Holly Lodge Hill
 2/11   10, 8, 6 and 4 min efforts + 3 x 30 secs efforts
 See our web site for more complete details.

 LONDON TO BRIGHTON  Sunday 3rd October
 Race organiser Ian Champion sends his thanks to all those who helped marshal
 the event:
 "Your willingness to help us out was greatly appreciated by the runners many
 of whom have let me know both at the finish and subsequently after the
 event, via phone letter and e-mail. Your efforts contributed in no small
 measure to the undoubted success of the race".

 MENU FOR THE RANELAGH CHRISTMAS PARTY
 Starters
 1. Home-made broccoli and stilton soup
 2. Warm goats cheese and red onion tart with salad garnish
 3. Prawn and smoked salmon pate with lemon dressed salad
 4. Chargrilled asparagus with parma ham, rocket, parmesan and olive oil
 Main
 1. Traditional roast turkey with roast potatoes, seasonal veg. and all the
 trimmings.
 2. Pan-fried snapper fillet with mango salsa, braised rice and winter veg.
 3. Braised beef steak in a rich red wine sauce with mushrooms, button onions
 and bacon pieces, and seasonal veg.
 4. Roasted winter risotto with rocket, Parmesan and chive oil.
 Dessert
 1. Traditional Christmas pudding with brandy sauce.
 2. Dark and white chocolate mousse with strawberry sauce.
 3. Rhubarb and blackberry crumble tart with custard.
 4. Selection of cheese and biscuits

 FINALLY
 The last line of last week's e-news somehow got amputated. Julian's offer of
 "£20 to anyone apart from Paul D, Peter H, Dave B and Hugh J (sorry guys)
 and Christian (only joking) who makes the top 50 in any of the remaining
 three league races, and I'll double it if they beat me too!" should have
 been followed by the caveat: "Maybe I should make payment conditional on us
 avoiding relegation..."