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Newsdesk 2004
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RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 157 10 NOVEMBER 2004
Editor: Steve Rowland
mailto: steverowland@ranelagh-harriers.com
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HEADLINE NEWS
* Farewell run from Lauren Shelley
* Important races coming up!
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 November 13th South of the Thames 5 miles Championship in
Richmond Park. Men's and women's races starting at 2.30pm
Ranelagh 5 km Time Trial in
Bushy Park. 9am start
Saturday November 20th Mob Match v Thames Hare and Hounds in
Richmond Park. 7.5 miles starting at 2.30pm See below.
Junior Points prize races in
Richmond Park. 1.3 miles starting at 2.35pm. See below.
Ranelagh 5 km Time Trial in
Bushy Park. 9am start
Saturday November 27th Surrey League Division 1 All are welcome to
take part.
Men at Kingston Vale (Wimbledon
Common) - HQ 200 metres up the A3 from Robin Hood Gate. Juniors at 2.30pm,
seniors at 3pm. Map
Women at Kingston Gate
(Richmond Park). Note the car park at Kingston Gate is small, so allow time
to park outside the park or at the larger car park near Isabella Plantation.
Seniors at 12.30pm followed by U17s at 1.15pm and U15s/U13s at 1.45pm. Map
Ranelagh 5 km Time Trial in
Bushy Park. 9am start
SOUTH OF THE THAMES 5 MILES CHAMPIONSHIP Saturday 13th November in Richmond
Park
We are hosting this event on behalf of the South of the Thames Cross-Country
Association. It will be over our 5 miles "League" course, starting at
2.30pm. Please be at the clubhouse by 2pm if you're planning to take part.
MOB MATCH v THAMES HARE & HOUNDS Saturday 20th November in Richmond Park
This year we're at home to the mighty Thames Hare and Hounds so we'll need
every runner we can get on the starting line. It's 7.5 miles on our own
course in Richmond Park starting at 2.30pm. Race it or use it as a training
run - it's the size of the "mob" that counts. Absolutely everyone welcome!!
The race incorporates the club men's veterans championships for the Hastings
Cup (over 40s), McDowell Salver (over 50s) and Maslin Mug (over 60s). It
also sees the inaugural presentation of the Richard Clay-Jones Pint for the
first over 50 to finish. This trophy has been donated in memory of Richard
by his many friends and will be presented after the race by Mrs Clay-Jones.
In the evening we'll be hosting our guests to a supper in our clubhouse.
Those who attended the supper at Thames last year will attest that these are
extremely sociable occasions! Cost will be about £8 - please book your
places with Jo Turner (mailto:joturner_45@hotmail.com) or Marina Quayle
(mailto:marina_quayle@hotmail.com).
JUNIOR CROSS-COUNTRY POINTS PRIZE
We are repeating last season's series of races for juniors, each over one
lap of Sidmouth Wood, about 1.3 miles. They will take place on Saturdays
20th November, 11th December, 22nd January and 28th February, starting at
about 2.30pm. All under 17s are welcome. If possible register at the
clubhouse by 2pm, but otherwise come straight to the start opposite Pembroke
Lodge. There will be separate categories for under 13s, under 15s and under
17s, boys and girls, and there will be prizes at the end of the series for
the overall winners.
SURREY LEAGUE DIVISION 1 Saturday 27th November
The second Surrey League races of the season will be vital to both our men's
and women's teams - but for very different reasons! The men have to dig
themselves out of the relegation spot they currently hold, while the women
have to build on the lead they established in the first race. But the bottom
line is the same - we desperately need everybody who might be in with a
chance of making the scoring teams to turn up and run!
REEBOK CROSS CHALLENGE Saturday 30th October at Senneleys Park, Birmingham
Alice Beverly writes:
"Very very muddy (think Parliament Hill at the National in February at the
end of the day after 800 men have all run round a few times!). Wasn't in
Ranelagh colours I'm afraid as was running for Oxford Uni, but was pleased
with my run, but not pleased at having to clean my spikes..."
This was Lauren Shelley's final race before returning to a West Australian
summer. The mud and water splashes lovingly depicted in Athletics Weekly
will I'm sure be quite a memory for her to take away!
1 H Yelling (WSEH) 22.16
36 Lauren Shelley 25.11
49 Alice Beverly 25.44
PRIORY RELAYS Saturday 6th November at Reigate
We fielded a couple of scratch teams in both men's and women's events. We
were actually expecting only enough men for a team and a half, so some
doubling up was planned for the B team - only for a non-arrival in the A
team ("I forgot") to necessitate "top and tail" efforts from the Captain.
Andy's first circuit was our fastest of the day, though Matt Morgan was not
far behind. Phil Aiken managed to run faster on his second time around!
Star performer for the women was Sally Piesse who enjoyed an excellent run
on the opener. Special mention for Karen Broadbent who also took part in the
Bushy Park time trial in the morning and Jo Nascimento in her first open
race.
We currently have official times and positions only for the women, but
suffice it to say that we did not trouble the officials at the prize
presentation!
KARRIMOR INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN MARATHON Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st
October in the Brecon Beacons
Chris Owens reports:
"The KIMM was founded in 1968 and is the forerunner of all adventure racing.
The formula remains a challenging 2-day Mountain event (the Elite course
being 2 sequential marathon lengths) where a team of two navigate their way
around a course in mountainous terrain, in a new location each year,
carrying all food, stove, tent and equipment for an overnight camp.
We didn't do Elite!
For us, B class was quite enough of a challenge - just over 50km (32miles)
of yomping over the Brecon Beacons (the last four years have been in the
Lake District, Ayrshire, Cheviots and Dumfries and Galloway respectively).
As with other orienteering events, you have to find a series of 'controls' -
wastebin-sized orange markers - collect the electronic signature (id and
time) of each control in a chip issued to each team - think the Champion
Chip used in big city marathons - in the correct order and as fast as
possible. Teams start at minute intervals in each class, and only see the
map marked with the controls a minute before that, so each start is a low
key affair with lots of earnest discussion of possible routes, rather than
the usual adrenaline rush. As there are six classes, following other teams
is not recommended (or allowed). Neither are mobile phones nor GPS
navigation systems, to keep alive the traditional challenge of navigating
with map and compass. C class or Short Score are ideal introductions to this
sort of racing, but some experience of orienteering and wild country camping
is essential.
As for the last four years, my role was to be the 'donkey' carrying as much
as possible and following my running partner Mike Hynd's choice of routes -
although as usual the 'donkey' had something to say about the route now and
again. Biggest difference from newer 'adventure' races? - at least 12 hours
break for food and rest is compulsory. Nice to catch up with others'
experience at the overnight camp too!
This year's memories - relief that all the Welsh rain fell on the Friday -
fear over navigating in the mist at the start of each day - happiness when
the sun burned off the mist - elation when the sun revealed that we were
heading in the right direction - enjoyment of the beautiful Brecon Beacons
under an autumn sun - the slog over the last 10km with dead legs - joy when
the results revealed our results were the best in five years of trying - 289
teams started B class, 200 finished and we were 34th - an improvement of
over 20 places on our previous best".
1 J Helme & S Richardson 8.18.22
34 Chris Owens & Mike Hynd 10.32.07
LAST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH 5Km Friday 29th October in Hyde Park
1 E Malloch (Barnet) 15.41
34 Andy Bickerstaff 18.05
35 Matt Morgan 18.13
42 Neil Walford 18.31
95 Pete Warren 20.18
133 John Pratt 21.11
209 Mike Rowland 24.35
223 Wally Garrod 25.08
241 John Hanscomb 26.27
BUSHY PARK 5Km TIME TRIAL Saturday 30th October
A clear win for Saturday morning "regular" Tim Elsey, who had run off course
the previous week. There was course pbs for Stephen Instone and Rachel
Rowan, who was first woman home.
1 T Elsey (Dorking & MV) 17.15
2 Stephen Instone 19.28
3 Andy Bickerstaff 19.44
4 Steve Rowland 19.58
5 Peter Wright 20.39
6 Rachel Rowan 20.43
8 Andy Hayward 22.19
10 Alan Craig 23.38
11 Sonia Rowland 23.41
13 Karen Broadbent 24.47
15 Hilary Saw 27.42
BUSHY PARK 5 Km TIME TRIAL Saturday 6th November
A new course record from Dave Symons and another near-half minute
improvement from Stephen Instone. Rachel Rowan was again the leading woman
and won a spot prize as 6th finisher in the 6th Bushy Park run.
1 D Symons (TH&H) 16.29
2 Stephen Instone 19.02
5 Jonny Rowan 20.52
6 Rachel Rowan 20.54
10 Darren Wood 22.21
14 Karen Broadbent 24.21
15 Wally Garrod 24.38
16 Janet Turnes 26.53
BARNS GREEN HALF MARATHON Sunday October 31st
Angus Cater writes:
"Today has been a beautiful day and I have been running the Barns Green Half
Marathon, our local run. 1450 turned out in perfect conditions to enjoy an
undulating course with a couple of short,sharp hills. I met a Ranelagh lady
before the start and we decided we were both hoping to run about 1.50.She
was obviously being cautious because she overtook me at the first drinks
station and I never saw her again.She must have run under 1.45. Not bad for
her first 1/2. I took it fairly easy over the first 7 and then upped the
pace a bit in the 2nd half. Finished in 1.47.34. All those Epping Forest
hills must have done me some good".
1 D Taylor (Blackheath) 1.06.45
509 Stephen Arneil 1.44.57
520 Nicola MacGillivray 1.45.13
583 Angus Cater 1.47.33
RUN EALING RAGGED 10Km Sunday 31st October
Pete Warren was first over 60 in 42.11.
REGENTS PARK 10Km Sunday 7th November
"I want to recce the course and run a semi-decent time" was Phil Aiken's
plan for the day after running two laps at Reigate. "In the end I did
slightly better - a Ranelagh 10k best by half a minute!"
1 S Barrett (Serpentine) 34.07
67 Phil Aiken 42.04
98 John Pratt 44.38
AUCKLAND MARATHON Sunday 7th November
After spending some time in the States, Marius Acker is now in New Zealand,
from where he writes:
"I completed the Auckland Marathon this week in 2.48. It was my second
marathon and I did not do enough long training sessions. With 10km to go I
was in 9th place but over the last 10km my 'wheels' came to a halt. I was on
course for 2.35 at that stage - I went through halfway in 1.17 and felt
really relaxed. In the last 10ks we were joined by people running a 10k
event and this helped me to the end. I walked for probably 200m before I
could get myself going again. I eventually finished 25th and earned a silver
medal for running under 3 hours. Next year I hope to try for a gold (first
ten finishers). Today I am walking like a real old man - legs are wasted!"
McLEOD CUP
This trophy goes to the person who scores the most points in races during
the cross-country season, based on 100 points for the first Ranelagh
finisher, 99 for the second and so on. There have been four counting events
so far and the next is the Thames mob match. Full details and score sheets
can be found on our web site (click on the "Ranelagh Statistics" section).
64 names appear on the men's list so far and 33 on the women's. Top ten to
date:
Men
Marcus Gohar 391, Andy Bickerstaff 388, Mike Peace 352, Julian Smith
298, Will Graves 280, Trevor Maguire 275, Graham Quick 270, Chris
Brook 256, Clive Naish 244, Phil Aiken 242.
Women
Sonia Rowland 380, Kathy Mallett 289, Corinne Bishop 265, Allison
O'Neill 200, Lauren Shelley 198, Michele Gibson 194, Sarah Seal 193,
Clodagh Fahy 180, Janet Turnes 174, Lizzie Clifford 100.
FINALLY
David Benton writes:
"Following her super-fast performance in the National Road Relays, Allison
O'Neill was delighted earlier this week to receive an invitation to
represent England in the cross-country international at Margate on 13th
November. Only problem is - she's not English! Representing Northern Ireland
doesn't quite have the same ring to it..."