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 ****************************************************************************
 RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 165        12 JANUARY 2005
 Editor: Steve Rowland
 mailto: steverowland@ranelagh-harriers.com
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 HEADLINE NEWS
 *  First-ever Surrey Cross-Country team golds for Ranelagh's women
 *  Jordan Mungovan 4th in Under 20s
 *  Men's team 6th

 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 January 15th             Surrey League Division One - men on
 Wimbledon Common, women in Richmond Park. See below.
                                               Ranelagh 5 km Time Trial in
 Bushy Park. 9am start
 
 Saturday January 22nd            Inter-club v Bank of England and others
 including the Hec Petersen Trophy v Ealing.
                                               Ranelagh 5 km Time Trial in
 Bushy Park. 9am start 

 Saturday January 29th             South of England Cross-Country
 Championships at Parliament Hill
                                              Ranelagh 5 km Time Trial in
 Bushy Park. 9am start
 
 Saturday February 5th             Pelling Ratcliff Cup Mob Match v
 Blackheath Harriers at Hayes (Kent). See below.
                                              Ranelagh 5 km Time Trial in
 Bushy Park. 9am start 

 Sunday February 6th               London Mini-Marathon trials for Richmond's
 team in Richmond Park. See below.

 SURREY LEAGUE DIVISION ONE  Saturday 15th January
 The women's event is on our home course in Richmond Park. Senior women first
 at 12.30pm, U20s and U17s at 1.15pm and U15s and U13s at 1.45pm. The men are
 back on Wimbledon Common. All under 17 age groups at 2.30pm, seniors at 3pm.
 The start is at the same place as the South of the Thames race before
 Christmas: Race HQ, toilets etc are at Belgrave Hall in Denmark Road.
 
 INTER-CLUB incl HEC PETERSEN TROPHY  Saturday 22nd January in Richmond Park
 Your chance to race over some different bits of the Park. This is 5 miles
 starting at 2.30pm on the Bank of England's course from Roehampton Gate.

 MOB MATCH v BLACKHEATH & BROMLEY HARRIERS & AC for the Pelling-Ratcliff Cup
 Saturday 5th February at 2.30pm.
 This is the last of our 2004/2005 mob matches. Above all else, mob matches
 are all about which club can get the most runners to the starting (and
 finishing!) line. So we need as many Ranelagh Harriers as possible to turn
 up for a seven and a half mile multi-terrain run through the Kent
 countryside. It really doesn't matter if you're fast or slow. The Blackheath
 HQ is in Bourne Way, close to the junction of the A2022 and A232 and near
 Hayes station. Note that's Hayes in Kent, not Middlesex!
 The start is at 2.30pm but note it's a 10 mins jog from the clubhouse.
 If you're late, go straight there.

 We will be running a free mini-bus from the Ranelagh clubhouse leaving at
 12.15pm and returning after the post-race tea. It would be helpful (but not
 vital) if you could let Andy Bickerstaff know if you're likely to make use
 of this (contact details above).

 JUNIOR POINTS PRIZE RACES
 A last reminder that race 3 will NOT now be on 22nd January as originally
 planned, because the Surrey Schools championship is scheduled for the same
 date. The next race will be on February 28th and there will be an additional
 race in March.

 LONDON MINI-MARATHON 2005
 The trials for the Richmond team to take part in the London Mini-Marathon
 will take place in Richmond Park on Sunday 6th February. The 5km
 Mini-Marathon takes place on part of the London Marathon course on the
 marathon day itself, Sunday 17th April. Competitors must be aged between 11
 and 17 on April 17th and to represent Richmond you must either live or go to
 school in the borough. There are four races in the trial - girls 13-17 at
 9.30am, boys 13-17 at 10am, girls 11-12 at 10.30am and boys 11-12 at 11am.
 Entry forms are in the clubhouse or can be obtained from the Sports
 Development Team, Regal House (1st floor), London Road, Twickenham TW1 3QB.

 WHAT'S HAPPENED...
 ****************************
 SURREY CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS  Saturday 8th January at Lloyd Park,
 Croydon
 Anna McLaughlin's notes on the run:
 "Wind wind and more wind...frantic start with more than its fair share of
 elbows up the first short hill... round the back...then into what felt like
 a wind tunnel...not a lot of mud but the ground was soft enough for long
 spikes.

 Up the long hill and along the ridge directly into the wind...and then down
 without the wheeee due to the wind! Then back round again...fantastic club
 support around the course (including a shout from Sonia as she made her way
 up the hill!)

 Ranelagh have never won the Ladies Team XC gold before... and it was even
 sweeter with the fact that our top four ladies were not there competing for
 places!...still grinning : ) ".

 Anna, always on duty, admitted after the finish that she was composing her
 report during the race - but if so, that certainly didn't slow her down as
 she put in her best cross-country performance to date to win her first
 Surrey medal of any colour - and it was a gold. Alice, Sara and Estelle were
 all adding to their collections! There's a cup to come too, but
 unfortunately the previous holders neglected to return it on Saturday.

 Alice had led the Ranelagh contingent throughout and for the first lap was
 in contention for 6th place before a stitch slowed her. The other three were
 always close together and it was this packing that brought home the
 proverbial bacon.

 In the men's race eventual winner Dave Taylor was off from the start at a
 veritable sprint and was never headed. Doyley mixed it for a while with the
 chasing group before slipping back to 14th. Julian, meanwhile, started
 cautiously and stealthily advanced throughout. Marcus, Captain Bicks, Andrew
 McLauchlan and Graham Quick completed the scoring team of six which finished
 in 6th place.

 We had just a single representative each in the men's Under 20, Under 17 and
 Under 15 races but all acquitted themselves well. The star individual
 performance of the whole afternoon was probably that of Jordan Mungovan in
 the Under 20 race. The eventual top three finishers busrt away at the start
 with Jordan back in about 12th place. He quickly advanced to 5th and then
 into an isolated 4th. On the second of the two laps one of the leading trio
 began to weaken and Jordan was closing him down steadily but unfortunately
 the finish came too soon. A bronze medal was missed by just 16 seconds but
 Jordan has the consolation of winning his first Surrey vest.

 Under 15 Matt Hirschler was the first Ranelagh runner in action and though
 slipping back a little after a good start he still finished well in the top
 half of the field in 24th place. Dan Jermy's experience in the Under 17
 event was similar and he held on for 16th, again comfortably in the top
 half.


 LAURISTON 7 miles    Saturday 1st January at Wimbledon
 Stephen Instone, who turned 50 three days before Christmas, lost no time in
 collecting his first Over 50 win. The first man home, John McFarlane of
 Thames, had finished 3rd in the Hyde Park 10km the same morning!
 1 J McFarlane (TH&H) 35.59
 14 Stephen Instone 44.37

 BOX HILL KNACKER CRACKER  Saturday 1st January at Box Hill
 John Kipps reports:
 "51 brave souls covered the 11.5km (?) course which includes five tough (!)
 ascents, climaxing with a 'run' to the top of Box Hill from the stepping
 stones across the River Mole".
 1 J Dick (London Heath) 61.26
 11 John Kipps 69.36
 39 Simon Burrell 88.14

 BUSHY PARK 5Km TIME TRIAL  Saturday 8th January
 Paul Sinton-Hewitt writes:
 "I woke up early this morning, like most other BPTT days, and listened to
 the rain pouring down. Perhaps I could lie in today? No one in their right
 mind is going to brave the wind and cold this week? Ha! You are obviously
 made of tougher stuff than that!" 24 runners braved the cold and biting
 wind.
 1 E Bond (Stragglers) 18.12
 3 Stephen Instone 20.24
 4 Darren Wood 21.04
 5 Andy Hayward 21.57
 6 John Kipps 21.59
 11 Wally Garrod 25.02
 12 Carol Barnshaw 25.29
 14 Luke Wilson 26.45
 15 Sam Hunton 27.14
 16 Chris Hunton 28.07
 17 Amelie Hunton 28.07
 21 Holly Wilson 30.55
 22 Gill Wilson 30.56 

 PAUL BEAUVAIS
 Mike Hubbert reports from Melbourne that Paul finished 30th in the Mountain
 to Surf race over a very tough 8km course at Lorne (south west of Melbourne)
 on Friday 7th January. Paul's time was 28.30.

 LIZZIE CLIFFORD...
 ...is keeping fit: now representing Garden City Runners she finished 3rd in
 the Buntingford 10 miles on December 27th in 66.35.

 TRAINING
 ************
 Robin Drummond's  "Improvers Sessions" continue on Thursday nights at 7pm
 from the clubhouse, concentrating on speed and technique. See below for an
 outline of the forthcoming sessions. Full details can be found on our web
 site.

 As an alternative on Thursday nights, Margaret Auerback and Frances
 Ratchford are holding Strength and Conditioning coaching sessions at 7.30pm
 in the free-weights room at the gym at St Mary's College, Waldegrave Road.
 Coaching at the gym on other days is negotiable. For more information
 contact Frances at mailto:grapevineproductions@compuserve.com.

 Tuesday nights continue as normal, with speed work for various groups (next
 few sessions below) and Wally's beginners' club. Full details on our web
 site.

 Also Wednesdays at 6.30pm and Sundays at 10am at the clubhouse for a steady
 run in the Park.

 Tuesday sessions. Each also includes a steady run warm up and warm down.
 Jan 18th  Church Lane loops
 Jan 25th  8 x 90secs on Holly Lodge hill plus 4 x 30 secs
 Feb 1st   3 x 5 mins, 3 x 3 mins

 Thursday sessions. Each also includes a steady run warm up and warm down.
 Jan 13th  4 x Nightingale Lane bottom and 4 x Nightingale Lane top
 Jan 20th  3 x 3 x 6 secs in Ranelagh Drive

 POWLEY ERROR SHOCK HORROR (continued)
 Bill Harvey writes:
 "My view is that with his well known optimism/generosity, Ken secretly
 anticipated my arrival time to be 5 minutes after the start. Note  I would
 still have won by a comfortable 2 secs. This is the first handicap I have
 ever 'won' (in 32 years) - probably the last too, unless I learn Alf
 Pearce's secret".

 THE GREAT RUSSIAN RUN
 Ray Auerback passes on the following from Bruce Tulloh:
 "Runners wanted for the world's longest running event! May 28 2005 will see
 the start of a relay run from Vladivostok to St. Petersburg - 7000 miles,
 run in 15 stages, ending Sept.10th This is a joint Anglo-Russian venture,
 with the official support of the Russian government. The event is being
 organised by The World Race Trust, who put on the round-Britain Millennium
 relay in 2000. Selection and training are in the hands of Bruce Tulloh,
 former holder of the Los Angeles -New York record, and ex-Special Forces
 survival expert Hugh McManners. 

 On each stage, teams of 6, both British and Russian, will cover about 500
 miles in 6 days, so each runner will be expected to cover about 80 miles,
 running two 6-7 mile legs each day, with one change-over day. 

 What will it cost? £1000 for the one-week trip, which will include return
 travel from London, via Moscow, to the start of your relay leg, as well as
 all food and transport during the event and official event track suits and
 running gear, and a pre-event induction course in the UK  - PLUS - You will
 be expected to raise £1000 sponsorship money for homeless and orphaned
 children in Russia  target £1000 each.  For the extra fit  or those wanting
 even more of a challenge  you can do a two week trip  for an additional £250
 only.

 How many can take part? The aim is to have two British teams on each leg,
 which is 180 runners in total. I'm looking for individuals to form 'Bruce's
 Team' for one stage. If we have two teams, so much the better.

 How fit do I need to be? Speed is not important, but endurance is vital. You
 will need to run a half-marathon in about 1hr 45 every day for 6 days - but
 split into 2 sections. Training plans will be provided by Bruce, for several
 levels.

 Places are available. We need complete teams or individual runners. To find
 out more, go to our website, www.theworldrace.com, or contact Bruce Tulloh
 at mailto:btulloh@aol.com".

 FINALLY
 "Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must outrun the
 fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up.
 It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It
 doesn't matter whether you're a lion or gazelle - when the sun comes up,
 you'd better be running."