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 ****************************************************************************
 RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 194               26 October 2005
 Editor: Steve Rowland
 mailto: steverowland@ranelagh-harriers.com
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 HEADLINE NEWS
 *********************
 *  We win the Lee Cup mob match v Orion Harriers
 *  Individual victory for Noel Stoddart
 *  Club men's veterans champions: Mick Lane (Over 40s), Chris Owens (Over
    50s) and Pete Warren (Over 60s)
 *  Women's team 16th in National Road Relay Championship at Birmingham
 *  Junior Points Prize wins for Taylor Nunn, Becky Withycombe, Alfie Purdue,
    Lucy Edmunds and Rebecca Clayden

 SEE HERE
 *************
 CHRISTMAS PARTY  Friday 9th December at the Turk's Head in St Margaret's
 Jo Turner writes:
 "The time has come to choose food for our Xmas bash. The cost is £25 and
 covers a 3 course meal as well as a DJ. The bar is to be open until 1am so
 we can have longer to dance and get merry! All orders need to go by email to
 Marina Quayle (mailto:marina_quayle@hotmail.com) or there are paper forms to
 be filled in at the clubhouse. Please make all cheques payable to 'Ranelagh
 Harriers' and we need payment by 1st December. Thanks for your support and
 cooperation in advance".

 STARTER
 1. Spicy pumpkin soup
 2. Scallops and smoked streaky bacon skewers
 3. Blue swimmer crab and crayfish thermador tartlet

 MAIN
 1. Turkey parcel with fullers stuffing
 2. Braised ham hocks
 3. Roasted artichoke heart risotto
 4. Roasted vegetable and cheese Wellington

 PUD
 1. Christmas pudding cheesecake
 2. Selection of cheese and biscuits
 3. Dessert trio (cheesecake, Yule log, sorbet)
 4. Crème brulee

 MOB MATCHES
 As you will see below, we pulled off a great win against Orion on Saturday,
 due more than anything else to our outnumbering them by 64 runners to 47.
 The next mob match is away from home, but it's only the other side of the A3
 on Wimbledon Common, so it's not exactly a long trek. Thames Hare and Hounds
 will be stronger than us at the front but if we can match or improve on that
 number of starters we can certainly win. So put the date in your diary now:
 Saturday 26th November at 2.30pm.

  WHAT'S COMING...
 ************************
 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 29th October       Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial  5km. 9am start.

 Saturday 5th November      Priory Relays (men and women) at Reigate from
 2pm.
                                         Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial  5km.
 9am start.

 Saturday 12th November    South of the Thames 5 miles Championship at
 Croydon  5 miles starting at 2.30pm.
                                         Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial  5km.
 9am start. 

 Saturday 19th November    Surrey Ladies League at Priory Park, Reigate.
 Senior race at 12.30pm, followed by junior races.
                                         Men's Surrey League Division 2 in
 Richmond Park (Kingston Gate). Juniors at 2.30pm, seniors at 3pm.
                                         Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial  5km.
 9am start. 

 Saturday 26th November     Mob Match v Thames H&H on Wimbledon Common
 (Roehampton Vale). 7.5 miles starting at 2.30pm.
                                         Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial  5km.
 9am start.
                                         Junior Points Prize Race 2 in
 Richmond Park (Sidmouth Wood).  2km starting at 2pm.
 
 PRIORY RELAYS and SOUTH of the THAMES CHAMPIONSHIPS
 The Priory race at Reigate on November 5th is a six stage relay for men and
 a four-stage for women, both using the same lap which is about 2.5 miles.
 The South of the Thames one week later is an open 5 miles race in Lloyd
 Park, Croydon, with team competitions for both men and women. For the men
 this race will provide the opportunity for a preview of the course to be
 used for the third Surrey League race in January. Anyone is welcome to run
 in either or both events - please contact Andy or Anna if you are
 interested.

 WHAT'S HAPPENED...
 ****************************
 MOB MATCH v ORION HARRIERS  Saturday 22nd October in Richmond Park
 As expected Orion brought a mob of nearly 50 around the M25 from their base
 in Epping Forest but happily we more than matched this with 64 on the
 starting line. This was a great turnout by Ranelagh and gave us a head start
 in the team stakes even before the race had got under way.

 Noel Stoddart and Mark Middleton were soon in control at the head of the
 blue and white procession and stayed there throughout the race. Noel finally
 secured his first win in Ranelagh colours in a time of 45.17, 13 seconds
 ahead of Mark. Two Orions were close behind and they in turn were pursued by
 Mick Lane and Rob Stillwell to give us four of the first six home. Chris
 Owens and Peter Weir also made the top ten, netting us a small early lead in
 the points scoring. But the result was far from clear-cut yet and at 19th
 place the count was 10 Ranelagh home to 9 from Orion.

 As is so often the case in mob matches it was in the mid-field that the race
 was really decided. Of the next 17 home 14 were from Ranelagh - including
 leading woman Liz Kipling - and this pack built up a lead for us that was to
 prove unassailable. Orion were well bunched amongst the next 20 finishers
 but for them it was too little too late. Our weight of numbers came into
 play too - with 44 a side to score our last counter was John Hughes in 80th
 place whereas Orion had to look down to 104th for their last man.

 The final score was a convincing 1760 to 2192 in our favour and the Harold
 Lee Cup was duly presented to Captain Bicks by his Orion counterpart Dave
 Brock. This brought the overall score in the mob match series to 43 wins for
 Ranelagh to 35 for Orion since the first race back in 1920, but this was our
 first victory this millennium.

 The race incorporated the club's men's vets championships and the winners
 were Mick Lane (over 40s - Hastings Cup), Chris Owens (Over 50s - McDowell
 Salver) and Pete Warren (over 60s - Maslin Mug). The vets' handicap was won
 by David Wright, who was contesting his 120th mob match. 

 Chance brought together from far and wide half the team that represented
 Ranelagh in our Centenary match against the ECCU and others 25 years ago:
 Simon Hedger visiting from Australia, Gordon Whitson from Greece, Paul Keen
 from Sheffield and David Wright from Cirencester. And all still impressively
 fit...

 
 WOMEN'S NATIONAL ROAD RELAY CHAMPIONSHIP  Saturday 22nd October at Sutton
 Park, Birmingham
 Anna McLaughlin reports:
 "After some outstanding running by the ladies team we finished in 16th
 place. The competition was very hot this year, with the winners only being
 decided in the last 150m and all the other places shuffling in after that!
 Team positions and times are below, but huge congratulations must go to all
 who ran, and a big thanks to Sarah for her as ever calming support".

 The story of the race for Ranelagh was steady progress - Jo 25th on the hot
 opening stage, skipper Anna gaining one, newcomer Cilla passing four and
 reliable Marie taking another four to bring us home 16th. It was an
 exceptionally well balanced team, with only 31 seconds covering the four
 runners on the 4.3km lap. Reserve Estelle also ran well for a non-finishing
 B team on stage one.

 We didn't qualify for the men's race but representing Winchester Phil
 Killingley ran 18.56 for their 5.8km circuit.


 JUNIOR POINTS PRIZE RACE 1  Saturday 22nd October in Richmond Park
 There was a good crowd of a couple of dozen for the first Points Prize race.
 Alfie Purdue led the opening charge but it was Taylor Nunn of the under 13
 age group who led the way back up the home straight to win by a clear 12
 seconds from Alfie. Taylor's impressive time of 8.24 was a new record for
 the U13 age group. Third across the line, and also inside the old U13
 record, was Jos Moran and he was followed by the leading girl Lucy Edmunds.
 Lucy was the last runner inside 9 minutes but then they came in thick and
 fast, including the leading U13 girl Becky Withycombe. Great performances
 all round and we hope to see as many runners or more for the next event on
 November 26th at 2pm. 


 BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km  Saturday 22nd October
 A great crowd again this week. 78 starters was second only to the first
 anniversary event.
 1 F Kelly (Raheny) 16.30
 7 Andrew Forth 18.11
 14 Nick Wright 19.16
 17 Darren Wood 19.31
 30 Alan Davidson 20.50
 39 Adam Wright 21.39
 41 Chris Wright 21.54
 43 Sara Nakielny 22.02
 62 Anna-Maria Plaza 24.08
 63 Kerrie O'Connor 24.09
 65 Gill Wilson 25.06
 69 Wally Garrod 26.32
 72 John Hanscomb 27.15

 STROUD HALF MARATHON  Sunday 23rd October
 John Atkinson writes:
 "I ran the Stroud Half Marathon on Sunday and knocked over eight and a half
 minutes off my pb! I knew I was in shape to go at least sub-83, but managed
 to clock 81:33 to finish 55th in a field of 1700 (my previous best was 90:06
 in the Richmond Half in May).
 
 I set off at 6 min/mile pace (dreaming I might be able to go sub-80!), but
 reality caught up with me as I slowed a bit during the second half (my left
 Achilles feeling the strain!). I went through 10 miles in 61:30 and managed
 to sustain 6:30s for the last 3 miles.

 There was another Ranelagh runner there - Andy Morris - who ran 94:59. Not
 bad for his first half marathon!" 

 1 N Molema (Sth Africa) 65.59  (chip time 65.58)
 55 John Atkinson 81.37  (chip time 81.33)
 323 Andy Morris 95.23  (chip time 94.59)

 FOUNDER'S CHALLENGE  Sunday 23rd October at Peaslake
 Peter Saw reports:
 "Some 116 participants set off from Peaslake village hall for the twenty six
 mile ramble through the Surrey Hills visiting sites associated with the
 founders of the LDWA, but where were the RANELAGH members? Sue Ashley ran
 round in 4 hours 36 minutes and Roger Brankin walked the route in 7 hours 33
 minutes. Clive Beauvais suffered with back trouble and cut the route short
 walking and running about eleven miles whilst Ted McCabe was seen in the
 kitchen. Steve and Sonia Rowland (fresh (?) from the mob match the previous
 day - a victory for which many congratulations!) dropped in for tea during
 the afternoon".

 SURREY COUNTY VETERANS' CHAMPIONSHIPS  Saturday 15th October in Richmond
 Park
 Results and a short report appeared in the last e-news but here is Margaret
 Auerback's first-hand account:
 "A very sunny afternoon saw us all gathering for the Surrey Vets XC champs
 on what could really have been a summer's day. A bit warm for the runners
 maybe but perfect for spectating. Ranelagh numbers were probably a bit down
 due to the race being held the day before the Cabbage Patch -- I think I
 said this last year.

 In the far distant past I vaguely remember being able to see the leaders for
 most of the race, but this time they were out of sight by the time we
 started down the hill to Pen Ponds on the first of two laps. Sandra Foot led
 the charge for Ranelagh hotly pursued by Michele Gibson. Sonia and I
 resisted the temptation to chase them - or was it that we just couldn't run
 that fast? Anyway, we kept the same steady pace throughout the two laps
 running almost identical split times although the second time up from Pen
 Ponds seemed a lot more challenging than it used to. We caught Michele but
 she stayed close enough for us to collect bronze medals in the W45 team
 event.

 Sandra ran very strongly all the way through to finish in 27.27 for the 3.82
 mile course. Juliette, Corinne, Gill Wilson and Bente Klitgaard completed
 the Ranelagh squad and all claimed to have enjoyed it.

 The men's race was also over two laps but taking them further out towards
 the ballet school making a total of 6.19 miles. Sounds very precise - Ken
 must have measured it. The race was won by Roger Alsop of Herne Hill in a
 very speedy 34.30 having opened up a gap of nearly a minute on the second
 lap. First back for Ranelagh was Mick Lane who looked very strong coming in
 towards the finish and just missed out on an M45 medal. He increased his
 lead over Chris Owens on the second lap but Chris hung on to take third in
 the M50 race.

 First in the M65 race was Keith Spacie of Thames in 41.42 a very impressive
 time as Keith is an M70 but on Saturday running for a lower age group team.
 Second M65 was Pete Warren and third was Martin Clark. Clive persuaded
 Martin to enter at the very last minute, literally as we were putting the
 entry forms in the envelope. Martin took home an individual medal and a team
 medal as Jim Forrest finished third scorer for the third M60 team. Martin, I
 think you owe Clive a drink!

 Many thanks to all those who ran on such a gloriously sunny day, to our many
 supporters round the course, to the officials and to Carol for a delicious
 tea".

 BRIDGES HANDICAP 2.3 miles Wednesday 14th September at Westminster
 John Hanscomb made a belated celebration of his new Over 70 status by
 winning the handicap in 20.16.

 HAMMERSMITH HANDICAP 5km  Tuesday 27th September
 Alan Davidson was third fastest overall at 21.28 and Alan Howard was the
 leading Over 65 with 23.10.

 RON WHEELER 2.6 miles  Wednesday 28th September at Wapping
 1 S Parker (WG&EL) 13.40
 10 Chris Read 15.44
 11 Alan Davidson 16.15

 WORLD AGE-GROUP TRIATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS  Sunday 9th October at Honolulu
 Geoff Jones was another competitor in Hawaii:
 "I took part in the World Age Group Triathlon Champs and managed to finish
 30th in my age group (40-44) and 5th Brit. I had got up to 16th place after
 the swim and the bike, but a 41min 10km (in my defence it was hot and
 humid!) dropped me back down the field, but I was still very happy with the
 overall result".

 VETERANS 10 MILES RANKINGS
 Pete Mulholland has compiled national veterans 10 miles rankings for 2005 to
 date: www.veterans10mile.org.uk. Best placed Ranelagh name is Marie
 Synnott-Wells, 5th in the W40s.

 FINALLY...
 In Saturday's mob match almost the entire field cut the corner on both laps
 where we cross the Sheen Cross - White Lodge road and we are supposed to go
 round the bench. Could have been a useful ploy - in the event that we had
 lost the match, we could have declared the race null and void...