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Newsdesk 2006
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RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 201 4 January 2006
Editor: Steve Rowland
mailto: steverowland@ranelagh-harriers.com
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HEADLINE NEWS
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* Henty Relay win for Duncan Bell, Georgia Miansarow and Josh Smythe
* Building Fund Christmas Draw results
* Christmas Eve BPTT wins for Paul Doyle and Clare Gutch
* Special Christmas Day and New Year's Day BPTTs too
* The return of Hugh Jones
* Early starts for next week's men's and women's league races
* Centenary team reunion at the Blackheath mob match
SEE HERE
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SURREY CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS Saturday 7th January at Lloyd Park,
Croydon
The county championships get underway at 11am with the under 13 boys,
followed by the other junior events. The senior women run at 1.15pm and the
senior men at 2.10pm. For the full timetable plus maps of the venue and
course, see the Surrey Athletics website:
http://www.surreyathletics.org.uk/crosscountry/2005_2006/champs/main.htm.
SURREY CROSS-COUNTRY LEAGUES Saturday 14th January
We have now learned that BOTH men's and women's leagues will start half an
hour earlier than normal.
The women's event is at a new venue for us, Merrow Downs at Guildford. Car
parking and toilets are at the Newlands Corner Countryside Centre on the A25
between Guildford and Shere. The start times are 12 noon for seniors,
12.45 for U20s /U17s and 1.15pm for U15s/U13s.
The men are back at Lloyd Park, Croydon for the second week in succession.
U17s/U15s/U13s all run at 2pm followed by the seniors at 2.30pm.
MOB MATCH v BLACKHEATH HARRIERS Saturday 21st January in Richmond Park.
Our mob match record this season stands at won 1, lost 2. This is the last
one and we should have a good chance of levelling the tally. But as ever,
it's weight of numbers that's most important. We need as many runners as
possible, regardless of speed. You can race or treat it as a training run,
but just being there is the thing. The race is at home in Richmond Park over
7.5 miles starting at 2.30pm. The Pelling-Ratcliffe Cup is at stake for the
winning team and the race also incorporates the club championship for the
Wynne Cup and a sealed handicap. Don't miss it!
CENTENARY TEAM REUNION
At our mob match against Orion in October there was by chance a reunion of
half the team that represented Ranelagh in our club Centenary race back in
1981. In that event a selected squad of nine ran against teams representing
the English Cross-Country Union, Surrey County, Oxford and Cambridge
Universities and Thames Hare and Hounds. Bill Harvey, who was in that team,
missed the Orion match but was inspired to try to organise a more complete
reunion - with some success. He's hoping that eight of the nine will be able
to make it for the Blackheath mob match on 21st January: Kevin Harrison,
Simon Collingridge, Gordon Whitson, David Wright, Paul Keen, Gavin Jones,
Jim Forrest and Bill himself. Only Simon Hedger, who was here for the Orion
race but understandably can't make another trip over from Sydney, will
definitely be absent.
If any other "old timers" from that era are reading this and can make it on
the 21st they would of course be more than welcome!
JUNIOR POINTS PRIZE RACE 3 Saturday 21st January at 2pm.
The third of the four points prize races will take place before the mob
match at 2pm over the usual course around Sidmouth Wood.
NATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS Saturday 25th February at Hampstead
Heath (Parliament Hill)
It seems a long way away but entries have to be made very early - this week
in fact! The usual suspects will be entered anyway, but the race is open to
all comers so if you'd like to experience a "National" (and it IS an
experience!) contact Andy or Anna immediately.
BUILDING FUND DRAW
Winners of the draw made at the Henty Relay: Neil Walford (£136), Frances
Ratchford (£57) and David Parsons (£34). If you'd like to join in, it's just
a tenner a year. Send a cheque payable to 'Ranelagh Harriers Building Fund'
to Peter Trainor at 30 Hatch Place, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT2 5NB.
MABAC LEAGUE
Bev Ali writes:
"The MABAC fixtures list for 2006 is now on their site at www.mabac.org.uk.
The first race, which will be a road eight mile run or 1.3 mile walk/jog, is
on the 8th January in Windsor Great Park starting at 11 am - BUT best be at
the Blacknest Gate car park by 10:20 with £2 ready for parking fees. Numbers
will be distributed there. Directions and maps are available on the MABAC
website fixture list".
LONDON MARATHON COACHING
Frances Ratchford writes:
"It is marathon time so now that I am confirmed as a senior coach, UKA have
given me the highest qualifications possible, and I am more than happy to
help anyone going for gold....... or even just wanting to run the marathon
in London, Paris or Krakow in a record time. Last year I had some success
with a few people getting well deserved PBs, so if you want some help or
coaching then please contact me. Just so you know, coaching can include gym
work to strengthen your legs, track work, some psychology to get you through
and lots of long runs. I may also consider helping some people who only want
a good half marathon time". Contact Frances at
mailto:grapevineproductions@compuserve.com.
LONDON MARATHON PLACES #1
At the Christmas Party six names were drawn in the ballot for guaranteed
club entries for the marathon. Unfortunately it transpires that we were only
due five places, not six. So as the last name to be drawn it's John Atkinson
who will sadly be missing out.
John writes: "Should any of our 'Five' drop out through illness or injury
I'll be bouncing up and down excitedly on the subs bench, ready to step in!
I guess you could say I'm effectively first reserve!" So, if you're one of
the five and you're not going to be taking up your place after all, please
let us know.
LONDON MARATHON PLACES #2
Simone Hardy writes:
"If anyone at Ranelagh is interested in a Golden Bond place for the Flora
London Marathon then please contact me. I work at Kids, a charity that
supports disabled children, young people and their families and we have a
number of golden bond places left. We ask all runners to commit to raising
£1200 (including a £100 non-refundable registration fee) sponsorship. You
can find out more information on our website www.kids.org.uk. You can reach
me on my mobile on 07980653696".
LONDON MINI MARATHON
As usual the London Marathon on April 23rd will include a Mini Marathon for
juniors over the final 4km of the course. Each borough can enter a team in
each age group and the trial for the Richmond teams will take place in
Richmond Park on Sunday 5th February. The course is over two laps of
Sidmouth Wood, the circuit we use for our Henty Relay and Junior Points
Prize events. The timetable is: girls 13/14 and girls 15/16/17 at 10am, boys
13/14 and boys 15/16/17 at 10.30am, girls 11/12 at 11am and boys 11/12 at
11.30am. Entry deadline is Friday 27th January. There are forms at the
clubhouse or you can call the Richmond Sports Development Group on 020 8831
6133.
DAVE LOCKE...
...writes from Australia:
"I'd like to say thanks for the super job done on the website and thank the
editor/s for the effort put into the Newsletter.
It's heartwarming to see the large numbers of new members being recorded and
to get the feel that the club is morphing into a social/recreation club with
fitness-thru-running as its driving activity.
Looking at the fixture list and the Henty relay event brought to mind some
thoughts about the man behind this outing. Having done an extensive tour of
Europe with Chris Henty in his BRG Cortina, I know he'd be overjoyed at the
burgeoning numbers of females in the club and even more approving of the
fact that they're doing a lot better than the blokes! He'd also appreciate
the irony of folk turning out to get rid of the Christmas excess in his name
in no doubt freezing temperatures while downunder in NZ people are keeping
cool on the beaches.
Chris was a fan of Arthur Lydiard, a coach who believed in LSD [that's Long
Slow Distance in case you're wondering!], in the era that produced some
great Kiwi runners and Chris wasn't backwards in letting us know that if you
wanted to find out if you were a 'real' runner, you'd do some 'real'
training. 'Real' training was to try averaging 70 miles a week, [yes that's
10 a day] for four weeks. Since most of us only contemplated the two club
tens in the Park in a year, we thought he was nuts. I have to admit though
that it worked for me, [led in fact to a lifelong obsession and the
conviction that four weeks is what it takes for endorphin addiction to set
in!] and leads me to wonder what current training methods are adopted by you
folk? If any of you have a moment to share your training diary and thoughts
with me, I'd be very interested to hear from you. -
mailto:lockem@dodo.com.au. Cheers!"
THE MARATHON MARATHON
Dr Peter Haarer writes from the Centre for the Study of Ancient Documents in
Oxford:
"Minor correction to Gordon Whitson's most interesting report - the battle
of Marathon was fought in 490, not 492. A small point, but pedantry is my
business!"
DO YOU HAVE A TABLE-TENNIS TABLE?
Here's a request from a Ranelagh member:
"Does anyone who has a ping-pong (table tennis) table THAT CAN BE SET UP
INSIDE THEIR OWN HOME, preferably a basement. I need to photograph it for a
personal project".
If anybody can help please reply to me and I'll pass it on to the individual
concerned.
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WHAT'S COMING...
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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 7th January Surrey County Cross-Country Championships at
Lloyd Park, Croydon. See above.
Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial 5km.
9am start.
Sunday 8th January MABAC League 8 miles road race at Windsor
Great Park (Blacknest Gate). 11am start.
Saturday 14th January Sweatshop Surrey League Div 2 at Lloyd Park,
Croydon. See above.
Surrey Ladies League at Merrow
Downs, Guildford. See above.
Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial 5km.
9am start.
Saturday 21st January Mob match v Blackheath Harriers for the
Pelling-Ratcliffe Cup. 7.5 miles in Richmond Park at 2.30pm
Junior Points Prize Race 3 in
Richmond Park at 2pm.
Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial 5km.
9am start.
WHAT'S HAPPENED...
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HENTY RELAY Saturday 31st December in Richmond Park
Bolstered by a small contingent from Striders of Croydon there were 42
runners for the Henty on New Year's Eve, sufficient for 14 teams. Some
explanations for those unfamiliar with the event: the race is over six laps
of Sidmouth Wood; each team comprises one 'fast' who runs three laps, one
'medium' who runs two, and a 'slow' who runs one; and the sequence of
running is up to each team to decide.
Peter Haarer and Duncan Bell were clearly the fastest men on parade and it
turned out to be their teams that fought it out for the Kiwi trophy. Peter's
6.41 on the slightly shorter opening lap gave him a 16 second lead over
Duncan, but on lap two Georgia Miansarow chased Ian Grange all the way and
reduced the deficit to 9 seconds. The third circuit often turns things
upside down as some teams elect to run their 'slow' runner while others put
out their 'fast' for his or her second effort. For Peter's team it was his
wife Fiona who ran next and inevitably she soon lost the lead to Duncan.
Fiona in fact slipped back to 8th but on lap four it was husband Peter's
turn to gain ground as he ran his second circuit. He restored his team to
2nd place but for Duncan's team Josh Smythe held on to a lead of over 50
seconds. On lap five it was Ian Grange against Georgia Miansarow again and
this time it was Ian who was doing the chasing. He cut back the lead to 28
seconds, setting up a last lap showdown between Duncan and Peter.
Bets flew amongst the officials as to who would come out on top. Peter did
his best, running the fastest lap of the day but at the line Duncan still
had a scant 8 seconds in hand. "I'd just like to say thank you to Andy
Bickerstaff for the organisation and having the faith in me to back me in a
small wager," says Duncan, "I would also like to thank Georgia and Josh for
their excellent performance".
There was a close race for third too, with Andrew McLauchlan overhauling
Chris Owens on the last lap. Both had juniors as their 'medium' and 'slow'
runners, as indeed were Duncan's two partners. So it was a successful day
for the junior section, and in addition there was a new record as the
youngest ever competitor: Olivia Ricketts completed the circuit, accompanied
by dad - and she's not five until February! Her younger sister Juliet also
took part, albeit pushed round in a buggy on John's last lap!
1 Duncan Bell 6.57 / 7.23 / 7.17
Georgia Miansarow 9.18 / 10.03
Josh Smythe 10.03 50.59
2 Peter Haarer 6.41 / 7.08 / 6.57
Ian Grange 9.25 / 9.36
Fiona Haarer 11.20 51.07
3 Andrew McLauchlan 7.28 / 8.01 / 7.45
Rebecca Clayden 9.53 / 10.23
Eve Edmunds 10.09 53.39
4 Chris Owens 7.40 / 8.10 / 8.08
Lucy Edmunds 9.31 / 9.53
Toby Piachaud 10.25 53.47
5 Matt Morgan 7.13 / 7.50 / 7.52
Martin Clark 9.48 / 10.06
Ann Moseley 11.30 54.19
6 Marc Snaith 7.50 / 8.34 / 8.54
Michele Gibson 9.57 / 10.21
T Fawcett 8.59 54.35
7 Chris Morton 8.13 / 8.48 / 8.48
Morgan Evans 8.39 / 9.25
Wally Garrod 11.48 55.41
8 Anna McLaughlin 7.45 / 8.10 / 8.24
Andy Hayward 10.33 / 10.33
M Dunn 10.29 55.54
9 Bob Ewen 7.42 / 8.12 / 8.07
John Hughes 9.46 / 9.42
M Seymour 12.45 56.14
10 Chris Read 8.52 / 9.04 / 9.26
Alan Davidson 9.16 / 9.16
Karen Broadbent 10.39 56.33
11 Steve Rowland 8.18 / 8.42 / 8.57
Sonia Rowland 9.40 / 9.49
Corinne Bishop 11.32 56.58
12 S Ward 8.05 / 8.52 / 9.02
Rachel Price 9.45 / 9.58
Carol Barnshaw 11.42 57.24
13 Phil Aiken 9.32 / 10.08 / 9.49
Steven Downie 10.16 / 11.23
J Scalley 10.09 61.17
14 John Ricketts 7.59 / 8.38 / 9.40
Katherine Mercer 11.03 / 11.43
Olivia Ricketts 26.19 75.22
BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 24th December
The Christmas Eve run attracted a field of 128 runners, a record second only
to the special first anniversary run. It turned out to be a successful day
for the 27-strong Ranelagh contingent, with Paul Doyle and Clare Gutch
leading the men's and women's divisions.
It was Paul's first BPTT and he tracked those familiar with the route for
most of the distance before breaking away in the final half mile. He
inadvertently cut a corner just before the finish so his recorded time of
just inside 16 minutes was adjusted back to 16.04, leaving Paul with a
double target for his next appearance - Phil Killingley's fastest Ranelagh
time (16 mins dead) and of course the 16 minutes barrier itself.
It was a well-nigh perfect day for running and there were personal bests
aplenty, not least from Sam Perkins who hacked 28 seconds off his previous
fastest with 16.29 in 4th place. But Clare Gutch topped even that with a 33
seconds improvement down to 18.50 to finish 21st overall and leading woman.
Juniors were out in force and Taylor Nunn and Joss Moran battled around
together to finish two seconds apart just on the 20 minutes mark.
1 Paul Doyle 16.04
4 Sam Perkins 16.29
14 Andrew Forth 18.16
21 Clare Gutch 18.50
27 Daren Wood 19.13
33 Chris Read 19.35
35 Stephen Instone 19.39
40 Andrew Morris 19.57
41 Mike Bruce 19.58
43 Taylor Nunn 20.00
44 Joss Moran 20.02
46 Peter Wright 20.11
50 Alan Davidson 20.18
55 Chris Wright 20.40
57 Roger Wilson 20.51
63 Morgan Evans 21.07
78 Toby Piachaud 23.34
81 Steven Downie 23.44
82 Jim Forrest 23.45
85 Lucy Edmunds 23.59
86 Kerrie O'Connor 24.02
92 George Inman 24.19
93 Holly Clemens 24.20
97 Karen Broadbent 24.29
99 Eve Edmunds 24.41
108 Alina Mingham 25.41
115 John Hanscomb 26.36
BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Sunday 25th December
Fifty runners turned up bright and early on Christmas Day for a jaunt round
the BPTT course in the opposite direction to normal. Nobody ran very fast,
except perhaps organiser Paul Sinton-Hewitt who seized the rare opportunity
to take part himself. Father Christmas hats were there in abundance but
extra mince pies go to Andrew Morris who went round in full Santa costume
including beard.
Champagne and Christmas goodies were generously laid on after the run and in
due course we went on our way well set up for the rest of the day's
jollities.
1 R Reeder (Stragglers) 17.13
3 Sam Perkins 18.01
6 Paul Sinton-Hewitt 18.59
8 Darren Wood 19.27
14 Chris Wright 20.53
15 Chris Hunton 20.59
17 Alan Davidson 21.10
18 Andrew Morris 21.12
25 Sonia Rowland 24.08
26 Steve Rowland 24.08
28 Alastair Sinclair 24.30
32 Simon Burrell 25.46
34 Karen Broadbent 26.12
35 Jo Turner 26.13
36 Joanne Muir-Little 26.13
42 John Hanscomb 26.59
48 Alexander Quayle 31.24
49 Simon Quayle 31.27
50 Marina Quayle 31.27
CHRISTMAS MORNING 30 mins PAARLAUF Sunday 25th December on Wimbledon Common
Bushy Park just wasn't enough for some people...
1 A Bodin (HW) & A Robinson (THH) 5m 1420yds
3 K White (HW) & Steve Rowland 5m 1037yds
7 R Xerri (HW) & Sonia Rowland 5m 638yds
LAST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH 5km Friday 30th December in Hyde Park
1 E Jackson (Notts Un) 14.51
81 Pete Warren 20.54
82 Alan Davidson 20.55
135 John Hanscomb 26.45
BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 31st December
Over a hundred turned out again, despite the Ranelagh presence being a
little lighter than normal owing to the Henty Relay following on three hours
later. Jenny Lloyd-Jones ran her fastest time for the course in finishing as
2nd woman.
1 D Cummins (W Water) 16.43
17 Jenny Lloyd-Jones 19.32
19 Stephen Instone 19.45
41 Stephen Logue 20.57
49 Roger Wilson 21.29
65 Adam Wright 23.51
69 Alfie Purdue 24.43
70 Karen Broadbent 24.58
76 Julie Drummond 25.39
79 Luke Wilson 25.52
82 Gill Wilson 26.02
88 John Hanscomb 26.43
89 Robin Drummond 26.57
99 Bea Purdue 31.42
BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Sunday 1st January
...and a hardy 30 were out bright and early (or in some cases fuzzy and very
late) on New Year's Day. Not surprisingly, pbs were thin on the ground. The
Wilsons were all out in crisp white shirts and dicky bows and Jo Turner,
"resplendent in evening dress and running shoes" (to quote Roger Wilson) was
first woman home. For the evidence, see
http://bptt.net/BPTT/20060101/index.html.
1 F Kelly (Raheny) 18.00
6 Andrew McLauchlan 19.00
8 Paul Sinton-Hewitt 19.06
11 Darren Wood 20.13
16 Roger Wilson 22.34
19 Jo Turner 23.52
21 Luke Wilson 25.42
24 Gill Wilson 26.02
25 Robin Drummond 26.23
NEW YEAR'S DAY 10km Sunday 1st January in Hyde Park
A slightly more reasonable start time of 11am found nine RH lining up beside
the Serpentine for three laps of Hyde Park. A welcome sight amongst them was
Hugh Jones, in his first racing appearance for some eighteen months. Hugh's
35.59 was probably his slowest ever but having celebrated his 50th birthday
in November it was comfortably good enough to win that age group by two and
a half minutes from Gordon Whitson. Pete Warren was first over 60.
1 M Geele (Leicester) 31.08
15 Hugh Jones 35.59
28 Gordon Whitson 38.32
84 Alan Davidson 42.31
98 Pete Warren 43.09
154 Phil Aiken 46.25
173 Tom Reay 47.30
207 Noel Simpson 49.31
231 Jacqui Reid 50.39
314 John Hanscomb 54.59
RON WHEELER 2.6 miles Wednesday 21st December at Wapping
1 S Roberts (Paddock W) 13.42
7 Chris Read 15.52
10 Andy Hayward 18.57
KINGFIELD CANTER 2.85 miles handicap Wednesday 4th January at Woking
1 P Dry (Epsom O) 24.22 (actual time 19.52)
12 Steve Rowland 26.36 (actual time 17.21)
24 Sonia Rowland 27.19 (actual time 20.34)
28 Alan Davidson 27.32 (actual time 19.02)
RUN BARBADOS 10km Saturday 3rd December
Andy Bickerstaff adds the gory details:
"Despite being in terrible form and all indications being that I'd be lucky
to run sub 40, and having arrived only 24 hours earlier and it being 32
degrees Celcius...hah, it was only 10k. I started like I was going to run 35
minutes....passed 1k in 3:30 ....but that was that! Pain, agony! 5k in
19mins.....you can guess the rest..."
FINALLY...
Thanks to Pete Mulholland for finding this:
"If God invented marathons to keep people from doing anything more stupid,
the triathlon must have taken Him completely by surprise". P.Z. Pearce.