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Newsdesk 2007
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RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 246 15 March 2007
Editor: Steve Rowland
mailto: steverowland@ranelagh-harriers.com
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HEADLINE NEWS
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* Steve Whitehead wins Spendlove Cup
* Winchester School retains Ranelagh Cup
* Spring Marathons
* Last chance to book for the Baker Cup Supper on March 31st
* Green Belt Relay - runners needed!
SEE HERE
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BAKER CUP 3 miles road handicap Saturday 31st March in Richmond Park
The traditional closing of the "winter" season is on Saturday 31st March,
the Baker Cup 3 miles road handicap. This is one of the few events on the
calendar that is suitable for absolutely everyone in the club, young and
old, fast and slow. It's only three miles and it's on traffic-free roads in
the centre of the Park. The start and finish are beside White Lodge, near
the Pen Ponds car park. Start is 3pm. You don't have to enter in advance,
just turn up on the day - preferably at the clubhouse (no later than 2.30pm)
or else at the start.
It's followed by...
The Baker Cup Supper and Prize Giving at the Orange Tree pub in Richmond
(opposite the train station), at 6.30pm for 7pm. This is the occasion when
all the trophies for the season go to their new owners. If you have won a
trophy or a medal, please try to come along to collect it. All members and
families are welcome. There will be a finger food buffet and tickets cost
£12.50. Tickets are still available but we have to confirm numbers by 24th
March, so please book now! Book your places with Jo or Marina at
mailto:joturner_45@hotmail.com or mailto:marina_quayle@hotmail.com. Parking
is nearby at Old Deer Park, which is free after 6.30pm.
FUND RAISER
We are looking for a volunteer to investigate fund-raising for the club. We
need someone who can identify opportunities and report them back to the
committee for consideration. This includes things like sponsorship, grants
(lottery, Sports Council, government etc), events and anything else we can
think of. If you think you can help please contact Hon Sec Simon Burrell
(mailto:simon_burrell@yahoo.com) or any committee member.
SPRING MARATHONS
It has been suggested that we compile a list of those Ranelagh Harriers who
are contesting Spring Marathons, so that - in the case of the London
anyway - the many Ranelagh spectators who are usually out on the course will
know whom to look out for! This in turn raises another point - if you are in
the London, please wear a club vest if possible, so that we can pick you
out!
Here's the list so far. Please let me know of any additions or corrections.
Paris Marathon (15th April)
Karen Broadbent, Michele Gibson, Evelyn Joslin, Ian Grange, Andy Hayward,
Chris Read, Tom Reay and Steve Roberts.
Rotterdam Marathon (15th April)
Ed Whitlock
London Marathon (22nd April)
Kerry Anley, Dawn Bates, Rachel Fursman, Liz Kipling, Fari Shams, Marie
Synnott-Wells, John Atkinson, George Coates, Ken Fotherby, Ian Grange,
Martin Halvey, John Hanscomb, Stephen Logue, Trevor Maguire, Nathan Mills,
Neil Myland, Mike Peace, Mike Rowland, Tim Sizeland and Steve Whitehead.
The intrepid Ian Grange, it is to be noted, will be running both Paris and
London! Nick Wright, who was to be part of the Lucozade team in London, is
unfortunately out with injury.
RANELAGH RICHMOND HALF MARATHON incl SURREY CHAMPIONSHIP
We already have over 200 entries for our Half Marathon on May 13th. Don't
leave it too late to get your entry in! Details here:
If you're not running and can spare a couple of hours, we will need lots of
help on the day - officials, marshals, helpers at water stations and so on.
The race starts at 8.30am. Please contact Carol Barnshaw if you are able to
help on 020 8547 6600 in office hours, 020 8898 9285 at home or by email on
mailto:c_barnshaw@yahoo.com"
RANELAGH'S ROAD GRAND PRIX 2007
See our web site for the full list of ten races that will be forming our
2007 Grand Prix, plus details of the rules, scoring and so on, here:.
The first event is the Thames Towpath 10 on 15th April - entries for this
close on March 30th.
SURREY ROAD LEAGUE
The five events that form the Surrey Road League all also feature in our
Grand Prix. They are as follows: Sutton 10km (May 6), Dorking 10m (June 3),
Dysart 10km (June 24), Elmbridge 10km (July 15) and Belgrave 5km (August
12).
GREEN BELT RELAY
This event takes place over the weekend of May 19th and 20th. We are the
reigning champions in both the veterans' and the women's categories. Most of
you have some idea what the GBR is all about, but for the benefit of
newcomers it's a relay covering a 220 mile circle around the London green
belt. The route is off-road where possible, very scenic, and is divided into
22 stages. The average length of each stage is therefore 10 miles, though in
fact they vary from 5.7 miles to 13.8 miles. The first 11 stages are run on
Saturday, starting at Hampton Court and finishing at Blackmore in Essex. The
race then resumes on Sunday morning to complete the circle, finishing at
Ham. Teams comprise 11 runners, and each member of the team has to run once
on Saturday and once on Sunday. You have the option of following the race
either in whole or in part (we stay overnight in Essex) or else just running
your own stage and then going home.You can see lots more information on the
race website here.
We are not sure yet how many teams we will enter - it depends on how many
people want to take part! But entries do have to be made soon, so if you are
interested, please contact me, Andy Bickerstaff or Anna McLaughlin (contact
details below) as soon as possible.
OXFORD LEAGUE
David Wright writes:
"Eagle eyed readers of Athletics Weekly (are there any?) will have noticed
that the captain and vice-captain did a bit of moonlighting during the
winter months by running in the Oxford League as a 2nd claimers for
Cirencester AC. They may also have noticed that Andy won a prize for 3rd
V40 over the season as he helped the club to its best ever position of 2nd
in the league".
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WHAT'S COMING...
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More details of the following from
Andy Bickerstaff ( 07772 111491 / mailto: andy@norris-hobs.co.uk ) or
Mark Middleton ( 07725 119649 / mailto: markjmiddleton@yahoo.co.uk ) or
Phil Aiken (07739 035189 / mailto: phil.aiken@rnid.org.uk ) or
Anna McLaughlin (07971 606521 / mailto: anna.mclaughlin@talk21.com ).
Saturday 31st March Baker Cup 3 miles road handicap. 3pm start in
Richmond Park (near White Lodge).
Sunday 1st April Kingston Breakfast Runs 8m or 16m.
Sunday 15th April Thames Towpath 10 miles at Chiswick. Ranelagh GP
race.
MABAC League 5 miles at Winterfold, 11am
start.
Sunday 22nd April London Marathon. Ranelagh GP race.
Sunday 6th May Sutton 10km. Ranelagh GP and Surrey Road League
race.
Sunday 13th May Ranelagh Richmond Half Marathon. Ranelagh GP race.
See above.
Every Saturday Bushy Park Time Trial: 9am start at the Diana
Fountain car park.
Wimbledon Common Time Trial: 9am start
at the Windmill car park.
WHAT'S HAPPENED...
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RANELAGH CUP SCHOOLS RACE Saturday 17th March in Richmond Park
A bright blustery day awaited 123 runners from 15 schools in the 80th
anniversary Ranelagh Cup schools race. The course was one lap of our mob
match circuit and for most of the distance a group of half a dozen or so
were contesting the lead. Kiralyfi of Winchester College proved the stronger
up the final hill, a few seconds ahead of Moorwood of Royal Grammar School
Guildford and John of Lancing College - whose school won the inaugural race
back in 1927. This time the honours went to Winchester, who were the
holders, but it was a close thing. The winner and his brother in 6th place
spearheaded the Winchester team but Judd School from Tonbridge packed their
scoring four into the top thirteen and failed by just two points to put
their name on the Cup for the first time.
1 M Kiralyfi (Winchester) 21.36
2 J Moorwood (RGS Guil) 21.44
3 H John (Lancing) 21.48
4 T Samuel (Westminster) 22.06
5 N James (Judd) 22.09
6 D Kiralyfi (Winchester) 22.14
Teams (4 to score)
1 Winchester 36
2 Judd 38
3 Wellington 53
FINCHLEY 20 miles incl Spendlove Cup club championship Sunday 18th March at
Ruislip
We had only three runners in the Finchley this year, all honing their
preparations for London. Steve Whitehead led the way and ran some five
minutes faster than in 2006. "I've upped the mileage this year so was
pleased with the run," writes Steve. "It was almost an even split between
the first and second half of the race". Fari Shams was 8th in the women's
race.
George Coates adds:
"Not the most attractive course with a fair bit of traffic, but all
slow-moving (a bit like me). Good parking, well-marshalled and drinks
stations with water and orange - also 4 x 5 miles laps gave you options for
10 or 15 miles. Weather was a bit windy bit otherwise ideal. All in all a
really good preparation. I did just under 3hrs 30mins which I was very
pleased with".
1 P Sanger (Epsom & E) 1.54.56
5 Steve Whitehad 2.00.41
69 Fari Shams 2.18.22
398 George Coates 3.27.08
BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 17th March
With the Park drying out, conditions underfoot have improved and another
bright morning attracted over 300 runners. Amongst the Ranelagh contingent
there were PBs from Nathan Mills, Chris Jones, junior Joss Moran and Layla
Smith.
1 J Hutchins (Bas & MH) 16.02
6 Nathan Mills 17.24
20 Chris Jones 18.28
28 Darren Wood 19.08
36 Marc Snaith 19.25
45 Chris Read 19.33
48 Joss Moran 19.35
51 Chris Brook 19.44
54 Jonny Rowan 19.49
83 Peter Wright 21.15
89 Layla Smith 21.36
115 Phil Aiken 22.20
125 Paul Bisping 22.45
152 Jo Turner 23.30
180 Jonny Peacock 24.46
183 Roger Wilson 25.06
251 John Hanscomb 28.54
253 Steve McClune 29.15
WIMBLEDON COMMON TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 17th March
Numbers crept up to 76 for the 11th WCTT, and there was a PB for George
Coates.
1 K Kyreme (Shaft B) 15.24
34 Pete Warren 21.10
48 George Coates 24.00
FRANK HARMER 10km Sunday 4th March in Battersea Park
John Hanscomb ran his fastest time as an over 70.
1 M Shone (Wood Gn) 31.53
218 John Hanscomb 53.35
G3 10km SERIES at Newlands Corner, Guildford
Results for this series, in which Alyn Morgan and Bonnie Webster took part,
were in last week's e-news. Alyn adds the grizzly details:
"The series features three cross country races, on the first weekend of the
first three months of the year, running 10km courses through the hills from
Newlands Corner car park near Guildford. The event is organised by 'All
about Triathlon' and sponsored by Snow and Rock. The courses favour runners
who like mud, sand and serious hills. One of the climbs in March had all of
the runners in the leading pack walking for pretty much all of the hill,
although there is thankfully only one killer climb in each race. To give you
an idea of the toughness of these courses you need to add around 15 minutes
to your normal 10km time to work out where you might finish. I would
encourage anyone who likes hills and mud (oh and sandy climbs and descents)
to enter these races. They are a great way to gauge how your winter training
is going and to focus the mind through the bleaker winter months. The races
are really well organised with water stations en route and at the end, along
with bananas and flap jacks aplenty at the start and finish for sustenance.
The only marshalling issue was in the March race where runners were able to
go off-course on the return leg. This was only a small issue but one that
did cost people time. There was an amazing variety of people racing so it is
also not just an event for the super fit or masochistic. Looking forward to
next year now, so I really need to work on my hill climbing".
FINALLY...
Sick as a parakeet. writes Pete Mulholland: