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Newsdesk 2007
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RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 255 20 June 2007
Editor: Steve Rowland
mailto: steverowland@ranelagh-harriers.com
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HEADLINE NEWS
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* Successful conclusion to beginners' course
* Wet evening for Trail Challenge
* 8.47 3000m by Sam Perkins
* Triathlon wins by Bonnie Webster
* Dysart Dash 10km this Sunday
* Chris Brasher Ponds Run next Tuesday
* Wedding Day for our women's Captain
SEE HERE
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DYSART DASH 10km Sunday 24th June at Ham
There is still time to enter for our 10km next Sunday.
As usual we will need helpers in various capacities on the day - marshals,
recorders at the finish, water station attendants and so on. The start time
is 9am. If you can spare an hour or two to help, please volunteer to Bev Ali.
AFFILIATION - What, where, why, how?
Frances Ratchford writes:
"Affiliation is something we should all be used to, we pay subs to counties,
territories and to our governing body and in return we get information,
support, competition, registration of coaches & officials. BUT what usually
happens is we all just sit back after we have paid our subs and let Ranelagh
pay the affiliation fees for us.
England Athletics like lots of other sporting governing bodies is doing it
slightly differently. It is asking individuals to affiliate but only
competing individuals. Every competitor will pay £3 this year and £5 next
year.
What will they get in return?
Every competitor will get a unique number, which they can use for the rest
of their competing life plus a membership card. Affiliation will also
provide third party insurance for clubs and athletes. It means that you as
an athlete will be insured for any race you take part in, whether it is
cross-country or road. For the club it means that we are insured against any
accident happening to you our members.
Why us?
Most other sports already use this system, some sports ask individuals to
send their details directly to the governing body but England Athletics are
using the clubs to collect the money and note the details of athletes. It
will mean that for the first time grass roots athletics has a true picture
of who is in the sport and that will help planning for the future
For better or worse
The money collected regionally will stay in the region and will be used to
improve coaches' education and officials' education, or be used for squad
days or development work. Only athletes pay so at last we can say thank you
to coaches, officials and volunteers for all their hard work, and they don't
pay. Long term it may mean that we could have individual chips for
competitors rather than membership cards. You will only have to quote your
number on entry forms as a check that YOU are affiliated.
More junk mail?
No, tick the box on the form and your details will only be accessible to you
and England Athletics. You will have an individual password to access your
information. Recognised competition organisers will only have access to
names, club membership and ages of competitors.
When?
Athletic Services have sent out a pack to guide clubs with the affiliation
process. There is also an excel spreadsheet, which they will email on
request. Annual affiliation is due on April 1st 2007 and annually after
that. But Athletic Services are aware that this year there will be a lot of
extra work for clubs so will accept data a few months late. Ranelagh have
already paid the basic £50 on behalf of the club, and the new affiliation
fees will be met by the club for this year but will be paid by athletes next
year as an add on to the subscription.
Not sure if I am an competitor
We all know that feeling when we have been injured or just not able to
train. You can delay paying until you are sure you are going to run in races.
But unaffiliated fees will be in the region of £2-£3 from now, whereas by
affiliating you only have to pay £5 for unlimited races
And the good news?
All the money from affiliation fees will come back to the region so England
Athletics can help our club and our athletes. Clubs can contact anyone in
the London region with ideas that may need grants to help them with
administration or development of their club. That in practical terms means
money for computers, courses for officials or coaches or really imaginative
schemes or innovations.
If you have any questions or concerns please e-mail me direct at
mailto:grapevineproductions@compuserve.com
CHRIS BRASHER PONDS RUN Tuesday 26th June in Richmond Park
Our annual commemoration of the late Chris Brasher takes the form of a run
visiting every one of the ponds in Richmond Park (or as many as you can!).
See parts of the Park you never knew existed! All are welcome, start time is
7pm. Details and a map:
NONSUCH PARK 4 x 2.2 miles Relay Thursday 5th July at Mansion House
Gardens, Nonsuch Park, Epsom
To quote the race web site: "Held in the wonderful Nonsuch Park these
popular relays attracted a record entry of 60 teams in 2006. The event has
categories for men, women, V40 & V50 men and V40 women. The relay starts at
7pm. The course is mainly on tarmac but there is a stretch of grassland
midway round each lap. The only climb on the lap is on the grassland
followed by a slight descent on tarmac towards the Mansion House". Anyone
interested in making up a team please contact Phil Aiken (07739 035189 or
mailto:phil.aiken@rnid.org.uk)
CONGRATULATIONS...
...to Anna McLaughlin and John Scally who are to be wed this Saturday.
SUBSCRIPTIONS...
...for 2007/08 are now due. Rates are unchanged this year and will cover the
new £3 affiliation fee required by UKA:
Juniors £6, Seniors £30, Over 60 AND retired £5, Family £60, non-running,
second claim or "country" members £10.
Cheques should be payable to Ranelagh Harriers. See Chris Owens at training
nights or send your cheque to the clubhouse in an envelope marked
"Membership Secretary". Address is Ranelagh Harriers, 135A Petersham Road,
Richmond, Surrey TW10 7AA.
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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
Anna McLaughlin (07971 606521 / mailto: anna.mclaughlin@talk21.com ).
Sunday 24th June Dysart Dash 10km at Ham. Ranelagh GP race and
Surrey 10km championship. See above.
Tuesday 26th June Chris Brasher Ponds Run in Richmond Park. 7pm
start.
Thursday 28th June Stragglers Junior Handicap at the Hawker Centre.
8pm start.
Sunday 1st July Harry Hawkes 8 miles at Thames Ditton. 10am
start.
Tuesday 10th July Coad Cup 5 miles handicap in Richmond Park. All
members welcome, 7.15pm start, followed by...
Tuesday 10th July Annual General Meeting in the clubhouse, 8.15pm
start or as soon as everyone is back from the race.
Sunday 15th July Elmbridge 10km at Walton. 9.30am start.
Friday 27th July Wedding Day 7km in Bushy Park. 7.30pm start.
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.
Banstead Woods Time Trial: 9am start off
B2219 Park Lane, Chipstead
More details at www.parkrun.com
RANELAGH ROAD GRAND PRIX
The next GP event is the Dysart Dash 10km. Full details
SURREY ROAD LEAGUE
The third League event is the Dysart Dash 10km.
WHAT'S HAPPENED...
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TRAIL CHALLENGE Tuesday 19th June in Ham and Richmond Park
South London Orienteers seem to have upset the weather gods...it was pouring
with rain for much of the evening, just as it had for the Street
Orienteering event we hosted on their behalf in February. The Trail
Challenge events are a cross between Orienteering and cross-country races,
with an Orienteering-type map but all competitors starting together. This
one was originally intended to be entirely within Richmond Park, but the
Park authorities withdrew their permission at the last minute citing
concerns over nesting birds. So instead the routes took in the Ham House,
Ham Fields and Ham Common areas before entering the Park at Ham Gate for the
final couple of controls. It was still mostly familiar ground for the
Ranelagh members who decided to give it a go, though Ham Fields - that area
circled by the Dysart Dash course - was a novelty for some.
I'm not clear whether the stated distances are supposed to represent "as the
crow flies" or "as the Orienteer orienteers". At any rate the winner, who
was wearing a GPS device, reckoned that he had covered 6.6 miles. Others
might have gone further...
45 took part in the 10km event and Niall O'Connor was the first Ranelagh man
home in 14th place. A few seconds behind came Phil Aiken, who won one of the
vets prizes. 23rd and first woman overall was Sonia Rowland. In the 6km
Steve Rowland finished 4th and 3rd 'super-vet' in a field of 29.
Full results, including individual splits, will soon appear on the SLOW web
site www.sloweb.org.uk/trail/Index.htm
10km
1 N Barrable (SYO) 40.01
14 Niall O'Connor 53.39
16 Phil Aiken 53.52
23 Sonia Rowland 61.36
29 Simon Burrell 70.00
30 Martin Clark 70.14
38 Laurel Jones 72.50
41 Ian Grange 74.18
6km
1 G Newton (Tadworth) 31.03
4 Steve Rowland 34.33
17 Gabrielle McNamara 40.45
24 Zoe Williams 65.16
BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 9th June
David Rowe took another few seconds off his PB, but he was the only improver
this week from the Ranelagh contingent.
1 M Pierson (Holmfirth) 15.46
10 Peter Weir 17.45
21 David Rowe 18.34
31 Chris Brook 19.01
44 Darren Wood 19.36
63 Chris Camacho 20.32
66 Jenny Lloyd-Jones 20.34
116 Phil Aiken 21.50
141 Andrew Woodhouse 22.27
147 Paul Bisping 22.35
161 Luke Wilson 22.47
257 Roger Wilson 26.09
269 Gill Wilson 26.51
273 Wally Garrod 27.00
276 John Hanscomb 27.03
338 Sharon Rowe 29.34
WIMBLEDON COMMON TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 9th June
Sarah Smith made her WCTT debut and was the second woman home.
1 C Strzdala (Unatt) 16.50
9 Andy Bickerstaff 17.59
23 Sarah Smith 19.30
24 Stephen Instone 19.38
30 Pete Warren 21.26
38 Martin Clark 23.04
44 Kathy Mallett 24.11
EPSOM 10km Sunday 10th June
John Hanscomb won the over 70 category.
1 T Elsey (Herne Hill) 33.10
52 Phil Aiken 43.44
209 John Hanscomb 56.54
NORTH DOWNS RUN 30km Sunday 10th June
Iain Wilson reports:
"I found the NDR 30 when I went looking for something a bit different for my
Sunday long run. And what a find. If you can get yourself to Gravesend for
the 10:30 start, then you are rewarded with the most scenic of circular
routes, almost entirely on trails through the Kent fields and woods. At this
time of year the wild flowers are in full bloom, with some fields almost
blood-red with poppies, others drifted white with daisies.
The day was sunny and warm. The organisation was top class, the route
well-marked, almost impossible to miss, ample water stations (with jelly
babies); the marshals friendly and helpful. However, it is 'undulating'.
Indeed, even the organisers call it 'challenging'. And as I'd only done one
18 miler so far in my current build-up, I decided to start easy and see how
it went. So I stuck mid-pack of the 400 or so runners on the loop round the
playing field before heading out on the downs. I reckon I held about 50th
after 10k, picked off a handful to be 45th after 20k and was lucky enough to
be able to hold my pace from there on in as others wilted in the heat and
hills. I picked up 20 places in the last 10k. What a great (and rare)
feeling that is.
Home-made cakes galore at the finish to aid recovery and a free swim in the
leisure centre for those who wanted it. I can see why it gets its high
satisfaction rating on the Runnersworld website. Recommended. Mind you, I
like trail running".
1 J Rendell (Tonbridge) 1.55.44
25 Iain Wilson 2.27.30
SOUTH DOWNS MARATHON Sunday 17th June
Iain Wilson again:
"Inspired by my discovery of the North Downs Run last week, I went looking
for another trail run for this weekend - and found what I thought was
(almost) the ideal candidate..a run along the South Downs Way!
I've always wanted to run here, having already completed the North Downs Way
(albeit, in 'instalments' over several weekends) and half of the Downs Link.
The only small problem was that this was the full 26.2 miles, and it seems
contrary to the accepted wisdom to do a marathon as part of your marathon
build-up. Still, I rationalised it as a 10k warm-up to be followed by my
'planned' 20 miler. Gullible, or what?
Nice surprise to meet Phil Aiken and his relay team-mates at the start. Phil
was dressed in his other guise as a Pirate, and was about to set off in
rather swashbuckling style to run the first two (of the required four) relay
legs. He didn't elaborate on whether his crew had suffered a mutiny, or man
overboard. Perhaps it was just the recent Home Counties shortage of pirates.
Anyway, I saw him again at the stage 2/3 changeover and we exchanged 'Yo Ho
Ho's'. He seemed to have enjoyed his run.
As indeed I did mine. The whole route is completely different in character
to the North Downs, being more open scenery-wise and the South version of
the Downs is the more 'muscular'. The run broadly consists of four sections,
each with its own long drag up to the Downs ridge - with its associated
spectacular views - and a descent to the intersecting valley, plus numerous
subsidiary hills. My uphill tactic in this terrain is to reduce speed to
whatever is required to maintain any approximation of a running gait, short
of walking. This worked sufficiently well to see me to the finish in 3:38
just as my legs were beginning to wobble. The winner, Stuart Mills of
Brighton and Hove AC, finished in 2:51, a seriously impressive 22 minutes
ahead of second place.
Another well organised event, with good camaraderie. I still like trail
running".
1 S Mills (Brighton & H) 2.51.07
24 Iain Wilson 3.38.00
ST ALBANS HALF MARATHON Sunday 10th June
Karen O'Hara was the only Ranelagh representative but Lizzie Clifford -
representing Garden City Runners - finished 3rd woman in 88.33.
1 B Le Caloch (unatt) 76.03 (chip time 76.01)
602 Karen O'Hara 114.53 (113.24)
BEGINNERS' COURSE 2.6 miles Tuesday 12th June
Robin Drummond reports:
"A well attended beginners' course came to its climax with the usual two lap
race around Sidmouth Wood. On a hot and humid evening the field started
sensibly and at the end of the first lap were closely bunched. The second
lap saw a dramatic change in positions and with well over half the field
recording negative splits, Charlotte the early leader was overtaken and Anna
came to the front to win by almost 30 seconds from Hannah and Lisa. Anna was
1min 44 faster on her second lap to record an overall time of 29.28".
1 Anna Finney 29.28 (1st lap 15.36, 2nd lap 13.52)
2 Hannah Bradshaw 29.57 (15.33, 14.24)
3 Lisa Greggains 30.30 (15.33, 14.57)
4 Christine Nunn 30.42 (15.38, 15.04)
5 Charlotte McIntyre 31.11 (15.19, 15.52)
6 Stacey Barber 31.30 (16.11, 15.19)
7 Suzanne Flude 31.37 (15.50, 15.47)
9 Rose Constantine 31.39 (16.03, 15.36)
10 Rupinder Sohal 31.49 (15.52, 15.57)
11 Lucy Haspineal 32.14 (15.49, 16.25)
12 Elaine Coffey 32.49 (15.54, 16.55)
13 Helen Williams 33.52 (16.13, 17.39)
One lap
Gillian Higgins 16.47
Becky Mountier 17.02
Hayley Savage 17.02
WHITE ROCK 10km Sunday 3rd June
John Atkinson reports from Canada:
"I contested the White Rock 10k (in south-west British Columbia) last Sunday
and managed to grind my way to a time of 38:20, for 19th place in a field of
208. It was a hot morning -- though not quite 'London Marathon hot' -- and,
with the course sheltered by clusters of towering trees in places, the heat
didn't play too big a part. We wound our way along a hilly course tracking
the Pacific coastline -- close to the US border -- with the last K virtually
all downhill (NICE). Remarkably, and slightly embarassingly, my time was
good enough to take first place in the 30-34 age group -- all the good
runners having apparently chosen the first week of June to go on holiday.
The shock of hearing my name announced caused me to spray half-eaten banana
over a cluster of fatigued runners sprawled out on the lawn in front of me.
I marched jauntily up to the podium as if I'd won the Olympics -- but really
it felt more like Commonwealth Games gold. I'm coming into some fitness now,
though, having upped my mileage and quality of nutrition, so hopefully some
PBs may be lurking just around the corner. The race was won by Graeme Wilson
of Vancouver in 32:27 -- and he was 1:33 clear of the rest!"
ST MARY'S RELAYS Wednesday 6th June at Twickenham
Sam Perkins finished 11th in a high-quality 3000 metres
1 J Hutchins (Bels) 8.25.60
11 Sam Perkins 8.47.04
LENSBURY BRIDGES 2.3 miles Handicap Wednesday 13th June
Alan Davidson reports:
"I managed to run the Lensbury Bridges handicap whilst at the same time
doing the handicap timing! As it happened I was there early enough to do a
solo 'blast' round the course finishing just in time to set the first runner
off on handicap! The age groups shown in the original result also suggested
that I had lost 5 years during this timewarp situation (without the help of
a tardis)".
1 M Bybak (Unatt) 16.40 (actual time 16.40)
4 Alan Davidson 19.23 (16.01)
19 John Hanscomb 21.09 (20.01)
MARATHON WINDOWS TOUR OF EPSOM Monday 11th - Friday 15th June
"I'll try anything" Phil Aiken was one of 99 runners who completed all five
races in this Clive Beauvais-sponsored event.
Day 1 3.3m at Horton Country Park
1 V Van Woerkom (EO) 18.01
31 Phil Aiken 21.59
Day 2 4.4m at Nonsuch Park
1 J Hart (EO) 24.13
36 Phil Aiken 29.38
Day 3 3m at Hogsmill
1 V Van Woerkom (EO) 16.56
27 Phil Aiken 20.14
Day 4 3.25m time trial at Epsom Downs
1 V Van Woerkom (EO) 17.48
28 Phil Aiken 21.24
Day 5 4m at Horton Country Park
1 V Van Woerkom (EO) 21.19
27 Phil Aiken 25.28
Overall
1 V Van Woerkom (EO) 1.38.37
22 Phil Aiken 1.58.43
BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 16th June
1 C Kosgei (Kenya) 14.51
19 Josh Keisler 18.50
34 Darren Wood 19.50
46 Chris Camacho 20.42
57 Chris Hunton 21.09
68 George Inman 21.47
108 Karen Broadbent 23.06
142 Roger Wilson 24.23
170 Alan Craig 25.37
200 John Hanscomb 26.51
265 Holly Wilson 29.56
267 Gill Wilson 29.58
292 Deirdre Inman 34.10
WIMBLEDON COMMON TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 16th June
1 J Helmer (Herc Wimb) 16.56
14 Stephen Instone 20.06
BANSTEAD WOODS TIME TRIAL Saturday 16th June
The inaugural event in the latest addition to the UKTT family attracted a
field of 65 runners.
1 W Clark (Epsom & E) 16.58
31 Jo Turner 23.59
62 Brian Chard 32.55
NEW FOREST OLYMPIC TRIATHLON Sunday 13th May
Bonnie Webster won the women's section by three minutes.
Men
1 C Dixon 1.53.19 (16.44 / 57.37 / 38.59)
12 Alyn Morgan 2.02.55 (19.46 / 62.56 / 40.14)
Women
1 Bonnie Webster 2.08.54 (19.23 / 65.25 / 44.07)
BLENHEIM SPRINT TRIATHLON Sunday 2nd June
Another win for Bonnie Webster, and Alyn Morgan won his age group in the
men's race.
Men
1 P Holdaway 67.44 (12.19 / 34.00 / 21.28)
6 Alyn Morgan 71.25 (12.14 / 36.55 / 22.17)
Women
1 Bonnie Webster 76.37 (12.32 / 38.44 / 25.23)
FINALLY...
"For girls, especially, running is a good form of exercise, requiring as it
does, not only the use of the muscles of the legs, but also the use of the
body and arms for strengthening purposes. In running, as in all things, the
teacher has an object in view for the pupil. Grace in form should be the
objective point, instead of strenuous endeavour and its enervating effect;
and, to further the good results to be obtained by training, it is much more
natural and womanly that grace of form be aimed at rather than speed and
records. In striving for records the thought and manner must necessarily
become manly; and grace, that natural condition for which woman stands, be
lost in an effort not naturally a woman's. The effect of the training on
women who try for records is to make them sluggish, and this will be most
noticed when the work is overdone. Drawn features and a white complexion
will also be noticed, besides a muscular manner and appearance. Thus the
point of view which aims at an increased general health and strength must
necessarily become lost".
From the chapter 'Running' by Herbert H. Holton in 'Athletics and Out-Door
Sports for Women', edited by Lucille E. Hill, published 1903.