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Newsdesk 2001

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RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 26            11 APRIL 2001

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First of all I'm very sorry to have to announce the death on Friday April
6th of Bill Day, at the age of 60. Bill had been taken into hospital with
heart trouble the previous week. 
He will be sorely missed, not only by those close to him, but all the Club
members who came into contact with him.
To his wife Deborah and young daughter Caroline we extend our sincerest
sympathies. I don't know the funeral details yet but if anyone who would
like to attend would contact me, I'll pass on details as soon as I have
them.

RICHMOND PARK
is OPEN again as of today. Good news for all those who were getting - in
Michele Gibson's words -"stir crazy".

Last Sunday was the Thames Towpath 10 miles at Chiswick, the first event in
this year's Ranelagh Road Grand Prix series. Graeme MacFadyen maintained
Ranelagh's successful record in the race by running away to an 80-second
victory in a time of 54.11. I don't have details of any other prize winners
but I guess Mick Lane in 8th place and Mike Peace 16th might have been in
with a shout in the over 40 and over 50 categories respectively, and with
Giles Marshall up there too in 15th place we might have made it into the
frame in the team race.  

Full Ranelagh results from the Worthing 20 miles on March 25th (including
the club 20 championship for the Spendlove Cup):
1	M Simpson (Hounslow)		1.45.03
4	Darryl McDonald		1.54.46
56	S Baines (Hailsham - 1st W)	2.08.10
150	Marlene Pautard (12th W)	2.21.47
307	Martin Clark (4th O/60)		2.38.51
474	John Hanscomb	(8th O/60)	2.54.55	

Gordon Whitson writes from Athens:
"On Sunday 1 April over eight very windy kilometres (4 x 2km laps) at
Patras, I successfully defended my Greek Vets 45 - 49 Cross Country title.
Numbers were lower than usual due to to the adverse weather and competing
fixtures. I was third overall behind two youngsters in the 35 - 40 age
category, with 4th and 5th positions filled by competitors in my age group.
The star turn was performed by the winner (and sole competitor) in the over
80s category, who after receiving his cup jumped two footed with
considerable grace from what was a very high winner's rostrum. 
I now hold two "majors" concurrently (having won the indoors 3000 metres
champs for my age group in early February) and if I were to enter and win
the Balkan cross country and Greek veterans athletics championships 5km, I
would emulate the feats of Tiger (not Tim) Woods!"
	
LONDON MARATHON
Good luck to all those taking part on April 22nd. I'd like to remind all RH
in the race to wear club vests if possible - it's very difficult to pick
faces out of the crowd, but our club vest does stand out! If anybody wants
to join the Ranelagh support team, we'll be meeting up at the usual place
adjacent to the Green start (this is just outside the south east corner of
Greenwich Park - i.e. up the hill and turn left). Alternatively we'll be
close to the 6 miles point (just before the Cutty Sark) as the top half of
the field goes through; then we'll be heading under the Thames to the Isle
of Dogs. Noisy supporters welcome!
The Marathon Aches and Pains Party will as usual be at Janet Turnes's pub,
the Wych Elm in Elm Road, Kingston. All runners, supporters and couch
potatoes welcome from 7pm onwards.
As usual Ranelagh will be well represented in the main race and also in the
mini-marathon, where RH and Richmond & Twickenham AC provide most of the
Richmond borough team. Frances Ratchford writes: "Richmond Leisure Services
rang me, they need helpers with the mini marathon to keep an eye on the
children on the journey there and at the start.  If any one could help could
they ring either Richard or Chris Jones 020 8940 8351.  If they want to stay
to watch the Marathon they can and the bus will drop them off near the
Embankment."

GREEN BELT RELAY
As you have probably heard, this has been cancelled due to F&M hysteria. A
number of people have contacted me expressing their disappointment,
including Kathleen Harris from Sydney ("And I was thinking of flying in
too!!!!! Oh well, perhaps next year.") and John Herries who wondered why
they didn't switch it to 210 laps of Ham Common. Good idea John... 

STATS
A few more of Bill Bird's championship appearance stats: as well as
appearing in twice as many League race scoring teams as anyone else, Sonia
also leads the way in appearances in Southern and National Championships:
Southern: Sonia Rowland 9, Vicky Culshaw 5, Sue Colver 3, Eliete Nascimento
3, Margaret Auerback 2, Mary Smith 2, Helena Fotherby 2, Liz Kipling 2,
Sarah Seal 2, Katharine Mallett 2, Louise Piears 2.
National: Sonia Rowland 13, Helena Fotherby 6, Margaret Auerback 5, Vicky
Culshaw 3, Sue Colver 3, Mary Smith 2, Bernadette Tarrant 2, Eliete
Nascimento 2, Sarah Seal 2. 

COMING UP
More details of all the following from Paul Graham (0796 7788945 /
paulgraham28@hotmail.com) or Sarah Seal (020 8995 2380 /
sarah.seal@haynet.com).
Sunday April 22nd  London Marathon.  Ranelagh Grand Prix race 2.

Sunday May 6th  Sutton 10km. 10.30am at Sutton Arena. Entries £5 payable to
Sutton Runners to Race Sec, 245A Carshalton Road, Carshalton, Surrey SM5
3PZ. Surrey Road League race 1.

Sunday May 13th  Richmond Half Marathon. Surrey county championship and
Ranelagh Grand Prix race 3. 10.30am at Old Deer Park. Entries £7 payable to
Ranelagh Harriers to Robin Drummond, 1 Church Street, Hampton, Middlesex
TW12 2EB

FINALLY
When army corporal William McClennan completed the Redcar Half Marathon in
1.43.14 on March 25th, he clipped 13.10 off the world speed marching
record... 

Steve Rowland
Tel:  01926 318734
Fax: 01926 318718
e-mail: srowland@calorgas.co.uk