*************************************************** RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 279 8 April 2008 Editor: Steve Rowland mailto: steverowland@ranelagh-harriers.com *************************************************** HEADLINE NEWS ************* * Sharon Rowe wins Baker Cup, Peter Haarer and Marie Synnott-Wells run fastest times * Rachel Rowan and Kerrie O'Connor 3rd and 4th in Breakfast 8 miles * Chris Brook and Marie Synnott-Wells lead Ranelagh in the Towpath 10 * Sam Perkins wins BPTT * London Marathon this Sunday - free beer to be won on Sunday evening! * Latest on car parking at the clubhouse * Leading coach to give seminar at the clubhouse in May SEE HERE ******** SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE NOW DUE Chris Owens writes: "The new rates are: Senior subscription £40 Under 20 or Student or unwaged £10 Family subscription £70 Second Claim £20 Retired and over 60 £20 Non-running member £10 This is the first increase for seven years, includes registration with England Athletics, and represents excellent value for money. Please make cheques payable to Ranelagh Harriers, and send to Membership Secretary, Ranelagh Harriers, 135a Petersham Road, Richmond, Surrey TW10 7AA. Please consider paying by standing order - there is a form on the website which you can fill in and send to your bank. This saves us and you lots of hassle". LONDON MARATHON Good luck to all marathoners next Sunday! As usual, runners and spectators are all welcome at Janet Turnes's pub on Sunday evening - the Wych Elm in Elm Road, Kingston, from 7pm onwards. But this year there is an added incentive - at least for the runners. The Wych Elm is a Fuller's pub, and Fuller's are one of the marathon sponsors this year. They are offering four prizes of 26 pints of beer for Wych Elm customers who complete the marathon. Janet will put the names of all marathon finishers who make it to the pub on Sunday into a hat and four lucky winners will win vouchers for 26 pints. Don't worry, you don't have to drink them all at once! Celia Beverly adds: "Thought you might like to know Anair will be the fourth Ranelagh member of the Beverly family to have a go at the London. Michael (multiple), Celia 2005 (one and only), Alice 2006 (currently in Ethiopia) and now Anair (21 a couple of months ago). Not much pressure on brother Alan! Anair is raising money for the Leprosy Nepal Trust where she worked four years ago. She hopes to raise enough money to buy four or five off-road motor bikes which will allow health workers to get to remote communities in this wonderful but very poor country". CAR PARKING AT THE CLUBHOUSE Hon Sec Simon Burrell writes: "I promised to keep you updated on our ongoing discussions with the Dysart Arms. The club's committee have now had a chance to meet and review the position following a meeting with the owner Nicholas Taylor at the end of February. Longer term, the Dysart has plans to landscape their car park area, which may lead to us losing our access over their land. The worst case scenario would require us to use the footpath off the Petersham Road to walk through to our clubhouse. These plans are not finalised and in the committee's opinion might be adapted to include either loading access, pedestrian access or even retain vehicle access to the clubhouse. We are told that the reason for this approach is for the Dysart to develop their business and not as a reaction to the club and its activities. At this stage the committee did not feel it appropriate to confirm a final reaction, preferring to react to more specific plans as and when they come about. However, they did agree that the Dysart should understand our concerns at any such plan, albeit accepting their legal rights to use their land as they wish. In the short to medium term, the committee agreed that the club should do more to reduce any negative impact of our activities on the Dysart. It was widely accepted that we have not been proactive enough in this area and that we should try to be better neighbours. Andy Hayward, with support from Michele Gibson, has kindly agreed to manage our ongoing relationship with the Dysart and other local neighbours. This will include ensuring appropriate parking management at events, keeping up communications with the pub, advising our own members of developments and working with the pub to minimise inconvenience and maximise our use of their facilities when we need them (e.g. loos for the Half Marathon). In the short term, we have agreed with the Dysart that general use of their car park for runners is no longer equitable. Instead we wish to endorse their scheme of offering parking permits to regular users of the pub as a more appropriate solution. For anyone who does use the Dysart, I would urge them to request a permit and use it regularly on midweek training nights. This helps ensure maximum availability of our own parking spaces for those without a permit. We have already achieved a much better working relationship with the pub and hope that this will become more mutually beneficial in the future. Please support the arrangements we have made as a club and do not park on the Dysart car park unless you have a permit; and please do not apply for a permit unless you are a bona fide regular user of the pub. If you have any questions, please mail me (simon_burrell2000@yahoo.com) or Andy (andrew.hayward@aleagroup.com). Managing parking for our 15 or so annual events and our weekly training runs will require some support from individuals. If you can occasionally set aside a little time to help, then please let Andy know". TOP UK COACH COMES TO RANELAGH - FREE SEMINAR Phil Killingley writes: "Nick Anderson - GB Endurance and Cross Country Coach at UK Athletics - is coming to the Ranelagh clubhouse on Wednesday 14th May, 7.30pm-9pm, to talk to us about Endurance Running. The seminar is suitable for runners of all speeds looking to run distances between 5km and marathon. Nick may also bring a celebrity runner, but this is still to be confirmed. His style is interactive, so bring questions! Nick will mention Full Potential, his business offering online/telephone coaching, warm weather training camps, and UK training weekends www.fullpotential.co.uk/. The seminar will be free of charge. Spaces are limited - book yours now - email philipkillingley@hotmail.com". RICHMOND PARK TIME TRIAL Karen Weir writes: "Well, we are coming up to our six months anniversary at the RPTT and I wanted to give everyone an update on how it's going, but more importantly give a big thank you to all from Ranelagh that are involved. We are now regularly getting around 80 runners a week, which compared to BPTT is a nice manageable number and we have a regular band of volunteers. For those interested in the action at the front, the course record is held by Richard Ward of Belgrave in a time of 16.09 and for the ladies it is Esther Evans of Thames Turbos in 18.17. RPTT is probably the most challenging course of all the UKTT events. Ours is the only one that has not seen a sub 16 minute finisher - anyone fancy the challenge? It would be great to have a Ranelagh member holding the course record! However like all UKTT events we pride ourselves in encouraging all levels of runner and we regularly have runners (first timers and club runners) coming in around the 40 minute mark so it really is an event for all. Due to the nature of Richmond Park and the high number of general runners in the Park we have put in place a back-marker runner, whose job is basically to stay right at the back so we know for certain when our last runner is home. Recently this role has been filled by our very own Marina Quayle and the importance of this role was highlighted just this week when one of our junior runners hurt his ankle and couldn't continue. Because Marina was there at the back we were able to make sure he got home safely. I'd like to thank our regular volunteers from Ranelagh, without whom RPTT wouldn't function. So a big thanks to Juliette Chan, Lorna Smith, Heather Martingell, Chris Read and Marc Snaith who more often than not can be found in Richmond Park at 9am on a Saturday morning, come rain or shine. Their commitment to the event has been so important and is really appreciated - you only have to read the feedback we get on Runners World and the UKTT website to know how much people enjoy the event. I'd also like to extend a big thanks to our other volunteers who make themselves available when they can to help out, and I really apologise if I miss anyone out - Louise Reeder, Andy Woodhouse, Jo Turner, Marina Quayle, Sharon and David Rowe, Nick Wright, Simon Burrell, Wiebke Kortum and Kirsty Bangham. So finally I'd just like to extend an invitation to all Ranelagh members, fast or slow, to come out and give it a try, it would be great to see more royal blue vests out on the course. Also we are always looking for volunteers, whether you want to make a regular commitment or just volunteer now and then, please let me know and come down and support us. Hope to see you in the Park soon! For more details see me on a Tuesday evening or go to www.parkrun.com". RANELAGH RICHMOND HALF-MARATHON - Sunday 11th May 2008 at 8.30am Entries are coming in thick and fast, and now number some 700. The race doubles as the county Half Marathon championship, and is also included in the Surrey Road League. If you are thinking of running, don't delay too long in getting your entry in. If you are not planning to run, please read on... Niall O'Connor writes: "The Ranelagh Half-Marathon takes place on May 11th, starting at 8:30am. I am recruiting marshals for positions around the course and need many more. While there is a degree of responsibility required it is very straightforward. The benefits of marshalling are a close view of straining muscles, pained expressions and tortured hobbles as well as free tea/coffee, and chocolate, in the clubhouse afterwards. Each marshal will be appointed to a point convenient to where they live and won't be required to be in position until 10 minutes before the lead runner (hopefully he will be wearing a blue vest) comes through. Drop me a line at Niall_o_c@hotmail.com, or phone/text 0779 597 3198, if you are available for a couple of hours on that Sunday morning". SUTTON 10km This Surrey Road League fixture takes place on Sunday 4th May at 10.30am. Details: GREEN BELT RELAY The GBR is being held this year on the weekend of 17th and 18th May. It's eleven runners per team, and we will probably be running three teams, one men's, one women's and one mixed. The route is a complete circle around London's Green Belt, much of it off-road, totalling about 220 miles. It's divided into 22 stages, and each runner has to run one stage on Saturday and one on Sunday. For lots of info about the race, see the website www.greenbeltrelay.org.uk/index.htm. If you're interested in taking part please contact Marie or Andy - contact details in What's Coming below. *************** WHAT'S COMING... *************** More details of the following from Andy Bickerstaff ( 07772 111491 / mailto: andy.bickerstaff@goodrunguide.co.uk ) or Marie Synnott-Wells (07956 431319 / mailto: nandmwells@aol.com ). Sunday 13th April London Marathon. Sunday 4th May Sutton 10km. See above. Sunday 11th May Richmond Half Marathon. See above. Sat 17th / Sun 18th May Green Belt Relay. See above. Time Trials, every Saturday at 9am Bushy Park Diana Fountain car park Richmond Park Pembroke Lodge car park Wimbledon Common Windmill car park Banstead Woods Car park off B2219 Park Lane, Chipstead More details and registration at www.parkrun.com WHAT'S HAPPENED *************** BAKER CUP 3 MILES ROAD HANDICAP Saturday 29th March in Richmond Park There was a relatively small field of less than forty for the Baker Cup race this year. Twenty or so members were tackling the Kingston Breakfast runs the following day and the weather no doubt put some other potential runners off. High winds and rain were sweeping across the Park for much of the day, though luckily the race largely passed off between showers. Corinne Bishop was the first starter followed at a distance of some three minutes by Sharon Rowe. The fast-improving Sharon put paid to Corinne soon enough and then the question was whether she would be able to hold off the rest of the field for the two hilly laps. In fact she was overtaken, but only by four juniors competing as guests. While Rory Atkins and Victoria Elbourne's brother Will raced on to finish well clear of the rest, the race for the Cup turned into a battle between Sharon and Andy Woodhouse. Sharon still led coming into the final climb to the finish, Andy was closing fast...but not fast enough. At the line there was still a yard in it and it will be Sharon Rowe's name on the Cup. Chris Wilson had started with Andy and he followed him in his charge through the field to take the bronze medal. Peter Haarer was the scratch man and he duly recorded the fastest time of 16.33, but this only carried him through to 23rd. He all but caught the day's second best, Mick Lane, who ran 17.17, while third fastest was Niall O'Connor on 17.23. Marie Synnott-Wells was fastest woman at 19 minutes dead. Next best on 21.01 was one of the guests, Danya Marx, and then came Sandra Prosser, 21.21, and Victoria Elbourne, 21.35. The high winds - particularly on the climb back up from Sheen Cross - mitigated against fast times generally, but did not prevent Martin Clark from claiming another Over 70s course record with his 21.54, David Rowe's photographs: ASICS BREAKFAST RUNS Sunday 30th March at Kingston Nearly three and a half thousand runners took to the streets and towpaths of Kingston for the Breakfast runs. The majority - nearly two thousand - were up for the "Full Breakfast" of 16 miles and Steve Whitehead and Mandy Harris both made the top twenty in their respective sections. Steve Elswood was our first finisher in the "Half Breakfast" but right behind him were Rachel Rowan and Kerrie O'Connor who were 3rd and 4th in the women's race. Full Breakfast 16 miles 1 P Adams (St Albans) 1.30.05 19 Steve Whitehead 1.38.48 55 Charlie Pedlar 1.45.22 127 Matt Hughes 1.51.27 169 John Molloy 1.53.50 198 Simon Rothwell 1.55.08 226 Mandy Harris 1.56.15 239 Paul Sheridan 1.56.59 558 Carola Richter 2.08.52 611 Amy Harris 2.10.24 639 Roger Wilson 2.11.16 919 Louise Dunn 2.19.12 1341 Geoff Bell 2.29.58 1390 John Hanscomb 2.31.34 Half Breakfast 8 miles 1 T Pearson (TH&H) 45.04 29 Steve Elswood 54.01 34 Rachel Rowan 54.29 35 Kerrie O'Connor 54.35 265 Martin Wolfson 64.44 434 Heather Martingell 68.55 563 Leigh Pedersen 72.08 642 Janet Turnes 73.27 766 Colleen Anger 76.01 906 Gill Wilson 78.42 David Rowe's photographs: (8 miles) (16 miles) THAMES TOWPATH 10 MILES Sunday 6th April at Chiswick Heavy morning snow caused several races in the south-east to be cancelled, but the Towpath 10 went ahead regardless. Chris Brook writes: "Waking up to snow on the morning of the first Road Grand Prix event of 2008 didn't seem to put off more than 20 hardy Ranelagh members running the Thames Towpath 10. It wasn't too bad underfoot on the pavements and towpaths of Kew and Richmond... but the course starts with two laps of a field in Chiswick. Quite pleasant in normal conditions, but a little damp under a couple of inches of snow. I think that the organisers just needed to clear the snow off the outside of the field and used 300 runners to do it. Good to see Ken at the end, stopwatch in hand and bike laid down in the snow. It's a good race - a little light at the elite end of the field, perhaps due to the marathon the following week - with all the finishers getting a Fuller's pint glass and a banana. The problem being that the glass was ice-chilled and my hands were too cold to open the banana!" Chris was our first finisher in 15th place and our leading woman was Marie Synnott-Wells who was fourth woman overall. Martin Clark was the leading over 70 and his excellent 74.35 was yet another club over 70 record. Pete Warren, though beaten by Martin, was 2nd in the over 60 category. Bev Ali adds: "Newcomers to the club may not realise, but the Tuesday night running session was started in response to the ladies who had started running with our beginners class wanting to continue running on Tuesdays, either because Wednesdays were inconvenient, or we felt somewhat intimidated at the thought of running with all those fast men!!! Now looking at the results from Sunday, and there is an indication of where Ranelagh's strength is... there were two men's teams. The A team was 6th and the B team was 13th out of 13. We had four women's teams. The A team was 4th, the B team was 11th but 2nd of B teams, the C team was 12th but the 1st C team and the D team was 16th out of 16, but the ONLY D team on the day! AND I think that other than the A team, most were graduates of the beginners course!" ASTHMA UK 10km Sunday 22nd March at Dorney Lake, Windsor 1 J Thie (Cardiff) 31.32 4 Ed Barker 35.27 LAST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH 5km Friday 28th March in Hyde Park 1 K Quinn (AFD) 15.28 107 Alan Davidson 21.48 176 John Hanscomb 27.38 185 Mike Rowland 30.48 (race walking) BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 29th March Sam Perkins was first home in the BPTT for the fifth time, just a few seconds outside his best. 1 Sam Perkins 15.52 15 Phil Killingley 18.12 16 Iain Wilson 18.15 19 Darren Wood 18.34 27 Edward Smith 19.07 70 Chris Hunton 21.22 83 Michelle Beaumont 21.50 95 Alan Davidson 22.10 258 John Hanscomb 27.26 RICHMOND PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 29th March 1 R Gregory (Unatt) 17.32 5 Peter Weir 19.25 10 Stephen Instone 20.55 28 Karen Weir 23.26 30 Paul Bisping 23.56 48 Tanya Allen 29.34 58 Penny Merrett 32.21 COOMBE GIBBET TO OVERTON 16 miles Sunday 30th March Evelyn Joslin was 2nd in the over 40s category. 1 M Richards (Heading) 1.45.10 69 Evelyn Joslin 2.26.19 WIMBLEDON AUDI 10km Sunday 30th March 1 J Simpson (SLH) 30.50 (chip time 30.50) 340 Rachel Fursman 50.11 (49.30) 603 Alan Meaden 57.53 (57.27) SANDY 10 miles Sunday 30th March 1 S Poole (Wootton) 56.11 167 Pete Warren 77.50 KINGFIELD CANTER 2.85 miles handicap Wednesday 2nd April at Woking 1 D Fishlock (Surrey U) 25.34 (actual time 20.04) 8 Steve Rowland 26.28 (18.13) 15 Jim Forrest 26.44 (20.59) 19 Sonia Rowland 26.53 (20.08) RAVENS QUARTERLY RON WHEELER 5km Thursday 3rd April at Wapping 1 S Fraser (Ravens) 16.49 8 Chris Read 19.16 10 Andy Hayward 20.21 BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 5th April Kerrie O'Connor was second home in the women's section. 1 D Biddick (Unatt) 17.07 5 Iain Wilson 18.05 14 Darren Wood 18.50 23 Nick Wright 19.37 27 Duncan Mallison 19.45 29 Kerrie O'Connor 19.48 85 Michelle Beaumont 21.41 142 David Ready 23.12 165 Paul Bisping 23.38 169 Jim Forrest 23.45 223 Gill Wilson 25.25 224 Roger Wilson 25.26 274 Alice Clemens 27.14 317 Sharon Rowe 29.31 333 Daniel Hobbs 30.58 RICHMOND PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 5th April 1 N Aitken (Clapham C) 17.10 15 Stephen Instone 20.38 52 Tanya Allen 29.39 54 Jenni Kruse 29.48 WIMBLEDON COMMON TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 5th April 1 V Maughan (HHH) 17.00 98 Catherine Carthy 29.11 PARIS MARATHON Sunday 6th April Ian Grange completed the first stage of a two marathons in two weeks schedule. 1 T Kebede (Ethiopia) 2.06.40 9381 Ian Grange 3.47.59 (chip time 3.44.22) ARUNDEL 10km Sunday 6th April Phil Aiken reports : "I got off the train at half eight and it had just started sleeting. Within 15 minutes it was a full-on blizzard. The snow was frozen into shards of ice, the wind was driving it horizontally, the roads were covered. Unsurprisingly, with much of the race off-road on uneven surfaces, it was called off. Apparently visibility at the top of the hills was down to 15 yards. Let's hope it's not the same at 9am next Sunday on Blackheath!" FINALLY... International miler James Thie won the British Cani-Cross title at the Crufts Dog Show last month. This involved dog and owner racing over a 1.8km course, and Thie and his English Springer Spaniel Pre (named after American distance runner Steve Prefontaine) defeated 74 other competitors in an astonishing time of 4.50. If the distance is correct this represents sub 4.20 miling pace - impressive enough for Thie himself, even more so for the short-legged pooch, notwithstanding his advantage in having a leg at each corner. Thie and Pre are now favourites for the European title...