*************************************************** RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 287 29 July 2008 Editor: Steve Rowland mailto: steverowland@ranelagh-harriers.com *************************************************** HEADLINE NEWS ************* * David Rowntree wins Coad Cup * Sam Perkins 2nd in Elmbridge 10km and Paul Doyle 1st vet * Marie Synnott-Wells 2nd in Wedding Day 7km and Darryl McDonald 1st vet * Estelle Damant runs 38.34 10km * RPTT win and 2nd place for Richard Gregory and Andy Bickerstaff * M60 age group wins for Clive Beauvais * AGM SEE HERE ******** ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Tuesday 15th July at the clubhouse The AGM was fairly late getting under way, by the time everyone had returned from the Coad Cup, but proceedings were kept admirably short so we were all away in good time. In truth there was little to discuss - the Captains', Secretary's and Treasurer's reports were accepted with admiration and thanks, particularly to men's Captain Andy Bickerstaff who was not standing for re-election. Andy nominated Marc Snaith as his successor in the hot seat and this was agreed. Marc named Niall O'Connor as his Vice Captain. The only other change amongst the list of elected club officers was that of Fixtures Secretary. John Hanscomb has been filling this role since time immemorial but now stands aside in favour of Heather Martingell. No volunteer was forthcoming to take on the position of Vets' Captain. Anyone who feels that he or she might be able to take on this job should contact the Hon Sec Simon Burrell or any of the committee members. Similarly, any volunteer to take the job of Chief Race Official would be welcomed, as present incumbent Alan Hedger would like to step down after this year. President Frances nominated George Inman and Victoria Elbourne as boys' and girls' Captains respectively. There was a new trophy on display: this was the Carl Nargang Trophy, kindly donated by Ed Whitlock in Canada. Carl, one of the club's oldest members at 93 and now living in Eastbourne, helped and encouraged Ed when the latter was a schoolboy before he emigrated to Canada. Regular e-news readers will know that Ed currently holds several world records in the over 70 age group including an incredible 2:54 marathon at the age of 73. AGM minutes will shortly be sent out in a separate e-mail. BELGRAVE BOLT 5km This is the final race in both the Ranelagh GP and the Surrey Road League. It's a road 5km on a hilly course in Wimbledon. RANELAGH ROAD GRAND PRIX Eight of the nine Grand Prix events have now been completed, with only the Belgrave Bolt 5km still to come. A few more new names were added to the scoreboard at the Wedding Day race in Bushy Park, so the total number to have completed at least one race has now reached an excellent 117. Paul Doyle has retained his lead in the open and men's over 40 categories, with Chris Brook and Steve Grout his nearest pursuers. Jonathan Robinson leads the over 50 men but Iain Wilson is still within striking distance. The women's categories, by contrast, are already decided: Kath Phillips, Heather Martingell and Janet Turnes hold unassailable leads in the senior, over 40 and over 50 categories respectively. SURREY ROAD LEAGUE After five of the six League fixtures, Ranelagh remain in 3rd place in both the men's and women's team competitions. Our men have won the last two fixtures, but even another victory in the Belgrave 5km will not be sufficient to overcome the early lead built up by Stragglers. We have two guaranteed winners though: Paul Doyle and Jonathan Robinson cannot now be beaten in the men's over 40 and over 50 categories. Iain Wilson, if he runs the Belgrave race, is likely to finish in the top three over 50s. Sadly, Heather Martingell and Janet Turnes have relinquished their long-held leads in the women's over 35 and over 45 categories, but Kath Phillips is hanging on by her fingertips to the lead in the senior women's section. Unfortunately any one of three other runners is likely to overhaul her in the last race. RATCHFORD RELAY Tuesday 5th August This annual event for women only starts at soon after 7pm in the Park across the road from the clubhouse. It's an informal relay with teams drawn on the night, the faster runners having to run more laps than the slower. Just turn up on Tuesday evening and put your name down. RICHMOND PARK TRAIL CHALLENGE Tuesday 12th August South London Orienteers will again be using our clubhouse as the HQ for one of their "Trail Challenge" races on Tuesday 12th August. These are a hybrid of cross-country and Orienteering - competitors all start together but have to follow the map provided to visit a number of check points. The Orienteering part is not technically difficult and a compass is not a prerequisite, especially for those with some knowledge of the Park. Unlike last year, when the course had to be changed at the last minute, this year's event should I think be wholly within the Park. There are two races, a 10km starting at 7.30pm and a 6km starting at 7.40pm. Any Ranelagh members who fancy trying something a little out of the ordinary are welcome to take part. Training sessions will go ahead as normal that evening for those who do not want to take part. RANELAGH AT THE OLYMPICS We have a club interest in two members of the British team in Beijing. In the Modern Pentathlon, Heather Fell is one of two British competitors in the women's event. Heather is a friend of our former Modern Penthlon international Liz Kipling, and ran in our Surrey League team back in 2003. Contributing to our 2006 Surrey League team was Sharon Laws. Sharon subsequently moved to Australia on business where she took up road cycling with almost instant success. Her meteoric rise in the sport has led to her being selected to join Emma Pooley and Nicole Cooke in the Olympic road race squad. ENDURO CHALLENGE Karen Weir writes: "I must be mad, but I am quite excited to announce that this August Bank Holiday I will be representing UBS and joining five team mates in the Enduro Challenge. The Enduro Challenge is an extreme triathlon with a difference! We start at Marble Arch in London and finish 48 hours later at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. As a relay team we will run from London to Dover then we swim the Channel (under the rules of the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation which means no wetsuit!). Upon arrival in Calais it is then straight onto the bike for a cycle to Paris. It's a non-stop race against the clock and five other City Financial Institutions and we expect to arrive in Paris on Sunday morning - in time for breakfast and some well deserved bubbly! This is no small endeavour and as many of you know I have stepped up from running to Triathlon this year, so this is going to be a fantastic way to end my season and prove that my training has paid off. As well as doing this for the challenge the team is also trying to raise money for the Bridge Academy, which is a school in Hackney, one of the most deprived areas in the country. Help us to give these kids the best start possible in life by sponsoring us on this challenge. We have set up a Justgiving website where you can sponsor us online, its quick and easy and is one way you can get involved that doesn't involve running, swimming or cycling!. So just sit back and relax over the August Bank Holiday knowing you've done your bit for a good cause: www.justgiving.com/ubsenduro2008 I'd be really grateful if you would sponsor me and the team, it really is going to be hard work and a real highlight of my year (other than getting married of course - I don't think Peter realised he would become a triathlon widower!!)" BUILDING FUND DRAW Peter Trainor writes: "May I invite all club members who are not already in the Building Fund Draw to join in...it's £10 per year, in return for which they participate in three draws over the season with three cash prizes in each draw funded by 50% of the draw subscriptions - the remaining 50% being retained in the club's Building Fund. Recent years' draw subscriptions have each year produced around £600 to £700 for the Building Fund, with a matching total being paid out in prizes over each year's three draws. £10 cheques should be made payable to RANELAGH HARRIERS BUILDING FUND and should be sent to me, Peter Trainor, at 30 Hatch Place, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT2 5NB. Phone: 07714 203498". WHAT'S COMING ************* More details of the following from Marc Snaith mailto ( mdsnaith5@hotmail.com ) or Marie Synnott-Wells (07956 431319 / mailto nandmwells@aol.com ) Sunday 10th August Belgrave Bolt 5km at Wimbledon. 10am start. Tuesday 5th August Ratchford Relay in Richmond Park. 7pm start. Tuesday 12th August Trail Challenge in Richmond Park. 7.30pm start. Saturday 6th September Opening Run Thomas Cup 3.8m handicap in Richmond Park. 3pm start. Saturday 13th September Surrey Road Relays at Wimbledon Park. 12 noon start. Parkruns every Saturday at 9am Bushy Park Diana Fountain car park Richmond Park Richmond Gate 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 *************** COAD CUP 5 miles handicap Tuesday 15th July in Richmond Park In a week of cool and overcast conditions the one sunny and warm evening was of course reserved for our summer cross-country handicap. There was a great turnout: 66 names are on the result sheet, and one or two more started but dropped out. A large proportion of the field were unfamiliar with the course and though it was as usual efficiently marked with sawdust a few went astray. The handicapper did a pretty good job of producing a close finish, and the result was in doubt until the very end. "Limit" runner Pat Hewlett held the lead for much of the way before being passed in the final mile by junior Stacey Barber. But Stacey was competing as a guest so the cup was still up for grabs. Pat had almost reached the last corner when our esteemed Treasurer David Rowntree caught and passed her. As David strode on to the finish Pat was grimly hanging on to the silver medal position, only to be pipped on the line by fast-finishing Bob Beatson. Pat got the bronze though, with another guest, Kirsty Gilmour, crossing the line a stride behind her. Sue Ashley was next and then a good finish from another junior, George Inman. After George the recorders had time to take a few deep breaths before the stampede began, headed by Deborah Blakemore and guests David Kelly and Pat Wright. Pat's 28.42 turned out to be the second fastest time of the day behind Darryl McDonald's 27.40. Howard Gleave, on 29.54, was the only other runner inside the half hour. Fastest woman with 32.49 was Marie Synnott-Wells, followed by Kath Phillips on 34.41 and Sandra Prosser on 35.44. ELMBRIDGE 10km Sunday 20th July at Walton Later starters in the Coad Cup on Tuesday might have seen Sam Perkins heading in the opposite direction on a training stint and travelling at a great rate of knots, and he was a late and unexpected entrant for the Elmbridge 10km on Sunday. The Elmbridge is another part-road and part-towpath course, mostly flat and conducive to fast times. Sam shared the lead throughout with Belgrave's Kassa Tadesse and was ahead with 50 metres to go but the former Ethiopian had the better sprint legs and crossed the line a couple of seconds clear. Nevertheless, this was a great run by Sam in his first ever 10km, and slots him in at 20th in Ranelagh's 10km ranking list. There was another sprint finish a couple of minutes later as Richard Gregory and Paul Doyle fought it out in the home straight, and this time it was the younger man who prevailed. Richard in 34.19 , while Paul's 34.24 brought him first place in the over 40s category. Nathan Mills in his first serious race after a lengthy spell of injury ran an encouraging 36.49 while also inside 40 minutes were Chris Brook, Iain Wilson, Duncan Mallison and - by the skin of his teeth - Stephen Instone. Darren Wood and Chris Read followed a few seconds later. Iain took third place in the over 50s; the apparent demise of his arch rival in that age group Jonathan Robinson was, I believe, down to missing the start. Kath Phillips was our leading woman, just missing her personal best in finishing 14th in the women's race. Smashing her PB with 44.37 was the steadily improving Carola Richter and also breaking new ground was Heather Martingell. WEDDING DAY 7km Friday 25th July in Bushy Park Chips with everything....or not! The Wedding Day race introduced chip technology for the first time, and amongst those who fell foul of it were Paul Doyle and John Hanscomb, who both ran chipless and were therefore excluded from the official result. Fortunately Ken Powley was on hand with his trusty stopwatch so we can show their unofficial times below, and we have included them in our Road Grand Prix scoring. Over forty Ranelagh Harriers lined up in Bushy Park on a warm and sunny Friday evening for the flat and fast 7km race. Thames's Darren Talbot was a relatively clear winner but there was a tough battle for the vets category. Darryl McDonald ran very well to overcome Thames's Andy Weir to finish 6th overall and take the over 40s first prize. Paul Doyle - had he been equipped with a chip - would have been 14th overall and 5th over 40. Next in was our new Captain Marc Snaith in 21st place, followed a minute or so later by Chris Brook, David Rowe, Jonathan Robinson and Chris Owens. Jonathan, Chris and Iain Wilson were 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively in the over 50s age group, though it must be noted that all the over 50s were comprehensively beaten by Hercules Wimbledon's 61 year-old Steve Badgery, a 2.15 marathon runner back in 1971, who finished 20th today in 25.39. Second over 60 was Clive Beauvais. The women's race went unsurprisingly to local resident Sonia O'Sullivan but Marie Synnott-Wells beat the rest for second place in both the overall and over 35 categories. Kath Phillips was our next woman in 14th place and after her came Kate Brook, who teamed up with Chris to finish 2nd in the senior couples competition. David and Sharon Rowe went one better by winning the senior/vet couples. In the team competitions Ranelagh's men were 3rd and the women 2nd. PRESTWOLD HALL 10km Sunday 29th June Estelle Damant ran a PB of 38.34 to move into 16th place on Ranelagh's ranking list. Women 1 N Nealon (Huncote) 35.25 9 Estelle Damant 38.34 BRIDGES 2.3 miles handicap Wednesday 9th July at Westminster 1 J Ross (unatt) 17.28 (actual time 16.23) 29 Alan Davidson 21.21 (16.05) 34 Simon Hedger 22.14 (15.21) GIBBET HILL 10km Wednesday 9th July at Hindhead Alan Davidson (in his second race of the day!) reports: "Very heavy rain fell with even the roads flooded in places. It was so dark in the trees and difficult to see tree roots, and I was one of a number who got lost following a group that charged the wrong way across Hindhead Common - and I used to organise it in the past!" 1 T Mendum (Haslemere) 36.43 99 Alan Davidson 50.51 114 Louise Piears 53.10 BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 12th July 1 J Trapmore (Shaft B) 15.32 13 Chris Brook 18.16 144 Ian Grange 22.20 173 Michael White 23.15 191 Phil Aiken 23.32 198 Chris Wright 23.45 263 Roger Wilson 25.31 275 Gill Wilson 25.46 RICHMOND PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 12th July 1 T O'Neill (Belgrave) 18.18 4 Burkhard Fehsenfeld 19.09 11 Chris Read 19.55 14 Stephen Instone 20.14 24 Chris Wilson 22.18 29 Paul Bisping 23.45 53 Hannah Ebelthite 28.27 62 Pat Hewlett 32.28 BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 19th July 1 O Laws (Newham & EB) 15.32 13 Nick Wright 18.26 35 Darren Wood 19.47 40 David Ready 19.58 43 Duncan Mallison 20.06 46 Chris Hunton 20.16 101 Ian Grange 21.54 120 Alan Davidson 22.16 150 Chris Wright 23.02 173 Michael Wright 23.36 196 Phil Aiken 24.15 265 Gill Wilson 25.49 267 Roger Wilson 25.51 341 John Hanscomb 28.33 RICHMOND PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 19th July Andy Bickerstaff celebrated his release from the burden of Captaincy by finishing in second place. 1 J Flood (unatt) 18.13 2 Andy Bickerstaff 18.49 25 Paul Bisping 22.55 37 Paul Martingell 26.08 54 Christine Goodsell 30.50 NORTH HAMPSHIRE TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 19th July at Basingstoke 1 M Shepherd (Kennet) 16.19 10 Joanne Turner 23.16 ELMORE 7 miles Saturday 19th July at Chipstead Clive Beauvais was the leading over 60. 1 K Quinn (AFD) 36.29 30 Clive Beauvais 46.25 213 Sally Bell 65.20 226 John Hanscomb 67.18 LONDON CENTENARY MARATHON Thursday 24th July Windsor Castle to White City Andy Hayward reports: "Mike Peace had mentioned to me whilst the two of us ran together at the Chris Brasher Memorial Ponds Run a couple of weeks ago that there was going to be some sort of commemoration of the centenary of the 1908 London Olympic Marathon (the one which set the distance that later became the standard marathon distance of 26 miles 385 yards) on the 24th July, by our own Hugh Jones, President of AIMS, and John Bryant, Thames Hare & Hounds, and London Marathon Historian. Despite searching the internet for information even as late as Wednesday, I could find nothing out about it. I turned up with Mike thinking I would probably be able to support Hugh and John as they ran the original course of that first London Marathon exactly 100 years to the minute later. I was hoping that at worst, I could jump in and run sections with them, and at best to be allowed to surreptitiously run the whole thing. Thinking that this was very unlikely, I ran twice Wednesday (5 at lunchtime, and 5 at the club in the evening) just to make sure I got the weekly mileage in. Imagine my surprise when I turned up to find that some loony outfit called the 100 Marathon Club had actually organised a proper commemorative run. For £20 I signed up, was given 10 pages of maps and directions, and access to the bag drop van. I was even allowed to choose my number, and as this would be my 50th marathon, was delighted to find that the number 50 was still available. I was told there were no marshals, no course markings, the roads were not closed, and we would have to wait for traffic lights etc. The run started at the gates of Windsor Castle at 2:30pm, so we were running in the hottest part of probably the hottest day of the year (28'C). I believe it was similar conditions to the original event 100 years ago. Most of the 66 entrants did seem to have advance warning and had turned up with Camelbacks etc. Due to the heat, the organisers did hastily arrange two basic aid stations at about miles 5 and 17. I think Hugh Jones was doing his own thing, and waited at the start until the time that the competitors would have passed the castle gates from the grounds. He came flying past me at about two miles - I stayed with the following pack, which soon became three. We were joined by a few more when we rejoined the course after we added a half mile extra in by taking a wrong turn in Uxbridge at about 10 miles, but quickly pulled away again from all but one of them. After 15 miles we were down to three in the following pack, and after 17 I had to let the other two go - I was now seriously regretting the 10 miles I had done the day before. I was running alone with no water, feeling a little dizzy and sick and trying to follow the maps and directions. I went wrong a total of six times including at mile 25.5 where I added another half mile. I got back on course and had no idea how many might have overtaken me on that extra section I did around Wormwood Scrubs. Finally finding and going round the outside of the West London Stadium, out to Wood Lane, under the A40 and on to the BBC Centre which was shown as the finish, I asked the chap at the car park entrance if this was the finish of the run - he had no clue. Referring to the directions again, it said go through the car park, turn right and the finish was 100 yards ahead (200 yards from where this fellow was standing!). Following this instruction, I came to a white painted line in front of the BBC buildings that said it was the site of the finish line of the 1908 Olympic Marathon, and a few people waiting with an aid station. Hooray! My Garmin showed 27.73 at the end (should I count it as my 50th marathon or my 16th ultra?!). I don't know what happened to Hugh (as I said though, I think he was doing his own run) but was told he had not been seen at the finish line (they set up at 4:30pm). Amazingly I hadn't been overtaken on the extra bit I added in, and had therefore finished 3rd (4th came in 32 seconds later). Time was pretty irrelevant as I got lost so many times and had to keep stopping to read the map, ask directions etc., not to mention the heat, and the stopping numerous times at traffic lights, but was 3:51:47. I had been running about 7:40 pace until mile 17. The medal was a replica of the one given to all participants in the 1908 London Olympics, and the t-shirt was an old map of the course, with the original mile markers on the back - fantastic". LAST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH 5km Friday 25th July in Hyde Park 1 O Edwards (Shaft B) 15.56 92 Michael Bull 21.47 172 John Hanscomb 28.21 RICHMOND PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 26th July Richard Gregory ran a course PB in leading the way home. 1 Richard Gregory 17.17 29 Chris Wilson 23.24 53 Louise Dunn 28.11 68 Rose Constantine 33.24 BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 26th July 1 D Norman (Altrincham) 15.46 19 Nick Wright 18.25 24 Duncan Mallison 18.46 26 David Rowe 19.00 46 David Ready 19.46 62 Darren Wood 20.28 154 Chris Hunton 22.56 155 Amelie Hunton 22.57 215 Phil Aiken 24.57 336 Sharon Rowe 30.57 NORTH HAMPSHIRE TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 26th July at Basingstoke 1 M Shepherd (Kennet) 16.43 6 Luke Wilson 18.57 16 Roger Wilson 23.29 26 Holly Wilson 32.37 27 Gill Wilson 32.37 JACK & JILL CHALLENGE 5 miles Sunday 27th July at Clayton It's a bit hilly! 1 J Baker (Chichester) 32.32 61 Pete Warren 52.24 KARNTEN IRONMAN TRIATHLON Sunday 13th July at Klagenfurt, Austria This was the full monty - a 3.8km swim, 180km on the bike followed by a marathon run. Jonny and Graham - the latter in his first Ironman - were fairly evenly matched in the water and in the marathon (in which both beat four hours) but Jonny gained over half an hour on the bike. 1 M Vanhoenacker (Belg) 8:06.11 (swim 48.42, T1 1.29, bike 4:28.53, T2 1.54, run 2:45.11) 661 Jonny Rowan 10:32.28 (63.14, 4.01, 5:21.41, 8.05, 3:55.26) 1079 Graham Quick 11:11.50 (69.30, 6.20, 5:53.42, 8.14, 3:54.02) BEWL 15 miles Sunday 6th July at Bewl Water, Kent Clive Beauvais cleaned up in the over 60s again. 1 P Sanger (Epsom & E) 1:20.25 64 Clive Beauvais 1:38.05 377 Tom Reay 2:08.20 FINALLY... "If you run 100 miles a week, you can eat anything you want -- why? Because (a) you'll burn all the calories you consume, (b) you deserve it, and (c) you'll be injured soon and back on a restricted diet anyway". US marathon runner Don Kardong