*************************************************** RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 300 13 February 2009 Editor: Steve Rowland mailto: steverowland@ranelagh-harriers.com *************************************************** HEADLINE NEWS ************* * Blackheath win Pelling-Ratcliff Cup mob match * Clive Naish completes his 100th consecutive mob match * Chris Illman and David Wright win the individual trophies * Men's team finish 7th in final Surrey League and slip to 5th overall * Ralph Street leads team in 25th place * Jo Ronaldson and Marie Synnott-Wells represent Surrey in SEAA Inter-Counties * Parkrun top-threes for Ben Matthews and Rachael Holmes * Surrey Ladies League postponed until 28th February SEE HERE ******** SURREY LADIES LEAGUE FINAL FIXTURE Saturday 28th February The final women's league race, scheduled for Lloyd Park on Saturday 7th, was cancelled - somewhat prematurely - at the behest of the local council. It has been re-scheduled for the same venue on Saturday 28th February. The senior race is at 12.15pm followed by the junior races. Venue and course details BAKER CUP SUPPER and ANNUAL PRIZE PRESENTATION INVITATION You are invited to the Ranelagh Harriers Baker Cup Supper - our Club Annual Awards Ceremony Date:- Saturday 4th April 2009 @ 7.00pm. Location:- The Roebuck, 130 Richmond Hill, TW10 6RN - Tel 0208 948 2329 Dress:- Smart Casual Price:- £20.00 per person Champagne reception Places are limited to 60 people, so please reserve your place early!!! Your glass of Champagne awaits you!! R.S.V.P. to Michele Gibson:- Email:- micheleagibson@hotmail.com Mobile:- 07703 518 956 Cheques payable to Ranelagh Harriers and posted to Ms Michele Gibson, c/o Baker Cup Supper, 16 Copenhagen Gardens, Chiswick, London W4 5NN. NATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS Saturday 21st February at Parliament Hill Details and Timetable For runners or spectators the best the best means of travel is via the Silverlink rail service from Richmond to Gospel Oak, which is literally within sight of the start. You can also pick up this service at Kew Gardens or Gunnersbury, both of which have free on-street parking nearby. MABAC LEAGUE 5 miles Sunday 1st March in Richmond Park Deborah Blakemore writes: "Our very own MABAC cross-country race is being held in Richmond Park at 11.00am on Sunday 1st March. It is a 5-mile course (2 laps of 2.5m) and it starts opposite the car park between Robin Hood Gate and Kingston Gate (to the right of Isabella) - further details can be found on the MABAC website here: All Ranelagh members are welcome to take part - register on the day. Thank you to all the people who have so far volunteered to marshal, however I still need a few more! The last runner is usually in by 12 noon so if you can spare an hour (either on the course or at the finish line) you would be very welcome and we would be very grateful! Please let either myself or Bev Ali know whether you can help and I will arrange a marshalling position for you. E-mail: Deborah.blakemore@ubs.com BUILDING FUND DRAW Sorry for the delay, but here are the winners of the Building Fund Draw made at the Henty Relay on December 27th: PaulBowden (£119) Neil Walford (£50) Aileen Woodley (£30) The next draw will be made at the Baker Cup race on April 4th. New members are welcome - it's just a tenner a year (payable to Ranelagh Harriers Building Fund) to Peter Trainor at 30 Hatch Place, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT2 5NB. Phone: 020 8541 3579. E-mail: peter.trainor@btinternet.com SUSSEX BEACON HALF MARATHON Martin Wolfson asks if anyone planning to take part in this race at Brighton on February 22nd would like to share transport. Contact Martin at martin.wolfson@talk21.com. BOOT CAMP WITH SANDRA IN SPAIN Sandra Prosser writes: "Several Ranelagh members already have had the experience of a running weekend away with me in Spain. I am going back there at the end of April for a long weekend and I am looking for one to three people to join me. Suitable candidates will be willing to leave the house early in the morning and happy to go running for several hours and then be prepared to hitch-hike back to the house. Rewards: warm sun, scenic countryside, dipping into the cold sea and chilling in cafes and bars. Applications to sandraprosser@blueyonder.co.uk. FINCHLEY 20 miles road race Sunday 15th March at Ruislip. TOWPATH 10 miles Sunday 19th April Entries are already coming in for West 4 Harriers' event at Chiswick, which is the opening race in our 2009 Road Grand Prix. OFFA'S 'ORROR Sunday 19th April Sioned Morgan writes: "I'd like to invite other Ranelaghs to a 20km x/c race, 'Offa's Orror' in Chepstow on Sunday 19 April: Details: So far about eight Serpies are going - how about a joint Ranelagh/Serpie weekend trip to invade Wales once again? It's a small race (250 limit) with a great atmosphere. Last year it was cheap: group discounted rail travel, minibus hire (we have a volunteer teetotal driver from Serpentine...) and a bunkhouse near Monmouth with self-catering facilities so you can make your own race breakfast. There are other possibilities for low-cost accommodation in the area. We also found a really great local pub for Friday night: www.theboatpenallt.co.uk/Aboutus.html but of course given the area there are plenty of options if we are staying somewhere different. Possible activities for Saturday include visiting Hay-on-Wye, or Symonds Yat. We can divide into sub-groups depending on who wants to do what: watch football in the pub, be a tourist, go kayaking, and for the truly insane (there were several) go fell running the day before the race... I've created an Offa's Orror Facebook event (closed) - if you are on there, please find me and I will invite you to it - easier for admin purposes. Alternatively, just email me at sioned.morgan@imperial.ac.uk and register your interest so I have an idea of numbers". WHAT'S COMING ************* More details of the following from Marc Snaith (07717 213035 mailto ( mdsnaith5@hotmail.com ) or Marie Synnott-Wells (07956 431319 / mailto nandmwells@aol.com ) Saturday 21st February National Cross-Country Championships at Parliament Hill. Saturday 28th February Surrey Ladies League final race at Lloyd Park, Croydon Saturday 28th February Inter-club 5 miles at the Bank of England. 2.30pm start near Roehampton gate in Richmond Park. All welcome, register on the day. Sunday 1st March MABAC League 5 miles. 11am start in Richmond Park (near Isabella Plantation). See above. Saturday 7th March Inter-club 3.8 miles in Richmond Park - one lap of the mob match course. 3pm start. All welcome, register on the day. 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 ************** PELLING-RATCLIFF CUP MOB MATCH v BLACKHEATH & BROMLEY HARRIERS & A C Saturday 31st January at Hayes January 1984. The Flying Pickets had won the race for the Christmas Number 1, the first Apple Mac computer went on sale and Torvill and Dean were putting the finishing touches to the Bolero routine that would win them the Ice Dance gold medal in Sarajevo the following month. And on Saturday 21st a long-haired young man called Clive Naish pulled on his Ranelagh vest, pinned on a number and lined up with 91 clubmates to face 87 visitors from Blackheath in the annual mob match. It wasn't Clive's first mob match; he had taken part in the two early season races but had missed the South London Harriers match just before Christmas. That, it turned out, would be the last mob match he would miss for the next 25 years...and counting. On Saturday 31st January 2009, once again with Blackheath as the opponents, Clive completed his 100th consecutive mob match, a formidable achievement that is as much a testament to his loyalty to the club as to his ability to avoid injury and illness. With four mob matches per year, the mathematicians amongst you might spot an apparent discrepancy in the count. This can be explained by the fact that the 1987 race against Blackheath was cancelled owing to their course being under several feet of snow. We narrowly avoided a similar fate this time, as the south-east disappeared under a blanket of snow on Sunday evening. Saturday, however, was fine and the underfoot conditions were surprisingly dry. This turned out to be just as well for Chris Illman, who elected to run in a pair of road racing flats. Such was his dominance over the rest of the field that he probably could have worn a pair of diving boots and still won comfortably. One of the photos on the 'heathens website shows what a lead Chris had built up on the first short lap of the field at the start, and from there it only got bigger. At the finish Chris was more than four minutes clear of the field and most deservedly won the F.B. Thompson Medal for the individual winner. Behind Chris there was a good tussle for the other individual trophy on offer, the Harry Sheer Cup for the first over 50 to finish. This eventually went to David Wright, who finished third just over a minute ahead of Howard Gleave. David completed his 135th mob match: he himself came very close a few years ago to notching up 100 consecutive, before 'flu laid him low just a couple of races short. He hasn't missed one since, and he's now 51 years old...I calculate that he only needs to keep going until he's about 67 to finally achieve the feat! Howard finished 6th and another over 50, Chris Owens, 9th. Not counting Chris Illman, our first non-vet was Andy Woodhouse back in 35th place. Where were all the young men? Blackheath easily outnumbered us, but their team was not a strong one and we could have given them a better run for their money. As it was, scoring 30 a side, Blackheath won the Pelling-Ratcliff Cup by 684 points to 1312. After we had failed to hand over the cup (either we were very and mistakenly confident of victory, or someone forgot to bring it!) Captain Marc presented a specially printed t-shirt (designed by Kevin Jacques's girlfriend Jo) to Clive Naish, featuring 99 Clives (scary thought) on the front and one more on the back. Andy Bickerstaff adds: "I was musing on Clive's extraordinary feat of one hundred consecutive mob matches and wondered what words of wisdom would be forthcoming if asked the right questions. One Wednesday at the Roebuck.... 'So, Clive...' (Clive is already looking apprehensive ...what's going on here, he thinks to himself) 'After 50 double laps of Richmond Park and 12 or 13 of each of South London, Blackheath, Thames and Orion courses you must have plenty to say about mob matches?'. Clive: 'Not really' Two words, a good start! 'Ummm, over the last 25 years have the courses changed much?' Clive: 'Pretty much the same as far as I can remember' 'Oooookay, errr, which is your favourite course, and why?' Clive: 'Blackheath, it's the most challenging and interesting' 'During the 90's you ran some impressive times on the road including a 2:48 Marathon, 56 minutes for 10 miles and famously 34:59 minutes for 10k. What was your best result in mob matches during that period?' Clive: 'Errr 45 minutes comes to mind' 'OK but what position?' Clive: 'I don't know, I don't think I ever made the top 10, maybe 12th or 13th' 'Which would you consider to be your worst performance and closest to not finishing?' Clive: 'This season's have been my worst but I have never come close to not finishing' 'So what is the secret of your longevity and avoiding illness and injury (Dave Wright was halted at 97 consecutive due to flu)?' Clive: 'Luck' 'Ever been injured during the last 25 years?' Clive: 'Yes, just not during mob matches' 'Any particular rivals you have enjoyed racing against over the years?' Clive: 'Steve Rowland' 'And finally anything to add?' Clive: 'I just enjoy doing mob matches'. So there we have it, the Clive Naish abridged guide to Running Mob Matches. Roll on 200!" Race photos - a few on our website and links to lots more on the 'heathens': SWEATSHOP SURREY LEAGUE Division 1 Saturday 7th February at Ham Our team for the final League race had a distinctly threadbare look, and we were fortunate that some other clubs seemed similarly afflicted. A team that might well have finished last actually scraped into seventh place and it was at first announced that we had even managed to hold onto our overall fourth place. In the end a recount gave the nod to Belgrave by five points with Ranelagh fifth and Reigate only another 29 points back. At the front of the race Herne Hill pressed home their advantage to secure a successful defence of their title. The venue was a new one for League races, based at the Hawker Centre and comprising a run out past the Thames Young Mariners, two laps of Ham Fields and a return. The area being Thames flood plain is often damp, and on this occasion melting snow made for very soft going, which perhaps made up for the absence of anything describable as a hill. The brightest point from a Ranelagh perspective was another excellent performance from Ralph Street, who must be growing with confidence at each outing. In 25th place he was the second junior home and took some notable scalps. Darryl McDonald was next in 44th place and our third scorer was Ed Barker back in 70th. For comparison, in the October League race we had nine home in the top 70. Mick Lane, Al Morgan, Chris Owens and Trevor Maguire followed soon after Ed and the scoring ten was completed by the present and past Captains and Vaughan Ramsay. BRIDGES 2.3 miles handicap Wednesday 14th January at Westminster 1 J Vallance (unatt) 20.26 (actual time 15.11) 8 Alan Davidson 20.52 (16.07) 9 John Hanscomb 20.54 (21.24) BOX HILL FELL RACE Saturday 17th January at Dorking Representing South London Orienteers, Ralph Street finished 4th overall (first junior) and Rachael Holmes was third woman. 1 C Daniels (SLOW) 52.29 4 Ralph Street 53.17 63 Rachael Holmes 67.41 118 Abi Weeds 74.39 HEARTBREAK HALF MARATHON Sunday 25th January at Godshill, New Forest 1 Z Grice (Stubb G) 1:29.44 58 Chris Read 1:54.47 LAKESIDE CANAL RUN 12km Sunday 25th January at Frimley Pete Warren was third over 60. 1 T Lambert (Winch) 43.16 78 Pete Warren 57.04 LAST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH 5km Friday 30th January in Hyde Park 1 K Quinn (AFD) 15.17 68 Michael Bull 20.29 102 Alan Davidson 21.33 185 John Hanscomb 29.18 SOUTH OF ENGLAND INTER-COUNTIES CHAMPIONSHIPS Saturday 31st January at Biggleswade Jo Ronaldson and Marie Synnott-Wells were called up for county duty and were fifth and sixth finishers in Surrey's second placed team. Senior Women 1 L Deadman (Essex) 21.06 24 Jo Ronaldson 24.18 25 Marie Synnott-Wells 24.27 RICHMOND PARKRUN 5km Saturday 31st January A second consecutive second place for Ben Matthews. 1 M Shore (unatt) 16.27 2 Ben Matthews 17.34 7 Peter Weir 18.30 16 Stephen Instone 20.00 42 Alison Dicks 22.28 44 Liz Kipling 22.35 46 Karen Weir 22.43 56 Paul Bisping 23.43 85 Andrew Prosser 25.11 133 Sharon Dooley 28.04 147 Pat Hewlett 30.29 150 Annemarie Goodridge 30.50 BUSHY PARKRUN 5km Saturday 31st January 1 M Trees (Belgrave) 16.09 37 Darren Wood 19.35 53 David Rowe 19.50 98 David Ready 21.18 118 Ian Grange 21.46 150 Alan Davidson 22.25 197 Layla Smith 23.14 323 Wally Garrod 26.31 336 Roger Wilson 27.03 337 Gill Wilson 27.04 366 John Hanscomb 28.31 392 Tanya Allen 30.14 402 Sharon Rowe 31.04 WATFORD HALF MARATHON Sunday 1st February 1 H Ettaichmi (France) 1:08.18 38 Steve Whitehead 1:19.51 1377 Louise Reeder 1:57.07 1755 John Hanscomb 2:11.49 RICHMOND PARKRUN 5km Saturday 7th February Owing to the icy conditions the course was run in the reverse direction. Rachael Holmes was third woman home. 1 R Ward (Belgrave) 16.59 5 Peter Weir 19.15 12 Stephen Instone 20.37 20 Rachael Holmes 21.41 29 Michael Cawley 22.29 30 Alison Dicks 22.42 37 Paul Bisping 23.33 51 Paul Martingell 25.45 52 Roger Wilson 25.52 54 Karen Weir 26.37 63 Gill Wilson 28.37 76 Annemarie Goodridge 31.59 BUSHY PARKRUN 5km Saturday 7th February 1 N Stoddart (SMR) 16.30 6 Ben Matthews 17.34 27 Nick Wright 19.17 28 Darren Wood 19.18 68 Amelie Hunton 21.06 100 Chris Camacho 22.00 126 Phil Aiken 22.56 212 Kirsty Bangham 25.15 293 John Hanscomb 28.25 344 Sharon Rowe 32.29 SIDCUP 10 miles Sunday 8th February Sarah Lintern reports: "We were lucky that the Sidcup 10 mile road race was still on - snow had caused much chaos in the region and several other races were cancelled. This made for a big strong field... thirty athletes ran under 60 minutes with the top three finishing just four seconds apart and the top two breaking the 50 minute barrier! The winning lady recorded a time of 57:40. The course itself was a gently undulating three lapper... just enough ups and downs to make it a fast course, although very tempting to stop after two laps, running right past the finish line! Sarah and Marion came 17th and 18th females respectively out of 137 women. Chas came 88th male, Chris came 170th male and Tom 238th man home out of 317 men. Sarah and Chris set new PBs. There were 456 finishers in total". 1 M Coleman (Medway) 49.57 98 Chas Rayner (W4) 67.06 158 Sarah Lintern 71.42 162 Marion Rayner (W4) 72.04 196 Chris Wilson 74.10 290 Tom Reay 79.56 GREAT BENTLEY HALF MARATHON Sunday 8th February 1 C Bloomfield (Bill) 68.53 50 Andrew Forth 84.43 BOOKHAM 10km Sunday 8th February 1 A Ward (Dorking) 46.07 234 John Hanscomb 79.30 KINGFIELD CANTER 2.85 miles handicap Wednesday 11th February at Woking 1 D McGraw (unatt) 25.30 (actual time 25.30) 9 Louise Piears 26.54 (20.54) 11 Steve Rowland 26.58 (18.58) BRIDGES 2.3 miles handicap Wednesday 11th February at Westminster 1 C Brolly (Bishops S) 20.09 (actual time 15.24) 4 John Hanscomb 20.33 (21.03) 22 Alan Davidson 21.11 (16.11) 31 Simon Hedger 21.37 (14.52) HAMMERSMITH RIVERSIDE 3.3 miles handicap Tuesday 23rd December 1 C Mills (West 4) 22.16 3 Alan Davidson 23.02 HAMMERSMITH RIVERSIDE 3.3 miles handicap Tuesday 30th December 1 S Edwards (Serp) 22.06 3 Alan Davidson 22.33 6 Alan Howard 24.39 FINALLY... Quote from an ultra-distance runner describing the last few kilometres of a 100km race: "I was flying - I was passing rocks and trees like they were standing still".