*************************************************** RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 314 11 September 2009 Editor: Steve Rowland mailto: steverowland@ranelagh-harriers.com *************************************************** HEADLINE NEWS ************* * Danny Hobbs wins Thomas Cup * Fastest times by Peter Haarer and Marie Synnott-Wells * Alison Dicks, Jo Knight and Fran Coyle win the Ratchford Relay * Paul Sinton-Hewitt and Jo Turner wed SEE HERE ******** SLOW TRAIL CHALLENGE HALF MARATHON South London Orienteers' next open race will be based at our clubhouse this Sunday 13th September. Like the 10km held a few weeks ago, this is a "Trail Challenge" race - a multi-terrain event where you run with a map and have to find your way round a series of control points. All runners start together, so there is some possibility of following others, but some navigation at least is likely to be required as the field spreads out in the later stages. The main event is the Half Marathon (10.30am start) but there is also a 12km (11am), a 6km (11.15am) and a short race for under 15s at 10.45am. CLUB PLACES FOR THE LONDON MARATHON Simon Burrell writes: "It is now more difficult than ever to even submit an entry request for the London Marathon, let alone get a place! As a result the club committee agreed to take another look at who should be eligible to put their names in the hat in the draw for the five club places. Previously, club places have only been available to those members that had been unsuccessful in the main ballot. The committee felt that using the new online system did make it much more difficult to request a ballot place and that entry criteria might be better linked to representing or otherwise supporting the club rather than having been unsuccessful in obtaining a ballot place. We are working on a final set of criteria for club places for the 2011 London Marathon onwards. In this we are keen to ensure that the mix of entry criteria is positive and achievable for all members. It was not felt fair to wholly change the criteria for the 2010 race as many members have already worked hard to put their names down for a main ballot place in April this year. Therefore, as an interim measure, entry for club places in 2010 will be changed to: · Being a fully paid up member; and either · Having been rejected in the main London Marathon ballot; OR · Having represented the club in at least one mob match over the previous twelve months We hope members agree that this is a fair compromise for this year's draw and that moving to a system of club representation and/or volunteering is a more appropriate long-term method of qualification. The approach for this year's draw will still give you a chance to participate in one of the three mob matches before the Christmas party if you were unable to apply online in April. I hope this makes things clear for this year's draw. I will publish the full criteria for subsequent years once they have been agreed. I will also publish detailed instructions for putting your name down for this year's draw in good time for the Christmas party. If you have any questions please email me on simon_burrell2000@yahoo.com BUILDING FUND DRAW The latest draw took place after the Thomas Cup race and the winners were Wally Garrod (£117), Trevor Maguire (£49) and Marcus Gohar (£30). If you'd like to join in, it costs just a tenner a year. Send a cheque payable to "RANELAGH HARRIERS BUILDING FUND" to Peter Trainor, 30 Hatch Place, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT2 5NB. Phone: 020 8541 3579, e-mail: peter.trainor@btinternet.com CONGRATULATIONS... To Paul Sinton-Hewitt and Jo Turner, who were married on Friday 4th September. Jo tried out her new name at the next morning's Bushy parkrun. LOCAL NEWSPAPERS Appeal from the Editor! In my other hat as the club's Press Officer I regularly submit reports to the local newspapers. However, as I don't live in the Richmond area, I don't actually get any of the local papers myself. As I like to know what has been printed, I am looking for someone to take over the job of collecting cuttings for me. You need to get the Richmond and Twickenham Times and the freebies like the Richmond Informer. All I'm asking is that you cut out any references to Ranelagh and periodically pass them on to me, either by post or just leaving them in an envelope at the clubhouse for me to pick up. If you can help, please e-mail me at the address shown at the top of the e-news. Thanks! ACHILLES TENDON TREATMENT Dr Caroline Alexander writes: "Volunteers Required: Do you have a painful achilles tendon? I am a physiotherapist trying to find out if taping your ankle helps. I need volunteers to take part in these experiments. Are you otherwise healthy? Aged between 18 and 90? Do you have a problem with your achilles tendon? If you are able to give up 1 hour of your time and you would like further information, please contact me Dr. Caroline Alexander. Department of Physiotherapy, Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Rd, London W6 8RF * 0208 846 1492 e-mail: caroline.alexander@imperial.ac.uk." STEPHEN INSTONE It is hoped that the Richmond parkrun points prize trophy will be presented to Stephen's widow Shelley at the Saturday October 10th run. There is to be a memorial service for Stephen at 2pm on Wednesday 28th October at University College London, where Stephen was a lecturer and researcher. More details nearer the time. WHAT'S COMING ************* More details of the following from Marc Snaith (07717 213035 mailto ( mdsnaith5@hotmail.com ) or Marie Synnott-Wells (07983 430264 (After 5pm Weekdays) / mailto nandmwells@aol.com ) Saturday 12th September Surrey Road Relays (men and women, including veterans) at Wimbledon Park. 12 noon start. Sunday 13th September SLOW Trail Challenge Half Marathon in Richmond Park. See above. Sunday 13th September MABAC League 5 miles at Lightwater Country Park. Saturday 26th September Women's South of England Road Relays at Aldershot. Sunday 27th September Men's South of England Road Relays at Aldershot. Saturday 3rd October Page Cup 5 miles handicap in Richmond Park. 3pm start. All members welcome, register on the day at the clubhouse. 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 Bedfont Lakes Bedfont Lakes Country Park, Ashford, Middlesex Other venues, more details and registration at www.parkrun.com WHAT'S HAPPENED *************** THOMAS CUP 3.8 miles HANDICAP and ANNUAL CLUB PHOTO Saturday 5th September in Richmond Park Ranelagh's 129th season began in the time-honoured fashion with the annual club photo, efficiently executed - also in time-honoured fashion - by Ken Powley. The evidence, showing about ninety members assembled across the road in the Park, can be viewed on our website. Then it was up the hill to the start on a bright and still quite summery afternoon. The Thomas Cup is almost as old as the club itself, having been won in a match race by the great Sid Thomas in 1889 and presented to the club the following year. The first Thomas Cup handicap was held in 1891 and this year will see the 109th name engraved upon it or its base. That name will be Danny Hobbs. Danny has been running for only a couple of years but is improving apace and today he proved to be one step ahead of the handicapper. He was not actually first across the line - that honour went to Philippa Shaw, but she, Fran Coyle and Jo Knight, who filled three of the top four places, were all competing as guests. Discounting that trio, who have yet to run sufficient races for the handicapper to give them an accurate mark, Danny had over 70 seconds in hand over the next finisher, Marina Quayle, a massive margin in such a short race. Bronze medallist was a slimline Simon Collingridge, running faster than for many years. The pedigree is there, though: back in the mid-1980s Simon was a sub-31 10k runner and a 68 minutes half-marathoner. Andy Hayward was next in, leading almost fifty home in the ensuing two and a half minutes - another good job by handicapper Mike Rowland. Fastest time by over two minutes was Peter Haarer's 21.17, but that only carried him through to 21st place. Second fastest Trevor Maguire made it into the top ten, leaving Jonathan Robinson, who started with Trevor, almost 30 seconds back. Nevertheless, Jonathan recorded third fastest time. Top woman - 14th fastest overall - was Marie Synnott-Wells on 25.32, ahead of Rachael Holmes 27.46 and Sandra Prosser 28.45. Top junior was 16 year-old Sam Hunton with 25.18. Roger Wilson adds: "Thanks to Peter Weir who selflessly abandoned his race in the Thomas Cup to attend to Duncan Mallison who unfortunately suffered a cut from a low hanging branch, and to other runners who temporarily stopped to check on Duncan, and to Marie Synnott-Wells who administered expert first aid. Hope Duncan is fine". RATCHFORD RELAY Tuesday 25th August in Richmond Park The annual women-only relay devised by our former President Frances Ratchford attracted nearly forty runners in thirteen teams of three. In each team one runner must run three laps, one two laps and one only one lap. The day's star turn was Kate Comisso, who led the field by over 20 seconds on the opening lap and went on to record the three fastest times of the day with 3.33, 3.41 and 3.35. Kate's team retained the lead until the half distance but then Fran Coyle for Alison Dicks's team caught Kate's Beverly Walsh and handed a very narrow lead to Jo Knight on stage five. Jo lengthened the advantage slightly over Jules Press giving Alison almost a half-minute cushion over Kate for the last lap. Alison obviously wasn't convinced this would be enough and squeezed out her fastest lap of 3.43 to cross the line still 21 seconds to the good. Kathy Mallett's team, who had always been well placed, were an isolated third and then the rush started, headed by Jo Turner who overtook Evelyn Joslin on the line. Janet Turnes's team was next: their one-lap runner Philippa Shaw was actually the fastest on the team, giving a pointer towards her good run in the Thomas Cup the following week. Emma Short almost repeated this trick in Kirsty Bangham's team, though Kirsty's fastest actually matched Emma's time. Kirsty almost came out on top for consistency over three laps with her 4.26, 4.25 and 4.30, but Verka Stewart could just beat that with 4.09, 4.07 and 4.05. Most consistent two-lapper was Heather Martingell with 4.36 and 4.35. LAST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH 5km Friday 28th August in Hyde Park 1 H Raidi (Belgrave) 15.55 107 Alan Davidson 21.54 215 John Hanscomb 30.55 RICHMOND parkrun 5km Saturday 29th August 1 R Carol (Clapham) 17.14 9 Peter Weir 18.47 11 Jerym Brunton 19.03 12 Bill Neely 19.25 33 Karl Garvey 21.28 43 Andrew Brown 22.08 44 Rachael Holmes 22.09 47 Alison Dicks 22.29 51 Alan Davidson 22.39 65 Gary McKeown 23.31 71 Paul Bisping 24.03 101 Philippa Shaw 26.21 104 Janet Turnes 26.50 105 Rob Kitchen 26.51 114 Hannah Turnes 27.36 121 Jo Knight 28.31 135 Tanya Allen 30.28 138 Bronwen Northmore 33.38 144 Vicky Pordan 39.00 BUSHY parkrun 5km Saturday 29th August 1 M Shore (TH&H) 16.23 20 David Rowe 18.35 210 Grant Hibbert 24.06 236 Phil Aiken 24.37 264 Paul Sinton-Hewitt 25.16 297 Kirsty Bangham 26.14 425 John Hanscomb 30.40 432 Sharon Rowe 30.56 BEDFONT LAKES parkrun 5km Saturday 29th August 1 T Haughian (SMR) 17.56 6 Duncan Mallison 19.46 19 Paul Martingell 23.04 BASINGSTOKE parkrun 5km Saturday 29th August 1 T Smith (Basing & MH) 17.28 10 Darren Wood 18.55 BROMLEY parkrun 5km Saturday 29th August The Wilson parkrun tour reaches Bromley... 1 W Withecombe (Beck) 17.08 21 Roger Wilson 22.56 42 Holly Wilson 26.08 43 Gill Wilson 26.23 SPIRE 10 miles Sunday 30th August at Chesterfield Phil Aiken visits his home town: "Same course, same profile (you can read the description in previous reports) and the same outcome as last year - a shiny brand new PW. Sunday dinner in the pub after was good and you can't beat a proper pudding, in this case fruit crumble and custard". 1 J Lings (Sheff) 59.03 211 Phil Aiken 86.20 RICHMOND parkrun 5km Saturday 5th September 1 C Assmundson (SMR) 16.44 13 Peter Weir 19.53 55 Andrew Brown 22.33 56 Alison Dicks 22.35 60 Paul Bisping 22.58 79 Jerym Brunton 24.54 139 Sarah Middleton 35.26 BUSHY parkrun 5km Saturday 5th September The new Mr and Mrs Sinton-Hewitt celebrated by trotting round together, complete with wedding veils and best dog. 1 Tim Doran (OWLS) 16.30 25 Chris Bundhun 18.46 27 David Rowe 18.55 31 Steve Elswood 19.15 35 Chris Owens 19.23 36 Luke Wilson 19.23 72 Darren Wood 20.15 139 Roger Wilson 21.52 178 Grant Hibbert 22.33 248 Phil Aiken 23.45 367 Jo Sinton-Hewitt 26.14 368 Paul Sinton-Hewitt 26.15 425 Chris Wright 27.28 452 Kirsty Bangham 28.04 518 John Hanscomb 29.58 562 Sharon Rowe 32.36 WIMBLEDON COMMON parkrun 5km Saturday 5th September 1 E O'Connell (Serp) 16.57 147 Catherine Carthy 27.57 BEDFONT LAKES parkrun 5km Saturday 5th September 1 P Rooprai (Thames T) 17.56 5 Duncan Mallison 19.31 HARRY HAWKES 8 miles Sunday 6th September at Thames Ditton 1 S Molden (TH&H) 44.34 289 Janet Turnes 71.48 327 Edward Josey 74.41 372 Alan Meaden 79.04 397 Sally Stembridge 81.57 400 David Meaden 82.16 403 Christine Goodsell 82.49 409 John Hanscomb 84.19 419 Panny Merrett 87.29 SURREY BADGER HALF MARATHON Sunday 6th September at Leatherhead Phil Aiken reports: "This was the second running and, judging by the turnout - last year there were 226 finishers, this year just shy of 400 - word has got out about what a great race this is. The Harry Hawkes 8 it is not! Two miles out and back along the A24 from Leatherhead bookend 9 miles of ups and downs over various surfaces. There was a 45 second improvement on last year and a bottle of Badger's First Gold at the finish with which to celebrate". 1 O Laws (ASICS) 75.53 22 Simon Hedger 87.34 168 Phil Aiken 112.08 HEADINGTON 10km Sunday 6th September 1 J L'Homme (Head) 33.12 89 Paul Gascoyne 42.55 FINALLY... "Trembling, chattering teeth and drooping eyelids". Recognise the symptoms? According to researchers at Tufts University in Boston, extreme exercise can cause a reaction in the brain similar to that caused by hard drugs; and sudden withdrawal can lead to the same symptoms. And I thought it was just a hangover...