*************************************************** RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 315 10 October 2009 Editor: Steve Rowland mailto: steverowland@ranelagh-harriers.com *************************************************** HEADLINE NEWS ************* * Surrey Road Relays - golds for senior women, silvers for men over 50, bronzes for women over 35 * Marie Synnott-Wells 2nd in SLOW Trail Challenge and New Forest Half Marathons * Jo Ronaldson top over 40 in Bristol Half Marathon * Peter Haarer 4th and first veteran in Cirencester Park 10km * parkrun wins for Jordan Mungovan and Kate Comisso and second place for Luke Wilson * Ed Whitlock back in action with world age best for the Half Marathon * Page Cup handicap this Saturday * Opening Surrey League races on Saturday 10th October * Quiz Night at the clubhouse on Saturday 31st October SEE HERE ******** PAGE CUP The 5 miles handicap race for the Page Cup takes place this Saturday (October 3rd) in Richmond Park starting at 3pm. All members are welcome, register on the day at the clubhouse. SURREY LEAGUE The 2009 - 2010 Surrey League season begins on Saturday 10th October with both the men's and women's teams in action at Priory Park, Reigate. All members are eligible to run - register with the Captains or team manager at the venue on the day. It's important to get a good start in the competition so all potential scorers for the teams are particularly encouraged to attend. The timetable is: 12 noon - senior women 1pm - U15 / U17 girls 1.30pm - U13 girls 2.30pm - U13 / U15 / U17 boys 3pm - senior men There is no parking inside the Park - use the car parks in Bell Street, Bancroft Road or Upper West Street or at Morrisons. SURREY LEAGUE SECOND FIXTURE Please note that the second men's Surrey League race on November 14th is at Coulsdon and not Dorking as has been listed elsewhere. The women's race, however, is at Dorking. SURREY VETERANS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS Saturday 17th October in Richmond Park As usual we are hosting the Surrey Vets Championships in the Park on 17th October. The women's race over 6km starts at 2.30pm followed by the men's 10km at 3pm. Entry fee is £3. Late entries are accepted on the day at £5 but are not eligible for the team competition, so if possible please enter in advance: contact the Captains. Note, however, that this is the day before the Cabbage Patch 10. QUIZ NIGHT We are planning to hold a quiz night in the clubhouse after the mob match at home to Orion on Saturday 31st October. The plan is to start the quiz at about 6.30pm with a break for a fish and chip supper (or veggie alternative) at about 8pm. Price to be confirmed but probably about a tenner to include the supper. Maximum four people per team - either make up your own team or link up with others on the day. Please contact Michele Gibson to reserve a place micheleagibson@hotmail.com or 07703 518956. MOB MATCHES Niall O'Connor writes: "Our first mob match is on the 24th October in Coulsdon. It's time to get training! In case you're unsure of what a 'mob match' is, here's a brief description: consisting of about 80-100 runners and covering a distance of 7.5 miles (comparable to a lap of Richmond Park with the hills still included) these races are not as daunting as they sound. They are more like a 'good run in the countryside' and effort-wise are probably a bit less than a 10 mile road race. This is perfect for anyone that has run a 10k and wants to step up to either 10 miles or a half-marathon. There is no fee to enter and it's perfectly acceptable to use it as a training run if you don't feel like racing. Everyone on the start line contributes to the scoring so the more Harriers in attendance the better our chances are. However the participating number of Ranelagh runners in the matches has been declining over the last few years meaning that many Ranelagh runners haven't experienced these great races. They are definitely worth running in - some have been 'going' for 100 years! If anyone is looking for a training program to get to the fitness required for a mob match, or wants to use these races as part of a program to get fit enough to complete the marathon, drop Frances a line on francesratchfordmb@btinternet.com. THOMAS CUP Duncan Mallison writes: "Can I ask you to publicly thank in the next newsletter: Peter Weir, Marie Synnott-Wells and Frances Ratchford amongst many others for helping me out at the Thomas Cup after running into the tree. I think it looked worse than it actually was and fortunately there is no lasting damage, I might even have knocked a bit of sense into myself as a result! It just goes to show what a great club this is when so many people help you out when you most need it. Many thanks." MABAC LEAGUE Note that the MABAC League race scheduled to take place on Epsom Downs this Sunday (4th October) has been cancelled because the local authorities have refused permission for cross-country events to take place there - a worrying development! The next MABAC is on November 1st at Puttenham. 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. The following is extracted from the UCL web site: "There will be a memorial service at UCL on Weds 28 October at 3:00 pm, followed by tea at 4:15 pm. The memorial will be held in the Gustave Tuck lecture theatre, accessed through the main entrance to the College on Gower Street WC1. Maps of the College and a route finder can be found at www.ucl.ac.uk/maps/. The programme will run as follows: 3.00 Welcome from the Head of Department (Professor Maria Wyke) 3.05 Stephen as scholar (Professor Pat Easterling) 3.20 Stephen as colleague (Dr Stephen Colvin, Dr Philip de Souza) 3.40 Stephen as teacher (former students) 4.05 Closing remarks (Mrs Shelley Instone) 4.15 Tea in Room 106 Gordon House, Department of Greek and Latin. Stephen Instone Memorial Fund The Department of Greek and Latin at UCL, in consultation with Stephen's family, has created a student travel prize in Stephen's memory. Anyone wishing to donate can contact the Departmental Office at classicsoffice@ucl.ac.uk (0207 679 7522), or donate online at www.ucl.ac.uk/online-giving/ - select Greek and Latin from the menu, then Stephen Instone Fund. Donors (UK taxpayers) are encouraged to use Gift Aid to increase the value of the donation: the link above offers this option, and those who wish to donate by cheque can download a Gift Aid form www.ucl.ac.uk/GrandLat/staff/fulltimestaff/stepheninstone/GiftAid . Copies of Stephen's book Greek Personal Religion: a reader (Aris & Phillips: Oxford 2009) will be on sale at the memorial at a special pre-publication price of £20. All profits from this sale will go to the Stephen Instone prize fund." 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 3rd October Page Cup 5 miles handicap in Richmond Park. 3pm start. All members welcome, register on the day at the clubhouse. Saturday 10th October Surrey League Division 1 (men and women) at Priory Park, Reigate. See above. Saturday 17th October Surrey Veterans Cross-Country Championships in Richmond Park. See above. Sunday 18th October Cabbage Patch 10 miles at Twickenham. Over 50 Ranelagh have entered but entries are now closed. 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 *************** SURREY ROAD RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS Saturday 19th September at Wimbledon Park Three sets of medals were our reward for participation in the county road relays - one set of each colour. For the golds we had to look to our senior women. Ranelagh had won the championship four years in a row from 2003 to 2006, bringing to a halt a run of six consecutive wins by South London Harriers. South London regained the title in 2007 and retained it last year. To save you the maths, that means that no club other than Ranelagh and South London has won this race since Epsom & Ewell's victory in 1996! South London set out to make it a hat trick of wins by putting their top runner Georgie Bruinvels on the opening stage. Her 16.05 was the fastest time of the day and brought her home almost a minute clear of Jo Ronaldson, whose 17.03 was the third fastest of the day. On lap two Marie Synnott-Wells made up most of the deficit only to see former international Ceri Diss pass both her and the South London runner to bring Herne Hill into a ten second lead at the half way point. Their moment of glory was short-lived, as their third stage runner was quickly passed by the two pursuers. Estelle Damant ran strongly but couldn't prevent South London from establishing a lead of almost three-quarters of a minute going into the last stage. The pressure was now on Liz Kipling and she handled it magnificently, calmly and purposefully eating into South London's lead and moving ahead as she re-entered Wimbledon Park for the final three-quarters of a mile. Liz crossed the line a good half-minute clear to bring the relay title back to Ranelagh. The silver medals were won by the men over 50. Once again it was South London who were their main rivals but this time South London had the edge throughout and eventually finished more than three minutes clear. Howard Gleave, Jonathan Robinson, David Powell and Chris Owens occupied second place throughout. Howard's 16.43 was the fourth fastest over 50 time of the day - behind three South London runners! Less expected were the bronze medals won by the women over 35. Sandra Prosser finished third on the opening stage, Louise Piears and Sonia Rowland ran the middle laps and with a lap to go we were in fifth place. However, we had our secret weapon to come in the shape of Jo Ronaldson, out for her second circuit of the hilly three miles loop. Jo was a good deal slower than on her first lap but was still second fastest in the over 35 race and carried us through to third place. We also had an Over 50s B team which finished 8th, one quarter of a women's B team and a rather scratch senior men's team which finished 19th. Paul Nicholl ran a useful 16.58 on the first stage and only Marc Snaith, with 16.33 on the anchor, ran faster. SOUTH OF ENGLAND AA WOMEN'S ROAD RELAY CHAMPIONSHIP Saturday 26th September at Rushmoor Arena, Aldershot Estelle Damant reports: "After a dismal overcast start to the day on Saturday the sun came out and all was set for a lovely day out at Aldershot arena. The plan was set, Liz to arrive early and sort the numbers and declaration and the rest of us to join her later, the order of runners still to be decided. And so the story begins........ Leaving Raynes Park in plenty of time the mood in the car was positive, then came the traffic in Sheen , but this cleared and soon we were on our way again. All was going well until we hit the Farnborough area, and then disaster struck, we took the wrong exit off the roundabout and were soon lost somewhere near Farnborough rugby club. Not a problem though, as I called the walking A to Z that is my dad, a few moments later we were back on track or so we thought. I didn't have the heart to tell Marie that I had now seen Farnborough rugby club three times. So the guessing began, trying my best to sound confident with my instructions I merrily guessed away at the turnings we should take (Yes I am only just know admitting this to you Marie - sorry!!!). But eventually we arrived, ...at 3.45 for a 3.55 start, but all was good. Marie slung me out the car at a random gate and after a quick army style gate vault over the fence (very apt for Aldershot - although if the truth be told it was more like an ungainly struggle) I was racing toward young Miss Kipling, who had stepped up to the plate and was ready to head off on first leg which we all know she loves despite a little initial resistance. Here the keen organisational skills of Clive and Steve came into play and our declaration just made it in on time. So to the race......................... Liz, although hindered by a beast of a stitch in the latter stages, ran a solid first leg off no warm up and handed over to myself, also lacking in warm up but never in good old Ranelagh spirit, Then came Marie on the third leg, who ran a good time, making up six places, showing that she is well on the road to recovery from the virus that was bothering her at the Surrey relays. The fourth leg was then tackled by heroine of the hour Sonia Rowland who stepped in at the last minute to run a superb final leg and from now on I am sure will either always carry kit in the back of the car just in case or perhaps never again, and she thought she was getting a quiet day's spectating...we think not! Overall a good day out with some decent performances but above all a seriously massive dose of Ranelagh team effort, and proof that warms up are over-rated!" SLOW TRAIL CHALLENGE HALF MARATHON Sunday 13th September in Richmond Park South London Orienteers borrowed our clubhouse again for their final "Trail Challenge" race of the year. These events are a sort of "Orienteering Light" - relatively straightforward navigation and everyone starting together to allow the slower and less experienced to follow those who - theoretically at least - know what they are doing. The main event was the Half Marathon which attracted just over a hundred starters. Another forty-five took part in the shorter supporting races. All the events were due to start immediately across the road from the clubhouse, but there was a late change on safety grounds for the 12km and 6km. The courses for these would have taken all the runners across the road at the end of Pembroke Lodge on their way to the first control. As this stretch of road was particularly busy with both cyclists and runners taking part in the London Duathlon, it was decided to shift the start to just across the road - thereby reducing the distances by about a kilometre. The Half Marathon was not affected - the first couple of controls were inside the Park on the way to Ham and the route then took in Ham Common, Ham Fields and the towpath before returning to the Park via the footpath beside our clubhouse. The Half Marathoners then followed the route taken earlier by the 12km runners for the remainder of their run. Grant Hibbert was Ranelagh's first finisher in 10th place, but it was Marie Synnott-Wells in 34th who got into the prize list as the second woman to finish despite one or two navigational difficulties. Cindy Croucher organised a few of her training group to go round together (navigation by committee!) and they made it home in just under three hours. Steve and Sonia Rowland both made it into the over 50s prize list in the 12km event, in which Kirsty and Heather also ran together. Sandra Prosser was 3rd in the 6km and daughter Antonia matched this in the junior mini race. Half Marathon 1 A Robinson (Herc W) 1:20.32 10 Grant Hibbert 1:34.20 34 Marie Synnott-Wells 1:51.25 55 Phil Aiken 2:06.01 77 Jo Knight 2:44.47 88 Kirsty Ivison 2:57.37 89 Christine Goodsell 2:57.47 90 Tanya Allen 2:57.50 91 Cindy Croucher 2:58.00 12km 1 M Rooke (Hoad Hill) 43.08 10 Steve Rowland 51.32 20 Sonia Rowland 61.30 26 Kirsty Bangham & Heather Martingell 78.01 6km 1 N Pereverzina (unatt) 26.26 3 Sandra Prosser 27.00 9 Johannes Prosser 33.28 Mini 1 R Lynch (Dork & MV) 10.55 3 Antonia Prosser 13.25 BRISTOL HALF MARATHON Sunday 6th September Jo Ronaldson finished 19th in the women's race and was the leading over 40. 1 E Cherop (Kenya) 63.26 170 Jo Ronaldson 82.56 1232 Carola Richter 98.10 BRIDGES 2.3 miles Handicap Wednesday 9th September at Westminster 1 B Burnett (unatt) 19.39 (actual time 19.39) 6 Alan Davidson 20.45 (16.15) 27 John Hanscomb 22.16 (24.46) RICHMOND parkrun 5km Saturday 12th September 1 C Assmundson (SMR) 16.41 6 David Rowe 18.35 9 Jerym Brunton 19.12 22 Chris Read 20.29 29 Christopher Parsons 21.01 30 Karl Garvey 21.06 36 Andy Woodhouse 21.24 48 Ian Grange 22.10 51 Wiebke Kortum 22.45 73 Alison Dicks 24.36 74 Jar O'Brien 24.37 76 Kirsty Bangham 24.41 90 Philippa Shaw 25.42 98 Sally Bamford 26.47 106 Rob Kitchen 27.15 125 Molly Smith 30.13 126 Tanya Allen 30.28 130 Bronwen Northmore 31.40 131 Pat Hewlett 31.42 133 Annemarie Goodridge 32.21 137 Sharon Rowe 33.03 150 Andrew Brown 41.39 BUSHY parkrun 5km Saturday 12th September 1 T Bedford (Shaft B) 15.35 14 Nick Wright 17.49 22 Chris Bundhun 18.32 27 Simon Collingridge 19.07 84 Grant Hibbert 20.56 119 Roger Wilson 22.04 144 Chris Camacho 22.31 226 Luke Wilson 24.23 310 Gill Wilson 25.57 453 John Hanscomb 29.57 505 Wally Garrod 33.05 BEDFONT LAKES parkrun 5km Saturday 12th September 1 S Nicholl (unatt) 18.01 11 Chris Wilson 22.00 BANSTEAD WOODS parkrun 5km Saturday 12th September 1 R Ward (Belgrave) 16.38 9 Simon Hedger 19.06 READING parkrun 5km Saturday 12th September 1 D Thorne (Reading) 16.53 13 Darren Wood 19.10 WIMBLEDON COMMON parkrun 5km Saturday 12th September 1 E O'Connell (Serp) 17.06 58 Phil Aiken 23.10 122 Catherine Carthy 27.42 MABAC LEAGUE 5 miles Sunday 13th September at Lightwater Country Park 1 D Cairnie (Runnymede) 32.36 69 Danny Hobbs 51.04 RICHMOND parkrun 5km Saturday 19th September Winner Jamie Taylor-Caldwell is listed in the results as Ranelagh, though his main interest is with Ealing on the track. Kate Comisso was today's leading woman with a PB by over a minute. 1 Jamie Taylor-Caldwell 17.21 7 Jerym Brunton 19.18 12 Bill Neely 19.31 16 Kate Comisso 20.22 23 Karl Garvey 20.56 26 Christopher Parsons 21.03 31 Ben Shore 21.15 45 Sandra Prosser 22.01 70 Rob Kitchen 24.16 86 Philippa Shaw 25.58 89 Johannes Prosser 26.12 112 Tanya Allen 29.33 119 Pat Hewlett 31.28 123 Annemarie Goodridge 31.47 136 Sarah Middleton 35.05 140 Yvonne Howie 38.31 BUSHY parkrun 5km Saturday 19th September 1 G Thornton (Kent) 15.06 26 Chris Owens 18.23 28 Steve Elswood 18.25 31 David Rowe 18.35 37 Darren Wood 18.47 64 Chris Hunton 19.40 163 Chris Camacho 22.17 224 Phil Aiken 23.47 287 Kirsty Bangham 24.50 395 Wally Garrod 27.51 484 John Hanscomb 30.30 513 Sharon Rowe 31.21 BEDFONT LAKES parkrun 5km Saturday 19th September Second place for Luke Wilson. 1 J Flood (Strag) 17.37 2 Luke Wilson 18.47 6 Chris Read 20.53 16 Roger Wilson 22.07 32 Gill Wilson 26.09 BLACK PARK parkrun 5km Saturday 19th September 1 G Woollett (Gade V) 17.48 28 Paul Sinton-Hewitt 22.37 BERLIN MARATHON Sunday 20th September Andy Hayward reports: "The weekend before the Berlin Marathon I did a leg of the Surrey Road Relays for the M50 'B' team. Immediately after finishing as I was still battling to retain my breakfast by the side of the track, Captain Marc told me he was a man down in the Senior team, and asked me if I wanted to run another leg. I told him 'No' in no uncertain terms. However, when he was still trying to find someone half an hour later, and I had recovered, I agreed to run again, but took it easier on the hill on the second lap. Walking back to the car a couple of hours later, the nightmare scenario began - a sore throat! This developed into a fully fledged cold by Sunday, requiring two days off work - running Berlin was looking pretty unlikely! Michele and I flew to Berlin on Friday, with me not knowing if I was going to be running or spectating. I decided to do the International Breakfast Run on the Saturday morning, a 3.75 mile run (with club colours and national flags) to see how I felt. Also, I figured that if I wasn't up to running the marathon, at least I would get to run on the same track that Usain Bolt set world records on a couple of weeks ago, and run in the stadium famous for the 1936 Olympics, from the greatness of Jesse Owens's achievements to the evil of Hitler's speech there. Michele had not slept much for a few days, so decided to catch up on some z's. It was limited to 9 min/mile pace, with lead cars followed by official flag bearers and then the runners, and I started right near the front, so I had no idea how big it was. However, when I finished and climbed up the steps to the top of the stadium and looked back, the track was full, and people were still coming through the tunnel. I went out of the stadium for the breakfast, looked at the bell (recovered after the war, and displayed as a symbol, with the barely concealed swastikas on) and stood around taking photos, and then left after about half an hour. Still they were coming in! Reviewing the run, I still had a bad cough and was very congested, but I had felt reasonable so I decided to run the next day. Obviously my dreams of sub 3:15 or 3:20 were out the window, but I figured I should be able to make it round in under 3:30. It was very stressful at the start, with baggage drop-off and funnelling into the start pens very disorganised, and melees and delays around small openings into both areas. Michele and I made it into our respective pens with just a couple of minutes to go. Haile Gebrselassie was duly hailed with thunderous applause before the start, and then the gun went off. I was over the line in two or three minutes, but extremely congested (the course now, as well as my head!). I was doing just over 5 minute k's and felt I couldn't push any more, so I knew right from the start that I would probably be finishing between 3:30 and 3:35, especially as it was now getting very hot (25'C). This reminded me why I don't enjoy running the big city marathons. The buzz and camaraderie around them are fantastic, but the actual running is not. I was boxed in pretty well all the way, elbows flying, people constantly cutting across in front of you, and behind you clipping your heels, absolute chaos at the water stations, with none of the 'water station etiquette' you get at smaller races run by mainly club runners. I lost several minutes here, but overall, managed to keep an even pace going, and around 30k started seeing people come back to me who had gone off fast at the gun. Whilst the first half had been quite shady, the second half was out in the sun, which was by now really heating things up. The last 7k was quite twisty until just after 40k turning left on to Unter Den Linden, and the final goal was then in sight, although looking a long way away. Running through the Brandenburg Gate at the 26 mile point was emotional, and amazing when you consider that it was sealed off in 'No Man's Land' between East and West Berlin only 20 years ago. The last quarter of a mile from the gate to the finish line was amazing, running in front of the grandstand in the Tiergarten. I saw a man at that point dressed as an angel ahead of me and put on a sprint over the last 100 yards to avoid being beaten by him, just getting past him on the line. I was glad I did that as it got me under 3:36! After all the training and a proper taper, I was disappointed with the time (3:35:57) but considering I didn't think I would be able to run it at all a couple of days earlier, I'll take it. All in all, I'm extremely glad I did it, but wouldn't rush to do it again. Michele was hoping to get a PB and crack the four hour mark (her current PB is 4:00:21). She was ahead of the 4:00 pacers at 39k, but struggled badly over the last 3k, finishing in 4:04. We hooked up with other Ranelaghs afterwards in a bar near the 35k point for a few refreshing ales, and tales of the struggle". Amongst the others it was Nick Wright who led the way, just ducking inside the three hours barrier. Andy and Ian Grange were the only others inside four hours on net times, but on chip times Chris Wilson, Alison Dicks and Jar O'Brien made it too. As Andy describes, it must have been crowded at the start - Lorna Smith seems to have taken all of 22 minutes to cross the start line! Men 1 H Gebrselassie (Eth) 945 Nick Wright 2:59.09 (chip time 2:58.32) 6419 Andy Hayward 3:39.18 (3:35.57) 8368 Ian Grange 3:48.15 (3:44.15) 12251 Chris Wilson 4:00.57 (3:52.51) 12610 Jar O'Brien 4:11.38 (3:58.48) 14090 Jonathan Peacock 4:16.09 (4:04.37) Women 1246 Alison Dicks 4:06.49 (3:56.46) 1723 Michele Gibson 4:14.27 (4:04.51) 3050 Lorna Smith 4:45.40 (4:23.54) 4769 Deborah Blakemore 5:03.14 (4:48.01) RAVENS RON WHEELER QUARTERLY 5km Thursday 24th September at Wapping 1 D Moore (TH&H) 16.36 18 Chris Read 19.30 32 Alan Davidson 21.28 34 Andy Hayward 21.48 LAST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH 5km Friday 25th September in Hyde Park 1 R Bentley (Bhth & B) 15.43 27 Simon Hedger 18.46 100 Alan Davidson 21.41 207 John Hanscomb 30.50 RICHMOND parkrun 5km Saturday 26th September A good win for Jordan Mungovan and another PB for the fast improving Luke Wilson. 1 Jordan Mungovan 17.48 7 Luke Wilson 18.36 8 Jerym Brunton 18.37 27 Christopher Parsons 20.42 35 Karl Garvey 21.10 44 Roger Wilson 21.28 46 Sandra Prosser 21.38 52 Wiebke Kortum 22.07 54 Alan Davidson 22.16 55 Andrew Brown 22.26 83 Alison Dicks 24.49 84 Jar O'Brien 24.50 101 Gill Wilson 26.40 104 Johannes Prosser 26.46 126 Christine Goodsell 29.34 130 Tanya Allen 29.42 137 Annemarie Goodridge 31.44 140 Bronwen Northmore 31.56 156 Andy Woodhouse 38.42 RICHMOND parkrun 5km Saturday 26th September 1 S Renfer (Elmbridge) 16.26 17 David Rowe 18.01 24 Iain Wilson 18.19 25 Darren Wood 18.21 30 John Herries 18.33 102 Adam Wright 20.50 138 Chris Camacho 21.28 195 Peter Fordham 22.37 324 Kirsty Bangham 25.29 377 Wally Garrod 26.44 391 Phil Aiken 27.07 398 John Hanscomb 27.19 523 Sharon Rowe 32.06 READING parkrun 5km Saturday 26th September 1 J Sherman (Read RR) 17.26 21 Paul Sinton-Hewitt 21.32 33 Jo Sinton-Hewitt 23.57 42 Chris Wright 25.27 NEW FOREST MARATHON and HALF MARATHON Sunday 27th September at New Milton Chris Read reports: "On Sunday Marie Synnott-Wells, Kate Comisso and I ran the New Forest Half Marathon. The weather was bright and clear and the famously picturesque course was bathed in sunshine. It is certainly a tough course with frequent undulations and very little level ground. Marie and Kate both did very well. Marie was the second lady in a time of 1.26.37. Kate was the sixth lady in a time of 1.31.37. I followed at a more sedate pace. Due to different start times I did not see the marathon runners but I am aware that Ian Grange ran the marathon. Ian was characteristically unperturbed by having done another marathon (Berlin) only a week earlier. He finished in a time of 4.05.21." Half Marathon 1 S Jeffery (Bas & MH) 1:15.50 (chip time 1:15.50) 29 Marie Synnott-Wells 1:26.39 (1:26.37) 80 Kate Comisso 1:31.52 (1:31.37) 140 Chris Read 1:35.21 (1:35.05) Marathon 1 J Corbett (unatt) 2:46.44 (chip time 2:46.44) 250 Ian Grange 4:05.23 (4:05.21) WINDSOR HALF MARATHON Sunday 27th September Chris Illman finished fourth in Cirencester colours and reported that "It was very hilly and hot, and traffic was awful meaning I only arrived 10 minutes before the start." I can only guess that Emma Tomlinson also had problems reaching the start - how else to explain a gun time of 2:11.18 and a chip time of 1:42.50! 1 S Overall (Bhth & B) 1:06.10 (chip time 1:06.11) 4 Chris Illman (Ciren) 1:13.33 (1:13.34) 1649 Jose Scheuer 2:01.52 (1:59.22) 2333 Emma Tomlinson 2:11.18 (1:42.50) 3471 John Scally 2:28.06 (2:23.10) CIRENCESTER PARK 10km Sunday 27th September Peter Haarer was fourth overall and first veteran. 1 W Levett (Tonbridge) 31.59 4 Peter Haarer 33.06 SWITCHBACK 5 miles Sunday 27th September at Croydon Phil Aiken reports: "Under clear blue skies, a sun-drenched record field tackled this open cross country race through Lloyd Park and out into the interesting Addington Hills, with Alan Howard scooping the V60 prize." 1 B Makuwa (SoC) 29.00 51 Alan Howard 39.57 57 Phil Aiken 41.36 FIRLE BEACON HALF MARATHON Sunday 27th September Andy Woodhouse reports: "Found the hill to the Beacon surprisingly easier than expected; it was the later hill at 16km that was the really testing one, mainly because I thought it was all downhill from there. Lovely scenery on the South Downs Way and a great preparation for the mob matches (if you can ever prepare yourself for Blackheath, that is...)." 1 R James (Lewes) 1:20.56 67 Andy Woodhouse 1:46.10 HORSLEY 5km Sunday 27th September Sonia Rowland was second veteran, while Louise Piears, who helps organise the race, ran with her son Daniel. 1 D Williams (DMV) 17.56 21 Sonia Rowland 23.09 74 Louise Piears 27.41 NCBS EPSOM 10km Sunday 27th September 1 G Sobczyk (unatt) 32.14 199 John Hanscomb 65.05 TORONTO WATERFRONT HALF MARATHON Sunday 27th September Ed Whitlock writes: "After a two year interruption with my knee problems I managed my first decent race - the Toronto Waterfront half marathon run in conjunction with the marathon. I managed 1:37:38 which was a single age (78) world record. I am hopeful I can get back racing regularly again now and get back to where I was before the interruption when I ran 8 minutes faster." 1 B Langat (Kenya) 65.14 345 Ed Whitlock 97.38 HAMMERSMITH RIVERSIDE HANDICAP 3.3 miles Tuesday 29th September 1 D Cox (WG & EL) 18.15 6 Alan Davidson 23.05 FINALLY Running with music? It's being rightly outlawed in road races on safety grounds, and a recent study that looked into its effectiveness in helping your performance came down against it. "It would seem", concluded an article in The Times, "that for the regular distance runner in search of that extra boost, music isn't it. It may work in warm-up, it may help in cool-down, and it may be great for getting you into the gym in the first place, but when it comes to really pushing your aerobic limits, Depeche Mode said it better that anyone: 'Enjoy the Silence'".