*************************************************** RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 343 17 December 2010 Editor: Steve Rowland mailto: steverowland@ranelagh-harriers.com *************************************************** MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR! HEADLINE NEWS ************* * Ranelagh finishes 4th in Dysart and Ellis Cups * Liz Kipling wins Hugh Jones Salver club women's championship * Marie Synnott-Wells wins Trish's Trophy club women's over 40 championship * Orion win the Harold Lee Cup mob match * Marie Synnott-Wells 4th scorer for Surrey in SEAA Inter-Counties * Ralph Street finishes 3rd in South Yorkshire League * parkrun placings for Trevor Maguire, Duncan Mallison, Sean Paynter, Sally Bell, Louise Dunn, David Rowe and David Bell SEE HERE ******** CLUB LONDON MARATHON PLACES Last year our application for guaranteed London Marathon places was lost somewhere, and so the five members whose names were drawn in our ballot did not actually get their places. These five were given first refusal for 2011, and three of them - Penny Merrett, Kirsty Ivison and Danny Hobbs - elected to take their places. This left two spots to be assigned this year. The draw was made at the Christmas Party and the lucky pair were Ted Mockett and David Rowe. TUESDAY NIGHT CHRISTMAS As usual on the last Tuesday before Christmas you are invited to bring a few nibbles and stay on at the clubhouse after training for a pre-Christmas celebration. At least some of the training groups will be running a Christmas Cracker relay at Richmond Green as that night's session. Sonia threatens to sell some more Cornwall Hospice quiz sheets! CHRISTMAS and NEW YEAR RUNS If you can't bear to miss your daily running fix, several local parkruns are operating as normal on Christmas Day, including Richmond Park, Bushy Park, Banstead Woods and Frimley Park. On New Year's Day the same four will be operating, plus Wimbledon Common. The Richmond Park and Banstead events will start at 10am on January 1st. Don't forget, though, that our own Henty Relay is also on New Year's Day this year, starting at 12 noon. This is our Christmas fun relay, open to all members, friends and family. Anyone who can run a mile and a bit, in fact. It's for teams of three (which are drawn on the day). Each team consists of one "fast" runner, one "medium" and one "slow". The relay is over six 2km laps of Sidmouth Wood - the "fast" runs three laps, the "medium" two and the "slow" one lap, in any order. The race starts at 12 noon, but you MUST come to the clubhouse to register by 11.30am, in order to be allocated to a team. If you fancy something different to stimulate your appetite on Christmas Day, there is the traditional 30 minutes Paarlauf from Lauriston Cottage on the edge of Wimbledon Common starting at 11am. Teams of two are drawn on the day and you need to register at Lauriston Cottage (at the junction of Lauriston Road and Southside Common) by 10.30am. Entry fee is £1 and there is free mulled wine and mince pies afterwards! AUBREY'S THE OFFICIAL REGISTER OF LONDON MARATHON RUNNERS 2001-2010 Peter Fordham writes: "Many of you who have been in the clubhouse recently will have seen a copy of Aubrey's 'The Official Register Of London Marathon Runners 2001-2010'. If you completed the race between 2001-2010 your name, time and position is recorded in 'The Register'. It is the authoritative and complete archive of the last ten years of the London Marathon. It includes year by year race summaries, exclusive photos, and fascinating facts and pen-portraits of race winners. If you would like this unique memento of your race day experience and a permanent record of your personal achievement it can be purchased on line at www.aubreybooks.com/london-marathon or at the following stores: Up&Running Sheen and Camberley, Runners Need (Canary Wharf, Camden, Holborn and Liverpool Street), Running Shoes London (Paddington Basin), London City Runner (St Paul's) and The London Marathon Stores. The price is £29 in most stores, although it has a RRP of £60." For further details contact Peter on 07799 072307. WHAT'S COMING ************* More details of the following from Marc Snaith (07717 213035 mailto ( mdsnaith5@hotmail.com ) or Marie Synnott-Wells (07956 431319 (After 5pm Weekdays) / mailto nandmwells@aol.com ) Saturday 18th December South of the Thames 7.5 miles championship POSTPONED Saturday 1st January Henty Relay. All members and guests welcome - 12 noon start. See Christmas and New Year Runs above for more details. Saturday 8th January Surrey County Championships at Lloyd Park, Croydon Saturday 15th January Surrey League - women at Ham (12 noon), men at Newlands Corner, Guildford (3pm) 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 Kingston The Hawker Centre Old Deer Park Pools in the Park on the A316 Other venues, more details and registration at www.parkrun.com The 2km junior parkrun for under 15s takes place at 11am on the first Sunday of each month from Bushy Park's Teddington Gate. WHAT'S HAPPENED *************** DYSART CUP 4 miles Saturday 4th December in Richmond Park Kirsty Bangham writes: "Twelve Ranelagh ladies turned up on the frozen wastelands of Richmond Park for the Dysart Cup on Saturday. Although by the afternoon it was a positively balmy 2 degrees and the snow had nearly gone, leaving behind a mixture of slush, ice and sludge. Tricky to run on, but excellent for cleaning the mud off my dirty spikes! As we walked to the start line it seemed to be overrun with red vests as usual - the theory being that the Serpies keep losing the trophy, so they have to ensure they keep winning it back! Alan did not keep us hanging about in the cold and we were off on the first lap round Sidmouth Wood. We then did a longer lap up to the ballet school and back past the ponds. No sawdust on the ground today but a couple of frozen marshals out on the course, along with some other supporters. Thank you so much to those people, it can't have been pleasant. We had some great support from the men waiting their turn to race too. In fact Chris Read managed to marshal, support, and take his trousers off all at the same time! Liz just missed out on a podium place, finishing in fourth place in a time of 26.57. However she does win the Hugh Jones Salver for being first Ranelagh lady home. She was followed by Marie, who wins Trish's Trophy for first Ranelagh lady over 40. The other scorers were Sandra, Michelle and Amelie. They were followed by Karen, Heather, me, Sally, Philippa, Louise and Corinne. Well done to everyone. After wrapping up warm to support the men's race, we headed back to the clubhouse for Carol's legendary tea and cakes, and to hear the results. I'd better not mention that I won the sealed handicap had I?!" Lots of photos here:. ELLIS CUP 5.5 miles Saturday 4th December in Richmond Park Serpentine made it a double by retaining the Ellis Cup comfortably enough, with Ranelagh back in 4th place. Niall O'Connor was our first finisher, ahead of John Shaw and Peter Weir, though Ted Mockett would have been up with them had he not decided to give everyone a start. Photos here:. LEE CUP MOB MATCH v ORION HARRIERS Saturday 11th December in Epping Forest I don't know how much snow fell in Epping Forest, but all trace of it had disappeared by Saturday afternoon. The sudden thaw deposited a great deal of water into the ground, leaving the perennially muddy Orion course in the choicest of conditions. Even the grizzled veterans of Ranelagh could barely remember a boggier visit. Orion have been evicted from their traditional home at the Royal Forest Hotel, and until their new HQ is ready they have taken up residence at the Chingford Cricket Club, a ten minutes jog from the start, which remains at the usual spot near the pub. Orion unveiled a new club cry in response to our "Hobble Gobble" led by Captain Marc, and then we were off with a murky but mild afternoon before us. An Orion runner just ahead of me lost a shoe at the first sight of mud, which did not augur well for the rest of the course. However, the forest tracks that form much of the first half of the course were not really in too bad a state, though the switchback section seemed interminable. Off the tracks, however, was mud - much of it that glutinous variety that clings to your shoes and makes you feel like you have a house brick strapped onto each foot. I suppose we're a bit spoiled with the fast going we're accustomed to in Richmond Park. We throw up our arms in horror if the Pen Ponds overflow and we get our feet wet for a couple of strides. But in a perverse sort of way, a run at Orion is rather...fun. I wouldn't want to do it every week, mind. Once every two years will do, thanks. You mustn't have too much of a good thing. Having said that, it's possible we may be back again next year as it's Orion's centenary and a special event of some kind is planned. Others shared my view and most of us had the opportunity to enjoy the course for much longer than our Orion friends who hurried round as if they were in a race. I saw Jo Sinton-Hewitt finish with a smile the size of Essex and Aiah Songu-Mbriwa was making plans to enter the Orion 15 (miles, that is, not kilometres) even before he had washed off today's mud. As for new member Sandra Forrest, brave woman, this was her first-ever cross-country race. "It was 7.7 hilly miles of swampy fun," she said afterwards."It was a blast and I loved every minute of it!" So it was a bit of a shame that a few more Ranelagh couldn't have made the trip round the good old M25. We numbered thirty-three starters, which was never going to be enough to give Orion much of a run for their money. They dominated the front of the race and just kept going. Marc Snaith was our first finisher in 10th place and only six more made the top thirty. With thirty a side to score, Orion's last counter finished 40th. A pretty comprehensive defeat then. That makes it one win against two losses in mob matches so far this season. There's one to go, so make a note in that new 2011 diary you'll be getting for Christmas - Saturday 26th February away to Blackheath & Bromley. Photos:. We hurried back afterwards to our Christmas Party at St Mary's University College. As well as the draw for London Marathon places (see above) the President conducted an auction of a Great Ethiopian Run calendar, on which winners of the men's and women's races had signed their own pictures. Pride of place on the calendar of course went to Haile Gebrselassie, and proceeds from the auction will go to one of his charities in Ethiopia. The winning bid was a generous £100 from Simon Burrell. Many thanks to Michele Gibson and Andy Hayward for organising the most enjoyable evening, and to Mike White for yet another barrel of beer. MOB MATCH v THAMES HARE & HOUNDS Saturday 20th November in Richmond Park Sealed handicap winner Gordon Whitson adds a post-script: "My first victory in 35 years of membership in a handicap event was the result of a carefully planned campaign lasting more than two years. First, I injured my right Achilles in January 2008. This injury prevented any really consistent training in 2008 and 2009. My latest comeback started in January 2010 with the immediate objective of being in a condition to get round the home course in the February 2010 Blackheath mob match and, equally importantly, record a really awful time. While it nearly finished me off, I managed both objectives. In particular, I clocked a time of 59 minutes 53 seconds, some 8 minutes worse that my previous PW (excluding the mass mob match some years ago where I missed the start, a fact the handicapper had probably picked up on). The next element involved keeping out of the handicapper's eye while building up the training. Back home in Athens, everything went according to plan until early July when I injured a groin muscle and had to take six weeks off. Resuming training again in mid August, my sights were set on the Thames Mob Match and Veterans championship. I managed to stay in one piece and arrive at the starting line in November in reasonable if not racing shape. The outcome was an actual time of 53 minutes 54 seconds (a six minute improvement even the most devious handicapper could not have foreseen) and a handicap victory by the kind of margin that will prompt the handicapper to make sure I have to wait another 35 years at least before I can claim a second victory." CYPRUS RUNNING CHALLENGE Thursday 25th - Sunday 28th November Alan Davidson writes: "I wasn't excited about doing the Sportsresort Cyprus running challenge, even less so when two of the promised three races didn't materialise but the big bonus was swapping frozen Britain for Cyprus (Limassol) enjoying the hottest late November / early December weather for a hundred years (27/28C). In the flat Aphrodite 5k in Paphos I did 21.38 for 16th place but was surprised to see the Russian woman 2nd in the half marathon (1:22, winning 600 Euros) wearing the event (non-wicking) cotton t-shirt rather than a more suitable for the conditions running vest. As nothing else was on offer from the travel firm, the runners based in the hotel at Limassol had a walk in the Trodos mountains (warm enough at over 6000ft for shorts and shirt-sleeves, bus fare one Euro for the 90 minutes ride), ran a hash event at Sotiri (many rocks to trip over or stub toes and spiky plants to cut legs) and organised their own three miles(ish) handicap on the Amathus prom/boardwalk in which I was 2nd fastest in 20.10. Gatwick closure for two days disrupted flights but our Easyjet pilot at Larnaca said the good news is we have been granted a landing slot at Gatwick because we have a full payload but the bad news is that because Spanish air controllers are on strike we will have to fly via Milan refuelling there en route. We reached a chilly Gatwick 90 minutes late." SOUTH YORKSHIRE LEAGUE Sunday 28th November at Askern Representing Sheffield University Ralph Street finished in an excellent 3rd place. 1 T Jenkins (Hallam) 30.42 3 Ralph Street 31.04 MABAC LEAGUE 5 miles Sunday 5th December at Wisley Common 1 G Hewett (D&MV) 33.25 62 James Barber 45.46 83 Chris Hunton 47.47 84 Amelie Hunton 47.48 114 Lynne Barber 56.34 122 Penny Merrett 67.16 One lap only 1 D Fox (D&MV) 17.08 17 Bev Ali 35.46 St CROIX HALF MARATHON Sunday 5th December at St Croix, US Virgin Islands Andy Hayward reports: "Sunday 5th December was the 36th St Croix Half Marathon, and the 9th Marathon, and I was fortunate enough (as I was last year also) to be in St Croix that day on business, flying home that lunchtime. The early start times made it possible (just!) for me to do the run before heading out to the airport. I remembered how much I struggled in the heat and humidity last year in the marathon here, and opted for the half this year based on my level of fitness. I nearly switched at the last minute when I found out that the three people who beat me last year (I came 4th overall despite a slow time) were not running this year. I knew I would get round, but I knew it would be a painful slog. Thankfully for once sanity prevailed and I stuck with the half. The results later confirmed that this was the right choice. I had to get up at 3:30 am for the bus from the hotel to the start. The marathon dropped the marathoners for their start at 5am, then took the half marathoners on to our start at 6am. I went off with two others at the front, and felt good for the first two miles, but as soon as the sun came up the heat got me. My pace dropped a minute a mile even though the effort felt the same, and I started moving backwards through the pack. It was really tough in the second half, but I managed to hang on for 5th man (although I have to admit there were also four women ahead of me). Awards went to the top five, so I was pleased to get a nice trophy. I also won the M50-59 age group. I was disappointed with the time, but it was 28'C and an undulating course, and by the end I felt as if I had run a marathon. A bus took us straight from the awards ceremony back to the hotel, where I quickly showered, packed and got a taxi to the airport wearing only my new race t-shirt and thin trousers. Quite a shock to the system when I landed at Heathrow the next morning to -3'C." 1 J Robles (USVI) 1:15.32 9 Andy Hayward 1:50.49 DUCK POND WADDLE 15km Sunday 5th December at Worthing 1 J Baker (Chichester) 51.37 42 Simon Burrell 70.52 PERIVALE 5 miles Sunday 5th December 1 S Renfer (TVH) 26.09 134 David Bell 41.04 BUSHY JUNIORS parkrun 2km Sunday 5th December 1 H Thursfield (unatt) 8.11 24 Euan Sinclair 11.08 SOUTH OF ENGLAND AA INTER-COUNTIES Saturday 11th December at Biggleswade Marie Synnott-Wells received an unexpected call-up for the county squad and was 4th scorer for the team that finished in 5th place. 1 L Deadman (Essex) 21.32 41 Marie Synnott-Wells 25.02 BEDFORD HALF MARATHON Sunday 12th December 1 M Janes (Bedford) 1:08.07 (chip time 1:08.06) 70 Andrew Forth 1:24.02 (1:23.58) 167 Mark Herbert 1:30.16 (1:29.29) 466 Michelle Davies 1:42.09 (1:40.12) 604 Mike White 1:46.19 (1:44.23) 615 Jose Scheuer 1:46.51 (1:45.50) 1058 Lindsey Simmonds 2:02.43 (1:58.36) 1087 Dee Mondair 2:04.00 (2:02.18) HOG'S BACK 8.2 miles Sunday 12th December at Guildford 1 P Wicks (Belgrave) 39.21 (chip time 39.21) 413 Ed Josey 76.20 (75.58) 440 Alan Meaden 80.51 (80.27) 455 David Meaden 85.05 (84.31) NEW YORK CITY MARATHON Sunday 7th November Dee Mondair reports: "The 41st New York Marathon and I beat Haile Gebrselassie!! Well, he didn't finish, but I did! I'm still getting around the fact I ran my first marathon. It was an amazing marathon to run and really tough. The cold conditions didn't help either, though it wasn't as bad as it is here right now. I did enjoy the race as hard as it was. Running through the five boroughs was a great way to see the regular New York places. It was an amazing day, mainly because the supporters are fantastic. They really cheer you on and definitely helped me get through the course. The camaraderie between the runners on the day, the people I met where I stayed and in the city afterwards, was great. You definitely earn recognition and credit in that city. Even the locals and tourists not involved congratulate you and share stories of people they know. I really felt part of something special. Obviously the finishing moment was the best moment, though I did struggle to walk straight afterwards. However, my second best moment was on my journey back to my accommodation, I stepped out of Times Square station and was hobbling along, extremely tired, wearing my medal and wrapped up to the nines, one elderly lady asked me 'Did you win the race?', and that was just the laugh I needed. If you are interested in seeing any pictures, there are loads online, but this video is from atop the Verrazano Bridge from Staten Island is pretty cool." Results were in e-news #341. RICHMOND parkrun 5km Saturday 4th December 1 J Millen (Harpenden) 19.26 4 Bill Neely 19.53 31 Andrew Brown 24.02 33 Michael Cawley 24.12 37 Steven Mountain 24.23 41 Paul Sinton-Hewitt 25.02 47 Jo Sinton-Hewitt 25.49 50 Karen Weir 25.53 52 Rachael Holmes 25.55 60 Zinny Gavars 27.12 77 Ally Salisbury 30.24 94 Jar O'Brien 35.46 96 Penny Merrett 36.24 BUSHY parkrun 5km Saturday 4th December David Rowe writes: "Duncan Mallison and I were set to run the Luton Marathon this weekend until it got cancelled on Friday morning. We were both on good form and planning to run at a pace that would get us 2012 London Marathon Good For Age times. Alas it was not to be. I instead took out my frustration at the Bushy parkrun on Saturday in the snow and hence my first ever 'podium' placing at Bushy parkrun out of my 135 runs there." 1 F Baddick (New & EB) 15.57 3 David Rowe 18.48 168 Gill Wilson 26.10 186 Heather Martingell 26.45 199 Roger Wilson 27.14 200 Kirsty Bangham 27.16 298 John Hanscomb 33.35 CANNON HILL parkrun 5km Saturday 4th December Sean Paynter finished 3rd only six seconds behind the winner.. 1 S Pictor (unatt) 17.39 3 Sean Paynter 17.45 BEDFONT LAKES parkrun 5km Saturday 4th December David Bell finished 3rd. 1 K Treherne (Walton) 20.41 3 David Bell 25.14 9 Mike White 26.24 FRIMLEY LODGE parkrun 5km Saturday 4th December 1 R Brookling (unatt) 17.33 8 Darren Wood 20.22 BROMLEY parkrun 5km Saturday 4th December 1 J Addison (Beck) 21.19 56 Wally Garrod 33.38 OLD DEER PARK parkrun 5km Saturday 4th December Another Old Deer Park win for Trevor Maguire. 1 Trevor Maguire 19.10 RICHMOND parkrun 5km Saturday 11th December 1 J Varney (Thames T) 16.37 17 Peter Weir 18.14 67 Paul Sinton-Hewitt 20.45 94 Stewart Anderson 21.43 106 Karen Weir 22.08 147 Jennie McGrath 23.28 152 Roger Wilson 23.32 194 Zoe Gavars 25.26 208 Philippa Shaw 26.15 210 Michael Sikora 26.19 213 Alison Dicks 26.27 216 Zinny Gavars 26.33 221 Ally Salisbury 26.37 248 Lynne Barber 27.58 294 Christine Goodsell 32.15 299 Pat Hewlett 33.35 304 Stacey Barber 35.31 BUSHY parkrun 5km Saturday 11th December 1 J Ashton (Bracknell) 15.48 12 David Rowe 17.51 204 Gill Wilson 24.21 253 Danny Hobbs 25.37 318 Wally Garrod 27.27 431 John Hanscomb 31.47 CANNON HILL parkrun 5km Saturday 11th December Sean Paynter was 3rd for the second week in succession. 1 S Pictor (unatt) 17.19 3 Sean Paynter 18.27 BEDFONT LAKES parkrun 5km Saturday 11th December 1 I Charlton (unatt) 20.59 23 Sharon Dooley 26.17 FRIMLEY LODGE parkrun 5km Saturday 11th December 1 G Robinson (Sand J) 17.50 4 Darren Wood 19.13 WIMBLEDON COMMON parkrun 5km Saturday 11th December 1 A Clare (WG&EL) 17.07 111 Brian Coles 31.27
OOLD DEER PARK parkrun 5km Saturday 11th December It was Duncan Mallison's turn to win at Old Deer Park. Sally Bell and Louise Dunn were 2nd and 3rd women to finish. 1 Duncan Mallison 19.50 8 Sally Bell 26.13 10 Louise Dunn 28.12 KINGSTON parkrun 5km Saturday 11th December 1 R Reeder (Strag) 18.19 7 Chris Camacho 20.50 14 Alan Davidson 22.33 PAUL RIDER... ...writes from Australia: "I've run a couple of races in my Ranelagh vest over the past month or so. The Bare Creek Trail Run was a 9km run on fire trails in Garigal National Park, in St Ives north of Sydney. The highlight was a 10% gradient in the 4th km which took me 7 minutes, as opposed to 41.36 for the whole race. The winner did a very slick 30:53 over such a hilly course. Last Sunday I ran the Sri Chinmoy 14km in Centennial Park in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs There were no evidence of any other Ranelagh Harriers, but there was someone from Belgrave running, and someone else from Lancashire Triathlon Club. The race started at 8am, which wasn't early enough to miss the heat. The winner clocked 52:42, and the leading woman 58.32. I had hoped to break an hour but was happy to finish in 61.56." FINALLY... Thanks to Pete Mulholland for sending this: "Who said cross-country was easy? Take a look at this story and then watch the video of a 16-year-old's heroics.".