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***************************************************
 RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 418             31 January 2014
 Editor: Steve Rowland
 mailto: steverowland@ranelagh-harriers.com  
 ***************************************************

 HEADLINE NEWS
 *************
 *  Ranelagh women 27th in the South of England Champs, men 49th
 *  Megan De Silva and Mark Herbert lead our teams
 *  Ranelagh finish 4th in Bank of England inter-club
 *  Mark Herbert and Marie Synnott-Wells lead our team
 *  Gill Sanders is the leading woman in the G3 10km
 *  parkrun placings for Eirin McDaid, Trevor Maguire, Jackson Creegan, Colin
     Brett, Mark Herbert and Lee Coole
 *  Important fixtures ahead - final League races on 8th February and final
     mob match v Blackheath on 15th February
 *  "An evening with Hugh Jones" after the mob match on 15th February -
     please indicate if you're coming
 *  Assistant Race Director wanted for the Richmond 10km in June 

 ATTENTION PLEASE
 ****************
 VITAL RACES COMING UP IN FEBRUARY
 On Saturday 8th February we have the final Surrey League races for our men's
 and women's teams. The women run at Lloyd Park, Croydon, starting at 12
 noon, followed by U17/U15 girls at 1pm and U13 girls at 1.30pm. Our main
 target is to hold on to the runner-up spot, secondary target is to stay in
 the top three and so win promotion to Division 1. The men are on our home
 course in Richmond Park. The U17/U15/U13 boys run at 2.30pm followed by the
 men at 3pm. We're in a very tight spot in the men's League: Walton AC are to
 all intents and purposes already doomed to relegation, but there will be a
 colossal fight between four clubs to avoid joining them. Belgrave Harriers
 are 5th on 1602 points, Clapham Chasers are 6th on 1603, Ranelagh are 7th on
 1621 and South London Harriers are 8th on 1640. It will be, to quote Bels'
 Will Cockerell, "a slugfest!"

 On Saturday 15th February it's our final mob match of the season against
 Blackheath Harriers and Bromley AC on our home course in Richmond Park
 starting at 2.30pm. Incorporated is the club championship for the splendid
 Wynne Cup. We've pulled off two outstanding away wins in mob matches this
 season, let's finish up by winning one at home! In mob matches all runners
 count towards the final result so weight of numbers is crucial. If you can
 be there, don't miss it. The winning team takes home the Pelling-Ratcliff
 Cup. In the evening we welcome Hugh Jones - see below.      

 AN EVENING WITH HUGH JONES
 Hugh Jones has been a Ranelagh member since the age of 14. He became
 Britain's leading Marathon runner during the 1980s, famously winning the
 London Marathon in 1982 in a time of 2:09.24. He represented Britain in the
 1984 Olympics, the 1983 and 1987 World Championships, the 1986 European
 Championships, the 1981 European Cup and the 1991 World Cup. He also
 represented England in the 1980 and 1982 World Cross-Country Championships.
 Injuries have restricted his running in recent years and so apart from
 visits to measure the course or ride the lead bike at our road races, his
 appearances at the club have become rare. I'm very pleased to say,
 therefore, that Hugh has agreed to come along to the Roebuck on the evening
 of our mob match with Blackheath & Bromley (15th February) and give a talk
 about his life, career, training and so on, followed by a Q&A session. The
 venue will be the Roebuck's upstairs room and Hugh's talk will begin at
 about 7.30pm. All are invited to come along, either just for the talk or to
 eat at the pub first. So that we have some idea of numbers likely to attend,
 could you please send a quick reply to this e-news if you are planning to
 come.     

 NATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS  Saturday 22nd February at Nottingham
 Entries for the National at Wollaton Park, Nottingham, closed several weeks
 ago and we'll be well represented in the men's and women's races.

 EXTRA FIXTURE AT RMA SANDHURST  Saturday 22nd February
 For those not going to the National Championships at Nottingham, we have
 been invited to take part in a 5 miles race at the Royal Military Academy at
 Sandhurst. This used to be a regular feature of our fixture list until
 security concerns caused it to be discontinued. If you've never been to
 Sandhurst it's worth a visit, and the course is a testing one. It's
 advisable to take a passport or some other form of identification to show at
 the gate.

 RANELAGH JUNIORS
 We are reviving our club junior championships this year. The Lotinga Cup
 will go to the overall club junior champion, male or female, and the Camilla
 Cup will go to the club junior women's champion. Both are open to under 18s.
 The trophies will be contested at the inter-club 3.8 miles race on Saturday
 1st March.  

 The Stragglers are repeating their successful handicap series over the
 summer, which consists of about one race per month over 2km at the Hawker
 Centre (Lower Ham Road, Kingston, KT2 5BH) It is a low key fun event, all on
 grass and all within sight of parents and spectators. The course is just
 over 2km on the grass area in front of the Hawker Centre. It consists of
 four laps of the perimeter of the grass area, which will be marked out.
 After the end of the fourth lap the runners will cross the finish line and
 go down the finish funnel in the order in which they crossed the line. New
 or inexperienced runners, if they find 2 km a bit far, can run one lap -
 they will be given a time, but their results will not count towards any
 individual or team scores.
 
 Handicap - first time runners are given a start time depending on their age.
 Under 4 start at 0 minutes and run just one lap (500 metres) Age 4-5 also
 start at 0 mins.
 Age 6-8 start at 5 mins.
 Age 9-11 start at 8 mins.
 Age 12-14 start at 10 mins.
 Age 15-17 start at 12 mins.
 
 Registration is from 7pm for an approx. 7:30pm start.
 2014 Dates are (all Thursdays): 24th April; 22nd May; 12th June; 26th June;
 17th July; 28th August.

 See the Ranelagh Juniors website here: for more info on the above and other
 events.  

 RANELAGH KIT
 Our kit stewards Heather Martingell and Jane Craigie-Payne are in the
 process of changing our kit supplier to a company called Alley Catz who are
 able to produce items on demand, printed with the Ranelagh insignia and
 optional personalisation. Members will place their orders direct with Alley
 Catz. This will obviate the necessity for us to hold large stocks of kit at
 the clubhouse. At the moment the only item available from Alley Catz is a
 hoodie but other items will follow shortly. In the meantime we are trying to
 sell off some of our existing stocks at bargain prices, particularly larger
 sizes. To order a hoodie follow this link:. For details of the other items we
 want to clear, contact Heather hmartingell@gmail.com.


 CROSS COUNTRY RUNNING - GOOD FOR THE SOUL (AND THE LEGS)
 The Daily Telegraph's action man correspondent Tobias Mews is a member of
 Clapham Chasers and contributed this article in which Ranelagh gets a
 mention.
  

 LOST KEYS
 Kate Kingan writes:
 "Please could you let the Ranelagh Harriers members know that a bunch of
 keys was found this morning on the footpath between the Rose of York and
 Petersham Farm and ask them to contact me on 0771 2186847 if anybody has
 lost any recently."

 MABAC LEAGUE
 Note that there has been a change of date for the MABAC League 5 miles that
 we host in the Park. It will now take place on Sunday February 16th starting
 at 11am from the Broomfield Hill (Isabella Plantation) car park. There is
 also a junior race over 2.5 miles. Details:.
 Note also the Cranleigh 15 or 21 miles on Sunday 16th March

 FINCHLEY 20 miles road race  Saturday 9th March
 This long-established race - in Ruislip despite the name - incorporates our
 club 20 miles championship for the Spendlove Cup and could be of interest to
 spring marathoners as a warm-up trial run. Details:.  

 THAMES TOWPATH 10 miles  Sunday 27th April at Chiswick
 Entries are now being taken for the always popular Thames Towpath 10.
 Details:. 

 RANELAGH RICHMOND HALF MARATHON   Sunday 4th May
 Entries are also coming in for our own Half Marathon. At the moment they
 number about 900, so it doesn't look as if we will reach our limit as early
 as we did last year, but if you're planning to run it will probably be
 advisable to get your name in early. The race includes the Surrey County
 Championship. If you're not planning to run, reserve the date anyway - as
 ever we'll need plenty of help on the day. Entry details:. 

 RICHMOND 10km  
 Race Director Niall O'Connor writes:
 "The Ranelagh Harriers Richmond 10k will 'run' on Sunday 22nd June at 9am.
 The same course and start/finish (Riverside Dr - Ham/Kew FC clubhouse) as
 per the last four years will be used. Entry is here:
 - please advertise to your friends.

 Closer to time I'll be seeking marshals etc so be prepared for emails from
 me, however for now I'm seeking an assistant for specific help on the day.
 Briefly, the role will involve collecting a hire van (which race will
 arrange and pay for), collecting the necessary kit from the clubhouse
 (tables, beakers, bananas, mugs, Mars etc) and driving all to the start, and
 then returning all to the clubhouse after the race. You will be able run the
 race if you wish. In previous years I've used Streetvan which has worked
 well and there will be assistance with loading/unloading. If you could help
 with this please drop a line to niall_o_c@hotmail.com

 LOUISE'S BIRTHDAY
 Louise Piears writes:
 "It's my 50th birthday on Saturday 10th May and I have entered the Bewl
 Water Half Marathon (just to prove to myself that I still can run that far).
 It does look a nice picturesque route. There's a few from the club already
 entered, but it anyone else would like to join me then that would be lovely.
 It's the week after the Ranelagh Half Marathon , but there isn't anything in
 the fixture list that weekend.  Details:."

 Follow Ranelagh on Facebook: Facebook. 

 WHAT'S COMING
 *************
 More details of the following from the men's Captains ( e-mail Phil, Duncan
 or Trevor ranelagh.men@gmail.com  or the women's Captains 
 ( e-mail Estelle, Becky or Phil ranelagh.women@gmail.com  )

 Saturday 8th February          Surrey League final races - women at Lloyd
 Park, Croydon (12 noon), men at home in Richmond Park (3pm)

 Saturday 15th February        Pelling-Ratcliff Cup mob match v Blackheath &
 Bromley including club championship for the Wynne Cup. 2.30pm start in
 Richmond Park

 Sunday 16th February          MABAC League 5 miles in Richmond Park (plus
 junior 2.5 miles). 11am start near Broomfield Hill car park.  

 Saturday 22nd February       National Cross-Country Championships in
 Nottingham   

 Saturday 1st March              Inter-club 3.8 miles in Richmond Park,
 including club junior championships (see above). 3pm start.

 Sunday 9th March                Finchley 20 miles road race at Ruislip. See
 above. 

 Saturday 15th March            Ranelagh Cup Schools Race in Richmond Park

 Sunday 16th March              Clutton Cup 10 miles handicap in Richmond
 Park. 10am start.

 Saturday 29th March            Baker Cup 3 miles road handicap in Richmond
 Park. 3pm 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
 Bedfont Lakes                       Bedfont Lakes Country Park, Ashford,
 Middlesex
 Kingston                               The Hawker Centre
 Old Deer Park                        Pools in the Park on the A316
 Crane Park                             Near the Hospital Bridge Roundabout
 on the A316 in Twickenham
 Other venues, more details and registration at www.parkrun.com
 2km junior parkruns for under 14s take place on the first Sunday of each
 month from Bushy Park's Teddington Gate (11am start) and from Savill Garden
 car park, Windsor Great Park (9.30am start), and also every Sunday at 9.30am
 in Wimbledon Park. 

 WHAT'S HAPPENED
 ***************
 INTER-CLUB v BANK OF ENGLAND etc  Saturday 18th January in Richmond Park
 (Roehampton Gate)
 This time last year heavy snow forced the postponement of this fixture and
 also of the South of England Championships the following week. No fear of
 that this time, but as storm after storm blows in from the south-west we are
 apparently on our way to the wettest - and probably mildest - January on
 record. Even good old Richmond Park, usually so benevolent compared with the
 mudbaths found elsewhere, was doing its best to serve up some real
 cross-country fare. But it was a lovely day. A brief lull between the storms
 allowed us sunny and almost balmy conditions for our afternoon run. 

 We found a much bigger field lining up for the race than usual. It
 transpired that Paul Gregory - not content with reviving the runners' rowing
 race - has also brought back to life the rowers' running race, and a hundred
 or so oarsmen and women joined a slightly smaller number of runners,
 including a couple of dozen from Ranelagh. 

 The first corner, after a couple of hundred metres, was under water. To hear
 the rowers scream and squeal you'd think they'd never got their feet wet
 before. And the women were almost as bad! The rest of the course was
 alternately muddy and passably firm. Hercules Wimbledon and Milocarians were
 both out in force and dominated the leading positions, with only Mark
 Herbert (6th) making the top twenty for Ranelagh. Chris Owens ran very well
 for 21st, followed at a respectable two minutes by Jo Peace. Blasts from the
 past John Herries (great to see John competing again) and Phil O'Brien came
 next, sandwiching Marie SW who placed 5th in the women's race. Andy Bix and
 Stephen Logue - minus camera - completed our eight for the main scoring
 event, where we placed fourth behind Hercules, Milos and Ealing but ahead of
 the Bank and Dulwich Park. We also competed against Ealing alone for the Hec
 Petersen Trophy at six a side, and our opponents retained the cup by thirty
 points.     

 After the race it was back to the Bank's splendid sports club just outside
 the Park, where we could luxuriate in the exclusive use of rows of showers
 dispensing unending hot water. Finally came sandwiches and beer. 

 
 SOUTH OF ENGLAND CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS  Saturday 25th January at
 Parliament Hill
 Trevor Maguire reports:
 "All seemed to go well for men, women and Livvy. I didn't see Livvy but by
 all accounts the mud suited her.  We saw the women set off at great pace
 with Megan and Julia pounding up the first hill, followed by Gemma, Becky
 and Marie. Kirsty and Heather ran strongly after starting sensibly. Indeed,
 all the ladies seemed to be running really well but I didn't have too much
 time to chat before the men's race started. In the end, Megan made it into
 the top hundred, Gemma, Marie and Julia all finished close together with
 Becky not far behind and then Kirsty and Heather.  

 Of course there was plenty of mud all round the course but paradoxically the
 muddiest patches were nowhere near as deep as previous years! There was a
 good effort from Mark who led the way after a strong start and kept working
 hard all the way. Rick, Ian and Ted ran well paced races and will benefit
 from the run! Marc struggled a bit as his base fitness isn't there yet and
 much the same could be said of Peter Faull and Niall. Alex ran well yet
 again - clearly student life has changed since I was a lad.

 Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to speak to Rob, Mike and Peter Fordham
 as the heavens opened and we all fled for the trains etc, apart from the
 valiant Becky who is clearly made of sterner stuff than the rest of us and
 waited for Rob.

 For my part I started cautiously and was going well at the start of the
 second lap when my shoe came off (wasn't even a muddy section - just a slip
 and my heel twisted out).  As the current holder of the shoelace cup my
 laces are now so well fastened that It took an age to undo them and get the
 wretched shoe back on! I think it tells you how tough Parliament Hill is by
 the fact that I got minimal abuse from colleagues passing by! 

 Many thanks to Phil Aiken for his organisational help to both teams on the
 day and also to Alan Hedger for his support, coffee and surprising turn of
 speed out of the deluge back to Gospel Oak - once a runner, always a
 runner."


 G3 10km  Saturday 18th January at Newlands Corner, Guildford
 Gill Sanders was the leading woman on this tough, hilly and muddy off-road
 10km.

 1   A Haynes (unatt)       41.53
 15  Gill Sanders           48.48
 19  Peter Faull            50.22

 BENFLEET 15 miles  Sunday 19th January
 It was good to see Lara Werrett back in action in her first race for over a
 year.

 1   D Kendall (Camb H)     1:34.06
 41  N Brockbank (Spring)   1:49.26
 249 Lara Werrett           2:17.53
 332 Rachel Revett          2:27.38

 PERCH XV 10km  Sunday 26th January at Epsom
 1   N Reissland (Coll)     39.03
 25  D Norman (E&E)         46.11  (1st woman)
 173 Annemarie Goodridge    71.17  

 RUN THROUGH BRIXTON 10km  Sunday 26th January at Brockwell Park
 1   P Baque (unatt)        35.15  (chip time 35.11)
 32  S Lewis (Barnes)       42.19  (42.08)
 165 Nigel Coombes          51.59  (51.40)  

 RICHMOND PARK parkrun 5km  Saturday 18th January
 1   J Cornish (Herc Wimb)  17.03
 20  A Harray (TVH)         20.25  (1st woman)
 110 Amrut Sharma           24.13
 111 Ellen Clague           24.19
 147 Steven Mountain        25.26
 150 Alberto Esguevillas    25.33
 181 Sue Camp               26.31     
 266 Val Lowman             28.59
 270 Lorraine Clifton       29.08
 289 Peter Lowman           28.59
 302 Jackie Dunkley         30.30
 311 Deepa Sharma           30.46
 377 Katie Walton           36.51
 384 Pat Hewlett            37.45
 386 Beverly Walsh          38.22
 393 Eugenio Carmo          40.40

 CRANE PARK parkrun 5km  Saturday 18th January
 1   G Brook (Strag)        17.16
 11  I Atkins (unatt)       20.26  (1st woman)
 13  Duncan Mallison        20.51
 34  Kabir Sait             23.08
 35  Kevin Kearey           23.11
 36  George Inman           23.16
 54  John Herriott          25.33
 60  Jane Craigie-Payne     25.49
 71  Emily Kearey           27.12
 79  Lynne Barber           27.38
 82  Josie Kearey           27.44
 84  Heather Martingell     27.52
 92  Janet Russell          28.28
 97  Mary Hickson           28.51
 101 Ann Kearey             29.08
 102 Christine David        29.47
 109 Cindy Croucher         31.19
 112 Penny Merrett          31.47 
 113 Tracey Small           32.21
 121 Su Clark               34.00
 126 Deirdre Inman          34.21
 135 Allison Peach          37.52

 BUSHY PARK parkrun 5km  Saturday 18th January
 1   A Jackson (Sitting)    16.31
 69  M Richards (unatt)     20.41  (1st woman)
 133 David Rowe             21.58
 175 Adam Wright            22.43
 359 Kirsty Bangham         24.45
 720 Nic Evans              29.10
 926 Sharon Rowe            33.33 
 999 Wally Garrod           39.16
 1010 Danny Hobbs           41.38 

 GUNNERSBURY parkrun 5km  Saturday 18th January
 Mark Herbert finished third.

 1   T Corbett (Ealing E)   18.25
 3   Mark Herbert           18.48
 19  E Wallace (ESM)        20.32  (1st woman)
 21  Rob Wise               20.38

 OLD DEER PARK parkrun 5km  Saturday 18th January
 Trevor Maguire was first in.

 1   Trevor Maguire         19.02
 13  G Munro (Old Deers)    23.36  (1st woman)  
 18  Phil Roberts           24.19
 33  Wyn Williams           27.08
 39  Colin Brett            29.18
 50  Natalia Slattery       33.45  

 MUSA COOKSTOWN parkrun 5km  Saturday 18th January
 Eirin McDaid was the clear winner.

 1   Eirin McDaid           16.58
 22  M Conway (unatt)       24.38

 OTHER parkruns (Saturday 18th January)...
 Alice Holt: 64 Jo Sinton-Hewitt 27.01
 Delta: 17 Paul Sinton-Hewitt 21.57
 Barking: 22 Peter Fordham 23.44
 Milton Keynes: 146 Mike White 28.59
 Kingston: 21 Chris Camacho 23.24,  88 Martin Clark 34.57
 Preston Park: 59 John Pratt 23.26
 Southsea: 59 Alan Davidson 24.17 

 RICHMOND PARK parkrun 5km  Saturday 25th January
 Jackson Creegan was the winner today.

 1   Jackson Creegan        16.38
 6   Duncan Mallison        18.36
 14  Craig Maclellan        19.32
 22  Alberto Esguevillas    20.24
 33  L Brougton (Rich CC)   21.16  (1st woman)  
 43  Steve Aikin            21.48
 85  Amrut Sharma           23.47
 88  Eugenio Carmo          23.52  
 188 Sue Camp               27.31
 196 Rob Kitchen            27.43
 221 Leeanne Bryce          28.47
 261 Deepa Sharma           30.29     
 269 Peter Lowman           31.09
 285 Jackie Dunkley         32.06
 290 Bronwen Northmore      32.50
 292 Katie Walton           32.58
 300 Penny Merrett          33.28
 301 Martin Clark           33.39
 331 Pat Hewlett            43.01
 334 Bev Ali                43.04 

 CRANE PARK parkrun 5km  Saturday 25th January
 1   A Keane (unatt)        18.53
 21  Kevin Kearey           21.55
 25  Tom Kearey             22.09
 30  Kabir Sait             22.50
 34  S Harwood (unatt)      23.22  (1st woman)
 57  Rachel Allen           26.34  
 64  Emily Kearey           27.02
 67  Lynne Barber           27.13
 81  Mary Hickson           28.29
 88  Christine David        29.19
 89  Josie Kearey           29.21
 90  Ann Kearey             29.30
 105 Tamsin Burland         31.28
 107 Tracey Small           32.16
 109 Su Clark               33.31
 118 Lexi Slaughter         35.25
 119 Waldron Slaughter      35.32

 BUSHY PARK parkrun 5km  Saturday 25th January
 1   M Nixon (Forth V O)    16.27
 7   Nick Wright            17.41
 16  J Savill (WSEH)        18.23  (1st woman)
 92  David Rowe             20.53
 202 Adam Wright            22.59
 270 Ian Grange             24.00
 867 Sharon Rowe            32.53 
 971 Wally Garrod           38.47 
 977 John Hanscomb          39.57

 KINGSTON parkrun 5km  Saturday 25th January
 1   D Etheridge (unatt)    18.57
 16  M Ansell (unatt)       22.16  (1st woman)
 17  Chris Camacho          22.31
 33  Wiebke Kortum          24.36
 42  Tom Reay               25.43
 44  Michelle Davies        25.52
 45  Lee Davies             25.53
 74  Janet Turnes           29.56
 75  Jar O'Brien            30.02
 76  Mike White             30.03  

 OLD DEER PARK parkrun 5km  Saturday 25th January
 Second place for Colin Brett.

 1   A Hussey (Ful-on-Tri)  19.48
 2   Colin Brett            20.09
 5   L Ryan (Thames T)      21.27  (1st woman)
 17  Phil Roberts           23.37
 36  Lorna Smith            27.57
 37  Paula Maguire          28.44 

 FULHAM PALACE  parkrun 5km  Saturday 25th January
 Lee Coole was third woman home and also number 1 overall on the age-graded
 rating with 88.37%

 1   G Machado (Imperial)   16.37
 14  H Taranowski (West 4)  18.36  (1st woman)
 47  Lee Coole              21.21
 149 Andrew Brown           30.02 

 OTHER parkruns (Saturday 25th January)... 
 Alice Holt: 58 Paul Sinton-Hewitt 27.04,  60 Jo Sinton-Hewitt 27.09
 Reading: 108 Louise Atkinson 29.24
 Osterley: 43 Maria Nunes 47.25
 Dulwich: 6 Paul Doyle 17.04,  60 James Whistler 21.14
 Preston Park: 66 John Pratt 22.47
 Southsea: 65 Alan Davidson 24.07 
 York: 80 Phil Jackson 22.40

 FINALLY...
 "My goal has always been to slow down as slowly as possible. It's as simple
 as that."
 Frank Shorter, 1972 Olympic Marathon champion.