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***************************************************
 RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 491             21st December 2016
 Editor: Steve Rowland
 mailto: sandsrowland@btinternet.com  
 ***************************************************

 MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS

 HEADLINE NEWS
 *************
 *  Report on Surrey Ladies League
 *  Ranelagh defeats South London Harriers in Stubbs Cup mob match
 *  Jackson Creegan and Jo Billings lead our mob of 88
 *  Richard Gregory wins the Wynne Cup club championship
 *  Ian Grange wins the sealed handicap
 *  Podium near-misses for Marie Synnott-Wells and Steve Whitehead in the
     SEAA Masters Championships
 *  6th place for Megan de Silva and 4th for the Ranelagh women's team in the
     South of the Thames 7.5m Championships
 *  Estelle Damant 2nd overall and 1st woman in Run Richmond Park 10k
 *  Championship entry deadlines approaching
 *  All welcome for the Henty Relay on December 31st       
 *  An extra person is needed for the Richmond Half Marathon organising team
  
 ATTENTION PLEASE
 **************** 
 LOOKING AHEAD...
 ...to other championship races in the New Year for which entries have to be
 made in advance - in many cases a long time in advance! In each case contact
 the Captains / Team Managers if you want to be entered (see What's Coming
 below for e-mails). All events include junior as well as senior races. 
 Sat 7 Jan 2017 Surrey Cross-Country Champs at Lloyd Park, Croydon.
 Must be Surrey qualified, first and second claim members eligible. Deadline
 Friday 30 Dec.
 Sat 7 Jan 2017 Middlesex Cross-Country Champs at Hillingdon. Must
 be Middlesex qualified, first and second claim members eligible. Deadline
 Friday 30 Dec.
 Sat 28 Jan 2017 South of England Cross-Country Champs at Parliament Hill,
 Hampstead Heath. Entries closed.
 Sat 25 Feb 2017 National Cross-Country Championships at Nottingham. First
 claim only, deadline Friday 13 Jan.

 LAURISTON CHRISTMAS MORNING PAARLAUF  Sunday 25th December 11am at Wimbledon
 Common
 If you fancy a tough Christmas morning workout followed by mulled wine and
 mince pies, this might be for you! Here's the Herc Wimb Newsletter:
 "Now in its 62nd year, this event starts on Common Southside just outside
 Lauriston Cottage (SW19 4TG). Teams of two (selected on the day) endeavour
 to cover between them as many laps (just under 1 mile) as possible within
 the allotted 30 minutes. Each runner runs half the lap (all road), hands
 over to his or her partner and jogs back across the centre of the lap in
 time to take over again. As well as proving an excellent training session,
 the event enables a healthy appetite to be worked up before that Christmas
 lunch. 
 Reminder: runners must report to Lauriston Cottage by 10:30 at the latest to
 enable pairings comprising (in theory) an A and a B standard runner and be
 prepared to pay a £1 entry fee." 
 
 HENTY RELAY  Saturday 31st December in Richmond Park 12 noon start
 This is our variation on the Paarlauf - a good workout before the New Year
 celebrations begin. It's a relay with teams of three racing a total of six
 laps of Sidmouth Wood. All members and guests welcome, all ages. The race
 starts at 12 noon but register at the clubhouse by 11.30am to be allocated
 to a team.  More details:. 

 GREEN BELT RELAY 2017
 Leeanne Bryce writes:
 "The Green Belt Relay has been scheduled for Saturday May 20th and Sunday
 May 21st 2017. Initial interest is high and we would like to field three
 Ranelagh teams again this year. The GBR is a spectacular event hosted by
 Stragglers - it is a 2 day 22 stage relay over 220 miles around London's
 Green Belt.
 Teams are 11 people.
 Each day has 11 stages. 
 Each team member must run on both days.
 Each stage is between 7 and 13 miles.
 Details of the race can be found here: 
 
 It's fun, social and suitable for all but note that runners average 16-22
 miles over the weekend and must be available to run both days. Teams usually
 travel and support via minibus and accommodation and food options in Essex
 on the Saturday night can be arranged. If you wish to run and organise your
 own transport on the two days that can also be considered. Last year the
 full cost of the weekend was less than £100. People who can drive a minibus
 or willing to drive a pick up car are strongly encouraged!
 If you are interested in attending and have not joined via our Facebook age
 then please contact Leeanne Bryce (liane22@gmail.com) and Ashleigh Ferris
 (ashleighferris@hotmail.com)." 

 RANELAGH RICHMOND HALF MARATHON
 It's taking place on Sunday 30th April 2017 but organisation under Race
 Director Sandra Forrest is already under way. In particular, one of the
 organising team, Tamsin Burland, wishes to step down after the 2017 race.
 Tamsin is the volunteer co-ordinator and would very much like someone to
 join the team now and shadow her for this year's race in order to learn the
 ropes. Also it's not too early to volunteer as a marshal for the 2017 race!
 We realise a definite commitment may not be possible this far ahead, but if
 you think you might be able to help please let Tamsin know. Contact Tamsin
 ranelaghhalfhelpers@hotmail.co.uk.

 THURSDAY NIGHT TRACK TRAINING AT OSTERLEY
 The club is continuing to subsidise track sessions on Thursday evenings at
 the Osterley track. All groups and all abilities are welcome. The sessions
 are  every Thursday 7.30-8.30pm.  Link to the map is here:.

 FACEBOOK
 Follow Ranelagh on Facebook. 


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

 Saturday 31st December        Henty Relay in Richmond Park at 12 noon. A fun
 Christmas event, all members and guests welcome. 

 Saturday 7th January             Surrey Championships at Lloyd Park Croydon
                                            Middlesex Championships at
 Hillingdon

 Sunday 8th January               Tadworth 10 miles multi-terrain on Epsom
 Downs. Details:. 

 Saturday 14th January           2XU Surrey League (men) on Mitcham Common
                                            Surrey Ladies League at Lloyd
 Park (NOT Ham Lands as listed on our printed fixture card)

 Saturday 21st January           Inter-club v Bank of England, Ealing and
 others in Richmond Park (Bank's course at Roehampton Gate)

 Saturday 28th January          South of England Championships at Parliament
 Hill

 5km parkruns every Saturday at 9am and 2km junior parkruns weekly or monthly
 on Sundays.
 Venues, more details and registration at www.parkrun.com or
 www.parkrun.org.uk/events/juniorevents/. 

 WHAT'S HAPPENED
 *************** 
 SURREY LADIES LEAGUE  Saturday 3rd December on Mitcham Common
 Phil Aiken reports:
 "The 2012-13 Surrey Ladies Cross Country League did not start well for
 Ranelagh, occupying 14th position after the opening fixture hosted by Thames
 Hare & Hounds. A 10th place followed at Nonsuch Park, but that only improved
 the overall position by one place. Entering the third fixture at Mitcham
 Common, Ranelagh occupied one of the three relegation places. Ominously,
 with five to score in league races, only seven finished the opening fixture,
 eight the second and, just a week before the third race, an incomplete team
 of three contested the Surrey Championship.

 And so it came to pass that at Mitcham Common, on January 12th, 2013 only
 Becky Hall, Marie Synnott-Wells, Sandra Prosser and Kate Brook lined up on
 the start line of the third fixture. Four runners. One short of a team. With
 the penalty points incurred for being a runner short, only a miracle in the
 final race at Denbies Vineyard would avert relegation. There would be no
 miracle. But there was a full team, though the six finishers raised the
 season total to a paltry 25.

 A lot has happened in the four years that have followed, but the memory of
 that January day remains. The only constant in an ever-changing league
 fixture list for this season, the return to Mitcham Common stood out. This
 was more than just another race.

 The preceding two weeks had seen 16 women contest the London Championships
 and 13 were at Polesden Lacey for the South of Thames 5 Mile Team race.
 Indications were that there would be another healthy turnout. But there had
 been late withdrawals at other races and, on the day, broken rails and
 signal failures all but brought South West Trains to a halt. Yet, despite
 this, despite heavy traffic and, in Victoria's case, despite a dress fitting
 (not just any dress fitting I may add), by the time all the numbers had been
 handed out, there were 25 Ranelagh Harriers on the start line. 25, let me
 remind you, was the sum total of finishers in that dreadful season. Results
 are only available for the last 16 seasons. On only one occasion - 62 races
 - has this figure been bettered, in October 2003, when 27 lined up in
 Richmond Park.

 But it wasn't just the size of the team that was impressive.There was a
 two-time Olympian and three from Intermediate 3, four under 20s and three
 over 60s. A team of all ages and all abilities. A team that was, in a word,
 INCLUSIVE. Remember that day at Mitcham Common...?

 More than a race, but a race nevertheless. Despite a healthy turnout at
 Nonsuch Park in October, the team had been light at the front end. Not so
 today. Gill Sanders, unfit by her standards (though those standards are
 somewhat different to practically everyone else who was on the start line)
 was joined by Nic Jackson, in her 6th Ranelagh appearance but first in front
 of most of the watching Ranelagh support, giving Megan de Silva some allies
 at the front of the race.

 After a flat start, the runners cross a road before immediately ascending
 the first of four short, sharp climbs, before descending back across the
 road and completing the lap on the flat. Up the last of the four hills, a
 somewhat-expected battle was developing - Steph McCall, South London,
 accompanied by the twin Ranelagh presence of Gill and Nic, with Kent's Amy
 Clements just behind. But... in the two places that followed were a pair of
 under 17s, allowed by league rules - Alex Brown of Herne Hill and Claudia
 Lance-Jones of Guildford and Godalming. At the start of the year, Alex won
 the U15 race at the Surrey Championships, ahead of Claudia in second, a
 position Alex was to occupy at the South of England, English National and
 Inter Counties Championships. 

 Such was the size of the Ranelagh team, it was not possible to see all pass
 before rushing off to catch the leaders as they made their way up the
 opening climb for the second time. There was still a leading trio, but Nic
 had gone, to be replaced by Alex Brown. Far from being intimidated, the 15
 year old was trying to set the pace. Nic had dropped back to fifth.

 Later, out of sight, Steph McCall had a fall crossing the road after the
 final hill. Photos reveal Alex Brown and Gill battling for the lead ahead of
 Claudia Lance-Jones, whose sensible pacing had seen her move past both Nic
 and Amy Clements. Steph was down to fourth.

 This late drama was unknown to those of us watching at the finish. What we
 saw, as the runners made their final turn into the finishing straight was
 Alex Brown leading with a small, but definite, gap. Behind, Steph McCall had
 made up most, but not all, of the ground she'd lost in the fall. A strong
 kick to the line was enough to give the young Herne Hill Harrier the
 victory, quite possibly the youngest ever victor in a Surrey League. Steph
 had to settle for second, with Gill a couple of seconds further back. In
 fourth, was Claudia. What a day for the teenagers! Remember that day at
 Mitcham Common...?

 Nic came home sixth overall, regretting the pace with which she'd started
 the race. Half a minute or so further back was the ever-reliable, consistent
 Megan de Silva. Her 10 Division 1 races have seen her finish 14th, 10th,
 13th, 9th, 13th, 9th, 13th, 10th, 10th and, now, 11th.

 Finishing fourth for Ranelagh was the first of the under 20s, Jessica
 Wenlock. Another triathlete from the Optima Racing Team, she started
 strongly before falling back towards the end, though still finishing inside
 the top 30. Suzy Whatmough closed out the scoring with another mid-40s
 position.

 With three high finishers, the Ranelagh score was inside 100, but league
 leaders South London were in no mood to relinquish top spot, including a
 former Australian international in their line-up. With another two runners
 in the top 20 they were to win on the day and extend their lead, Ranelagh
 having to settle for second place with a score that would have won the
 opening fixture. Second place, though, was the best result for almost five
 years, when a second at Esher in February 2012 banished the threat of
 relegation that year.

 For much of the race, the sixth Ranelagh spot was occupied by our second
 under 20, our second Jess, but the greater race experience of Marie
 Synnott-Wells and Bonnie Morgan meant Jess Harbert had to settle for being
 eighth Ranelagh home, finishing in the top 80. Closing out the B team half a
 dozen places back was the Becky double act, vice captain edging out captain
 by three seconds.

 Yet there were more: Julia Bailey, 3rd at Nonsuch Park, in the 3rd team
 today; Emma Wellham, her 106th place almost matching her Bedford Half
 Marathon time the following morning; Victoria Elbourne, like Julia, a scorer
 at Nonsuch; Lara Werrett, leading six runners in 12 places - debutantes
 Jodie Gray, Cecily Day and Ellie Luxmoore and the more experienced Rachel
 Revett and Sonia Rowland; Heather Martingell; Louise Piears, like Sonia part
 of that 27-strong team in 2003; Tamsin Burland and, showing neither age nor
 speed are a barrier and as important to the team as those already mentioned,
 Intermediate 3 representatives Annemarie Goodridge, Bronwen Northmore and
 Wendy Fisher.

 Over the last four years we've been saying 'remember that day at Mitcham
 Common'. We'll still be saying 'remember that day at Mitcham Common', but it
 will be a different day. And for so very different reasons."

 It was good to see Izzy Atkins and Lexi Keech both running strongly in the
 combined U17 / U15 race for 9th and 13th respectively.

 Individual results were in the last e-news. Cumulative scores after two
 races are:

 TEAMS (A teams only - overall after 2 races)            
 1   South London H            174 
 2   Clapham Chasers           236 
 3   Herne Hill H              252              
 4   Belgrave H                262 
 5   Hercules Wimbledon AC     349
 6   Thames H&H                384
 7   Ful-On-Tri                385
 8   Ranelagh H                438              
 9   Epsom & Ewell AC          493
 10  West 4 H                  498
 11  Dulwich Runners           591
 12  Reigate Priory AC         655
 13  Kent AC                   677
 14  Wimbledon Windmilers      920
 15  Dorking & Mole Valley AC 1121             

 STUBBS CUP MOB MATCH v SOUTH LONDON HARRIERS incl WYNNE CUP CLUB
 CHAMPIONSHIP and sealed handicap  7.67 miles  Saturday 10th December in
 Richmond Park 
 Jonathan Smith reports:
 "The BBC's Sports Personality of the Year nominations have caused a fair
 amount of debate this year, with a number of big name omissions from the
 list. In the team event, Leicester City are inevitably vying with an England
 rugby team who have now gone 14 games unbeaten. Equally deserving (but
 having received much less exposure) is a Ranelagh Harriers team that, going
 into yesterday's mob match with South London Harriers, were aiming to equal
 the achievements of their rugby counterparts. Whilst the England team's
 streak goes back barely more than a year, you have to cast your mind back to
 26 October 2013 to remember the last time Ranelagh were beaten in a mob
 match, going down narrowly to Orion. But if the short term history was on
 Ranelagh's side, the long term record for this fixture suggested that SLH
 should have been heavy favourites. 

 As the teams assembled on the start line by Sidmouth Wood, Ranelagh could be
 confident for two reasons. The first was that the Blue vests once again
 heavily outweighed the white and maroon of their counterparts. The second,
 and far more significant reason, was that SLH almost certainly weren't
 fielding a multiple world record holder. The now legendary Ranelagh, Mr
 Edward Whitlock, was resplendent in his tracksuit, receiving a huge cheer
 from his counterparts. Later, in the Roebuck, Ed regaled his team mates of
 his time at the club and the incredible records he has been setting in his
 later career. The numbers are scarcely believable; according to Wikipedia he
 currently holds 49 age-group world records, 14 on the outdoor track, 9 in
 the indoors and 26 on the road, including the fastest marathons in the
 70-74, 75-79, 80-84 and 85-89 age categories (the first of these standing at
 a mind-boggling 2:54:28). One would be forgiven for assuming that such
 unrivalled running prowess has only been achieved with a strict regime of
 intensive training and meticulous dietary intake. The reality? Well to
 paraphrase Ed just a little: "I run around a cemetery for three hours every
 day, consume far too many carbs and I'm addicted to peppermints". Whilst
 such a statement almost defies belief, this writer will certainly be using
 it in future to justify his doughnut intake.  

 And so to the race. A strong Ranelagh showing in the opening stages was
 punctuated by the presence of two SLH runners. Further back, SLH were
 packing well in the 10-20 places but behind them a huge mass of blue seemed
 ready to gradually reel them in. The course was relatively firm underfoot
 for this time of year and the rain managed to hold off until the latter
 stages. As the runners came round at the end of the first lap, Alan and Ken
 shouted everyone through, and there was strong support out on course from
 the likes of Suzy Whatmough, Mark Herbert and Steve Rowland, forcing many
 people to smile through gritted teeth as he snapped their progress.

 Up front, Ranelagh comfortably had the lead, and as this race doubles as the
 Club Championships, thoughts may have been turning to the question of who
 was going to take the illustrious Wynne Cup. First over the line, by a big
 margin, was Jackson Creegan. Unfortunately Jackson's second-claim status
 ruled him out of the running for the trophy. Having also been unable to
 score in last month's Surrey XC League despite a superb run, a petition will
 now be started calling for him to swap his first and second claim clubs
 around. Strong resistance is expected from the North East, but it's surely
 time for this Geordie to get the Southern plaudits he deserves.

 Jackson was followed in by a strong run from SLH's Joe Cole to keep things
 interesting. In third place was Jake Waldron, who again as a second claimer
 couldn't take the Wynne. And so the trophy was taken by the resurgent
 Richard Gregory in fourth. Coming off the back of a top 15 finish in the San
 Sebastian half marathon, this was an excellent finish to the year for
 Richard, which had been marred in the Summer by a dodgy hamstring.

 With Ranelagh taking three of the top four places it was looking ominous for
 SLH, and worse was to follow. Captain Phil came through next, followed by
 Ian Kenton continuing his very strong form in the later half of the year.
 George Howard and Peter Haarer got through ahead of SLH's second runner, and
 Carl Selya-Hammer closed out the top ten. A hallmark of Ranelagh's recent
 mob-match success has been their strength around the 10th to 30th placings,
 and so it proved again with Ranelagh taking 9 out of the next 10 places. SLH
 managed to score better in places 21 to 30, and the Ladies event was won by
 SLH's Rachel Coe O'Brien, coming home 27th in a very solid 51.31. Ranelagh
 took 2nd and 3rd place, with Jo Billings placing in the former and Laura
 Blazey refusing to be out done by Richard in the latter. Other notable
 performances from the ladies included Ranelagh's Lara Werrett, competing in
 her first mob match for more than 2 years and seventh lady home.

 With scoring at only 22 a side, it soon became apparent that Ranelagh had
 recorded another huge victory to retain the Stubbs Cup, the final tally
 standing at 314 for Ranelagh and 958 for SLH, a winning margin of 644. The
 race also contained a sealed handicap, with Ian Grange taking first place,
 followed by Becky Northmore and Sally Bamford, who should all be receiving a
 coveted medal at next year's awards.

 And so, with Ranelagh's winning streak extended to 14 unbeaten, the Sunday
 papers should have been awash with journalists talking up their SPOTY
 claims. Unfortunately, Leicester City remembered how to play Premier League
 football again on Saturday and so Ranelagh's feats were again overlooked.
 Time to turn to the next one; on Sunday 19th February Ranelagh will return
 to Hayes in Kent to take on Blackheath, looking for a 15th in a row and a
 surely unprecedented three seasons unbeaten. 

 The final word must go to our Canadian-based colleague. Ed's age grade
 percentage for the race wasn't available at the time of writing, but coming
 home in a time of 70.37, it's fair to say it would have been huge. The stand
 out statistic for this report, however, is without doubt the fact that
 yesterday was the first time in 68 years that Ed had competed in a mob
 match. Whilst a few of his world record feats may eventually be broken, one
 suspects this is one achievement that will never be matched."

 NB When the age-graded percentages were calculated it was found that 48
 year-old Peter Haarer had actually just pipped Ed by 82.6% to 81.3%. Well
 done Peter! Ken Powley sends the top twenty age-graded performances in the
 race: 

 82.6%   Peter Haarer
 81.3%   Ed Whitlock
 80.8%   John Shaw
 80.7%   Jackson Creegan
 79.5%   Richard Gregory
 79.5%   Phil Killingley
 78.7%   George Howard
 77.3%   Jake Waldron
 77.2%   Ian Kenton
 77.1%   Kris Davidson
 76.2%   David Wright
 75.5%   Carl Selya-Hammer
 74.7%   Paul Sinton-Hewitt
 74.6%   Al Morgan
 74.4%   Roy Reeder
 74.2%   Sonia Rowland
 74.0%   Dave Muckersie
 73.6%   Wiebke Kortum
 72.7%   Rob Wise
 72.0%   Mike Peace

Mob Match Result
88 Ranelagh and 25 SLH started.
                                             
Teams (Scoring 22 a side)         
1    Ranelagh Harriers      314        
2    South London Harriers  958   

                                    
 SOUTH OF ENGLAND  MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS and SEAA INTER COUNTIES  Saturday
 10th December at Horspath, Oxford
 Trevor Maguire reports:
 "A few Ranelagh masters (veteran runners in old money) gave the mob match a
 miss in order to run around a challenging course with fellow less young
 runners. The standard of runners at the front of these races is very high
 indeed, and Ranelagh had two top performances on a rainy day at Horspath
 (just outside Oxford).  As expected the evergreen Marie Synnott-Wells ran an
 excellent race but was just out of the medals by a few seconds (4th in W50
 age category) and Steve Whitehead was 5th in a strong M45 category.  The
 M40-49 team finished 17th with Vaughan Ramsay (48th in M40) and Rob Curtis
 (34th in M45) the other two team members alongside Steve.  The M50-59 team
 finished a credible 14th and was made up of the 'recovering from injury but
 not as fit as we would like to be' team of Trevor Maguire, Richard Holme and
 Paul Rider (28th, 58th and 61st).  Special credit to Richard who pushed very
 hard on the first 5k (probably close to a parkrun PB) then had a fall on the
 2nd lap (glad to say only a few scratches) but pushed himself to the limit
 by the finish (a lie down and some food/tea soon sorted him out).  Thanks
 also for the support from Becky Curtis-Hall and Phil Aiken (there as Surrey
 team manager for the Inter Counties race)."

 In the Inter-Counties races the only Ranelagh representative was Izzy Atkins
 who finished 42nd in U15 Girls race, third counter for the 7th-placed
 Middlesex team.

 Masters W50-54
 1   S Godfrey (C&C)          24.43
 4   Marie Synnott-Wells      25.35

 Masters M50-54
 1   A Leach (N Herts)        32.48
 28  Trevor Maguire           38.19
 58  Richard Holme            42.01
 61  Paul Rider               42.35

 Masters M40-44
 1   S Smith (C&C)            31.12
 48  Vaughan Ramsay           39.35 

 Masters M45-49
 1   B Reynolds (TH&H)        32.38
 5   Steve Whitehead          34.49
 34  Rob Curtis               46.17

 SOUTH OF THE THAMES 7.5 MILES CHAMPIONSHIP  Saturday 17th December at
 Beckenham Place Park
 Phil Aiken reports:
 "It was a murky, misty curtain that came down on part one of the Ranelagh
 Women's winter campaign, an action-packed sixteen weeks that has seen the
 team compete in ten races (plus a couple of masters events). It was only a
 late decision to raise a team for this fixture. Podium positions at the
 London Championships and the South of Thames 5 Mile Team race, coupled with
 a quick look at recent results, which showed no more than half a dozen
 complete teams, meant another top three position couldn't be ruled out. In
 all likelihood, it would be a contest between the top four from Polesden
 Lacey (Kent AC, Ranelagh Harriers, Belgrave Harriers and Dulwich Runners),
 but the Ranelagh team was not as strong and defending champions Dulwich
 didn't have far to travel.

 Lucy Reid of Tonbridge started strongly, but had to cede top spot to Kent's
 Amy Clements before the first lap was complete. In third was Sam Amend of
 Belgrave, a GB team-mate of Amy's at the World 50k Championship in Doha at
 the beginning of November (Sam missed the 5 mile race at Polesden Lacey last
 month, not because she was recovering, but because she was competing in a 50
 mile race in Wendover Woods in the Chilterns). The ever-impressive Claire
 Elms, defying her 50-plus years, was Dulwich's first runner in fifth, Megan
 de Silva just a place behind.

 As the runners came through, it was clear that Belgrave had the win in the
 bag. At one point I counted the scoring six in the first sixteen places.
 Though they were unable to hold this to finish, it was still too much for
 Kent, whose final three scorers came home in rapid succession, but after
 Belgrave had closed.

 Laura Blazey and Suzy Whatmough, finishing either side of 20th, helped keep
 Dulwich within touching distance and though Marie Synnott-Wells finished
 ahead of the fourth Dulwich finisher, it was only by a single place. But the
 final two members of Dulwich's scoring six were to arrive in the next ten
 places and it was to be a further ten before Captain Becky limped home, less
 than a minute ahead of Emma Wellham, closing out the first complete Ranelagh
 Women's team in this race since 2005. Then, Ranelagh were Champions,
 defeating... Dulwich, who were the only other team to finish. The previous
 year, Ranelagh were champions by virtue of being the only team to finish.

 Times have changed and, a dozen years on, records were set for both
 individuals and teams to finish, 89 and 8 respectively."

 Women
 1   Amy Clements (Kent)      43.02      
 2   Lucy Reid (Tonbridge)    44.10      
 3   Samantha Ahmend (Belg)   44.27    
 6   Megan de Silva           46.29      
 19  Laura Blazey             50.17      
 22  Suzy Whatmough           50.38      
 32  Marie Synnott-Wells      51.53    
 54  Becky Curtis-Hall        55.15      
 62  Emma Wellham             56.02      
                                                    
 TEAMS (6 to Score)            
 1   Belgrave Harriers   81             
 2   Kent AC             98             
 3   Dulwich Runners    150             
 4   Ranelagh Harriers  195

 Men             
 1   Phil Wicks (Belgrave)    36.19      
 259 Rob Curtis               58.28  

 BEDFORD HALF MARATHON  Sunday 4th December
 1   D Hudson (BRJ)           1:14.04  (chip time 1:14.04)
 416 Emma Wellham             1:48.46  (1:47.41)

 KINGFIELD CANTER 2.85 miles handicap  Wednesday 7th December
 1   G Surtees (Wimb W)       23.35  (actual time 18.35)
 3   Alan Davidson            24.14  (23.44)
 11  Sonia Rowland            26.14  (21.44)
 20  Louise Piears            27.20  (22.50) 

 RUN RICHMOND PARK 10k  Saturday 10th December 
 Estelle Damant finished 2nd overall and first woman.

 1   A Snook (Stragglers)     37.45  (chip time 37.44)
 2   Estelle Damant           39.10  (39.10 - 1st woman)

 RICHMOND PARK CHRISTMAS 10k  Sunday 11th December
 1   D Lemon (DMV)            37.39  (chip time 37.39)
 18  L Woolhouse (unatt)      43.17  (43.17 - 1st woman)
 29  Llewellyn Davies         47.22  (47.20)
 78  Aoife Kilpatrick         53.45  (53.41)           

 parkrun results...
 ...showing all PBs, all performances with an age-graded percentage of 65%
 and above, and all junior results. For this week's full Ranelagh results
 follow this link:. From this
 screen you can also access the previous week's Ranelagh results. 

 parkruns 5km  Saturday 3rd December

 Crane Park
 Louis Sartori 19.07 (72.80%)

 Gunnersbury
 Karen Harbert 26.15 (67.17%)

 parkruns 5km Saturday 10th December

 Bushy Park
 Ted Mockett 17.53 (75.21%), Nick Wright 19.01 (71.78%), Chris Brook 20.43
 (66.37%), Christine Palmer 22.47 (65.62%), Jackie Dunkley 29.35 (65.58%)  

 Richmond Park
 Jordan Mungovan 17.12 (75.19%), Bill Neely 19.53 (78.63%), John Hobson 22.35
 (65.83%), Elisa Ferrua 23.24 (64.32%), Tomas Sterner 23.50 (65.03%), Daniel
 Rushby 23.57 (65.90% and jnr), Ellie Luxmoore 24.02 (jnr), Sam Rushby 25.23
 (67.04% and jnr), Ben Rushby 29.49  (66.29% and jnr), Bronwen Northmore
 31.53 (65.55%)

 Wimbledon Common 
 Megan de Silva 19.02 (78.28%)

 Tilgate
 Duncan Mallison 19.53 (69.15%)

 Old Deer Park
 Kris Davidson 18.18 (75.68%), Fiona Forbes 24.01 (63.71%)

 Kingston
 Richard Gurd 23.01 (61.62%), James McLauchlan 24.58 (jnr)

 Crane Park
 Danny Little 19.34 (68.23%), Eric Plue 21.00 (68.57%), Rue Turner 22.27
 (PB), Afrah Sait 31.39 (jnr and PB)

 Upton Court
 Sean Paynter 18.37 (69.29%)

 Harcourt Hill
 Andrew Brown 24.59 (66.51%)

 Osterley Park
 Phil Jackson 24.30 (69.12)

 Gunnersbury
 Karen Harbert 26.44 (65.96%)

 Wycombe Rye
 Becky Curtis-Hall 21.49 (68.30%)

 Market Harborough
 Ellen Van Keulen 25.55 (PB)

 Newbury
 Henry Maguire 47.43 (jnr)

 parkruns 5km Saturday 17th December

 Bushy Park
 David Ready 17.51 (71.73% and PB), Euan Sinclair 19.19 (75.06% and jnr and
 PB), Matthew O'Donovan 19.41 (73.67% and jnr), Paul Sinton-Hewitt 20.43
 (74.82%), Rachel Revett 22.20 (68.51% and PB), Noel Simpson 27.11 (PB),
 Jackie Dunkley 29.07 (66.63%) 

 Richmond Park
 Richard Gregory 16.12 (81.38% and PB), Tom Bradley 18.14 (73.13% and jnr and
 PB), Michael Morris 19.07 (75.33%), Peter Faull 19.51 (65.74%), James
 Ritchie 20.07 (69.93%), Steve Aikin 22.44 (65.40%), Amrut Sharma 22.48
 (61.26%), Daniel Rushby 23.14 (67.93% and jnr), Carol Aikin 24.03 (71.45%
 and PB), Tomas Sterner 24.32 (63.18%), Sam Rushby 24.33 (69.31% and jnr),
 Maia Rushby 25.07 (63.24%), Ben Rushby 29.52 (66.18% and jnr), Bronwen
 Northmore 31.57 (65.41%), Pat Hewlett 44.12 (60.29%)

 Crane Park
 Danny Little 19.05 (69.96%), Richard Gurd 20.17 (69.93%), Daniel Chiechi
 21.54, Phil Roberts 22.08 (67.17%), Becky Northmore 22.56 (64.53%), Tamsin
 Burland 24.37 (65.81% and PB), Afrah Sait 30.30 (jnr), Kabir Sait 30.30
 (jnr)

 Old Deer Park
 Kris Davidson 17.49 (77.74%), Dave Lawley 18.14 (72.76%), Trevor Maguire
 19.39 (75.66%), Henry Maguire 41.28 (jnr and PB), Luke Maguire 41.29 (jnr)

 Roundshaw Downs
 Duncan Mallison 19.40 (69.92% and PB)

 Roundhay Park
 James Whistler 19.16 (66.96%)

 Burgess 
 Alan Davidson 26.01 (67.01%)

 Upton Court
 Sean Paynter 18.12 (70.88% and PB)

 Parke
 Mike Peace 25.18 (67.52%)

 Shellharbour, Australia
 Fiona Ford 21.39 (74.06%)

 Cuerden Valley
 Bruce McLaren 22.46 (64.79%)

 Exeter Riverside
 Jake Waldron 16.19 (79.06%), Julia Bailey 20.34 (71.96%)

 Stratford-upon-Avon
 James Rushby 25.16 (jnr)

 Dalby Forest 
 Phil Jackson 24.45 (68.42%)

 MOORMEAD JUNIORS parkrun 2km  Sunday 18th December
 1   Kabir Sait                7.52
 23  Afrah Sait               12.53

 FINALLY...
 From Athletics International:
 First and second in the Fukuoka Marathon in Japan were top men Yemane Tsegay
 and Patrick Makau, but the story was the amazing third place of Yuki
 Kawauchi. This man is a legend in Japan as, now aged 30, he has run 62
 marathons, all but two under 2:20 and he has been amazingly prolific, with 3
 marathons in 2009, then successive yearly totals of 2, 5, 9, 11, 13, 12 to
 2015. This year he had run just seven before Fukuoka, which he had declared
 would be his last bid to make a Japanese national team. That plan seemed to
 be scuppered as he injured his right calf three weeks before the race and he
 sustained a sprained left ankle on a final warm-up run the day before the
 race on December 4. However, he took his place in the line-up and moved up
 to join and then pass the leader Yusuke Tobimatsu, who had reached halfway
 in 64:24. Several Eritrean and Ethiopians chased this pair and one of them,
 Melaku Abera pulled away after 25k. Kenyans Patrick Makau and Paul Kuira
 worked their way up to the chasing group and Makau then went after Abera
 with Tsegay and Amenuel Mesel. Kawauchi surged to leave first Kuira and
 Tariku Bekele behind and then Mesel, passing the long-time leader after
 Tsegay and Makau had done so. Tsegay pulled away from Makau in the final two
 kilometres and Kawauchi held on for third in 2:09:11, 23 secs behind the
 winner and the tenth sub-2:10 time of his career. Unable to suppress the
 tears after the race, the immensely brave Kawauchi now has to wait to see if
 the Japanese selectors think he has done enough for selection to London
 2017. The conditions were difficult, with steady rain, high humidity and
 fairly strong winds.