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Newsdesk 2002
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RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 52 29 JANUARY 2002
Web site: http://www.surreyweb.net/rharriers
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This Saturday the final Surrey League fixtures for men and women both take
place on South London Harriers' course on Farthing Down at Coulsdon. Note
that as usual for the last women's fixture the senior event will be held
FIRST. This means a start time of 12 noon! Under 15s and Under 20s follow
the seniors. Junior men appear at 2.30pm followed by the seniors at 3pm.
Last Saturday's Southern Championship at Parliament Hill was a classic
squelchathon with mud up to here and driving rain for most of the day. "Why
do we do this?" were Julian's first words. They might have been his last
too, as he spent most of the race complaining that his legs wouldn't work.
"Am I really our second scorer?" he asked incredulously half way round his
last lap. Well, yes. Peter H was well ahead, looking strong and hovering
around the 70 mark for most of the race. CO, tripping lightly over the mud,
was having a great run close behind Julian for much of the way before losing
a little ground in the closing stages. Cap'n Andy, tripping heavily over the
mud, called it a day after his third worm's eye view of Hampstead Heath.
Marcus and Paul battled their way into the top 200 and PC Mick closed in the
team at 262nd with the President backing up not far behind. We finished 15th
out of 64, a slight improvement on last year.
The women, on the other hand, slipped a little from last year's 10th down to
17th place. Kristina imperiously led our crew, making light of the mud for
an excellent 69th. Liz seemed unhappy but progressed steadily after a slow
start to come in a few places ahead of Margaret with Sue, looking like she
wished she was somewhere else, last scorer at 168th. Louise, looking quite
happy to be where she was, followed close at hand.
Well done to all runners and spectators who braved the elements and
especially to Hugh Jones who as clerk of the course had been out with posts
and tape in whatever Mother Nature could chuck at him for the previous two
days.
Ian Milne writes from Matlock:
"More congratulations on becoming a mob match centurion. But how many
current members realise that it was only since the mid 1970s that we had 4
mob matches a year. Prior to that the Thames match was a 2 race affair, an A
race over 8-ish miles, and a B race over 4-ish miles. I know, I was the
fixtures secretary who changed it, at Captain Jim Forrest's request. So our
older gents would have had to run in all 3 traditional mob matches for a
minimum of 34 years to obtain the century, while our current (younger) gents
can do it in 25 years.
Also, how many know of the old Thames changing rooms in Roehampton, the hip
baths with only a gallon or so of water in each (although hot, not cold like
our own were when we ran out of water), and the devastating fire which
destroyed these and many of the prized possessions of the oldest of the
nation's Cross Country Clubs.
This brings me to my suggestion.
Ron Callis had a difficult task of producing the First Hundred Years of
Ranelagh Harriers, with no-one old enough to remember the early years. As a
result, it was more a catalogue of events gleaned from old reports than
living record of the spirit of the times. Since 1981 the club has
experienced dramatic changes, many of which are only recorded in our
memories. Do our current members know what was involved on race days in
having a bath, for example? By the time 2081 comes around, the best of these
will be lost, and the chronicler of the Second Hundred Years will have
another difficult task. Would it not be nice to record the last 20 years
while these memories are still alive ? Just think of the changes,
demolishing the old club house (John Barnard tried to do it single handedly
with his Ford Fiesta), building the new one, the lady membership, the London
Marathon, our own half marathon, the changes in the Dysart, the massive
increase in membership numbers, and all the fun and work which all this
entailed. Perhaps Bill Bird and Alan Hedger could get together and bring us
up to the year 2002 before we all forget".
COMING UP
More details of all the following from Andy Bickerstaff (07966 552302 /
mailto:norris.hobs@ndirect.co.uk) or Sarah Seal (020 8995 2380 /
mailto:sarahs@walker.co.uk).
Saturday February 2nd Surrey League Div 1 final fixtures, women (12 noon)
and men (3pm) both at Farthing Downs, Coulsdon
Saturday February 9th Pelling-Ratcliff Cup mob match v Blackheath Harriers
at home in Richmond Park, incorporating our club championship for the Wynne
Cup. 7.5 miles, 2.30pm start. Our last chance to win a mob match this
season! In the evening there will be a supper upstairs at the Dysart. Price
about a tenner. Book with Mike Peace (mailto:admin@frimley.surrey.sch.uk)
Sunday February 10th Richmond Mini Marathon trial in Richmond Park,
incorporating the Ranelagh junior women's championship for the Camilla Cup.
Saturday February 16th v Bank of England and others in Richmond Park (on
the Bank's course from Roehampton Gate). 5 miles, 2.30pm start.
Saturday February 23rd National Championships at Bristol
RELAYS
Check out the details for the relay in Aarhus, Denmark, on April 28th at
http://www.aarhus1900.dk/stafet
and for the Green Belt Relay on May 11th / 12th at at
www.greenbeltrelay.org.uk.
ON THE ROAD
Looking further ahead, the Camberley Half Marathon on March 3rd incorporates
the Surrey county championship so might be a good pre-London choice. Entry
forms in the clubhouse or from www.camberleyathleticclub.co.uk. The Thames
Towpath 10 miles at Chiswick on March 17th will again be the first event in
this year's Ranelagh road Grand Prix. Entry forms in the clubhouse. The
Dysart Dash, our own 10km race, was incorrectly shown on our fixture card as
June 23rd. In fact it will take place as usual on the last Sunday in June,
which is the 30th.
Steve Rowland
Telephone: 01926 318734
Fax: 0870 4006901
e-mail: srowland@calorgas.co.uk