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Newsdesk 2019
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RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 560 15th November 2019
Editor: Steve Rowland
mailto: sandsrowland@btinternet.com
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HEADLINE NEWS
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* Ranelagh wins the Lee Cup mob match against Orion
* Our mob led by Jackson Creegan and Bonnie Morgan
* Club vets championships won by George Howard, Peter Haarer and Chris
Owens
* Pat Wright leads our men’s team to second place in the Surrey League race
at Wimbledon Common
* Megan de Silva leads our women’s team to tenth place in the Surrey Ladies
League at Mitcham
* Nick Twomey wins the Phoenix Half Marathon at Walton
* All needed for our Mob Match against Thames H&H on Wimbledon Common on
23rd November
* Supper at the King’s Head, Roehampton after the mob match
* London Marathon guaranteed club places
* Still time to book for our Christmas Party on Saturday 7th December
* Bill Harvey memorial
ATTENTION PLEASE
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NEXT JOB FOR THE MOB
Our next mob match of the season is on Saturday 23rd November against Thames
and Hounds. Start will be at 2.30pm. We had 81 runners at the first mob
match against Orion three weeks ago. Can we repeat that number? It’s not on
our home course, but the next best thing. It’s on Wimbledon Common just on
the other side of the A3 by Robin Hood Gate. See here: for venue and course map.
There is some parking adjacent to Thames‘s HQ and also on-road parking in
Vale Crescent off the A3. We need as many runners as possible. The more we
have, the better our chances. Thames will probably field 50 runners – we
need to match that and more.
Maureen Poole of Thames writes to invite us to post-race festivities:
“I am Carver at Thames Hare and Hounds and I am writing to invite your
members to the post Mob Match supper on Saturday 23rd November. It will take
place in the Hogarth Room at the King's Head, Roehampton High Street from
6.30pm, a hot buffet will be served and we hope that you will join us for an
enjoyable evening.”
We need to give Maureen some idea of numbers so if you’re thinking of
attending please let Gordon Whitson know without delay:
ranelagh.hon.secretary@gmail.com.
Looking further ahead, the next mob match after the Thames race is away to
South London Harriers at Coulsdon on December 14th, Put the date in your
diary!
CHRISTMAS PARTY
RANELAGH HARRIERS SOCIAL COMMITTEE cordially invites you to the 2019
Christmas Party.
Saturday 7th December, 6:30pm until midnight at
The Albert Pub
57 Kingston Hill, Kingston Upon Thames, KT2 7PX
0208 546 7669
Three course meal and DJ
ENTRY STRICTLY TICKET ONLY
Dress code: Smart casual.
Cost is £45. You need to book AND pay to be on the final list. Limit is 90
people.
For menu, go to menu: and click on
‘Christmas Feast’.
For more info and booking please contact Michele Gibson.
e-mail micheleagibson@hotmail.com or call Michele on 07703 518956.
Cheques: payable to Ranelagh Harriers
BACS: to Ranelagh Harriers, SC 40 13 10, A/C 12154501, Ref ‘XMAS + Your
name’
LONDON MARATHON 2020 CLUB GUARANTEED PLACES
We are expecting to be assigned three guaranteed places this year, and as
usual there will be a ballot to decide the lucky trio. To qualify for the
ballot you need to have run two mob matches during 2019 or run one mob
match and helped marshal at a cross-country event. The draw will be made at
the club Christmas Party on 7th December. To put your name in the hat please
reply to the Hon Sec at ranelagh.hon.secretary@gmail.com by 6th
December.
BILL HARVEY
Gordon Whitson writes:
“The family of Bill Harvey, who died recently, are holding a memorial event
for Bill on 18th December at one of his watering holes. Here are the
details:
Wednesday, 18 December 2019 12-5pm upstairs at The Lansdowne pub
www.thelansdownepub.co.uk/,
90 Gloucester Avenue NW1 8HX. (closest
underground is Chalk Farm, Northern Line, Edgware branch). During lunchtime
there will be a toast (or indeed perhaps many toasts!) to Bill. If you feel
like saying something, or if there’s a story or memory that you'd like to
share then, that would be great.
Could members wishing to attend contact me at ranelagh.hon.secretary@gmail.com so that I can provide indicative
numbers to Bill's family.”
SURREY CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS Sunday 5th January at Denbies Vineyard
Surrey Athletics who organise the championships are looking for help. They
need plenty of marshals on the course at Denbies Vineyard, Dorking, and are
looking for volunteers. The first race is at 10.30am but volunteers aren’t
expected to cover the whole day. If you can help for part of the day please
contact David Clarke on enduranceofficials@surreyathletics.uk
RANELAGH HARRIERS GAZETTE
In a bid to catch up with publication of our club magazine, the Editors have
produced a bumper two-year edition which includes results and reports up to
the spring of 2019. It was published a few weeks ago and there are copies in
the clubhouse. Please help yourself! If you don’t get to the clubhouse and
would like a copy sent to you please reply to this email giving your postal
address.
RANELAGH RICHMOND HALF MARATHON - 10th May 2020
Rick Jenner writes:
“Our own Half Marathon is now open for entries and we wanted you to be the
first to know and sign up. This year the race is two weeks after the London
Marathon, and if you haven't taken part before it's a great event that we
put on with huge help from volunteers from the club, so please do support it
in any way you can. It's over a fast, flat course which includes Hampton
Court and the River Thames, starting near the clubhouse and finishing in
Ham. And it's only £20 for club members. For more information and how to
enter go to here:. Please spread the word
too, including posts on our social media channels.”
RUNNING IN PARIS
New member Andy Griffin is relocating to Paris for a while and would like to
know if anyone is aware of a running club or group he might be able to join
while he is there. If you have any ideas please contact Andy at
andygriffin73@gmail.com.
SPORTING FEET
Richmond Sporting Feet manager Michael Morris writes:
“This year Sporting Feet have entered the Richmond Business Awards in four
categories: best small business, best retailer, best customer service and
people's choice award.
The people's choice award is decided by an online vote, so I thought I’d be
cheeky and ask if you'd mind voting for us. We do have several Ranelagh
Harriers as customers so it would be good to get the club’s support. To vote
for us, please
click here:. When the voting process asks for Sporting Feet’s URL, use
this:.
EASY NUTRITION FOR HEALTHY RUNNERS
Elisa Ferrua writes:
“Private FB Group – ‘Runners Health Hub’ exclusive free 14 day programme.
Get expert sports nutrition advice from our resident nutritional therapists
and experienced runners.
Register here:
using discount code ‘CLUB’:
. The next programme launches on 16th November.”
CLUB KIT
Our supplier for club singlets, men’s and women’s, is iProsports. Details and orders:
TUESDAY NIGHT SOCIALS
Don’t forget that we meet for a casual drink after training on the first
Tuesday of each month. Venue is the Roebuck on Richmond Hill. All welcome.
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
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Our provisional winter fixture list is now up on our website here:.
More details of the following from the men’s Captains (ranelagh.men@gmail.com)
or the women’s Captain / Team Manager (ranelagh.women@gmail.com
Saturday 16th November London Championships at Parliament Hill. Women at
1.15pm, men at 2pm. Entries closed.
Saturday 23rd November Mob Match v Thames Hare & Hounds All needed! 2.30pm
start at Kingston Vale
Also…South of the Thames team race
5 miles at Morden Park 2pm start.
Saturday 14th December Stubbs Cup Mob Match v South London Harriers away at
Coulsdon 2.30pm start
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
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HAROLD LEE CUP MOB MATCH v ORION HARRIERS 7.67miles Saturday 2nd November
in Richmond Park
The mob match that was nearly blown away! High winds had been sweeping
across the country and on the Friday morning the Park Superintendent warned
us that we might have to cancel the race on safety grounds. Fortunately by
Saturday morning conditions were kinder and we were left with a squally,
blustery but safe afternoon for the race.
As usual Orion brought over a coachload from their base in Epping Forest and
47 runners in white vests lined up at the start. When our officials left the
clubhouse our contingent numbered less than 60 but fortunately another 20 or
so were waiting to pick up a number at the start. This caused a delay in
getting the race underway, but in the end Mike Peace led 81 Ranelagh blue
and ambers in a resounding “Hobble Gobble”.
The disparity in numbers gave us a distinct advantage before the field had
even disappeared around the first bend. In the first mile or so the two
Carls were prominent for us, together with Jackson Creegan and Marc Leyshon.
George Howard and Ted Mockett were sitting just off the pace. It wasn’t long
before Jackson began to assert himself, moving clear of the rest before the
first lap was over and building up a tidy lead which he stretched
impressively on lap two. By now the rain had become heavy and persistent,
and often horizontal, especially so each time Alan Hedger expressed the
opinion that it was easing off. Truly it was not a day to be out marking the
course or officiating. All credit must go to our stalwart band of
volunteers.
George Howard made steady progress on lap two and eventually finished third,
splitting the leading two Orion men. That excellent performance won him the
Hastings Cup club veterans championship. The Carls were 5th and 7th,
sandwiching international triathlete Reece Barclay for Orion. Then came Marc
and Ted, pursued by leading over 50 Peter Haarer. Peter therefore keeps his
hands on the McDowell Salver for the club’s leading over 50. Further back
Chris Owens secured the Maslin Mug as over 60 champion.
Honours had been divided at the front with three of each club featuring in
the top six. However then came the first blue wave as Ranelagh vests filled
positions 7 to 12. The pressure on our guests was unrelenting and they were
restricted to only 6 of the first 20. There was something of a fight back
with 14 Orion in the top 35 and 30 in the top 71 but it was too little and
too late to influence the final outcome. The coup de grace was another blue
wave from positions 91 to 97 and another from 109 to 117.
Bonnie Morgan was the leading woman for 99% of the race before being pipped
at the post by Orion’s Jasmin Fitzpatrick. Kathy Henry was third and Clare
Fowler fourth. Bonnie had the consolation of winning the vets sealed
handicap. Ed Forbes was second and Peter Haarer third.
The team result was a comprehensive victory of 1,647 to 2,555, scoring 45 a
side, meaning we took back the Harold Lee Cup for the year.
A delighted men’s Captain Rich Kimber adds: “In fact, there was silverware
galore. Alan Hedger recently unearthed a piece of history when he found a
silver tankard presented by Orion to Ranelagh in 1939/40 as a thanks for
providing them training facilities during the first part of second world
war. Orion have agreed to our proposal that this should be presented to the
overall winner of the race each year, which means our own Jackson Creegan,
who put in another superb performance, took the tankard (or he will once
it's had a little makeover after its years in storage).”
SURREY CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE DIVISION 2 Saturday 9th November on Wimbledon
Common
Fulham RC devised a new course on the familiar surroundings of Wimbledon
Common, taking in the notorious Alps and a strategically positioned fallen
tree which required hurdling or clambering over. General opinion on the
course afterwards was that it was a corker.
We had high hopes of building up a healthy lead at the mid-way point of the
2019/2020 League. In the first race we had come away victorious, setting up
a lead over our main rivals Fulham RC of 197 to 285. For the second race
men’s captain Rich Kimber spoke bullishly of getting our scoring 10 home
inside the first 30 and substantially stretching our lead. Alas “The best
laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft agley,” as Chris Owens probably
doesn’t say. Last time we had five men home in the top 20. Of those five
only Phil Killingley features in the result today. Jackson Creegan was on
the start line but a dodgy Achilles tendon forced him out of the race inside
the opening mile. The others all had excellent reasons for being absent but
the rest of the team were going to have to work hard. Fortunately we had our
secret weapon – the dreaded blue wave.
But first there was Pat Wright. In his first race after several months’
absence owing to injury, Pat fought strongly throughout the race, contesting
a top ten place for much of the way. In the end he placed an excellent 13th
just escaping the attentions of a fast finishing Marc Leyshon.
That was it for us as far as the top twenty were concerned. Fulham, on the
other hand, already had six men home and even Croydon had four. Our
prospects for the team race looked bleak. Then Phil Killingley appeared,
then Ted Mockett, then newcomer Joe Gomes, then James Riley, then Jonathan
Smith. All in the next eight finishers. A blue wave par excellence! Then
Dave Lawley, Ed Forbes and David Ready gave us another wavelet, closing our
scoring ten by position 36. And right behind them came our B team leaders
Rich Kimber and Graham Brook.
We didn’t quite manage to close the deficit on Fulham, but it was a close
thing – just 12 points, leaving us with a healthy overall lead of 76. As for
our B team – they would have taken a bit of beating. We filled positions 1,
2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, then 12, 14 and 16 for a grand total of 70 points.
We fielded an excellent 27 runners altogether. David Ready won the anchorman
trophy for the last counter for the A team, while Rick Jenner took the
equivalent for the Bs. Euan and Finlay Sinclair both ran well in the young
athletes race, with junior just getting the better of senior.
A final word from skipper Rich Kimber: “The stand-out performance of the day
came from Surrey League debutant Joe Gomes, who ran a masterclass in cross
country finishing, cruising the first lap with me and surging through the
field for a brilliant 24th place, making it all look easy. A classy run.”
SURREY LADIES LEAGUE Division 1 Saturday 9th November on Mitcham Common
The women’s League race was held on the alternately flat and rolling terrain
of Mitcham Common. Comfortable winner was Steph McCall, who has recently
changed her allegiance from South London to Herne Hill. This win enabled her
new club to snatch the team victory. For Ranelagh Megan de Silva ran
strongly again for 16th place, a minute ahead of Fanny Vein. Putting in an
impressive run as third scorer and hard on Fanny’s heels was new member and
League debutante Fenella Ross. There was a bit of a gap after Fenella before
Bonnie Morgan and Becky Northmore closed in our scoring five in 10th team
place. Helen Shires and Kathy Henry fought hard to grab the leading place
in our B team, ahead of Marie Synnott-Wells, Marianne Malam and Rebecca
Bissell. The Bs also placed 10th. Carol Aikin and Sally Bamford provided the
backup.
Only Safia Chaoui represented us in the junior races, and she finished a
very creditable 23rd in the combined U15 and U17 race.
NEW YORK CITY MARATHON Sunday 3rd November
Paul Doyle set himself a tough schedule – Chicago Marathon on 13th October,
River Thames Half Marathon on 27th October and then the New York City
Marathon on 3rd November. Nevertheless he clocked an excellent 3:01.10 for
83rd spot in the over 50 category. “I ran hard from the start,” he said.
1 G Kamworor (Kenya) 2:08.13
1664 Paul Doyle 3:01.10
2210 Simon Wolnitzer 3:06.47
29771 Siobhan Sharp 4:37.13
RUN UK RICHMOND HALF MARATHON Sunday 3rd November
1 M Weikert (Kent) 1:14.25
393 Ella Stanbrook 2:05.21
MARLOW HALF MARATHON Sunday 3rd November
1 S Macdougal (Fulham) 1:18.07
576 Colette Doran 2:13.15
PHOENIX REMEMBRANCE DAY HALF MARATHON Sunday 10th November at Walton
Nick Twomey won by a full minute, delighted to duck inside 80 minutes.
1 Nick Twomey 1:19.37
SECOND SUNDAY 5 miles Sunday 10th November on Wimbledon Common
1 T Grimes (East London) 30.40
38 Steve Aikin 42.11
50 Dave Kew 46.40
53 Carol Aikin 47.40
parkrun results...
Follow this link for the latest Ranelagh results:. Then follow
the “Previously” link at the bottom of the parkrun screen to access previous
weeks’ results.
FINALLY…
There were 457,861 applicants for the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon. The
world record number of hopefuls included 373,736 applicants from the UK, an
increase of 25,860 from the record number that applied for the 2019 race. A
total of 84,125 people applied in the international ballot. More than 56 per
cent of the UK applications for 2020 were from people who have never run a
marathon before and just under 48 per cent of the total UK applicants were
women.
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