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RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 588 11th Jlye 2021
Editor: Steve Rowland
mailto: sandsrowland@btinternet.com
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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Ranelagh Harriers AGM took place on 7th July but very nearly didn't...the scheduled
start time was brought forward to 7pm to allow enough time to rattle through the
proceedings before the 8pm kick-off time of a certain footy match. Evidently many
members didn't trust the technology and, come 7pm, we were well short of a quorum.
One of the good things about holding meetings through Zoom is that attendees are all
at home and a few e-mails swiftly brought up our numbers until 7.15pm saw President
Ted Mockett declaring the meeting open.
Fortunately there wasn't too much business to transact and everyone who wanted to catch
the match after the meeting had ample time to get ensconced in front of a telly.
Gordon Whitson's Hon Sec report gave an excellent account of how the club managed to keep
functioning during the year just past. It will provide a valuable account for future
club historians. Treasurer Chris Read presented his accounts and it appears we are
solvent!
There were a few personnel changes.
Narissa Vox has agreed to take on the role of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Officer.
Sandra Forrest does not wish to continue as the Race Director for our Half Marathon
and subject to confirmation Simon Martin will take over.
Louise Whapshott has replaced Deepa Sharma as Assistant Treasurer.
We don't have a name yet for a replacement Fixtures Secretary, but one or two members
have expressed an interest and we hope to be able to make a definite announcement soon.
Joint Social Secretaries will be Rebecca Bissell and Hadi Khatamizadeh.
We are still looking for a Junior Team Manager - someone (of any age) to take on the
job of liaising with the club's junior members, keeping them up to date with training
and racing etc.
Finally the President's Prize was awarded jointly to Suzy Whatmough and James Ritchie
for their hard work in organising virtual events throughout the lock-down periods which
did a great deal to keep the club together in these difficult times.
COMMISERATIONS..
to James Ritchie who recently sustained a hip fracture in a bicycle accident in the
Surrey Hills. We wish a speedy recovery for him and for Paul Whapshott who fell at
work recently and fractured his knee.
AND CONGRATULATIONS
to Gill Sanders who is delighted to have qualified for the South African Triathlon team
for her third consecutive Olympic Games. She will compete in the women's individual
and mixed relay events. We wish her the very best of luck.
Speaking of triathlons, Chris Owens succumbed to the heat a bit in Leeds and was only
3rd old geezer in the British Standard champs.
TON UP FOR IAN
On Sunday 20 June 2021 Ian Grange completed his 100th marathon in Richmond Park.
It had been a long wait as Ian had been stuck on 99 marathons when covid restrictions
closed all races last spring. Ian's time was 4.42.19. I am aware of one other
Ranelagh member who ran the race. This was Ciaran O'Donnell who recorded a time
of 4.03.35.
Several Ranelagh members cheered Ian on during the race and/or ran the last few miles
with him. Ian was also presented with a commemorative tankard from his friends at
Ranelagh before the Ponds Run the following Tuesday. For the future Ian plans to take
it easy and only run about four marathons a year.
MORE MARATHONS
Milton Keynes Marathon and Half
At Milton Keynes on June 27th Kris Davidson finished the Marathon in3:21.27 while not
far behind Jarryd Hillhouse recorded 3:31.13. Running in the colours of her first-claim
club Abingdon AC in the Half Marathon, Cordy Parker was the leading woman in 1:24.36.
ULTRA NEWS...when 26.2 miles just isn't far enough!
Race to the Castle 100k
In reportedly awful conditions Michael Morris finished in 14 hours 12 mins.
Salomon Serpent 50km
Ranelagh successes in the Salomon Serpent 50k Trail at Haslemere on Saturday 3rd July.
On a tough and hilly trail Mitch Phillips was the first MV50 in 4:51.33 and Susan
Ritchie was third WV50 in 5:50.43.
South Downs Way 100 miles Saturday 12th June
Andy Freeman had a great run on the South Downs to finish 25th in 19:28. In the virtual
Comrades Marathon Bruce McLaren and Si Martin finished but Thomas Lahille had to give
best to the hot conditions.
Hadrian's Wall 111k Ultra Saturday 19th June
Remarkably Andrew Kew was one of over a thousand competitors and finished in 16:55.37.
OTHER RESULTS
Dorking Tens Sunday 11th July
Two races in one...a 10 miles, which might be considered the main event, and a 10km.
Both were started in waves, which gives substantial differences and anomalies in
recorded "times" and "net times". Times shown below are "net" and may be
subject to correction and amendment. The first Ranelagh finisher in the 10 miles was
Ross Macdonald who placed 11th in 57.52. Michael Morris and Jarryd Hillhouse followed,
then Mick Lane picked up first place in the 60-69 category, a result which seems to be
becoming a habit with him. Natalie Haarer was our leading woman and her 74.08 gave her
third place in the 17-29 women category. Not so far behind Wiebke Kortum was also third,
but in her case it was the women's 50-59s.
In the 10k race we had only a handful of runners. Gary Armstrong, returning from injury,
was the leading over 40 in 7th place, and Michael Sikora was 2nd over 70.
10 miles
11 Ross Macdonald 57.52
60 Michael Morris 68.07
62 Jarryd Hillhouse 67.58
65 Mick Lane 70.21
74 Richard Willoughby 70.52
81 James Russell 71.16
96 Natalie Haarer 74.08
105 Shaun Griffith 72.07
128 Wiebke Kortum 76.51
136 Liam Griffin 75.00
150 Richard Pender 80.41
161 Rebecca Bissell 78.58
166 Lloyd Camp 79.36
187 Stephen Logue 84.29
204 Hadi Khatamizadeh 87.29
225 Sally Bamford 90.18
226 Carol Aikin 92.13
238 Aoife Kilpatrick 96.03
239 Joanne Marshall 96.36
10k
7 Gary Armstrong 39.05
86 Michael Sikora 62.12
116 Alan Meaden 68.06
121 David Meaden 70.38
Wimbledon Common Half Marathon Sunday 20th June
A great performance from Sarah Palmer who was third woman home in 1:32.13.
North Downs Half Marathon Sunday 4th July
Cold, wet and muddy, not to mention hilly, was the consensus opinion! Ian Kenton was
well placed before getting lost and adding a good mile and a half to the official route.
He still finished 12th in 2:01.34. Wiebke Kortum Was 5th woman home in 2:18.33, followed
by Karima Graham in 3:10.48...
...not to be confused with...
North Downs Way Half Marathon one week earlier.
Full results are not to hand, but Rebecca Bissell finished in 2:01, Rachel Revett in 2:06,
Ann Kearey in 2:09 and Aoife Kilpatrick in 2:31. In addition Sue Camp selected the 10k
version and finished in 60:02.
Harder Than Snails 10k trail race. Wednesday 30th June
This was Clare Fowler's first "trail" race and she ran exceptionally well to win the
women's event in 53.07.
Down in Deepest Cornwall
Eirin McDaid won the Tamar Lake 10k by a good 3 minutes in 36.54. Keeley Phillips took
part in the accompanying Canicross 5k with Clover and finished 6th. In the Siblyback
10k Mark Herbert came in 3rd in 35.06 while Keeley and Clover jointly won the Canicross
10k.
Runthroughs
Roger Wallace continues to complete more races in a week than some of us in half a year.
Runthrough seem happy to feed his addiction and Roger lines up at anything up to 4 races
in a week. Recently he finished the Victoria Park Chase the Sun 10k in 55.13, Brixton
in 58.21, Battersea Park in 57.24, Wimbledon Common in 59.05 and Clapham Common in 61.28.
Battersea Park 10k 24th June
Apart from Roger Wallace we had one more runner in the Battersea Runthrough races.
This was Steph Tindall in her first race for Ranelagh. She finished 4th in the 5k in a
very impressive 18.13.
Sri Chinmoy Kangaroo Hop 5k Monday 21st June in Battersea Park.
Gareth Williams finished 24th in 16.35.
Richmond Park 10k Saturday 19th June
Tamsin Burland finished 32nd in 57.16.
Goodwood Festival Half Marathon Sunday 4th July
Jarryd Hillhouse sneaked inside 90 minutes by one second.
Yateley 10k Wednesday 7th July
Nick Twomey finished in a clear second place with a 34.07 PB.
NEXT
Coad Cup 5 miles handicap will be held in the Park on Tuesday 13th July starting at 7.15pm.
Entries are now closed.
Ratchford Relays - Ladies Only Event Tuesday 17th August 7pm- ALL welcome to this fun
event - teams of 3 of various speeds this time running laps of a 1k course near to Petersham
Gate in Richmond Park.
Wimbledon Common Trail Races
Andy Bickerstaff's popular Wednesday evening events on Wimbledon Common are taking place
again this year, though the date of the first has been put back to July 21st. Check the
race website for up-to-date news. Dates are 21st July, 4th August and 1st September,
distance 5 miles. Details.
Summer Dash for the Splash 10k Sunday August 15th on Wimbledon Common
Our friends from Thames Hare & Hounds have sent us the following:
Our annual Dash for the Splash is on Sunday 15 August and is extra special for all our
local clubs as it's part of the Wimbledon and Putney Commons' 150th anniversary
celebrations. There's a number of events taking place at the Windmill over the weekend
and it should be a really fun festival of sport and of the Common which so many of us
have loved running on for years. .
As before the run includes our ever popular trip through Beverley Brook and has become
a favourite for many. Entries are £20 which includes a contribution to Common funds,
and there are team as well as individual prizes of course.
More information is on our dashforthesplash.com website.
Harry Hawkes Half Marathon Sunday 26th September at Thames Ditton. In recent years this
has been a 10mile race but for this year and for one year only it's happening as a half
marathon. There has been some confusion over the date, but 26th September seems right.
Register here:.
Reigate Summer Evening 10k Wednesday 21st July
Reigate Priory's race director tells us their Summer Evening 10k race is to be run over
a multi terrain course in and around Reigate starting from Reigate's scenic Priory Park
at 7.30pm on Wednesday 21st July 2021. You can see full details including online entry
here:
SUBSCRIPTIONS AND REGISTRATION
As we don't know individual's circumstances, the club will extend the policy we applied
last year on subscriptions:
- we'd like those who can pay the full amount to do so, and we will register those who
pay a full senior sub with EA-so they get the membership benefits listed here:
- if you would find it difficult to pay, please pay what you can (or not) but keep
taking part in training and club events. You won't be able to represent the club in
public races unless you ask us, and send at least the EA fee - the cost is £15.
The club gets no income at that level, so we will only do this if you are representing
the club at County level or above. (typically Surrey cross country leagues, Surrey or
Middlesex champs, or Inter-counties/National champs). You can still enter public races
as an individual.
- Ranelagh is financially stable, but has lost two thirds of its annual income in the
last year as we have not been able to organise our popular 10k and half marathon races
in 2020. What will be allowed in 2021 is still not clear - so please support us if you
can, either by paying your subscription or supporting training and racing activities.
Our club culture is worth much more than money - keep that going!
- If you have any questions or queries on this please contact the membership secretary
Chris Owens (aachrisowens@yahoo.co.uk)
Fees for the 21\22 season are Senior £50, Family £90 (two Seniors+) Junior (u20) or
student or second claim £20, o60 AND Retired £25, non-running or outside M25 (county
member) £10. Please do a transfer to the Ranelagh account, as below, and add your name
as we cannot see who has paid.
Beneficiary Bank: HSBC
Sort code: 40-23-29
Account Number 81109847
Account name Ranelagh Harriers
RANELAGH HARRIERS GAZETTE
The club Gazette is the main publication charting the history of the club. We have copies
dating back to the very first in 1908. Unfortunately there was no publication between
2005 and 2010, leaving a serious gap in our historical record. The present editor Julian
Smith has been working for some time on filling the gap and Gazettes covering the missing
period have now been published. Only a relatively small number have been printed but they
are available to anyone who would like copies. Just reply to this e-news giving your
postal address.
THURSDAY TRACK TRAINING AT OSTERLEY PARK
You should be receiving a weekly email in which you can sign up for the following week's
Thursday track session.
Any queries should be directed to Gordon Whitson at ranelagh.hon.secretary@gmail.com.
GUINESS WORLD RECORD for the Thames Pedalo Challenge
Club member Alun Thomas writes:
I was part of a four-man team that smashed the old Guinness World Record for traversing
the non-tidal section of the River Thames, from Lechlade in Gloucestershire to Teddington
in London...in a pedalo! 124 miles of pain, raising funds for Challenging MND. Having
smashed the old record by nearly 2 days and set a new standard of 2 days and 15 hours,
they were unhappy to find out that once they had put a marker in the sand, another group
managed to beat their record by 5 hours, only 3 weeks later. The skipper Alex Gibson,
Alun and the team have put the record straight between June 16th & 18th 2021 by attempting
the whole 124 mile course non-stop (no sleep) with rests lasting as long as each lock
break actually lasted. They set a new GWR of 51h:00m:59s.
Alex Gibson, was diagnosed in 2018 with MND. He drives his "Challenging MND" charity
forward with many fund raising events and challenges so that fellow MND sufferers can
be funded for their own events with their friends and family to provide lasting memories.
An ex-British decathlete, he takes on challenges that are tough for anybody (believe me)
let alone someone living with MND. He is delighted with this result and described it as
his toughest challenge to date. He is an inspirational leader for the charity, his
favourite phrase being "what's stopping you?" Apologies this is after the fact but
if you are able to support the charity, here:
it would be most appreciated.
KEEP IN TOUCH
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FINALLY
Last year we reported on the birth of a baby daughter to Usain Bolt and his partner
Kasi Bennett. The infant's name was Olympia Lightning Bolt. The couple have recently
announced the birth of twin boys, named Thunder Bolt and Saint Leo Bolt (Saint Leo being
Usain's middle name).
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