Home
Newsdesk 2002
**************************************************************************
RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 79 24 OCTOBER 2002
Web site: www.ranelagh-harriers.com
**************************************************************************
MOB MATCH v ORION HARRIERS at Chingford Saturday October 26th 2.30pm start
This Saturday sees the season's first mob match, away to Orion Harriers. For
the sake of newcomers we'll have to explain that mob matches are
all-to-score affairs between two clubs only. To have a chance of winning,
it's vital to get as many bodies on the start line as possible so please do
make every effort to attend.
The Orion course is a multi-terrain 8 miles, parts will be muddy after the
rain we're having this week and there are plenty of hills. It's a
picturesque and challenging route through the ancient woodland of Epping
Forest. The start is at the Royal Foresters pub in Rangers Road (A1069 on my
map), Chingford, NE London. From Richmond it's an hour round the M25 to
Junction 26 (allow extra!), or 30 minutes by train from Liverpool Street.
Chingford Station is very close to the pub.
SURREY VETERANS CHAMPIONSHIP in Richmond Park Saturday October 19th
Marcus Gohar's personal nemesis Mike Boyle ran away with the championship
for the second year in succession but Marcus, 3rd last year, hacked over a
minute off his time of 12 months ago to take the silver medal. With Captain
Bicks also over a minute quicker than last year in 11th place and Mick Lane
sandwiched between the two of them we were obviously going to be well up in
the team scoring - but it was Herne Hill, led by Boyle, who take the premier
position eight points ahead of Ranelagh. Had Chris Owens been a few days
older he would have been amongst the medals in the over 50 category but
instead had to settle for 4th over 45.
It was the high-flying over 60s who were once again the top achieving men's
team. With Allan Lang and Pete Warren individually 2nd and 3rd and Martin
Clark right behind in 4th they romped away with the team golds.
And it was the oldest team category amongst the women - the over 45s - that
had the greatest success too, in a near-repetition of last year's result.
Kathy Mallett and Sonia Rowland won individual gold and bronze just as they
did last year, and not surprisingly the team retained its championship.
Third member of the team this time was Margaret Auerback who was another
individual gold medallist in the over 55 category. Our first home in the
race was Marlene Pautard, 6th overall but sneaking into 3rd place amongst
the over 35s. Marlene and Kathy were two more to improve by a minute or more
over last year!
Margaret Auerback adds a few words about the Surrey Vets:
"----or should it be Masters? (at the BVAF AGM in July it was voted
overwhelmingly to change the name to British Masters Athletic Federation so
you will no longer be asked if you cure sick animals or if you fought in the
war).
Anyway, thank you to all those who ran in the cross country races on
Saturday. There were some excellent performances in both races and Ranelagh
took its fair share of individual and team medals. Well done everybody ---
those Tuesday night sessions are definitely working!"
One notable result we missed from the tail end of last month was Margaret's
victory in the Over 55 category of the British Masters 5km road championship
at Grimsby on September 29th. Margaret reports:
"Ray and I made the trip to Grimsby for the National Masters 5km champs held
on a fast, flat course on an industrial estate (not good for scenery).
A slightly downhill start resulted in most people running far too fast for
the first kilometre and Ray, in his first race since knee surgery in
January, looked like he might be on for sub 18.00. Common sense prevailed
however and he settled into an even pace and finished in a respectable
fourteenth place.
The women's race started fast and we were all going at a brilliant pace
until about 3km when it wasn't quite so much fun any more. Thankfully I
managed to hang on for first W55 so we both had a successful weekend. Since
then I have been selected for the W55 England team for the Home Countries
International cross country in November".
Men Over 55
1 J Bell 16.17
14 Ray Auerback 21.34
Women Over 55
1 Margaret Auerback 20.17
CABBAGE PATCH 10 MILES INCL CALLIS CUP CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP at Twickenham
Sunday October 20th
A flat course, a competitive race and ideal conditions brought forth a
plethora of personal bests, not least amongst the Ranelagh contingent.
Initial fears that the revised course might be a hundred metres or so
under-distance seem to have receded, but in any case nothing could detract
from a really outstanding performance from Sarah Seal, whose form in the
last few weeks has catapulted her into a different class altogether. Her
63.16 for 7th place swept several minutes off her previous best and ranks
her 9th in Ranelagh's all-time list. And to be sure, there's more to come.
Sarah's efforts won't bring her a tangible reward unfortunately! Kevin
Jacques had an untroubled run to win the Callis Cup exactly five minutes
ahead of her. Then, to quote Sarah: "Everyone had really good runs
yesterday, lots of PB's - oh what a happy bunch of cabbages we were!!"
Anair Beverly travelled up to Liverpool for the season's opening Reebok
Cross Challenge races on October 19th. She finished 28th in the Under 17s
race in 13.45.
Fuller details from the Kingston Running Festival on October 10th:
Marathon
1 R James (Cornw) 2.29.42
35 Adam Tapley 3.12.27
104 Derek Mason 3.43.54
16 miles
1 P Brenner (Unatt) 1.30.56
78 Bridget Cuthbert 1.54.55
584 Carole Desbaux 2.46.04
8 miles
1 S Hayes (Sigma) 42.00
341 John Hanscomb 66.48
404 Janet Turnes 68.49
791 Hazel Carr 81.24
810 Lynn Barber 82.18
811 Jane Wyatt 82.27
910 Gillian Hughes 111.15
FIREWORK NIGHT
Frances Ratchford reports:
"The Café Dysart is having a firework display on Tuesday November 5th. It
will be held in the car park and is free; there will also be free food. The
car park will be shut and they are concerned for safety reasons that the
Tuesday runners do not try to cross the car park. There will be a fireman
present so there won't be a fire risk to the club. But anyone who wants to
attend the fireworks is welcome and all donations will be going to the Star
& Garter Home. If people want to run then they will have to come in the back
way and should be aware that there will be fireworks going off from about
6pm".
That evening's club committee meeting will take place at the Rose of York
rather than in the clubhouse.
SOUTHERN MEDALS
Picking up on the discussion about when the club last won Southern
Championship medals, Peter Saw writes:
"I suggest that the 1981 medals were Southern Vets AC medals NOT Southern
championship medals as the Southern Counties were not promoting for veterans
at that time".
RICHARD CLAY-JONES
is currently in Charing Cross Hospital. We send him our very best wishes for
a full return to health.
NEXT...
More details of 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 October 26th Mob Match v Orion Harriers 7.5 miles at Chingford.
2.30pm start. See above.
Saturday November 2nd Priory Relays at Reigate
Saturday November 9th South of Thames "Junior" Championship at Hayes, Kent
Sunday November 10th National Veterans Relay Championship at Lloyd Park,
Croydon
Saturday November 16th Surrey League Division 1 - men at Kingston Vale,
women at Wimbledon Common. Start times 2.30pm for the junior men's
races, followed by the seniors; 12.30pm for the senior women's race followed
by the junior women.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Small girl to mother, just as your e-news editor was toiling past in the
Surrey Vets race on Saturday: "Mummy, why are there so many slow people?"
FINALLY
Peter Haarer reports that a colleague from his second-claim club Headington
Road Runners is making an attempt at the world record for the Half Marathon
at the Stroud event next Sunday. The man in question, one Gary Harris, is
looking for someone to run with him to verify his performance. He expects to
cover the distance in about 80 minutes.
World record? Oh yes, I forgot to mention that he'll be pushing his baby
daughter in a buggy...
Steve Rowland
e-mail: srowland@calorgas.co.uk
Tel: 01926 318734
Fax: 0870 4006901