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Newsdesk 2002
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RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 80 30 OCTOBER 2002
Web site: www.ranelagh-harriers.com
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LEE CUP MOB MATCH v ORION HARRIERS at Chingford Saturday October 26th
We didn't win! Marcus Gohar reports:
"As the saying goes, 'It's not the winning that counts, it's the taking
part.' Someone else said that in middle age the best exercise taken is
discretion. Most of our runners, young, old, and middle aged preferred to
let discretion be the better part of valour by not taking part, hence not
much counting was needed to ascertain that we hadn't won. In fact we were
so sparse that when I left, we hadn't even appeared on the results at all,
our feeble presence indicated only by gaps in the finishing positions of
the Orion runners. Still, it was good fun running through the beautiful
Epping Forest, the mud seldom rising above ankle deep, unlike two years
ago when President Peace had to wear a lifejacket.
Well done to those who were there, some racing, others running round,
especially well done to the new members who ran. Those of you who weren't
there missed a tough but enjoyable race of the type which is also very
good winter preparation for the spring and summer road season. Still, no
use crying over spilt milk, let's see if we can turn out 80 against Thames
Hare and Hounds on 30 November".
In truth the course is positively benign compared with the bad old days.
There is some mud but much of the course is on good runnable tracks
through the beautiful - if hilly - Epping Forest. It's a great shame that
not more people were prepared to give it a try.
The Orion computer attempted to expunge us, Stalinist-fashion, from the
results and in the circumstances we magnanimously offered to call it a
draw. But quill and parchment were found and the stark details set down.
NATIONAL ROAD RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Sutton Park, Birmingham Saturday
October 26th
Our women's team acquitted itself well to finish just in the top half of
the 82 teams starting, even if, to quote Clare, "I don't think any of us
ran as well as we'd wished".
1 Windsor SE&H 59.40
39 Ranelagh 69.56
Sarah Seal 37 16.22
Clare Nicholson 50 18.28
Liz Kipling 38 16.58
Sara Grosvenor 39 18.08
FAR AWAY PLACES
Paul Doyle reports from the Dublin Marathon held on Monday October 28th:
"This year's Dublin marathon was sponsored by Adidas. I thought it was
well organised. Half of the 8,000 runners came from North America. The
race itself is run on the Irish bank holiday Monday, so the weekend starts
at the Expo, race number & chip collection Sat/Sun. The seminars on
marathon running given by former Irish elites, such as John Tracey were
very informative (for the future).
By Monday the storm had cleared, so the race was run in near perfect
conditions. I had no problem with the start, about 5 metres behind the
elite runners. Because the prize money is relatively low, Ireland can only
attract a "B" list elite. The chip recorded the start, half and finish.
The course was traffic free and pleasant, with some good support. There
were bottled water stations every 3 miles, and a couple of sport drink
stations. For the first time for several years the route went through the
Phoenix Park (bigger than Richmond Park). The only big hill was up the
'Furry Glen' in the park, a long drag of about 3/4 mile, at 19miles. The
last 6miles were flat or downhill.
For the first 17miles I enjoyed running with the chasing group of elite
women, at around 2.35 pace. I got some special cheers for my Ranelagh vest
as we ran close to the area! At the same time as I started to lose the
pace I had to have a pit stop in one of the loos. Still not feeling good,
I struggled up the Furry Glen and could only jog the last six, feeling
like a right plonker! (I hadn't taken the good advice of a slow start)".
1 F Cherono (Kenya) 2:14:25;
W1 L Vassilevskaia (Russ) 2:32:56 (course record)
74 Paul Doyle 2:47:12
574 Marlene Pautard 3:21:00
Ian Dent writes from Australia:
"Melbourne last week hosted the very successful World Masters Games - 29
sports and 25,000 entries so no small event. All the results can be found
via http://www.2002worldmasters.org
I ran in the 10km road race on the opening Sunday which was held over two
laps around the Albert Park lake grand prix circuit so very fast and flat.
My time of 35:38 was 39th overall and 9th in V40. I followed this up four
days later with a 5000m outing on the Olympic Park track where I ran 17:18
for 8th V40. Neither run was a particularly startling time but a fair
reflection of where my fitness is at after a couple of interrupted
training months with a stress fracture.
This weekend I'm meeting up with new Melbourne resident Paul Beauvais.
Paul has apparently joined Richmond Harriers here and set to make his
track debut over 5km this Saturday".
And no sooner did we receive the above than the following arrived via Neil
Walford from Paul Beauvais himself:
"We have just moved again for the umpteenth time, this time to Melbourne
which seems to be very nice. I am sure that I will find fault with it
eventually but at the moment it is a pleasant change after Sydney.
Everthing here is very civilised and you are constantly reminded that it
was never a convict settlement. I live near Kew which is next to Richmond
and now run for Richmond Harriers.
There is a lot of old England which people hang on to here. Even so it is
probably the most multicultural place that I have ever lived in. Most
cities tend to ghettoise all the different ethnic groups but here you
cannot find a 'white suburb'. Every part of Melbourne seems to have an
even mix of asian, european and whatever else. We live in a street of
manicured lawns and net curtains and keen neighbourhood watch militia.
Running routes are abundant as there are parks and trails everywhere. I
will be doing my first race in a year and a half on Saturday so I am
rather nervous about it. I think that I am quite fit as I have been
running constantly but nothing competitive".
Ranelagh has links with Melbourne's Richmond Harriers going back to the
1960s - older members will remember names like Cother, Locke, Ryan,
Hubbert and others. We used to get quite a regular flow of Australian
runners joining us while in the UK for a few months or in some cases for a
few years but this seems largely to have dried up of late. Perhaps Ian or
Paul could send a few our way!
CLUBHOUSE WORKING PARTY
Don't forget Alan Craig's working party to attend to a bit of maintenance
at the clubhouse on Saturday November 9th. If you can spare an hour or two
to help trim hedges, clean out gutters etc please contact Alan on 020 8940
2556 or at a.craig@rhp.org.uk.
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 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.
Saturday November 30th Mob Match v Thames Hare and Hounds in Richmond
Park including the club vets (masters?) championships. 2.30pm start.
FINALLY
In the Vets AC track championships on September 8th, Francis Thomason
competed in every single event in the Over 50 age group. That's 15 events
ranging from the Hammer Throw via the Pole Vault and the 3km walk to the
5000 metres. I believe this is the same Francis Thomason who is listed in
the Guinness Book of Records as the possessor of the greatest number of
'O' Levels and GCSEs....
Steve Rowland
e-mail: srowland@calorgas.co.uk
Tel: 01926 318734
Fax: 0870 4006901