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Newsdesk 2003
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RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 92 5 MARCH 2003
Web site: www.ranelagh-harriers.com
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CHRIS BRASHER
died on Friday February 28th aged 74. An obituary has already been
distributed separately but I'll repeat the request I included therein for
your favourite Brasher stories. A number of people have suggested that we
should organise something in conjunction with Thames Hare and Hounds to
commemorate Chris's life and it is to be hoped that this will prove
possible. A South Downs Way relay seems an obvious choice - Chris himself
formulated the original rules - but any other suggestions will be welcome.
INTER-CLUB RACE v Stragglers and Hercules Wimbledon Saturday March 1st 3.8
miles in Richmond Park
Divested of its Hec Petersen Trophy status this race was as low-key as they
come but attracted a field of 43 starters. More than half were from Ranelagh
but we tended to congregate gregariously at the back and scoring 6 a side
the Stragglers were anything but. Only Marcus, still not back to full
fitness, bothered the leaders though there were good runs too from comeback
kids Mike Hill and PG. Before the start there was a minute's silence in
memory of Chris Brasher.
GREEN BELT RELAY
The Green Belt Relay is approaching fast. This year's event will take place
over the weekend of May 10th/11th. For the benefit of newer members who
weren't around when we last took part, this is a 20-stage relay taking a
scenic 200 miles+ circular route right around the fringes of London. This
makes the average stage length about 10 miles. There are ten stages on
Saturday and another ten on Sunday, with a mass start for each stage. Teams
comprise 10 runners and each has to run one stage each day.
You can see more details, including route descriptions, maps, results and
photos on the race website at www.greenbeltrelay.org.uk
Last year we ran five teams and won two trophies - our fast men won the
Green Belt itself as the overall winners and Bev Ali's team won the coveted
toilet seat for the last team to complete all 20 stages. The 2001 event was
cancelled due to foot and mouth disease restrictions but the year before
that we scored a clean sweep of the major trophies - first overall, first
vets and first women's. It was certainly the highlight of the year in most
people's estimation.
We'll run four teams in 2003 assuming there's sufficient interest. These
will be the Greyhounds (seniors), Old Dogs (veterans), Lassies (women) and
of course Bev's Bloodhounds. We struggled to fill a fifth team last year so
this time the Mongrels will only run if there are definitely sufficient
numbers to fill all ten places.
If you want to take part you don't have to give up the whole weekend: some
of us will stay with the race and hotel it overnight on Saturday in Essex,
but you're free to run your stage and go home if that suits you better.
We'll need logistical help with driving etc too, so even if you don't run
you can still be part of the team.
We'll have to send our entries in soon and it's a big financial commitment,
so if you haven't already done so please contact me as quickly as possible
if you think you'd like to take part in any capacity
(mailto:srowland@calorgas.co.uk ).
TROPHIES
Alan Hedger writes:
"The Baker Cup Prize Giving is fast approaching and all the club trophies
need to be engraved for their new owners. Please contact Alan Hedger on
01372 740626 if you have a club trophy so that it can be assessed and made
ready for presentation".
AND SPEAKING OF THE BAKER CUP....
...it is of course to be held on Saturday April 5th, not the 6th as I
claimed last week. The afternoon race is a 3 miles road handicap and in the
evening our annual supper and prize presentation will take place at the
Hawker Centre in Ham. All are welcome at both events! Half the tickets have
already been sold but there are still plenty left. Do try to make it,
especially if you're a prize winner. Tickets are £16. Book with Carol
Barnshaw on 020 8898 9285 (home), 020 8547 6600 (work) or
c_barnshaw@yahoo.com.
LIZ KIPLING...
...had an excellent reason for missing the National Cross-Country at
Parliament Hill last week: she was representing Britain in the Steffi Cup
indoor Modern Pentathlon in Budapest. In an event won by Britain's Georgina
Harland with 5720 points, Liz finished an excellent 7th out of 24
competitors with 5348.
RICHMOND PARK TRAFFIC
On Monday 24th February 2003 The Royal Parks launched its 'Traffic in
Richmond Park: The Way Forward' report. This report details the results of
the consultation on traffic management in Richmond Park that finished on
25th October 2002 and sets out the decisions taken by The Royal Parks.
There is a full copy of the report in the clubhouse, courtesy of Julian
Smith, but the key decisions are that:
* The speed limit within Richmond Park will be reduced to 20mph. This
proposal was supported by a majority of respondents to the consultation and
will help to protect the Park and its wildlife, as well as increasing
pedestrian safety;
* Richmond Park's Pen Ponds car park, sited in centre of a nationally
important 250 acre zone of acid grassland, will stay open. It will be scaled
down to 95 spaces, including 11 disabled park bays;
* Robin Hood Gate will be shut to motor traffic for a 12 month trial
period with a review of its impact after just 3 months;
* Bus links to the park will be improved but there will be no bus
links through it;
* Existing car parks will be enhanced through resurfacing, capacity
enhancement and landscaping. This will provide around 50 additional parking
spaces;
* Road crossings for pedestrians will be improved;
* Any form of road charging in the park is rejected for the
foreseeable future.
These measures are to be phased in: the Pen Ponds car park changes should be
completed by July, the Gate closure by the autumn and the new speed limit
not until April 2004.
MASTERS OF THE TRACK
Margaret Auerback writes:
"Those of you who competed in the masters league at Battersea last year
should find your names in the national T&F ranking lists (copy in clubhouse,
women only at the moment). Some of you, notably Pat Hewlett and Julie
Drummond did particularly well.
The first match in this year's league is not far off on 28th of April. Track
training will start on Thursdays at Barn Elms as soon as the clocks change
at the end of March, so you can get in some good sessions before the first
meeting.
Remember how well we did in the last two meetings last year just by having
people in as many events as possible? If we can do that at all the meetings
this year we can really make an impression.
Because they are low key and very friendly it is also the ideal opportunity
to try out new events. Everybody who took part last year enjoyed it so if
you are a woman of 35 or more or a man of 40 or over then please come along
and give it a go.
Dates are:- 28th April, 19th May, 2nd June and 28th July. All meetings are
at Battersea starting at 6 or 6.30. More details nearer the time.
Anybody with International ambitions and fancying somewhere exotic can get
an entry book for the World Masters Athletics Championships in Puerto Rico
this July by sending 4 first class stamps to Wendy Dunsford, 12A Salisbury
Road, Grays, Essex RM17 6DQ. You'll need to hurry though as entries close
about the 20th of March".
RANELAGH ROAD GRAND PRIX 2003
The first event will be the Thames Towpath 10 miles at Chiswick on Sunday
30th March. There doesn't seem to be an entry form available on the web, but
there are some in the clubhouse or if you send me an e-mail I'll forward one
to you. Alternatively just send in your details to the race organiser at
Flat 3, 15 Grosvenor Road, Chiswick, London W4 4EQ. Entry fee is £7 payable
to West 4 Harriers. Entry on the day is £10.
CHEDWORTH ROMAN TRAIL 10
For those who want to go further afield the Chedworth 10 is on the same day,
March 30th, near Cirencester. Andy Bickerstaff is looking for at least one
more runner to complete a team: 'A challenging course, multi-terrain but
mostly easy underfoot and a short amount of road'. Dave Wright will arrange
accommodation if required. More details from Andy.
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 March 8th South of the Thames Senior Championship at Coulsdon.
Sunday March 9th Reading Half Marathon
Saturday March 15th Ranelagh Cup schools race in Richmond Park starting
at 2.15pm followed by
the Clutton Cup 10 miles handicap.
Sunday March 23rd Worthing 20 miles road race incl Spendlove Cup club
20 miles championship
Sunday March 30th Thames Towpath 10 miles road race at Chiswick. Race
1 in the Ranelagh Grand Prix series 2003.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
No apologies for repeating this...
"I'm glad Chris Brasher was part of my life. An entire nation has cause to
say the same". Hugh McIlvanney.
Obituary to Chris
Steve Rowland
e-mail: srowland@calorgas.co.uk
Tel: 01926 318734
Fax: 0870 4006901