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Newsdesk 2003

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 RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 95               2 APRIL 2003
 Web site: www.ranelagh-harriers.com  
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 THE BAKER CUP ANNUAL SUPPER AND PRIZE-GIVING
 ...takes place on Saturday April 5th. The afternoon race is a 3 miles road
 handicap starting at 3pm at White Lodge in the centre of the Park (near the
 Pen Ponds car park). All members welcome. The evening bash will be at the
 Hawker Centre in Ham, 7pm for 7.30pm. There are still a few tickets left for
 late bookers, so if you'd like to come please contact Carol Barnshaw on 020
 8898 9285 or c_barnshaw@yahoo.com. Price is £16.

 LONDON MARATHON   Sunday April 13th
 Best of luck to all those taking part. Ranelagh spectators usually gather
 near the green start, then near the 10km point (just before the Cutty Sark),
 then at "Traffic Light Island" on the Isle of Dogs. Do feel free to join us
 - the more the merrier. I think (to be confirmed next week) that the Aches
 and Pains Party in the evening will as usual be at Janet Turnes's pub, the
 Wych Elm in Elm Road, Kingston. All welcome for some food, drink and natter.

 THAMES TOWPATH 10     Sunday March 30th at Chiswick   Ranelagh Road Grand
 Prix Race 1
 Paul Doyle went one better than his runner-up position last year. Paul
 reports:
 "This was the first day of British Summer Time, so the 10am start felt more
 like a 9am start, and we could have been in California, bright, sunny and a
 gentle breeze. Over 350 runners lined up for this very low key event. Any
 thought of a chill in the air quickly vanished once we got going. Having
 basked in sunshine for two weeks the towpath was bone dry, the main hazards
 being some very low trees that might have troubled some of our taller
 runners. I had a fairly lonely race, leading for the last 9.5 miles. Winning
 £50  for what was effectively a fast training run was a good start to the
 season. Next year I'm sure the competition will be greater. 
 I think Eileen Church came 4th in the Ladies. Steve Instone had a good race
 and Mike Peace showed some recovery from his injuries. Simon Lawrence also
 put in a good run, to be fourth scorer in what I think is his first team
 win. The women's team also had success, so it was a good day all round for
 Ranelagh".
 Hats off indeed to Eileen, who hacked no less than eleven minutes off last
 year's time. If that's not a good advert for Tuesday night speed sessions, I
 don't know what is! 
 

 Worthing 20 miles including Spendlove Cup club 20 miles championship
 Sunday March 23rd
 On a sunny but blustery morning Andy Bickerstaff was unopposed in winning
 the Spendlove over four sea-front laps in west Worthing, though Neil Walford
 was also there in Brighton colours and local resident Kevin Harrison
 provided two-wheeled support.   
 1 M Cates (Eton Manor) 1.55.46
 15 Andy Bickerstaff 2.06.35
 30 Neil Walford (Brighton & H) 2.10.59 

 Chedworth Roman Trail 10 miles  at Cirencester  Sunday March 30th
 Andy B recovered sufficiently from the 20 to lead a small Ranelagh
 contingent in this multi-terrain event, but only Pete Warren featured in the
 prize list as 3rd over 60.
 1 D Leggate (Cirencester) 60.22 
 9 Andy Bickerstaff 68.01
 70 Sarah Seal 77.58
 120 Pete Warren 82.47 

 Milton Keynes 8 miles   Sunday March 23rd
 Liz Kipling won the women's race in an impressive 50.46, nearly five minutes
 clear of the runner-up.  

 Eastleigh 10km  Sunday March 23rd
 Margaret Auerback was first over 55 in 42.28 but Allan Lang just missed the
 over 60s prize list in 4th place in 41.50. 

 Vets AC 5.8 miles  Wimbledon Common   Saturday March 22nd
 Reluctant to leave the cross-country behind yet, Pete Warren was second over
 60 to finish in 39.54, with Alan Howard just  two seconds behind. 

 Bath Half Marathon  Sunday March 16th
 A good performance from Peter Haarer in his London Marathon build-up.
 1 H Lobb (Bedford C) 64.51
 22 Peter Haarer 71.26 

 Woking 10 miles  Sunday March 30th
 Keith Firkin finished 39th in 61.35. 

 Mike McDowell reports being the first over 75 in the Gloucester Grocery 4
 miles on March 22nd in 39.55. As he was also first over 60 he won four cans
 of cider!

 SHOES AND TRACK
 Margaret Auerback writes:
 "A big thank you to everybody who has already donated shoes for the Ethiopan
 runners. I have taken the first lot to the Sweatshop and will take another
 lot at the end of April. So, if any of you are still hoarding your old
 trainers then bring them down to the clubhouse and help somebody else's
 running career.
 Also, track sessions are starting on Thusdays at Barn Elms in April. These
 are planned to complement the Tuesday sessions and to get you running faster
 over the shorter distances. They are based on 5k training but as some people
 have expressed an interest in running the 800 we will plan some sessions
 specific to that. 
 If you fancy yourself as the next Ashia Hansen or Steve Backley there will
 usually be somebody available to coach jumps and throws. You might just be
 good at it! 
 The first Southern League is on Saturday 26th April and the first Masters
 League on Monday 28th April so it's time to start thinking speed!" 

 TUESDAY NIGHT TRAINING
 Sessions start at 7pm from the clubhouse. Full details for the next couple
 of months are on the web site but here is a brief run-down of the next few:
 April 8th 10 x 2 mins
 April 15th 8 x 90 secs uphill at Holly Lodge
 April 22nd 3 x 5 mins, 3 x 3 mins
 April 29th 1500 metres time trial + 3 x 3 mins. 

 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 April 5th Baker Cup 3 miles road handicap. Start 3pm at White
 Lodge in Richmond Park. All members welcome. Followed by the annual supper
 and prize-giving: see above for details. 

 Sunday April 13th London Marathon. Race 2 in the Ranelagh Grand Prix
 series 2003. 

 Sunday May 4th Sutton 10km. Race 3 in the Ranelagh Grand Prix
 series 2003. Start 11am at Beddington Park. Entry forms in the clubhouse.

 Sat/Sun May 10th /11th Green Belt Relay

 Sunday May 18th Richmond Half Marathon. Race 4 in the Ranelagh Grand Prix
 series 2003. Start 8.30am at Old Deer Park. Entry forms in the clubhouse or
 from our web site.
 
 QUOTE OF THE WEEK
 "You have to forget your last marathon before you try another. Your mind
 can't know what's coming". Frank Shorter, 1972 Olympic champion. 

 Steve Rowland
 e-mail: srowland@calor.co.uk
 Tel: 01926 318734
 Fax: 0870 4006901