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RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 14    12 DECEMBER 2000
Web site: http://www.surreyweb.net/rharriers
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First of all, a final reminder that you should NOT be going to Coulsdon this
Saturday - not, that is, unless you fancy running South London Harriers'
open 10 miles cross-country race. Contrary to what was printed on the
fixture card, our mob match against them is the week after (December 23rd)
and it's at home in Richmond Park. Start time is 2.30pm and it incorporates
our Wynne Cup club 7.5 miles championship and sealed handicap (for
newcomers, 'sealed' means you don't know your handicap until after the
race). It's not the ideal day for a mob match but we need the best turnout
we can manage, so please be there if you possibly can.

Last Saturday was our Dysart Cup women's race incorporating the Hugh Jones
Salver club women's championship. It was very disappointing to see only nine
starters from Ranelagh - surely this should be one of the most important
women's cross-country fixtures of the season? Full credit though to Kathy
Mallett who continued her excellent run of form recently to win her first
club championship and finish third overall. Margaret Auerback and Sue Healey
filled the minor places and not far behind - and getting closer race by race
- was Louise Piears to complete the scoring team. 

In theory, Thames proved to strong too allow us to retain the Cup - but in
reality the Cup is currently safely locked away with the rest of Kathleen
Harris's things pending her return from Sydney! So we'll keep it for the
time being, by hook or by crook.

The handicap went to Sandy Renshaw and the under 15s race around one lap of
Sidmouth Wood was won by Laura Ball. 

Under 15
1 Laura Ball 8.36
2 Anair Beverly 8.58
3 Alex Hook 9.29
4 Stacey Barber 11.01 

We had a number of runners in the Surrey teams for the Southern
Inter-Counties championships at Sherborne in Dorset on Saturday. Zoë Vail
reports:
"Well, Saturday was a very eventful day.  On the way down to Sherborne the
coach's brakes failed as we went down a hill, the coach ploughed through a
red light across a narrow bridge and a van coming in the opposite direction
had to accelerate to avoid a head-on collision.  The small van was wrecked
but luckily the driver and everyone on the coach was fine.  We were stuck
there until a local coach arrived.
The course was quite unusual, for my age group we had to run a small lap and
then a slightly extended lap of a playing field, before heading off for the
fields... It wasn't really that hilly, but the muddy, rutted tracks made it
really hard going under foot.  One field led up into a farmyard and the mud
and cow poo was practically knee high (that's no exaggeration) and then the
path plummeted down a gravelly, slippery path which was scary. The u20s won
the team gold including me 10th and Estelle Damant 15th.  The field (of 26)
was pretty drawn out, with the first girl finishing in 18.50, and the last
girl in 31mins odd.  The u17s also won golds with Alice Beverly 52nd out of
65. The countryside was beautiful and it didn't rain too much, although it
was chilly.  Overall, a good day."
Under 20
1 C Bassill (Beds) 18.50
10 Zoë Vail 21.02
15 Estelle Damant 22.15
Under 17
1 C Wilkinson (Herts) 14.59
52 Alice Beverly 18.17

COMING UP
More details of all the following from Paul Graham (0796 7788945 /
paulgraham28@hotmail.com) or Sarah Seal (020 8995 2380 /
sarah.seal@haynet.com).

Saturday December 23rd   Stubbs Cup mob match v South London Harriers at
home in Richmond Park, starting at 2.30pm. 

Saturday December 30th   Henty Relay in Richmond Park starting at 2.30pm. A
fun event - though hard work! - for all club members and friends, of any
speed. If you can run one lap of Sidmouth Wood (1.3 miles) you'll be
welcome. Be at the clubhouse by 1.30pm for teams to be arranged. 

Saturday January 6th   Surrey County Championships at Lloyd Park, Croydon
(not Frimley as shown in the Fixture Card)

Saturday January 13th    Surrey Leagues - men on Wimbledon Common, women in
Richmond Park (Kingston Gate)

FINALLY
This will probably be the last e-news until January, so a very merry
Christmas and a happy New Year to you all... 

Steve Rowland
e-mail: srowland@calorgas.co.uk