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Newsdesk 2005

 ****************************************************************************
 RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 179              19 MAY 2005
 Editor: Steve Rowland
 mailto: steverowland@ranelagh-harriers.com
 ****************************************************************************
 HEADLINE NEWS
 *  Successful Richmond Half Marathon
 *  Men's team win for Ranelagh with Mick Lane first veteran
 *  Peter Haarer 3rd in Oxford Town and Gown 10km
 *  Jo Ronaldson qualifies for World Duathlon Championships
 *  Ranelagh Summer Party

 RANELAGH SUMMER PARTY
 ************************************
 Jo Turner writes:
 "The Ranelagh Summer Party is to be a boat party on the Thames on Friday
 24th June from 8pm until midnight. We will be sailing on the Kingston
 Royale. Tickets will be £20 and include disco and buffet. There are 90
 tickets so it's first come first served! I am having some tickets printed
 which will be available from the club on Wednesdays and Tuesdays quite soon.
 Contact me (mailto:joturner_45@hotmail.com) or Marina
 (mailto:marina_quayle@hotmail.com)".

 WHAT'S COMING...
 ************************
 The fixture list for the 2004/05 winter season, can be found on our web site.
 More details of the following from
 Andy Bickerstaff (07966 552302 / mailto: andy@norris-hobs.co.uk ) or 
 Phil Aiken (07739 035189 / mailto: phil.aiken@rnid.org.uk ) or 
 Anna McLaughlin (07971 606521 / mailto: anna.mclaughlin@itv.com ).


 Saturday May 21st                Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial  5km. 9am
 start

 Saturday May 21st and
 Sunday May 22nd                 Green Belt Relay. 9am start at Hampton
 Court.

 Saturday May 28th                Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial  5km. 9am
 start

 Saturday June 4th                 Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial  5km. 9am
 start

 Sunday June 5th                   Dorking 10 miles.  Ranelagh Grand Prix
 Race 5. See below.

 Saturday June 11th               Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial  5km. 9am
 start

 Saturday June 18th               Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial  5km. 9am
 start

 Saturday June 25th               Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial  5km. 9am
 start

 Sunday June 26th                 Dysart Dash 10km at Ham.  Ranelagh Grand
 Prix Race 6. See below.

 GREEN BELT RELAY  Saturday May 21st and Sunday May 22nd
 It's been a struggle to fill our three teams of ten this year and some
 last-minute injuries haven't helped! The start is in front of Hampton Court
 at 9am on Saturday and the finish is at the Hawker Centre in Ham at soon
 after 5.30pm on Sunday afternoon. Anybody who would like to join us there to
 cheer in the last stage runners and enjoy a post-race beer will be welcome. 

 2005 RANELAGH ROAD RUNNING GRAND PRIX
 The next events are the Dorking 10 miles on June 5th and the Dysart Dash
 10km on June 26th. Full details can be found on our web site and entry forms
 can be found in the folder at the clubhouse.
 Leading scores after four events (including the Richmond Half Marathon):
 Open
 Marcus Gohar 22  Mick Lane 20  Trevor Maguire 19  Stephen Instone 18  Nathan
 Mills 14  Pete Warren 13  Mike Peace 13
 Men Over 40
 Marcus Gohar 11  Mick Lane 11  Stephen Logue 10  Ken Fotherby 6  Chris Read
 5  Stephen Roberts 4
 Men Over 50
 Stephen Instone 15  Mike Peace 14  David Powell 12  Pete Warren 8  John
 Hanscomb 5  Alan Meaden 5  Clive Beauvais 5  Michael Beverly 5
 Women
 Anna-Maria Plaza 7  Lauren Shelley 6  Janet Turnes 6  Anna McLaughlin 6
 Estelle Damant 6  Louise Dunn 6
 Women Over 40
 Janet Turnes 17  Marie Synnott-Wells 6  Joanne Muirlittle 6  Hazel Carr 5
 Lynne Barber 4
 Women Over 50
 Corinne Bishop 6  Kathy Mallett 6  Celia Beverly 6  Pat Hewlett 6

 DORKING 10 MILES  Sunday 5th June
 This road 10 miler features not only in our own Grand Prix but also in the
 Surrey Road League and incorporates the Surrey Championship. Details at
 http://www.dmvac.org.uk/dorking10/.

 DYSART DASH 10km  Sunday 26th June
 This is the second of our two road race promotions, starting at 10am in
 Meadlands Drive, a 5 mins jog from the clubhouse. Full details are on our
 web site. The race forms the Surrey 10km Championship and is included in 
 the Surrey Road League.

 WHAT'S HAPPENED...
 ****************************
 RANELAGH RICHMOND HALF MARATHON  Sunday 15th May
 Somehow 800 runners managed to park their cars in the vicinity of the
 clubhouse and assemble for the start in front of the clubhouse. The course
 is now a single loop taking in Richmond, Twickenham, Hampton Court and
 Kingston, mostly road but including some tow path, and finishing at the same
 place as the Dysart Dash at the end of Riverside Drive. There were
 reportedly a few difficulties with other road users but in general the
 course seems to meet with approval.

 Thames's Dave Symons dominated the front of the race and had built up a lead
 of nearly three minutes by the time he reached the finish. His club mate
 Nick Gould had to work harder to secure second place, half a minute ahead of
 a group of four which included Mick Lane. One-two for Thames might have been
 expected to secure them the team race but they lacked a third runner and
 instead it was Mick, Marcus Gohar and Stephen Whitehead who came out on top
 for Ranelagh. All three were in the top dozen home and Mick and Marcus also
 made the individual prize list as first and third veterans over 40.

 Trevor Maguire just missed 80 minutes in 23rd place and not far behind him
 came a pair of fine performances by new members Vaughn Ramsey and Nathan
 Mills. David Powell at 41st was 3rd over 50 home just ahead of the leading
 woman, Windsor's Gemma Horne. Her advantage was almost as great as that of
 the men's winner, as runner-up Joanne Kent of Barnet recorded 85.51. Estelle
 Damant held third place for much of the way but in a close finish was pushed
 back to 6th. She was a little disappointed but her time of 87.32 puts her
 into 18th place on Ranelagh's all-time list. Estelle, Sandra Foot and Kerry
 McLoughlin combined to finish second in the team race behind Serpentine.

 Stephen Instone and Mike Peace were 4th and 5th in the over 50 category and
 Pete Warren was 3rd over 60. Altogether we had some thirty runners in the
 race and many more officiating and marshalling. Many thanks go to Robin and
 Julie Drummond and all helpers who contributed to making the event a
 success.

 Robin adds:
 "Just a note to say what a brilliant day was had by all on Sunday at the
 Half. None of it could happen without the efforts of all our marshalls and
 helpers. I was sorry that the t shirts were all snapped up by our record
 field and so the traditional reward for helping was unavailable this year.
 If it is any consolation even I don't have one. We have never had 791
 finishers or anything near it. I can think of one year where only 200 ran
 and I don't think that we have topped 500 runners before this year.

 The revisions to last year's brand new course worked very well and made a
 good course even better. My particular thanks go to Hugh Jones for his hard
 work and attention to detail, Alan Hedger without whom it just wouldn't
 happen, Roger Brankin who saved 791 runners from certain dehydration and
 finally to Julie who has kept me sane for the last few weeks (or is it all a
 dream?)".


 BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km  Saturday 14th May
 At last the inevitable happened, and a couple of newly-arrived Kenyan men
 pitched up for this week's BPTT. By all accounts they jogged the first
 kilometre or two before getting competitive (only between themselves -
 needless to say the rest of the field was well in arrears). Bernard Kiptun
 emerged on top and set a new course record of 15.04. But for the Africans,
 Nick Wright would have finished in his accustomed 3rd place and this week
 just missed the 18 minutes barrier. Behind him Darren Wood shaved a few more
 seconds off his course pb and now stands well clear at the top of the
 participation table with 27 appearances out of a possible 33. Gill and Roger
 Wilson follow on with 21 and 20 respectively.

 1 B Kiptun (Kenya) 15.04
 5 Nick Wright 18.05
 13 Darren Wood 19.26
 22 Adam Wright 20.54
 27 Chris Hunton 21.21
 28 Roger Wilson 21.34
 35 Julie Drummond 24.26
 36 Evelyn Joslin 24.34
 41 Gill Wilson 27.10

 OXFORD TOWN AND GOWN 10km  Sunday 15th May
 Peter Haarer's racing appearances are limited at the moment but he's
 obviously keeping in good shape, finishing 3rd in a high-quality race only
 half a minute outside his personal best.
 1 K Murphy (Headington) 31.34
 3 Peter Haarer 32.17

 RON WHEELER 2.8 miles handicap  Wednesday 27th April at Wapping
 1 Z Woodward (Eton M) 18.31  (actual time 16.31)
 14 Alan Davidson 20.00  (actual time 16.30)
 17 Andy Hayward 20.23  (actual time 16.53)

 KINGFIELD CANTER  2.85 miles handicap  Wednesday 4th May at Woking
 1 M Frost (Haslemere) 25.37  (actual time 18.07)
 17 Alan Davidson 26.40  (actual time 18.10)
 23 Sonia Rowland 27.10  (actual time 20.40)

 DUATHLON
 Jo Ronaldson has been concentrating on duathlons in recent months, with no
 little success. She won the women's section of the New Forest event on 13th
 March by some twenty minutes, recording 2.27.01 (38.44 10km run, 81.25 40km
 bike, 26.52 '5km' run). In the much higher quality Cambridge race on 17th
 April she finished 7th but 3rd in the over 35 age group, which qualifies her
 to take part in the World Duathlon Championships in Newcastle, Australia, in
 September. Total time for Jo was 1.54.37 (winner 1.45.42) comprising 24.38
 7km run, 64.40 35km bike and 25.19 7km run.

 MASTERS TRACK LEAGUE
 Margaret Auerback reports:
 "The first meeting in the Masters League took place at Battersea on Monday
 9th and despite the last minute panics due to illness and injury we still
 managed to get together a good team. Somebody decided to change the age
 groupings which was a trifle annoying as we oldies found ourselves competing
 against the W35s but we put up a pretty good fight and showed them we are
 still alive and kicking, and jumping and throwing.

 There are no results yet so I can't give everybody's performances but Bev
 Ali and newcomer Jo Regan covered all the jumps and throws and scored a huge
 number of points. Julie did her usual superb race walk performance, Lorna
 won her sprint and then competed in the 400 and 4 x 400 relay, first time
 we've had a relay team for ages, well done girls. Marion, another newcomer
 Frankie Hardwick and I covered the distance events on the track - from 100
 to 1500 metres. Frankie finished very near the front in the 1500 but I was
 too far back to see how near.

 We all enjoyed an evening of friendly competition and good team spirit so
 thank you to those who competed. The next meeting is Monday 23rd May, 18.30
 onwards at Battersea Park track. We do need more competitors so if you can
 come along send me an email (mailto:m.auerback@btinternet.com) with your
 name, age and preferred events and if you don't want to compete but could
 help out we need you just as much as it is our turn to provide officials.
 You don't have to be skilled to do this, or over 40! Subsequent meetings are
 on June 20th and 11th July.

 Also, on behalf of the men's team manager, we need a lot more of you
 superfast, superfit old men, come on down and get yourselves a good race.
 Over 40 or 50 or 60, you'll be made very welcome!"

 TRAINING
 ************
 TRACK
 Frances Ratchford writes:
 "The track at St Mary's College is now open and even better we can use it.
 The track has been designed for endurance runners not sprinters so you will
 find it a little kinder to your legs. From 12th May there will be training
 on Thursdays from 7.30 with Frances & Margaret and there will also be
 training on Wednesdays from May 17th.

 The cost is £2.50 per session, or £10 per month. If you are coming along
 bring a cheque made out to St Mary's College and a passport photo. St Mary's
 College is on Waldegrave Road, Twickenham.  Enter by the white gate and the
 track is straight in front of you. Changing room and showers are available.

 If you are under 18 and a member of Ranelagh there will be a training
 session on Saturdays from 14th May at 10.30am. Contact Frances
 (mailto:grapevineproductions@compuserve.com) for details".

 GENERAL
 Tough Tuesdays continue as normal, with speed work for various groups and
 Wally's beginners' club, at 7pm from the clubhouse. Full details are on our
 web site, the next few sessions for the faster groups are shown below.

 Robin Drummond's  "Improvers Sessions" continue on Thursday nights at 7pm
 from the clubhouse, concentrating on speed and technique.

 Also Wednesdays at 6.30pm and Sundays at 10am at the clubhouse for a steady
 run in the Park.

 Tuesday sessions. Each also includes a steady run warm up and warm down.
 May 24th 25 mins continuous relay around grassy triangle at Sidmouth Wood.
 May 31st 7 x various hills at White Lodge
 June 7th 7 x short loop around Pen Ponds
 June 14th 5 x (30 secs, 30 secs, 1 min, 1 min efforts) on Holly Lodge hill

 NOVICE TRIATHLON COURSE
 Cindy Croucher writes:
 "I am organising the Thames Turbo Novice Triathlon course which runs for six
 weeks culminating with a triathlon on Monday 29th August. The course
 consists of six run/bike sessions from Sunday 17th July to Sunday 21st
 August from 9 to10am; and five swim sessions on Thursday evenings at Hampton
 pool from 21st July to 18th August 7.30 to 8.30pm.  The course costs £65
 which includes entry into the triathlon.  The course will also cover
 nutrition, hydration, bike handling, bike set up, transition training and
 even what to wear.  Entry forms are available from me - my work email is
 mailto:crouc003@rgfl.org.uk  Places are limited to 20 - with only 10 left at
 the time of writing".

 YOUR 15 MINUTES OF FAME (or 16 minutes or 17...)
 Elizabeth Vancura of the BBC has been in touch with Ranelagh and other local
 clubs:
 "BBC Science is making a television documentary that looks at how much our
 skills and abilities are the effect of nature before we get exposed to
 nurture. One of the scientists we are working with has developed a means of
 predicting qualities, such as cardio vascular strength, simply from
 measuring hands.

 We want to gather together a group of competitive male amateur athletes of
 approximately the same age (25 to 32 years old) to run a 5km track race. Our
 scientist believes he will be able to predict the winner by examining the
 athletes' hands prior to the race. We're looking for runners capable of
 running 5km in the 14:30 to 16:60/17:00 mins range.

 The filming will take place at the evening of Tuesday 24th May at the new
 track at Brunel University, Uxbridge, and as such we urgently need to
 recruit our group of athletes this week. We're looking for 10 athletes from
 London based running clubs, asking for 2 or 3 individuals from each club.
 I'm contacting you to ask whether any of your members might be interested in
 competing and being filmed taking part".

 If you are interested, Elizabeth can be contacted on 020 8752 4902 or 07851
 763723.

 FOR THE CHILDREN
 Wally Garrod would like to thank all those who sponsored him on his recent
 bike ride in Cuba. Thanks to your generosity he raised over £1000 for the
 visually impaired children at the special school in Havana.