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Newsdesk 2005
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RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 181 10 June 2005
Editor: Steve Rowland
mailto: steverowland@ranelagh-harriers.com
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HEADLINE NEWS
* Marie Synnott-Wells wins Dorking 10 women's race
* Paul Doyle third in men's race
* More county golds for Ranelagh women's team
* Ranelagh third in South Downs Way Relay
* David Benton 27th in World Long Distance Duathlon Championships
SEE HERE
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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Frances Ratchford writes:
"Ranelagh's AGM will take place on Wednesday July 7th at 7.45pm in the
clubhouse.
The purpose of the AGM is to decide on any resolutions which may be
submitted to the Secretary and circulated two weeks before the meeting, to
receive reports from the committee, the balance sheet and a statement of
audited accounts for the preceding financial year, and to elect officers for
the committee.
If anyone would like to put forward any resolutions or proposals for the AGM
could they please email or send them to the Secretary, Frances Ratchford
(mailto:grapevineproductions@compuserve.com) not later than Friday 17th June
so we can send them out with papers for the AGM and display them on the
noticeboard".
NOT THE SUNDAY LONG RUN...
Andy Bickerstaff writes:
"As a super special one-off we are holding a 'Kenyan' hills session from
just outside the clubhouse at 10:30 this Sunday (June 12th). Don't know what
it is....turn up and learn while getting fit! All welcome".
WOMEN'S RUNNING COURSES 10th ANNIVERSARY
Frances Ratchford writes:
"2005 is the 10th anniversary of Ranelagh's Women's Running Courses. On
Tuesday June 14th we are having a relay and party to celebrate the event.
Everyone in the women's section is invited to take part and all we ask is
that you give your name to Wally, Sarah, Anna or Frances for the relay and
that you bring something to eat or drink on the night.
If you know anyone who has taken part in one of the courses over the last
ten years please invite them. It would be great to make this a reunion as
well as a celebration of the women's section".
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! Tickets are available from the club
on Wednesdays and Tuesdays or contact me (mailto:joturner_45@hotmail.com) or
Marina (mailto:marina_quayle@hotmail.com)".
...AND A BARBECUE!!
Marina Quayle adds:
"Janet Turnes is kindly organising a BBQ for after the Harry Hawkes race on
Sunday 3rd July. This will take place at her pub, the Wych Elm, Elm Road,
Kingston from 2pm. It will be £10 for 2 courses and half-price for children.
You don't have to run the race first!! Jo and I will be selling tickets from
next Tuesday and we will only accept cash. You will also be able to pay on
the day but Janet would really like to know how many people to expect so we
would rather have names and money in advance".
WHAT'S COMING...
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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 June 11th Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial 5km. 9am
start
Tuesday June 14th Women's Running Courses 10th Anniversary
Relay. 7pm in Richmond Park
Saturday June 18th Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial 5km. 9am
start
Tuesday June 21st Chris Brasher Ponds Run. 7pm in Richmond
Park
Friday June 24th Ranelagh Summer Party. 8pm from Kingston
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.
Saturday July 2nd Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial 5km. 9am
start
Sunday July 3rd Harry Hawkes 8 miles at Thames Ditton.
Ranelagh Grand Prix Race 7. See below.
Wednesday July 6th Ranelagh AGM. 7.45pm in the clubhouse.
Saturday July 10th Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial 5km. 9am
start
Brickmakers' Arms Relay at
Windlesham. 2pm start.
CHRIS BRASHER PONDS RUN Tuesday 21st June
Our annual CB commemoration - groups will set off from the clubhouse at 7pm
with the aim of visiting all of the Park's 20 ponds. For those who might
find that a bit too much, there will also be groups aiming for just a few of
them. It's a great chance to see bits of the Park we rarely visit! More
details including a map on our web site:
http://www.ranelagh-harriers.com/20ponds05.html.
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 (http://www.ranelagh-harriers.com/dydash_05.html). The race forms
the Surrey 10km Championship and is included in the Surrey Road League.
HARRY HAWKES 8 MILES Sunday 3rd July
Race 7 in our Grand Prix series. Start is at 10am at Giggs Hill Green in
Thames Ditton. Details at http://www.hh8.org.uk/.
LONGFORD MARATHON AND HALF MARATHON
Catherine Carthy writes:
"The Longford Marathon & Half Marathon has been called 'the friendliest
marathon in Europe' and will take place on Sunday 28th August. Longford is
about 80 miles from Dublin and last year six of us took part and had a lot
of fun (talk to Michele Gibson and Tom Reay). Information and entry form on
web site www.longfordmarathon.com and give me a call or email if you want
more information mailto:catherine@aquiladevelopment.co.uk. It's held on our
August bank holiday weekend and is now in its 4th year and growing in
popularity every year".
WHAT'S HAPPENED...
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DORKING 10 MILES Sunday 5th June
Top marks to the women's team again! The result reads Marie Synnott-Wells
1st, Liz Kipling 4th and Anna McLaughlin 5th, all within 44 seconds, but
that's not the full story. Anna, full of confidence, sped through the first
mile in 5.47 and led the field until about the seven miles point. Then a
combination of a big hill and a long tiring Saturday rally-driving around
the South Downs (see below) caught up with her, and Marie moved smoothly
through into the lead. Herne Hill's Becky McNicholas tracked her all the way
but Marie doggedly maintained an advantage of a few seconds right through to
the finish. Fast-finishing Liz passed Anna in the last mile and all three
set personal bests - Anna by the neglibile margin of eight minutes! They
move into 10th, 12th and 14th places respectively on Ranelagh's all-time
list.
The team race is four to score and a great club debut from Fari Shams in
17th place wrapped it up for us. Further back Bev Ali set an age-graded pb
but was even more pleased to find that she had sixteen finishers behind her!
In the men's event Paul Doyle ran the sort of courageous race we have come
to expect of him and finished in an excellent third place, hot on the heels
of his training partner Iain Lockett of Herne Hill and ahead of SLH's
many-times Dorking winner Stuart Major. Marcus Gohar was the second vet home
in 12th place and there was a good performance from Nathan Mills in 38th.
Dave Powell, Stephen Instone and Phil Aiken scrapped for the fourth Ranelagh
finisher with Dave coming out on top, but the team just missed the places in
fourth. Dave and Stephen were 4th and 5th over 50s to finish and Pete Warren
was the top over 65.
The race incorporated the Surrey championships. Marie and Liz took gold and
bronze individual medals and there was a second gold for Marie as leading
veteran. Paul won individual bronze and I believe there will be a vets
silver for Marcus. For the championships the team race is three to score and
the Ranelagh women added another title to their ever-lengthening list of
honours. The men's result is yet to be confirmed but we might just have
slipped into third place.
SOUTH DOWNS WAY RELAY Beachy Head to Winchester Saturday 4th June
Beetle reports:
"'Are you the Ranelagh team?' said the race organiser, 'Well come over here
for a special briefing'. He cleared his throat. 'The South Downs can be
tough,' he said, 'in the years the race has been on, we have had two
helicopter evacuations and several ambulance callouts'. He scanned the
gnarly figures before him (Phil was at the back and looking the other way).
'However,' he said, 'You do look pretty experienced'.
The team exchanged glances and shuffled their feet. It was 8:00am on June
4th. At the top of Beachy Head, the wind was gusting strongly, the
temperature was about 8C, and what could be seen of the tough South Downs
was partly obscured by a very grey, rainy looking cloudbank. Why had Julian
'Agent' Smith persuaded them to do this? Had Cap'n Bixie's normal Friday
night (when in Brighton) been ruined in vain? He and Neil 'Where's Wally'
Walford had only had four each - a big sacrifice. However, we were there,
the Ladies' Captain was on the 10:22 to Lewes, psyching up for her role as
pilot of the Ranelagh Rover 2, and the rest of us had got up indecently
early on a Saturday morning to stand in a field near Eastbourne.
'OK guys,' said the organiser, 'last wave start is in 45 mins - better get
the first runner warming up. You have 34 other teams in front of you'.
Eleven and quarter hours later it was all over. We ran 18 legs, covered 97
miles in ten hours 39 minutes, experienced four seasons in a day, travelled
from Eastbourne to Winchester, ran up and down some of the nicest scenery in
the South East of England, heard a Ranelagh Vice President utter language
only normally heard on the Green Belt Relay (sample '..where XXXXX XXXX is
Walford?..'), caught nearly all the teams except the two we started with,
and had a wonderful day.
Particular highlights included:
- Phil 'Psycho' Killingley's leg to Ditchling Beacon where he took six
minutes out of the leaders
- 'Agent' Smith's language at the start of Leg 12
- Andrew 'notLacLac's' hat - if that's what real mountaineers wear, no
wonder they stay up high
- Chris 'Dormouse' Owens, cow herding on Leg 16 - not normally done during a
relay leg
- Winchester on a Saturday night - at least when Ranelagh are at Pizza
Express
- Super support from some of the usual suspects (thanks Sonia, Steve and
Alan), Phil's Mum and Dad, and Mrs 'Agent' Smith
- Anna's driving, which so frightened Neil that he only missed one
changeover
- Cap'n Bixie for stepping into the breach on Leg 12, only 10 seconds before
'Psycho' arrived
We were third. We are hooked. We'll be back - probably with a Ladies team
too - and some proper maps (sorry Anna).
1 Stubbington Green 10.21.04
2 Hailsham 10.25.32
3 Ranelagh 10.39.12
Individual split times were not officially recorded, but Julian has put
together the following estimates (place name is the starting point for the
stage):
1 Beachy Head 4.5m Neil Walford 28.52
2 Jevington Church 6m Andy Bickerstaff 42.38
3 Bo Peep Farm 4.5m Andrew McLauchlan 29.37
4 A26 Itford Farm 7.5m Chris Owens 51.23
5 A27 5.5m Phil Killingley 31.10
6 Ditchling Beacon 5m Julian Smith 30.30
7 Saddlescombe Farm 5.25m Neil Walford 36.12
8 River Adur 6m Andy Bickerstaff 46.54
9 Washington 4.5m Andrew McLauchlan 29.31
10 Springhead Hill 3.75m Chris Owens c26
11 Houghton Lane 5.25m Phil Killingley c33.30
12 A285 Littleton Farm 5.25m Andy Bickerstaff 38.08
13 A286 Hill Barn 6.5m Julian Smith c42
14 Harting Hill 4m Neil Walford c26.20
15 Buriton (QE CPk) 5.5m Andrew McLauchlan 38.19
16 Sustainability Centre 4m Chris Owens c26
17 Winchester Hill 8m Phil Killingley 49.45
18 Holden Farm 5.5m Julian Smith 32.43
WORLD ELITE LONG DISTANCE DUATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS Sunday 29th May in Barcis,
Italy
David Benton reports:
"Last weekend saw my first Long Distance duathlon - the World Championships
in Barcis, Italy. The setting was the edge of the Dolomite Mountains, with a
race distance of 16.5km run, 80km (non-drafting) bike, 11 km run. The run
lap was 5.5km round a lake (ie 3 laps for run 1, 2 laps on run 2), with
beautiful views onto the mountains - and a 800m climb halfway round.
I took the first run steadily, enjoying it, and came into T1 in around 15th.
Out on to the bike course, which followed the river valley (again, very
scenic - must come back as a tourist!) climbing gradually for 15km, then
kicking up to the Passo del Something-or-other. At the top was a drinks
station, a 180 degree turn, and the pleasing prospect of whizzing back down
the Passo to retrace the road along the valley to Barcis. Back at the town,
after a circuit round the houses, the course headed out along the valley
again for the second lap. I lost about a dozen places on the bike leg as
stronger cyclists came through, but felt OK heading into T2.
So, 3 hours 20 mins after the gun went, I'm back at the transition (some 15
mins down on the leader!), with "only" an 11km run to go. Allison shouts
'Come on, you'll catch some of them in front, they're only jogging!' - yeah
right, wish I could go that fast! My legs feel like lead and every step is
an effort. I slow a bit (!) and try to relax. Manage to get going and after
a mile or so my plod becomes a run. Halfway round the lap, up the hill, I
feel my legs tighten, and my right adductor begins to spasm, then cramp. I
have to stop, walk, stretch, ..and hey! Here's the drinks station, halfway
up the hill! Excellent! Walk/limp a bit more, then finally the cramp eases
and I'm off again.
Going into the second lap, I get into a decent rhythm and actually manage to
close on some of those guys in front. Oh no, I've got to start racing! It
all seemed a bit surreal, like a race run in slow motion or one of those
dreams where you want to run but can't move. Reality hit soon enough, with
the second climb of The Hill. Again, I feel my leg spasm, then the adductor
cramp. Once again, I slow down, walk, stretch the muscle and the cramp
passes - as do the three guys whom I'd bust a gut catching. However, with my
legs now cramp-free, a downhill stretch coming up and the finish only about
a mile away, I start running again.
Felt good on the last part and re-caught the three guys very quickly, then
caught one more, to finish 27th and 4th Brit. Not a bad performance,
certainly good enough to justify the trip. With a total time of 4 hrs 02
mins and 17 secs, this far exceeeded any event I'd done previously, and was
a good introduction to long distance racing. Recovery has been suprisingly
quick. I'm back in training for the upcoming British Duathlon Champs (Milton
Keynes 12th June), and was even able to do a tourist run in Venice the
following day with Allison - although I had to keep asking her to slow
down!"
1 B Vansteelant (Belgium) 3.40.59 (run 54.59, bike 2.04.08, run 40.26)
27 David Benton 4.02.17 (run 58.27, bike 2.20.09, run 42.24)
BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 4th June
1 S Perkins (Unatt) 17.59
14 Darren Wood 20.13
17 Alan Davidson 20.30
22 Roger Wilson 21.14
29 Gill Wilson 26.05
30 John Hanscomb 26.08
LAST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH 5km Friday 27th May in Hyde Park
This was the hottest May day for 60 years, according to the BBC.
1 O Edwards (Shaft B) 15.48
68 Alan Davidson 20.17
90 Pete Warren 21.15
111 John Pratt 22.20
161 Mike Rowland 24.37
195 John Hanscomb 27.38
SURREY VETERANS TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS Saturday 28th May at Kingsmeadow,
KIngston
We were well represented in the 5000 metres with medals going to Allan Lang
(gold) and Marcus Gohar (silver).
M45
1 R Marriott (SLH) 16.31.3
2 Marcus Gohar 16.49.5
M50
1 S Newton (Herc Wimb) 17.07.4
4 Stephen Instone ntt (approx 19.10)
M55
1 M Mann (Herne Hill) 17.44.1
5 Alan Davidson 19.57.3
M65
1 Allan Lang 22.10.9
SILVA SURREY HILL RACES Monday 30th May at The Nower, Dorking
With three different distances on offer John Pratt and Bill Harvey opted for
the full monty 18 miler which takes in Leith, Holmbury and Pitch Hills. They
crossed the line together as the first over 60s home.
1 M Wilkins (Sax) 2.12.09
18= John Pratt 3.00.35
Bill Harvey 3.00.35
KINTBURY 5 MILES Monday 30th May
The untireable Pete Warren was first over 65 in 34.12.
KINGFIELD CANTER 2.85 miles handicap Wednesday 1st June at Woking
1 K Woodman (Unatt) 25.22 (actual time 24.22)
16 Sonia Rowland 26.45 (actual time 20.30)
21 Steve Rowland 26.51 (actual time 17.21)
23 Alan Davidson 26.55 (actual time 18.10)
YATELEY 10km Wednesday 1st June
1 D McCarthy (AFD) 33.41
283 Joanne Muirlittle 45.38
STOCKHOLM MARATHON Saturday 4th June
Tom Reay reports:
"I finished in 4.02.06. The course is very nice and I would recommend it to
anyone, but that aside, I'm a bit sad. I would really have liked to have
done 3:45, having done 3:50 before and thinking I could improve on that a
bit.
Race day began with heavy rain, which stopped before the start and the sun
broke through during the run. I did fairly well until 20 miles which I went
through in about 2:53:45, but very soon after that I experienced a sort of
energy breakdown and without any reason just stopped running. I didn't even
want to stop - I was forced to. I think I must have hit the 'wall'. I
remember standing to one side and thinking how on earth am I going to finish
the run. I set a target of trying to jog to each water station and walking a
bit either side, which I barely managed to do. My only consolation was that
just before the finish I did overtake a girl who was also hoping to do 3:45.
It's a lot easier when you're younger!! The finish in the Olympic Stadium is
rather special though, and I did have a nice holiday!!"
1 K Sita (Zimbabwe) 2.13.30
4780 Tom Reay 4.02.06
SOUTHERN COUNTIES VETERANS TRACK LEAGUE Monday 23rd May at Battersea Park
No report yet but there were some impressive-looking performances from
everyone, especially Jo Ronaldson. The next fixture is at Battersea Park on
Monday 20th June from about 6.30pm onwards. Margaret would be pleased to see
any over 35s for the women's team and don't forget there are races for men's
over 40 and over 50 groups too.
W35
200m 3 Julie Drummond 37.6
800m 1 Jo Ronaldson 2.33.0
3000m 1 Jo Ronaldson 10.30.5
W40
200m 2 Lorna Smith 38.4
800m 3 Lorna Smith 3.40.5
W50
200m 1 Margaret Auerback 37.1
800mA 1 Margaret Auerback 2.59.9
800mB 1 Julie Drummond 3.16.5
3000m 1 Margaret Auerback 12.46.1
PAUL BEAUVAIS
Mike Hubbert reports that Paul won the Victorian Masters 10km track
championship on Sunday 22nd May in 35.38. For those who fear that Paul
appears to be ageing rapidly, it should be pointed out that he was competing
in the M35 age group.
2005 RANELAGH ROAD RUNNING GRAND PRIX
The next events are the Dysart Dash 10km on June 26th and the Harry Hawkes 8
miles on July 3rd. Full details can be found on our web site and entry forms
can be found in the folder at the clubhouse.
There's a full score sheet after five events on the web site too, but the
current leaders are:
Open: Marus Gohar 33, Nathan Mills 24, Paul Doyle 24, Stephen Instone
23, Mick Lane 20, Trevor Maguire 19, Marie Synnott-Wells 18, Dave Powell
16, Mike Peace 15, Pete Warren 15
Men Over 40: Marcus Gohar 17, Mick Lane 11, Stephen Logue 10, Chris Read
9, Ken Fotherby 6, Simon Lawrence 5
Men Over 50: Stephen Instone 20, Mike Peace 18, Dave Powell 18, Pete
Warren 11, John Hanscomb 6, Alan Meaden 6
Women: Marie Synnott-Wells 11, Anna McLaughlin 10, Janet Turnes 8,
Anna-Maria Plaza 7, Estelle Damant 6, Lauren Shelley 6, Louise Dunn 6,
Kathy Mallett 5, Liz Kipling 5, Morgane de Verdiere 5, Sandra Foot 5
Women Over 40: Janet Turnes 21, Marie Synnott-Wells 12, Joanne Muirlittle
6, Hazel Carr 5, Louise Piears 5, Lynne Barber 4
Women Over 50: Corinne Bishop 12, Kathy Mallett 6, Celia Beverly 6, Pat
Hewlett 6, Catherine Carthy 5, Bev Ali 4
RUNNING FITNESS MAGAZINE
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Those of you who don't already subscribe might like to get hold of a copy of
the July issue, which features a two-page article by Pete Mulholland on Ed
Whitlock. It includes photos of Ed winning the Ranelagh Schools Race back in
1947, during his 2.54 marathon in Toronto and receiving his club honours
award from Brian Chard and Alan Hedger.
TRAINING
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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. There will be training on Wednesdays
and Thursdays from 7.30 with Frances & Margaret.
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 are training sessions on
Saturdays 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.
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
June 21st Ponds Run!
FINALLY
Watch out if you record your own finishing time at races! Chief Timekeeper
at the Surrey Vets Championships Peter Hawkes has taken umbrage at what he
percieves a lack of respect, and withheld the official times for all those
competitors in the 1500 and 5000 metres races who clicked their watches at
the finish. "Runners who take their times are basically saying they don't
need us and make timekeepers feel they are wasting their time," he is quoted
in 'Athletics Weekly'. "I can understand a runner taking his lap times and
looking at them afterwards but not in taking a final time when the correct
one will soon be readily available". Stephen Instone was one of those
penalised even though he was not actually timing himself, with the result
that he has no recorded result, either official or unofficial...