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Newsdesk 2005
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RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 184 17 July 2005
Editor: Steve Rowland
mailto: steverowland@ranelagh-harriers.com
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HEADLINE NEWS
* Coad Cup win for Michael Brandon
* Course record for Marie Synnott-Wells
* 2.37 marathon by Lauren Shelley
SEE HERE
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WEDDING DAY 7km Friday 29th July at 7.30pm in Bushy Park.
This is a great race for everybody - not too far, nice and flat and all
standards taking part. If you've never tried an open race, this is one of
the best for newcomers. There's a bar open at the cricket club in the Park
afterwards, so it's generally a very pleasant way to spend a Friday evening.
It's also race 9 in our club Road Grand Prix series. If you ran last year,
you will already have received a personalised entry form. If you didn't, you
can download one here: http://www.stragglers.org/Weddingday.htm. But don't
delay - it's always over-subscribed and there will almost certainly not be
entries available on the day.
SURREY 5km Sunday 14th August at 10am in Wimbledon.
This is the final race in both our Grand Prix series and in the Surrey Road
League. There's an entry form on our web site.
REIKI
I've had a request from a Ranelagh member who would like to try out this
form of energy healing (see (http://www.reikiassociation.org.uk/index.html
for more information on the subject). Does anyone in the club know of a
Reiki practitioner they can highly recommend? If so, please let me have a
contact telephone number or address and I'll pass it on to the individual
involved.
WHAT'S COMING...
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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 July 23rd Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial 5km. 9am
start
Sunday July 24th Elmbridge 10km at Walton. 10.30am start.
Ranelagh Grand Prix Race 8 and Surrey Road League event. Details at
http://www.elmbridgeroadrunners.co.uk, but entries are now closed.
Friday July 29th Wedding Day 7km 7.30pm in Bushy Park.
Ranelagh Grand Prix Race 9. See above.
Saturday July 30th Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial 5km. 9am
start
Saturday August 6th Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial 5km. 9am
start
Saturday August 13th Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial 5km. 9am
start
Sunday August 14th Surrey 5km. 10am at Wimbledon. Ranelagh Grand
Prix Race 10 and Surrey Road League event.
WHAT'S HAPPENED...
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COAD CUP 5 miles Summer Handicap Tuesday 12th July in Richmond Park
The experiment of holding the Coad on a Tuesday evening instead of the
traditional Wednesday seemed to be a success and the turnout of 60 runners
was the best in this event for 20 years - even if some of them had turned up
expecting the usual Tuesday evening training session rather than a race!
This should have been Phil Aiken's first stab at framing a handicap but he
was to due to be away on a week's holiday so handicapping maestro Ken Powley
stepped into the breach. It was good to see a large number of new faces at
the start, but the result was that nearly a third of the field competed as
"guests" - not having fulfilled the requirement of competing in three club
races to acquire an accurate handicap.
First away was Angela Smith, who had over half an hour to spare over scratch
man Paul Doyle. As the rest of the field was dispatched in the usual
efficient fashion, the first drama came when Eleonora Gavin was called up
for the start. She was nowhere to be seen. Some 90 seconds past her allotted
start time she finally appeared and, adrenalin pumping, she was sent on her
way.
Meanwhile Monica Ayliffe had taken the lead and she held it right through to
the final mile. But then the pack closed in - Michael Brandon and Denise
English went past, and then a strong Simon Tyler who was clearly going to
catch the pair in front.
For the Coad, the summer bracken deprives the officials at the finish of a
view of the incoming runners until they are almost upon them, but it was the
lone figure of Simon who finally appeared around the final bend and sprinted
in to the line. Simon, though, was one of the "guests", so the destination
of the Cup was still undecided. Much to the delight of Frances Ratchford
recording at the finish, it was a very tired Michael Brandon who appeared
next and he crossed the line unopposed to win the Coad Cup for the second
time in five years.
Nearly a minute later came Denise English for the silver medal and right
behind her Eleonora Gavin. It did not take a mathematical wizard to
calculate that had Eleonora started on time it would most probably have been
her name to be engraved on the Cup instead of Michael's. Hard luck,
Eleonora.
Few of the fastest runners were able to make much progress through the
field, and Paul Doyle's 27.35 only took him past 19 runners. Second and
third quickest were Andy Bickerstaff and Noel Stoddart. Fastest of the women
with 31.11 was Marie Synnott-Wells, beating a course record that had stood
to Sue Colver since 1991. Cilla Pettersson and Clare Gutch were next best,
around two minutes down on Marie.
There is a selection of photos of the race on our website.
GOLD COAST AIRPORT MARATHON Sunday 3rd July in Queensland, Australia
Lauren Shelley took four minutes off her London pb performance to finish as
2nd woman and 19th overall in a great 2.37.17. Well done Shelley!
BRICKMAKERS ARMS MARATHON RELAY Saturday 9th July at Windlesham
Chris Read reports:
"Weather conditions for the race were good, with sunshine interspersed by
cloudy periods. We found ourselves one runner short but were rescued by
Duncan Gaskell, who agreed to run for us. Mike got us off to a good start
coming in 12th position in the first leg where most teams had their best
runners. As the race progressed our position fluctuated between 8th and
19th. The highlights of the middle period of the race were the legs run by
Steve and Bob, both of whom gained 5 places. In the later stages we were
very consistent as Bob, Corinne and I finished in 14th place for legs 7, 8
and 9. In leg 10 Duncan ran inside 15 minutes to achieve what was our best
time of the day.
We finished a respectable 13th of the 30 teams competing. The event as a
whole was dominated by Stragglers, who had both the fastest men's and
ladies' teams".
BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 9th July
It was business as usal for John Hanscomb's Saturday morning run. After all,
why should he let a little thing like his daughter's marriage later in the
day interrupt his routine?
1 S McDermott (Raheny) 17.17
3 Stephen Instone 18.47
5 Chris Read 19.41
7 Darren Wood 20.00
17 Chris Hunton 22.26
18 Sam Hunton 22.27
19 Roger Wilson 22.36
27 John Hanscomb 26.33
29 Luke Wilson 26.39
30 Gill Wilson 26.57
BEWL WATER 15 miles Sunday 3rd July at Wadhurst, Kent
Clive Beauvais was first over 55. Sue Ashley, the day after completing the
70 miles South Downs Way Relay, felt a little uncompetitive, so jogged the
course in reverse....
1 J Rendall (Tonbridge) 82.28
39 Clive Beauvais 98.31
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Wednesday 6th July
Over 40 members were in attendance for the AGM. There was little of
controversial nature to discuss and the proceedings were dispatched
efficiently by President Brian Chard in a little over an hour. Anna
McLaughlin presented a review of a highly successful year for the women's
section, while Andy Bickerstaff had to report on a more troubled one for the
men. Nevertheless we had our moments and the President expressed confidence
that we would soon be back in the top division of the Surrey League.
David Rowntree talked us through a healthy balance sheet and Hon Sec Frances
Ratchford's report outlined the development initiatives we have taken for
both juniors and seniors, as well as touching on the Foster Report's plan
for the future of the sport in general. A proposal that we should write to
Lord Coe and the Olympic bid team to offer our congratulations and support
was enthusiastically agreed.
Nearly all the officials were prepared to stand for a further year, to
general acclaim, with the exception of Handicapper Will Graves, now in
Australia, and Chief Race Official Alan Hedger. Will's replacement is
already in place in the shape of Phil Aiken, but we currently have no Chief
Race Official. Like those television game shows that lose their host, it is
likely that a series of "guest presenters" will fill the role in the short
term, but if anyone feels that this is a job that he or she might be
prepared to undertake then please don't be shy in coming forward! Similarly
if you feel that you could manage the "guest" role in one of our home
fixtures in the forthcoming season.
WYCOMBE HALF MARATHON Sunday 10th July
Mick Lane was 2nd over 40 home but times were slowed by the two Hs - heat
and hills!
1 A Stewart (Redhill) 71.57
11 Mick Lane 81.00
BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 16th July
Sonia O'Sullivan put in another appearance but could "only" finish 2nd to
Thames's Dave Symons. BPTT regular Stephen Instone took one more second off
his course pb.
1 D Symons (TH&H) 16.17
5 Nick Wright 18.14
7 Andy Bickerstaff 18.28
8 Stephen Instone 18.37
15 Darren Wood 19.33
23 Alan Davidson 20.45
28 Stephen Logue 21.26
29 Adam Wright 21.26
43 Alan Craig 25.01
SOUTH DOWNS WAY (again!)
Last Saturday, new Ranelagh member Phil Killingley and three friends
completed Trailwalker, all of them running the 63 mile ultra-marathon over
the South Downs Way to raise money for Oxfam's projects in the developing
world, and for the Gurkha welfare trust. The team finished 7th out of 340 in
a time of 12h54, and were the first non-Gurkha team home.
Phil is still raising money, and would be most grateful for any offers of
sponsorship. He can either be contacted by email:
mailto:philipkillingley@hotmail.com OR donations can be made directly at:
https://www.bmycharity.com/3menandamanagementconsultant by clicking on "Make
a donation".
SELF-TRANSCENDENCE SERIES
These are two miles races held every Monday evening during the summer in
Battersea Park, organised by the Sri Chinmoy club. John Pratt has finished
as first over 60 in each of the four events held so far, recording a
consistent series of 13.15, 13.20, 13.21 and 13.09. Jacqui Reid has run in
three of them, improving each time with 14.36, 14.25 and 14.05. The series
continues until August 8th, start time 7pm. Jacqui also ran in the Sri
Chinmoy Saturday morning 10km on July 9th, recording 46.38.
CLUBHOUSE MAINTENANCE
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Alan Craig writes:
"I would like to make some progress with tiling the women's shower and
installing a new extractor fan over the summer to cause the minimum of
disruption.
I'd like to hear from anybody who would like to quote, help or knows local
contractors who might want to quote to re-tile the women's shower and/or
install a new extract system.
I'd also like to explore what talents members have with regard to building
works and willingness to help out or offer advice. One of the difficulties I
have is arranging access for contractors, so it would be useful to have
people who are available in the day now and then to let people into the
clubhouse. Also, do we have any keen gardeners willing to improve what we
have already, cut the grass etc?
The next priority is to revamp the kitchen. Anybody willing to liase with
Carol on this would be more than welcome.
All offers of help will be appreciated! Contact me at
mailto:alan@craigkew.freeserve.co.uk.
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. The next few sessions
for the fast group are shown below. More details are on our web site.
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.
Don't forget the Bushy Park Time Trial every Saturday morning at 9am. It's a
timed 5km run on the cycle track and grass in Bushy Park, starting and
finishing at the big car park by the Diana Fountain. All are welcome - no
need to enter in advance, just turn up and run.
Tuesday sessions
19.7 7 x Queens Ride loops in pairs
26.7 25 mins continuous relay around the "grassy triangle" at Sidmouth
Wood
2.8 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 min efforts around the Park
FINALLY
Congratulations to Lord Coe and the Olympic bid team for winning the right
to stage the 2012 Games in London. It is perhaps only proper that the Games
should come to Britain in that year for it marks the 400th anniversary of
the first revival of the ancient Olympics - the Cotswold Olimpick Games held
in Weston sub Edge in 1612. Never heard of them? Find out more at
www.olimpickgames.co.uk.