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Newsdesk 2005
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RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 194 26 October 2005
Editor: Steve Rowland
mailto: steverowland@ranelagh-harriers.com
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HEADLINE NEWS
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* We win the Lee Cup mob match v Orion Harriers
* Individual victory for Noel Stoddart
* Club men's veterans champions: Mick Lane (Over 40s), Chris Owens (Over
50s) and Pete Warren (Over 60s)
* Women's team 16th in National Road Relay Championship at Birmingham
* Junior Points Prize wins for Taylor Nunn, Becky Withycombe, Alfie Purdue,
Lucy Edmunds and Rebecca Clayden
SEE HERE
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CHRISTMAS PARTY Friday 9th December at the Turk's Head in St Margaret's
Jo Turner writes:
"The time has come to choose food for our Xmas bash. The cost is £25 and
covers a 3 course meal as well as a DJ. The bar is to be open until 1am so
we can have longer to dance and get merry! All orders need to go by email to
Marina Quayle (mailto:marina_quayle@hotmail.com) or there are paper forms to
be filled in at the clubhouse. Please make all cheques payable to 'Ranelagh
Harriers' and we need payment by 1st December. Thanks for your support and
cooperation in advance".
STARTER
1. Spicy pumpkin soup
2. Scallops and smoked streaky bacon skewers
3. Blue swimmer crab and crayfish thermador tartlet
MAIN
1. Turkey parcel with fullers stuffing
2. Braised ham hocks
3. Roasted artichoke heart risotto
4. Roasted vegetable and cheese Wellington
PUD
1. Christmas pudding cheesecake
2. Selection of cheese and biscuits
3. Dessert trio (cheesecake, Yule log, sorbet)
4. Crème brulee
MOB MATCHES
As you will see below, we pulled off a great win against Orion on Saturday,
due more than anything else to our outnumbering them by 64 runners to 47.
The next mob match is away from home, but it's only the other side of the A3
on Wimbledon Common, so it's not exactly a long trek. Thames Hare and Hounds
will be stronger than us at the front but if we can match or improve on that
number of starters we can certainly win. So put the date in your diary now:
Saturday 26th November at 2.30pm.
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 29th October Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial 5km. 9am start.
Saturday 5th November Priory Relays (men and women) at Reigate from
2pm.
Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial 5km.
9am start.
Saturday 12th November South of the Thames 5 miles Championship at
Croydon 5 miles starting at 2.30pm.
Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial 5km.
9am start.
Saturday 19th November Surrey Ladies League at Priory Park, Reigate.
Senior race at 12.30pm, followed by junior races.
Men's Surrey League Division 2 in
Richmond Park (Kingston Gate). Juniors at 2.30pm, seniors at 3pm.
Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial 5km.
9am start.
Saturday 26th November Mob Match v Thames H&H on Wimbledon Common
(Roehampton Vale). 7.5 miles starting at 2.30pm.
Ranelagh Bushy Park Time Trial 5km.
9am start.
Junior Points Prize Race 2 in
Richmond Park (Sidmouth Wood). 2km starting at 2pm.
PRIORY RELAYS and SOUTH of the THAMES CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Priory race at Reigate on November 5th is a six stage relay for men and
a four-stage for women, both using the same lap which is about 2.5 miles.
The South of the Thames one week later is an open 5 miles race in Lloyd
Park, Croydon, with team competitions for both men and women. For the men
this race will provide the opportunity for a preview of the course to be
used for the third Surrey League race in January. Anyone is welcome to run
in either or both events - please contact Andy or Anna if you are
interested.
WHAT'S HAPPENED...
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MOB MATCH v ORION HARRIERS Saturday 22nd October in Richmond Park
As expected Orion brought a mob of nearly 50 around the M25 from their base
in Epping Forest but happily we more than matched this with 64 on the
starting line. This was a great turnout by Ranelagh and gave us a head start
in the team stakes even before the race had got under way.
Noel Stoddart and Mark Middleton were soon in control at the head of the
blue and white procession and stayed there throughout the race. Noel finally
secured his first win in Ranelagh colours in a time of 45.17, 13 seconds
ahead of Mark. Two Orions were close behind and they in turn were pursued by
Mick Lane and Rob Stillwell to give us four of the first six home. Chris
Owens and Peter Weir also made the top ten, netting us a small early lead in
the points scoring. But the result was far from clear-cut yet and at 19th
place the count was 10 Ranelagh home to 9 from Orion.
As is so often the case in mob matches it was in the mid-field that the race
was really decided. Of the next 17 home 14 were from Ranelagh - including
leading woman Liz Kipling - and this pack built up a lead for us that was to
prove unassailable. Orion were well bunched amongst the next 20 finishers
but for them it was too little too late. Our weight of numbers came into
play too - with 44 a side to score our last counter was John Hughes in 80th
place whereas Orion had to look down to 104th for their last man.
The final score was a convincing 1760 to 2192 in our favour and the Harold
Lee Cup was duly presented to Captain Bicks by his Orion counterpart Dave
Brock. This brought the overall score in the mob match series to 43 wins for
Ranelagh to 35 for Orion since the first race back in 1920, but this was our
first victory this millennium.
The race incorporated the club's men's vets championships and the winners
were Mick Lane (over 40s - Hastings Cup), Chris Owens (Over 50s - McDowell
Salver) and Pete Warren (over 60s - Maslin Mug). The vets' handicap was won
by David Wright, who was contesting his 120th mob match.
Chance brought together from far and wide half the team that represented
Ranelagh in our Centenary match against the ECCU and others 25 years ago:
Simon Hedger visiting from Australia, Gordon Whitson from Greece, Paul Keen
from Sheffield and David Wright from Cirencester. And all still impressively
fit...
WOMEN'S NATIONAL ROAD RELAY CHAMPIONSHIP Saturday 22nd October at Sutton
Park, Birmingham
Anna McLaughlin reports:
"After some outstanding running by the ladies team we finished in 16th
place. The competition was very hot this year, with the winners only being
decided in the last 150m and all the other places shuffling in after that!
Team positions and times are below, but huge congratulations must go to all
who ran, and a big thanks to Sarah for her as ever calming support".
The story of the race for Ranelagh was steady progress - Jo 25th on the hot
opening stage, skipper Anna gaining one, newcomer Cilla passing four and
reliable Marie taking another four to bring us home 16th. It was an
exceptionally well balanced team, with only 31 seconds covering the four
runners on the 4.3km lap. Reserve Estelle also ran well for a non-finishing
B team on stage one.
We didn't qualify for the men's race but representing Winchester Phil
Killingley ran 18.56 for their 5.8km circuit.
JUNIOR POINTS PRIZE RACE 1 Saturday 22nd October in Richmond Park
There was a good crowd of a couple of dozen for the first Points Prize race.
Alfie Purdue led the opening charge but it was Taylor Nunn of the under 13
age group who led the way back up the home straight to win by a clear 12
seconds from Alfie. Taylor's impressive time of 8.24 was a new record for
the U13 age group. Third across the line, and also inside the old U13
record, was Jos Moran and he was followed by the leading girl Lucy Edmunds.
Lucy was the last runner inside 9 minutes but then they came in thick and
fast, including the leading U13 girl Becky Withycombe. Great performances
all round and we hope to see as many runners or more for the next event on
November 26th at 2pm.
BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 22nd October
A great crowd again this week. 78 starters was second only to the first
anniversary event.
1 F Kelly (Raheny) 16.30
7 Andrew Forth 18.11
14 Nick Wright 19.16
17 Darren Wood 19.31
30 Alan Davidson 20.50
39 Adam Wright 21.39
41 Chris Wright 21.54
43 Sara Nakielny 22.02
62 Anna-Maria Plaza 24.08
63 Kerrie O'Connor 24.09
65 Gill Wilson 25.06
69 Wally Garrod 26.32
72 John Hanscomb 27.15
STROUD HALF MARATHON Sunday 23rd October
John Atkinson writes:
"I ran the Stroud Half Marathon on Sunday and knocked over eight and a half
minutes off my pb! I knew I was in shape to go at least sub-83, but managed
to clock 81:33 to finish 55th in a field of 1700 (my previous best was 90:06
in the Richmond Half in May).
I set off at 6 min/mile pace (dreaming I might be able to go sub-80!), but
reality caught up with me as I slowed a bit during the second half (my left
Achilles feeling the strain!). I went through 10 miles in 61:30 and managed
to sustain 6:30s for the last 3 miles.
There was another Ranelagh runner there - Andy Morris - who ran 94:59. Not
bad for his first half marathon!"
1 N Molema (Sth Africa) 65.59 (chip time 65.58)
55 John Atkinson 81.37 (chip time 81.33)
323 Andy Morris 95.23 (chip time 94.59)
FOUNDER'S CHALLENGE Sunday 23rd October at Peaslake
Peter Saw reports:
"Some 116 participants set off from Peaslake village hall for the twenty six
mile ramble through the Surrey Hills visiting sites associated with the
founders of the LDWA, but where were the RANELAGH members? Sue Ashley ran
round in 4 hours 36 minutes and Roger Brankin walked the route in 7 hours 33
minutes. Clive Beauvais suffered with back trouble and cut the route short
walking and running about eleven miles whilst Ted McCabe was seen in the
kitchen. Steve and Sonia Rowland (fresh (?) from the mob match the previous
day - a victory for which many congratulations!) dropped in for tea during
the afternoon".
SURREY COUNTY VETERANS' CHAMPIONSHIPS Saturday 15th October in Richmond
Park
Results and a short report appeared in the last e-news but here is Margaret
Auerback's first-hand account:
"A very sunny afternoon saw us all gathering for the Surrey Vets XC champs
on what could really have been a summer's day. A bit warm for the runners
maybe but perfect for spectating. Ranelagh numbers were probably a bit down
due to the race being held the day before the Cabbage Patch -- I think I
said this last year.
In the far distant past I vaguely remember being able to see the leaders for
most of the race, but this time they were out of sight by the time we
started down the hill to Pen Ponds on the first of two laps. Sandra Foot led
the charge for Ranelagh hotly pursued by Michele Gibson. Sonia and I
resisted the temptation to chase them - or was it that we just couldn't run
that fast? Anyway, we kept the same steady pace throughout the two laps
running almost identical split times although the second time up from Pen
Ponds seemed a lot more challenging than it used to. We caught Michele but
she stayed close enough for us to collect bronze medals in the W45 team
event.
Sandra ran very strongly all the way through to finish in 27.27 for the 3.82
mile course. Juliette, Corinne, Gill Wilson and Bente Klitgaard completed
the Ranelagh squad and all claimed to have enjoyed it.
The men's race was also over two laps but taking them further out towards
the ballet school making a total of 6.19 miles. Sounds very precise - Ken
must have measured it. The race was won by Roger Alsop of Herne Hill in a
very speedy 34.30 having opened up a gap of nearly a minute on the second
lap. First back for Ranelagh was Mick Lane who looked very strong coming in
towards the finish and just missed out on an M45 medal. He increased his
lead over Chris Owens on the second lap but Chris hung on to take third in
the M50 race.
First in the M65 race was Keith Spacie of Thames in 41.42 a very impressive
time as Keith is an M70 but on Saturday running for a lower age group team.
Second M65 was Pete Warren and third was Martin Clark. Clive persuaded
Martin to enter at the very last minute, literally as we were putting the
entry forms in the envelope. Martin took home an individual medal and a team
medal as Jim Forrest finished third scorer for the third M60 team. Martin, I
think you owe Clive a drink!
Many thanks to all those who ran on such a gloriously sunny day, to our many
supporters round the course, to the officials and to Carol for a delicious
tea".
BRIDGES HANDICAP 2.3 miles Wednesday 14th September at Westminster
John Hanscomb made a belated celebration of his new Over 70 status by
winning the handicap in 20.16.
HAMMERSMITH HANDICAP 5km Tuesday 27th September
Alan Davidson was third fastest overall at 21.28 and Alan Howard was the
leading Over 65 with 23.10.
RON WHEELER 2.6 miles Wednesday 28th September at Wapping
1 S Parker (WG&EL) 13.40
10 Chris Read 15.44
11 Alan Davidson 16.15
WORLD AGE-GROUP TRIATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS Sunday 9th October at Honolulu
Geoff Jones was another competitor in Hawaii:
"I took part in the World Age Group Triathlon Champs and managed to finish
30th in my age group (40-44) and 5th Brit. I had got up to 16th place after
the swim and the bike, but a 41min 10km (in my defence it was hot and
humid!) dropped me back down the field, but I was still very happy with the
overall result".
VETERANS 10 MILES RANKINGS
Pete Mulholland has compiled national veterans 10 miles rankings for 2005 to
date: www.veterans10mile.org.uk. Best placed Ranelagh name is Marie
Synnott-Wells, 5th in the W40s.
FINALLY...
In Saturday's mob match almost the entire field cut the corner on both laps
where we cross the Sheen Cross - White Lodge road and we are supposed to go
round the bench. Could have been a useful ploy - in the event that we had
lost the match, we could have declared the race null and void...