************************************************* RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 271 4 January 2008 Editor: Steve Rowland mailto: steverowland@ranelagh-harriers.com ************************************************* A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL READERS HEADLINE NEWS ************* * Henty Relay win for Hugh Brasher, Sonia Rowland and Michael White * Time Trial wins for Anna Scally, Kerrie O'Connor and Yvonne Hill * County Championships this Saturday * Earlier start times for the Surrey League at Reigate on January 12th SEE HERE ******** COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS Saturday 5th January 2008 The Surrey championships for all age groups, male and female, take place this Saturday at Lloyd Park, Croydon. Junior events start from 11am, senior women are at 1.25pm, senior men at 2.15pm. The Middlesex championships are being held at Trent Park. SURREY LEAGUE Saturday 12th January The next Surrey League fixtures for both men and women take place at Priory Park, Reigate on Saturday 12th. PLEASE NOTE REVISED START TIMES. Because of the shortness of the day all start times are earlier than previously listed in the e-news. They are as follows: 12noon Senior women 12.45pm Girls under 17 and Under 15 1.15pm Girls under 13 2pm Boys Under 17, Under 15 and Under 13 2.30pm Senior men Our women's team has a 32 points lead going into this race, so another good result to consolidate it will be vital with just one more race to come (on our home course on February 9th). Our men are secure in 4th place but will also want to repeat the excellent results from the first two races. All members are welcome to take part, just turn up and collect a number on the day. Here's the Reigate venue: map BUILDING FUND DRAW Lucky winners of the draw made after the Henty Relay: Molly Smith (£124), Wally Garrod (£52), Tom Reay (£31). You have to be in it to win it! It's just a tenner a year: send a cheque payable to RANELAGH HARRIERS BUILDING FUND to Peter Trainor at 30 Hatch Place, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT2 5NB. Phone: 07714 203498. JUNIOR POINTS PRIZE The remaining two races will take place on 19th January and 16th February on the usual course around Sidmouth Wood, starting at 2pm. All under 17s are welcome. After the final race there will be tea in the clubhouse and the presentation of medals, trophies and certificates to all those who have run three races. CONGRATULATIONS... ...to Marcus Gohar and Eliete Nascimento on the arrival of Fabio on 29th November, weight 2.28km, length 42cm. "We thought of the name back in June," writes Marcus, "Fabio, after the Roman general Fabius, who defeated his opponents by gradually wearing them down. I, so I'm told, gradually wear people down! To avoid confusion with the new England prima donna team manager, he can be referred to as Fabinho (little Fabio)". AND TO... Jan Choudhury and Rob on the arrival of Josia Elizabeth Belilios on 24th November. PUMA RACING SHOES FOR SALE Duncan Gaskell writes: "I have several pairs of brand new Puma road racing shoes available. I am looking for a nominal amount of £10 per pair, all of which money I will be giving to a charity. I have only three sizes available: UK sizes 8, 8.5 and 9.5. I have several pairs of each of those sizes. Anyone interested should contact me as soon as possible on 07818 452696 or at dgaskell@gotadsl.co.uk". HEATHROW EXPANSION Deborah Young writes: "As users of Richmond Park I thought that club members might be interested to hear that the DfT has launched a consultation to look at ways of expanding Heathrow. Personally I'm against any expansion - the planes make life difficult enough as it is without there being more of them. So I joined HACAN (Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise). HACAN has suggested sending emails to heathrowconsultation@dft.gsi.gov.uk saying simply, "I oppose all further expansion at Heathrow". Any club members who would like to give their views - positive or negative - on possible expansion of Heathrow might like to send an email too. There's also an online petition at www.ipetitions.com/petition/stopheathrowexpansion/ There's more info at www.hacan.org.uk/ ". *************** WHAT'S COMING... *************** More details of the following from Andy Bickerstaff ( 07772 111491 / mailto: andy@norris-hobs.co.uk ) or Marie Synnott-Wells (07956 431319 / mailto: nandmwells@aol.com ). Saturday 5th January Surrey County Championships at Lloyd Park, Croydon. See above. Saturday 12th January Surrey League men and women both at Priory Park, Reigate. See above. Saturday 19th January Junior Points Prize race 3 in Richmond Park. 2pm start. Saturday 26th January South of England Championships at Parliament Hill Saturday 2nd February Mob Match v Blackheath Harriers incl Wynne Cup club championship. 7.5m in Richmond Park, 2.30pm start. Every Saturday Bushy Park Time Trial: 9am start at the Diana Fountain car park. Wimbledon Common Time Trial: 9am start at the Windmill car park. Banstead Woods Time Trial: 9am start off B2219 Park Lane, Chipstead. Richmond Park Time Trial: 9am start near Richmond gate. More details at www.parkrun.com WHAT'S HAPPENED... ****************** HENTY RELAY Saturday 29th December in Richmond Park Ed Barker ran an impressive opening lap for his team, establishing a lead of over half a minute over Hugh Brasher. However, things were much tighter after lap two with only seven seconds covering the first three teams. Young Peter Harding just held onto the lead to hand over again to Ed, who stretched the lead on lap three to fifteen seconds over Hugh with Marc Snaith in third place. Lap four - the "slow" leg for most teams - saw the major changes. Michael White for Hugh's team moved into a clear lead followed by Kathy Mallett's brother Hugh, who gained three places for Chris Owens's team. Sharon Rowe for Ed's team slipped back to third about a minute adrift of the leader. Sonia Rowland consolidated the lead on lap five and Hugh Brasher brought it home in style on the anchor for a very comfortable win. Martin Clark and Chris Owens brought their team home in second place, and Ed - after taking over eighth - ran another stormer to regain third place. The Ricketts family team brought up the rear, but there must be a special mention for six year-old Olivia who recorded 14.00 on the anchor! Fastest "fast" was Ed Barker of course, with 7.03 on the slightly shorter opening lap and 7.32 for the full lap. Fastest "medium" was Ian Grange with consistent laps of 9.16 and 9.15 and fastest "slow" was Hugh Mallett with 9.23 - though as we were one runner short Hugh actually ran as a "slow" for two different teams! RON WHEELER 5km Thursday 20th December 1 K Newton (Herne Hill) 16.23 10 Anna Scally 18.24 14 Andy Hayward 20.24 15 Alan Davidson 20.50 BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 22nd December 1 I Johnson (Unatt) 16.42 14 Chris Brook 18.16 24 Darren Wood 18.48 92 Amelie Hunton 21.57 93 Chris Hunton 21.57 176 Luke Wilson 25.15 177 Gill Wilson 25.18 213 Wally Garrod 26.38 236 John Hanscomb 27.59 RICHMOND PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 22nd December Anna Scally and Bonnie Webster were the leading two women. 1 R Ward (Belgrave) 16.42 5 Alyn Morgan 18.33 9 Sean Paynter 19.09 10 David Rowe 19.11 11 Anna Scally 19.16 19 Chris Read 21.05 21 Bonnie Webster 21.24 36 Karen Broadbent 23.18 43 Paul Bisping 24.23 56 John Scally 29.04 WIMBLEDON COMMON TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 22nd December 1 S Wurr (Thames H&H) 15.56 53 Jo Turner 24.19 BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Tuesday 25th December Nearly 250 began their Christmas Day in Bushy Park, with Kerrie O'Connor the leading Mrs Claus. 1 J Trapmore (Shaft B) 16.05 4 Jamie Taylor-Caldwell 17.30 6 Mick Lane 17.34 14 Peter Weir 18.03 19 Darren Wood 18.43 22 David Rowe 18.55 25 Andrew Forth 19.09 37 Sean Paynter 19.45 43 Kerrie O'Connor 20.21 69 Alan Davidson 21.53 76 Roger Wilson 22.15 80 Chris Wright 22.19 85 Chris Hunton 22.27 86 Amelie Hunton 22.28 88 Karen Broadbent 22.33 110 Evelyn Joslin 23.43 136 Joanne Turner 24.43 146 Alastair Sinclair 25.22 147 Heather Martingell 25.31 152 Simon Burrell 25.41 159 Luke Wilson 26.02 166 Gill Wilson 26.30 187 John Hanscomb 28.14 191 Sharon Rowe 28.23 224 Penny Merrett 31.26 229 Stacey Barber 32.27 230 Deborah Blakemore 32.32 CHRISTMAS MORNING 30 minutes PAARLAUF Tuesday 25th December on Wimbledon Common 1 H Ahmed (HW) & J O'Halloran (HW) 5m 1479y 8 R Xerri (HW) & Sonia Rowland 5m 814y 12 J Toomey (HW) & Steve Rowland 5m 200y LAST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH 5km Friday 28th December in Hyde Park 1 T Penfold (Birch) 15.09 99 Alan Davidson 21.28 129 Heather Martingell 24.48 136 Mike Rowland 26.14 141 John Hanscomb 27.24 BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 29th December 1 T Elsey (Herne Hill) 16.25 23 Edward Smith 19.29 24 Darren Wood 19.31 51 Sam Hunton 20.56 59 Peter Wright 21.13 75 Chris Hunton 21.50 175 Luke Wilson 26.31 182 Gill Wilson 26.52 213 John Hanscomb 28.17 238 Toby Piachaud 32.17 RICHMOND PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 29th December 1 R Downs (Wilmslow) 17.29 2 Peter Weir 18.13 16 Vaughan Ramsay 21.36 56 Penny Merrett 35.35 WIMBLEDON COMMON TIME TRIAL 5km Saturday 29th December 1 P Tedd (Thames H&H) 17.13 4 Gordon Whitson 19.21 LAURISTON 7 miles Saturday 29th December at Wimbledon Common 1 K White (Herc Wimb) 38.22 7 Stephen Instone 46.27 NEW YEAR'S DAY 10km Tuesday 1st January in Hyde Park Kerrie O'Connor was 4th woman and second veteran to finish; Alan Davidson was second over 60 and Pete Warren first over 65. 1 S Farah (Newham & EB) 32.32 38 Andrew Forth 39.50 57 Kerrie O'Connor 41.10 114 Alan Davidson 43.57 141 Pete Warren 45.45 229 Heather Martingell 51.09 BUSHY PARK TIME TRIAL 5km Tuesday 1st January Not so many party frocks and tuxedos in evidence this year. A few bright sparks ran here at 9am and then went on to do another 5km at Banstead at 10am! 1 J Harvey (Walton) 16.44 22 Darren Wood 19.27 43 Roger Wilson 21.15 54 Chris Wright 21.53 105 Ivan Boggis 24.36 107 Adam Wright 24.43 113 Alastair Sinclair 25.01 144 John Hanscomb 27.11 145 Janet Turnes 27.30 149 Sharon Rowe 28.11 156 Holly Wilson 29.40 157 Gill Wilson 29.40 173 Marina Quayle 34.03 BANSTEAD WOODS TIME TRIAL 5km Tuesday 1st January Yvonne Hill was the leading woman. 1 A Walker (Reigate P) 17.26 16 Yvonne Hill 21.07 KINGFIELD CANTER 2.85 miles handicap Wednesday 2nd January at Woking 1 D Dowden (Charl CC) 23.34 (actual time 18.34) 23 Alan Davidson 27.12 (19.27) 28 Sonia Rowland 27.26 (21.06) 29 Steve Rowland 27.43 (19.26) IRONMAN WESTERN AUSTRALIA Sunday 2nd December Andrew Forth reports: "Earlier in the year we somehow decided it would be a really good idea to combine a trip back to Australia to see my family AND do an Ironman Triathlon (3.8km Swim, 180 km Cycle and a Marathon Run) in Busselton in the South West of Western Australia - although at this time of year in the UK doing open-water swimming training is challenging (and cold) and it was nice and wet for the long cycling sessions. In the supporting 5km run the day before the Ironman race Kerrie came 3rd woman and the 1st woman was Lauren Shelley who has a Ranelagh background. December in Australia is usually hot so it was unusual that the day of the race turned out to be only 12-18 degrees. The ocean swim was out and back alongside a near-2km long pier that we later heard is a case of "except for race day don't swim out to the end unless you want to be chomped" (presumably by a shark). The swim went well after the rough aquatic wrestling match for the first few minutes with only a bit of a head-current on the way back to deal with. The cycle course was absolutely pancake flat but windy so involved alternating periods of going flat out with a tailwind and struggling into a headwind. On the day it was not too windy at the beginning of the cycle but it got more difficult as the wind picked up as the day went on. At the start of the cycle I didn't feel 100% so I tried to stay at a steady pace but was pretty happy that at the end of the cycle I had managed to move into the top-30 overall. The run was where it unravelled a bit. I was hoping for a reasonable marathon (for an Ironman) and things were going good for the first 10k then it got very painful. If anything goes wrong with your nutrition unlike a normal marathon, where "the wall" arrives at 19-20 miles, in an Ironman marathon it's basically there at the start of the run (often located at the end of the transition area). Despite trying to get enough energy drinks in to maintain a decent pace I gradually got to the stage where I was ready to switch to a Sunday Stroll. In the end I managed to keep running (sort-of) for the second half of the marathon however it was not pretty and it was painful with lots of "never again" thoughts. Although I dropped quite a few places on the run, the swim and cycle were good and my overall time for the Ironman was quite a bit faster than I've done before so I was quite happy with that and I've just about forgotten the "never again" thoughts. Overall the race was a really good one with the most enthusiastic spectators and friendly volunteers of any Ironman I've done and it would make a good "first Ironman" with the bonus that it probably suits runners as the cycle isn't too hard and the pier makes the swim seem easy with spectators walking along the pier the whole way". Iron Man Triathlon 1 P Vernay (New Cal) 8.06.00 62 Andrew Forth 9.23.33 5km (women) 1 Lauren Shelley 16.53 3 Kerrie O'Connor 19.15 BRIDGES 2.3 miles handicap Wednesday 12th December at Westminster 1 H Alty (Victoria Pk) 19.25 (actual time 13.25) 18 Alan Davidson 21.06 (16.00) 19 Simon Hedger 21.17 (14.07) 23 John Hanscomb 21.39 (20.43) FINALLY... We've talked before about the amazing depth of distance running talent in Japan. Here's another mind-boggler: in a 10 miles race in Kosa in December, 45 men ran sub-48 minutes...oh, and 35 Japanese women have achieved the Olympic A standard for the marathon...